Always walk away on a “low” note

Card counting can be a tricky proposition. Learning how to count cards is just the beginning. The real challenge comes from understanding that just because you’ve learned this ability doesn’t guarantee returns on a regular basis. That can lead to feelings of frustration and defeat – meaning either an exit from the game altogether or an inability to control your anger as you make poor choice after poor choice.

Why do we count? We count to give us an advantage over the dealer, to basically play process of elimination. So when the count is high, you’re supposed to win, and when the count is low, you’re supposed to walk away. Of course, we don’t live in a world of supposed to’s, so when you’re not winning when you’re supposed to, what is the correct course of action?

Ride it out or walk away? Cold spells will happen, and any true grinder will tell you blackjack is more of a roller coaster than poker is, so those without patience will probably take the quickest path and get up from the table. But if the true count is high, that’s a mistake. No matter what you think or feel in the heat of the moment, if the count at the table is still high, you stay. And you should have the bankroll to support that decision before you even sit down at the table.

Is it possible you’re stuck in endless bad shoe after shoe, even if the count is in your favor? Yes, it’s possible. But don’t think short term. Counting and blackjack is a “long haul” proposition for those really trying to play to make money. Amateurs won’t just ride a magic carpet to the top of the heap. You have to struggle through some pain (and we’re talking about thousands and thousands of dollars in pain) before you can reap the rewards of regular pleasure.

If you can’t take the setbacks, you shouldn’t be playing the game. Sure, it can be infuriating, blood-boiling to lose max bets en masse when the count is high, especially if you’re alone in your freefall (meaning others are actually winning). But that’s reality. And the reality of grinding blackjack is that you stay at the table when the count is high, and you get up and walk away when it’s low. Whether you’re winning or losing on either end is irrelevant. It is. If you need to clear your head and absorb that message, it’s best to walk away from the game entirely until you can come to terms with that truth.