Is It Possible to Count Cards in Online Blackjack?

If you enjoy games of skill, odds are that you either have an interest in blackjack or may decide to learn it when you begin gambling online. Blackjack of course still involves a large element of chance, but you can systematically learn to win again and again.  Your goal in blackjack is to get closer to 21 than the dealer does.  You and the dealer are both trying not to bust, and you are hoping the dealer busts first.

One strategy developed for blackjack is called card counting.  This system takes advantage of the fact that blackjack is a mathematical game.  It does not work perfectly, and it is a challenging skill to learn.  It is completely legal, but it is generally either against the rules or frowned heavily upon.  Casinos that spot card counters are generally within their rights to kick them out the door.  Offline, this makes card counting notoriously difficult.  You have to be able to do it mentally while carrying on as if you are doing nothing of the sort.

This might make you think that online blackjack is going to provide you with the perfect opportunity to count cards.  You wouldn’t have to count in your head in theory, and that should simplify the entire matter a great deal.  The casino can’t catch you at counting either, so there are no worries of being tossed out of the game.

Despite both of these valid points, card counting online is actually harder than it is offline, and is arguably impossible.  Why?  It all comes down to what is known as deck penetration.  Penetration is measured as a percentage of the cards which have been dealt before the dealer reshuffles the deck.  Obviously you want a high percentage.  You will get the most accurate count when you can see the largest number of cards.

Unfortunately, the blackjack deck online tends to get reshuffled after every single hand that is played.  This is not always the case, but it is by far the most common scenario.  That means you get terrible penetration, and you cannot get an accurate count of the cards.  Too much is still left up to chance.

If you take some time to think about this, it becomes clear that it is probably by design.  After all, if online casino sites offered high penetration, think how many people would be sitting there counting cards and winning every time!  No casino can afford this, which is why the decks are programmed to reshuffle so often.

So the bottom line here is that you cannot count cards in online blackjack.  As tempting as it may be, and as much intuitive sense as it may make to you, it is best to just skip it.  You will have to accept that fact and just be thankful that frequent reshuffles lower the house edge a bit.  Online blackjack can be a fun and lucrative game, but just remember that you cannot remove the risk by counting!