Hi-Lo Card Counting System
Hi-Lo is the standard level-1 balanced count. Low cards (2-6) are +1, middle cards (7-9) are 0, and tens and aces are -1. Most published index numbers, including the Illustrious 18, are built on it, which is why it is the default in every drill on this site.
- Level
- 1
- Balanced
- Yes
- True count
- Yes
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Hi-Lo Card Values
| Cards | Tag | Per deck |
|---|---|---|
| 2-6 | +1 | 20 cards |
| 7-9 | 0 | 12 cards |
| 10-A | -1 | 20 cards |
"10" means every ten-value card: 10, J, Q and K. Add the tags over a full deck and you get exactly 0, which is how you check your practice runs.
How to Count Hi-Lo
- Start at 0 after every shuffle.
- Keep a running count. Add each card's tag as it is dealt. Count in pairs where you can: a card tagged +1 and a card tagged -1 cancel to 0.
- Convert to a true count. Divide the running count by the decks remaining in the shoe. A running count of +6 with 3 decks left is a true count of +2. Base bets and deviations on the true count.
Practice the conversion with the true count drill, and read running count vs true count for the theory.
Published Efficiency
| Measure | Hi-Lo |
|---|---|
| Betting correlation | 0.97 |
| Playing efficiency | 0.51 |
| Insurance correlation | 0.76 |
Widely published values from standard comparison tables, such as those by Arnold Snyder, Stanford Wong and the Wizard of Odds, not results from our own simulations. See the full comparison.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- The reference system: most books, index charts and training tools use Hi-Lo tags.
- Single-level tags (+1, 0, -1) that cancel in pairs, so a trained counter does little arithmetic.
- A betting correlation of 0.97, which captures nearly all the betting value a count can.
- Balanced, so the same true count means the same edge in single-deck and 8-deck games.
Cons
- Needs a true count conversion: divide by the decks remaining before you bet or deviate.
- The lowest playing efficiency of the full counts here (0.51), so level-2 systems squeeze more from playing decisions, mostly in single-deck games.
- Rated Moderate difficulty because of the conversion step, not the tags.
Who Hi-Lo Suits
Anyone who wants the standard system: serious shoe-game players, anyone planning to use the Illustrious 18 and other index plays, and beginners who are willing to learn the true count from day one.
Usually credited to Harvey Dubner, popularized by Stanford Wong's Professional Blackjack.
Practice Hi-Lo
Count a real shoe with Hi-Lo tags at the dealing speed you choose.
Start the Hi-Lo DrillFrequently Asked Questions
Yes, given reasonable rules, good penetration and a meaningful bet spread. Its betting correlation of 0.97 means it tracks the value of the remaining cards for betting almost as well as any practical count, and in shoe games most of a counter's edge comes from bet sizing.
Aces make blackjacks, which pay 3:2, so each ace dealt hurts your betting edge. Counting it -1 keeps the betting correlation high. Systems like Hi-Opt I and II leave the ace at 0 to improve playing decisions, then track aces in a separate side count for betting.
Yes. Hi-Lo is balanced, so the running count has to be divided by the decks remaining before it tells you your edge. A running count of +6 is a true count of +2 with three decks left, but only +1 with six decks left.
Count down a full deck or shoe. Because Hi-Lo is balanced, you should finish at exactly 0 every time. The speed count drill deals a real shoe at the pace you choose and shows the full breakdown when you check.