Pro tip... If you lose count just ask the pit boss. They are there to help.

Pit boss : "you look young, how old are you?" Me : "-3!"

I thought you were going to say you accidentally said you were 14 to the pit boss lol

Mr. Pit Boss, do you want my TRUE age or just my RUNNING age???

waitress: "anything to drink" me: "+2"

Scantily clad waitress brushes against my arm...... running count..... 38D.... 38D.... 38D

Crush: Hey Me: 6

Ive never played blackjack or gambled in my entire life and Ive watched like 10 videos. Theyre just so nice :)

OK, maybe I'm a little late to the game on this video, but... Negative numbers were always a hassle in the count, especially going back and forth over zero. So, in six deck games I'd start the count at 20 and work up and down from there. It was easier to think "19" than -1. If I ever got down to zero, I suddenly needed to answer a text on my phone to let a few hands play out away from that mess.

Listening to you gets me even more excited about counting cards. Got alot of work to do. I got basic strategy down but right now it takes me about 40 seconds to count through a deck without mistake so i still need to improve on that.

"how old are you? " minus 6"

My trouble comes with trying to keep count of the negative counts, because I get confused and will add numbers instead of subtract or vice versa

For the 'shortcut' of maintaining the running count, learning ASL for the numbers can be handy. This is because all the numbers in ASL are single hand, unique positions already.

Digging the style change, Colin. That "touch of gray" look suits you.

For #4, you could use binary counting. You can get from 0 to 31 with just one hand, use your other hand for the negatives, for example. Doesn't happen too often that the count goes outside 31 positive or negative, I don't think.

Idk how you guys are so good at card counting. I need to give up my gambling habits and stop giving the casinos all my money.. ;)

I smiled at tip #2...I thought I was going crazy on the way home from the casino...repeating numbers in my head. Good stuff, thanks for sharing!

I have trouble keeping track of running count in my head, so I use my fingers, in binary. In each hand I can keep track up to 31, left hand for negative, right hand for positive, and it works perfectly for me.

Colin, One thing to mention is to get down the system first. Speed will come along as a part of training.

I'm just starting to learn from your videos mostly and from other videos as well. I'm getting my bankroll next month hopefully starting at 500 bucks or something like that. If it works out, and I'm practicing a lot so it may do, I'm getting the elite membership to be a full time card counter. I don't have a lot of money so I can't afford your membership right now although I'd love to. Much love from Argentina and I hope I can be a part of this one day. Ty so much for your content.

Seeing that picture caught me off guard - the Cascade Lanes bowling alley was 5 miles from my house; I used to play there all the time (and actually bowled there a LOT when I was a kid). I'm willing to bet he played at all of the other small casinos in Renton/Skyway/Sea Tac I used to. Thanks for the great memory!!!!

2:48 "Make the running count the priority" Ha ha ha! This past weekend I was playing $25 min double deck blackjack and I was so focused on the count that I actually stayed on a 4 card hand with aces in it that added up to 10. I think my running count was high so I accidentally added that into the total in my head and 'stayed'. After it was done, the dealer and the pit boss said, 'You know you stayed on a 10, right?' "I did??" I just said I miscounted ( which I did as I was so focused on the running count!). We all had a good laugh at my 'mistake'. However, I got the last laugh because my $900 weekend gambling deficit I had while playing turned into a $315 profit when I walked out. :)

Super newb tip: As a newb it helps to use your hand to keep the count inbetween hands. For example i use my right hand to handle the chips. So with my left hand, i break up the finger joints into 14 spots. Just look at you hand and the lines that divide the joints. 3 knuckles for each finger and 2 knuckles for the thumb. Keep your finger thumb on the count at the start of the hand. Dont change it until hand it over. For example if running count is +5 thumb should be at the very tip of index finger. If +14 it should be at tip of pinky. This is how you keep track of the count in case you get lost or distracted during the hand. You can always go back and recount the hand if u get lost. Just make sure NOT to adjust thumb until hand is done and youre sure of the new count. You're welcome

Glad you gave the update on the player at the end of the video, it was my biggest question.

“How old are you” “Hold on let me write something down real quick”

If you really want to learn a handy shortcut for keeping the count locked it's connecting numbers with images. For instance "16" could be connected to your driver's licence. If you own two dogs think of a dog barking at you at the table when the count is at "2". "8" - think of a V8 engine or a sports car with a V8. Negative numbers - you flip the image in your head (the dog is upside down).

That's me too. I practice at home and do pretty well. 10 mins into the shoe, I lose track. I'm not sure if I'm meant to be a card counter. Back counting seem to be the best for me, but it just looks suspicious when there isn't many people at the casino I go to.

came back to this video after counting for a few months, I've found that I'm always singing songs in my head and replacing the lyrics with the current count.

It’s helped having to have masks on at the casino-I can quietly repeat the number to myself over and over and the mask covers my face :)

...is the cut card in the discard tray at 1.75 decks? :)

there's that ancient finger counting system, based on where your thumb nail touches your fingers. it's possible to do calculation with it, but that's irrelevant here, and i dont remember the name. :D to keep it simple: it's easy to mark a count between 0 and +/- 14 just on your index finger. (index + middle is easier though, using the middle finger for negative numbers) start at the center of the finger tip for "0" move up "1", advance half a phalanx "2", back towards the middle "3", to the crease "4", up the crease "5" so on. i may never play blackjack in my life. but this looks like such an obvious and easy method to NEVER forget the running count, without the compulsive distraction of constantly repeating a number in your head.

Im contemplating a 2nd try. i was 21 living in LV. back in 01' i skimmed thru a book practiced high opt 2 for a few days till that Friday came. so i took $300 bucks thinkin i was ready but still had doubts but less then an hour later i had a couple grand in chips and started feeling surreal, what color T/A gonna buy,! but all that shattered About 20 min later i wasn't figuring out the true count, changed a couple rules with hands on hit or stand. like i said i was 21 and I knew everything! lol but I did get better over the few months but couldn't quit my job, I had a young wife. We were kids with kids.

I don't even count that way. I just visualize the count in my head. I works better and it's faster than saying it. I glance at the discard tray after the dealer swipes up the cards and I calculate the true count. I can have a conversation with someoneand talk about anything and still play perfectly, it's just practice.

When I repeat the numbers in my head I keep forgetting them as soon as I stop

Do you automatically min bet when the count is negative? What kind of bet spread do you use when a positive count climbs?

I started watching all your videos this week and I'm on a bender. I can totally see myself saying can I get a n6 with lime please.

Great content as always, thank you!

That's funny. The tip #2 is the same stratey I use to count rests when I play a symphony. Otherwise I easily lose track of my count.

Thanks for the awesome tips, great video!

What about them offering you drinks while you play? I Always say no when I'm at the poker table

I practice my skills while I’m at work. I know it’s terrible but there is something satisfying about investing in myself to make more money while I’m making money 😅

I have a little suggestion, this may not be for everyone, but it helped me to keep the count mentally. How you were talking about repeating the running total in your brain over and over. One thing I do is I associate the number with a Nascar driver. This is something I learned by reading a couple of memory books, one of the being "Moonwalking with Einstein". So if the running count is say a 5, I'll say "Kasey Kayne". Even though he hasn't driven that car in a while while. If it's 4, I'll think "Kevin Harvick", or Busch beer his sponsor. Count goes up to 15, I'll think "Clint Boyer". This is just for me since I follow Nascar, but it can be done for any sport you may like, or anything else with a number association. One thing that I did in the beginning alot, was lose the count due to people yelling out other numbers after the hand. You would hear something like "Damn, you had a 12 against my 9 and I doubled and only got a 3, but you hit 3 times, and made 21. How you gonna get an Ace, 2,2, then a 5, I lost 50 on that hand"? That sentence can really hose the number in your brain, if you aren't careful.

god i wish i had the money to fly Colin out and make him personally test him out...after the test out in all honesty I would just bore him and talk his ear off wanting to hear his stories from his playing days lol

Might be a dumb question but can you only start card counting when the dealer refills the shoe or can you just start as soon as you get a seat at the table regardless of how many cards have already been played in the shoe?

Easiest way is to get a large number of smallest denomination chips allowed at the table. Start 1 pile for plus count, 1 pile for minus count. Occasionally, remove duplicate chips from both stacks. No need to memorize.

Does the running counter affect variants besides initial bets and insurance? I’m assume high positive counts lead to higher initial bets and using insurance. Are there times in the middle of round it would affect against basic strategy? For example, let’s say you had 13 and the dealer has 4, would you still want to hit if the running count was very low negative? At what integer value does the running count begin to really affect your decisions in a typical casino shoe environment?

I learned a lot from this guy I've been winning lately thanks for the advice

Can card counting still be affective when it’s just you and the dealer?

That intro music though! 🔥🔥🔥

I understand that book strategy is important, but what about index plays? Wouldn't those be MORE important to a card counter?

can you make a video of you playing for like a half hour and explaining as u go so we can watch

Hahaha Kenmore lanes? Used to play blackjack and Spanish there for fun.when I turned 18

In London Ontario, Gate way Casino...their cards shoe stores cards in PAIRS, 100% confirmed....and then spits out as programmed...there are different programmings they use...that is why after a while facecards start coming out in acess of 5 or six...and same with pairs.... You catn count cards at all.....Its all programmed ...I am Instrument technician...and know that cards in modern shoes are stored in pairs as cameras read them and align them accorsingly.Only way to defeat card shoes is to keep changing number of hands in the game.

Really enjoying your channel so far! God bless you all :D

I got a question. If you find yourself mentally taxed and you know the deck is not in good shape (under zero count) would you recommend taking a turn off just to focus on the running count and avoiding a bad deck too?

Tip #2 is a great tip thank you!

I see a problem when there is a negative to positive when you have positive number but you are still going from -4 to -3 when negative and when positive number going 4 to 5. there are 20 positive and 20 negative numbers in a deck. in single deck start with zero the plus or minus. it is much easier. double deck start with 40 and work your way up or down. for 6 or 8 deck start with 120 or 160.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO JUST COME INTO A GAME AT THE CASINO AND FIGURE OUT THE COUNT? HOW LONG DO YOU HAVE TO PLAY BEFORE CATCHING UP ON THE COUNT?

I think I figured out a full proof way to keep the count. But, what’s the highest number you’ve gotten to in a casino ?

Just write it down on your hand

I don't know if I'm weird, but I think the count would work a lot easier for me if the high/face cards were +1 and the low cards were -1? Anyone else like this?

If you use chips for the running count, that may construe use of a device to security. Just one reason to be asked to leave.

99% of casino players are suckers including me. Now I'm a slightly educated sucker. Thx haha

What if the casino has a card shuffle machine, card counting doesn’t work does it

How this guy gets in the front door of any casino is amazing to me. If he doesn't wear disguises I'd be very surprised. With the evolution of AI and the speed and accuracy of facial recognition he could be literally added to the blackballed database with the image of his face on these videos.

I used NFL players jersey numbers when tracking count

Question: how do you convert to true count if your only playing with 1 deck? (I mean in general, obviously you won't be playing with one deck at a casino)

So when are you going to make a video on your book?

Got a quick question: Should I count the cards in one round and then add it up to the running count , or is it better to just keep the running count value and update it in real time?

that question is on purpose to make you lose your count.

When a table switches dealers and the have to take a card out of the shoe, how do you compensate the running count for that?

With change of decks wouldn't you start a new count?

That's funny I'm just learning about all of this becuse i loved to play blackjack just for pure enjoyment not to make money. But i wondered if I could just use fingers to lock my count in and let myself focus on having to look away or talk and that was literally the next tip

Thank you!

3:22 I strait up thought he was gonna say he told the pit boss he was 14 XD Edit: ok, I guess someone else had that idea 3 years ago and it got top comment. Too bad I didnt see this video then. I still dont feel like deleting this tho

Can we use the techniques on online casinos ?

i just started counting after a bad beat. im not sure if this is a good tip or not cause at times it can get kind of distracting, but i use my head like a compass or a clock so north is 0, negative is west and positive is east., and have a mental image of it in my head. has any one else tried a similar approach and practiced it? i have a pretty bad memory, but im hoping its just something i can train like a muscle

Practice, obsess, and practice some more....

Awesome advice good advice thank u

Can't you use a negative count to your advantage as well as a positive one, to adjust from basic strategy according to the count?

Why not use sign language on your hand under the table. Like hold a 14 then adjust your count when needed.

Very good video, thank you!

Question Which is better to play or presumably more profitable Plaing a 6 deck with 80% penetration with $10 min bet (i bet more) or a double deck with 60% penetration and a $25 min bet? Thoughts. Colin??

I always get confused with going up vs down because I'm dyslexic

what happened to your guys video documentary I fricken loved that documentary, Im started a VLOG here in Colombia and I count cards there are a couple of beatable games here were they give you really good Pen and good rules

Do you ever get the Tetris Effect of wanting to count other stuff besides cards in a casino?

u can rotate a chip like a clock

When you are new, chew gum when you're at the tables. People have a tendency to move their lips when counting, the gum will cover that remind you not to and cover up any movements.

Kinda want to practice it, but i see it so wasted in norway when theres no casinos around lol

Dana white must be good at counting also!!!!!!!

Perfectly said.

So do you always play basic strategy no matter what… I don’t know how to count cards but have had some some success playing BJ so idk if I count subconsciously or something because there will be times when I just KNOW what card or range of card is going to come out.. one time I hit a hard 17 because I just knew the dealer had 20 and pulled a 4. That got the pit bosses attention. Anyways had I played basic strategy obviously would’ve lost so as a card counter I would think you do veer off from basic strategy sometimes or no ??

What is the riff you do in the beginning of the video, it’s amazinf

What kind of cards can you split?

What s the true count on 6 deck shoe when running count is +3?

sounds weird but I constantly chew gum so I'll chew on my left side if it's negative then right if it's positive. have a hard time in general with something as small as mentally saying minus/m/n/d + #

I have a question for you. Is it advisable to have more than one card counter at a table at one time?

That 14 story reminds me of my friend talking to the cops when wasted. The cop asked him for his Birthday and he said, "R 7 91". The cop just said, "R is not a month sir". Then my friend, completely serious said, "Septemb-ARE 7 91".

I learning an unbalanced count

Is it better to join in at the beginning of a new shoe? Or say 2 decks have roughly been played out of a 6 or 8 deck shoe, what should I start a running count at?