Gambling terms, explained straight

Advantage Play & Game Integrity

Hi-lo count blackjack

Hi-lo count blackjack is a card-counting method that assigns +1 to low cards, 0 to neutral cards, and -1 to high cards, tracking the running count to estimate the remaining deck's favour.

Card values
+1 for 2–6, 0 for 7–9, -1 for 10–Ace13
Level
Level-1 count (running count changes by at most 1 per card)1
True count
Running count ÷ number of decks remaining23

Key points

  • Start at 0; add or subtract the assigned value as each card is revealed to maintain the running count.23
  • A positive true count means the remaining deck is richer in high cards, favouring the player.3
  • Hi-Lo is a level-1 count, so the running count never changes by more than 1 per card.1

Where this term is used

Not the same as

  • Hi-lo system blackjack — the same term in practical use; no meaningful distinction from hi-lo count blackjack
  • Blackjack true count — the adjusted measure derived from the running count and decks remaining, while hi-lo count is the underlying system that produces it
Advantage play Hi-lo blackjack card counting Covers the same Hi-Lo method in more detail, including betting adjustments. Advantage play Running count blackjack Explains the raw tally of card values before converting to a true count. Advantage play Hi-lo card counting General overview of the Hi-Lo system applied to blackjack. Advantage play Blackjack card counting Broad introduction to card-counting techniques in blackjack. Advantage play Shuffle tracking blackjack A different advantage-play method that tracks clumps of cards through the shuffle. Advantage play Edge sorting blackjack An advantage-play technique exploiting manufacturing imperfections on card backs.

Sources

  1. Card counting en.wikipedia.org Provides the standard card values and confirms Hi-Lo is a level-1 count.
  2. Introduction to the High-Low Card Counting Strategy wizardofodds.com Explains the running count, true count conversion, and the basic Hi-Lo method.
  3. Card Counting in Blackjack - Introduction & Basics wizardofodds.com Supports the card values, true count formula, and the interpretation of a positive count.

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.