We have all probably heard of the term "card-counting", and how it can be incorporated into a playing strategy in order to lower the House Edge at online casino games like blackjack and baccarat. While it sounds like a tempting practice to learn, most of us are intimidated by the just the thought of counting cards, let alone, counting and keeping track of them in one's mind, consequently deterring us from even giving it a try.

Well, this may very well be the right impulse to follow, for although card-counting can help to lower the Casino Edge on a mathematical basis, the are several components that have offset the power and diminished the efficacy of this skill which is not nearly as frequently used as it once was. One of these components is the introduction of continuous card shuffling machines, also known as CSM's, at casinos.

The reason that card-counting used to work so well at the blackjack table, is that games would be often played out with one or two deck of cards until more cards were needed and reshuffled. However, nowadays most land-based casinos use up to eight decks of cards at once in addition to reshuffling spent cards immediately back into the shoe after being played (with the help of a CSM).

The whole point behind card counting is to keep track of as many cards as possible, so that when the deck gets down to fewer and fewer cards, the player has much better odds at predicting what possible cards will come up, thereby advising them how to best play their next hand.

And although card counting can still be used to help lower the Casino Edge at online blackjack (ranging from minimal to fair, depending on the game rules and where one is gambling online), card counting at the baccarat table has such a minimal impact that it is not even worth the effort at all.

Back to Gambling Tips Index

Back to Online Casino Conditions' Betting News Index