Gambling terms, explained straight

Advantage Play & Game Integrity

Hi-lo blackjack card counting

Hi-Lo is a balanced blackjack counting system that tracks the ratio of high to low cards by giving each card a value of +1, 0, or -1, then adjusting the count for the number of decks still in play.

Point values
2–6 = +1; 7–9 = 0; 10, J, Q, K, A = −12
True count
Running count ÷ decks remaining
Origin
Introduced in 1963 by Harvey Dubner2

Key points

  • A positive running count means more low cards have been removed, leaving the deck richer in high cards.3
  • The true count guides betting size and some playing strategy deviations.4
  • Hi-Lo is a level-1 system; the running count changes by at most 1 per card.1

Where this term is used

Not the same as

Advantage play Hi-lo card counting Covers the same Hi-Lo system with a focus on the counting method itself. Advantage play Blackjack card counting Explains the general practice of tracking card ratios in blackjack. Advantage play Card counting Introduces the broader concept of card counting across different games. Advantage play Hi-lo count blackjack Another entry for the Hi-Lo system applied to blackjack. Advantage play Card counting machine blackjack Discusses automated devices used to count cards in blackjack. Advantage play Blackjack card counting bot Covers software bots that perform card counting in online blackjack.

Sources

  1. Card counting en.wikipedia.org Provides the point values and level-1 classification for Hi-Lo.
  2. Introduction to the High-Low Card Counting Strategy wizardofodds.com Offers the definition, point values, and origin date of the Hi-Lo system.
  3. Card Counting in Blackjack - Introduction & Basics wizardofodds.com Explains how the running count indicates deck composition and the true count calculation.
  4. Blackjack FAQ wizardofodds.com Describes how the true count guides betting and strategy deviations.

Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.

Written and maintained by Ellis Warrender, writer and maintainer.

Last updated 28 July 2026. Spotted an error? Tell me and it gets fixed and logged on the corrections page.