The Red Seven Count
August 29th, 2005 by brother9The Red Seven count is probably the easiest counting system and the most efficient of the low-level counting systems. It works simply:
Ace and 10 are valued at -1
2, 3, 4, 5, 6 are valued at +1
the red 7s are valued at +1
This counting method results in what’s called an unbalanced count - in most counting systems once you go through a deck, starting at zero and counting all of the cards, you’ll end up at zero. With an unblaanced count, you start at zero and after going through a deck you will not end up at zero. The advantage at using an unbalanced system is that you do not have to estimate the count in relation to the remaining decks. The disadvantage is that a counting error will result in more fluctuations (therefore being MUCH less effective) than with a balanced counting method.
But the Red 7 is definitely the easiest of all counting methods and is very very efficient for doing what it does.
The starting count, when you first sit down to play, is NOT zero. It is -2 for each deck available. So for the typical 8 deck shoe your starting count should be -16, for a 6 deck shoe it is -12, and so forth.
The pivots - the points in the count at which you gain successive 1% advantages - depend on the number of decks in play, so for the purposes of this we’ll assume ’shoe’ play. Six or eight decks. If you play fewer decks you should find any one of Arnold Snyder’s books, especially Blackbelt in Blackjack. If you start with the proper number (-16, -12, depending on the decks in the shoe), the pivot point will always be zero. Once it hits zero your advantage over the house has been raised by 1/2 of 1%. It is also at this point that you should raise your bet.
In a shoe game, your base bet should be 2 units. If the count goes negative, your bet should be one unit. Increase your bet to three units at +6, 4 units at +8, 6 units at +12, and 8 units at +16.
Take insurance anytime the count is +2.
Playing decisions change in this manner:
At a count of zero:
Stand on player 16 vs. dealer 10.
Stand on player 12 vs. dealer 3.At a count of +2 or higher:
Stand on player 12 vs. dealer 2.
Stand opn player 15 vs. dealer 10.
Double down on ANY player 10.
Obviously, if you are going to play a shoe game, you need to practice over and over and over and over and over and over and over using MANY decks at home. For every deck of cards you use, the final count shoudl be +2. If you practice with one deck, after going through it your count should be +2. If you practice with four decks, your final count should be +8.
PRACTICE!
