Hi-Opt I Card Counting System

Hi-Opt I is a balanced level-1 count that tags only 3 through 6 (+1) and ten-value cards (-1). Twos, 7-9 and aces are all 0. Leaving the ace neutral makes it stronger for playing decisions and insurance, and serious users add a separate ace side count to restore betting accuracy.

Level: 1
Balanced: Yes
True count: Yes
Difficulty: Moderate

Hi-Opt I Card Values

Cards	Tag	Per deck
3-6	+1	16 cards
2, 7-9, A	0	20 cards
10	-1	16 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.

Ace side count

Aces count 0 in the main count. Keep a separate ace side count and adjust the count for betting when aces are rich or poor.

How to Count Hi-Opt I

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-Opt I	Hi-Lo
Betting correlation	0.88	0.97
Playing efficiency	0.61	0.51
Insurance correlation	0.85	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. Figures are for the main count without the ace side count. See the full comparison.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Simple +1 / -1 tags on just eight ranks per suit.
Higher playing efficiency (0.61) and insurance correlation (0.85) than Hi-Lo.
Balanced, so it works at any number of decks with a true count.

Cons

The lowest published betting correlation here (0.88) unless you side count aces.
The ace side count means tracking a second number and adjusting for it before you bet.
Needs true count conversion like Hi-Lo.

Who Hi-Opt I Suits

Single- and double-deck players, where playing decisions carry more weight, who are prepared to keep an ace side count.

Usually credited to Lance Humble.

Practice Hi-Opt I

Count a real shoe with Hi-Opt I tags at the dealing speed you choose.

Start the Hi-Opt I Drill

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Hi-Opt I count aces as 0?

The ace behaves like a low card for some playing decisions and like a high card for betting. Tagging it 0 keeps it from distorting playing decisions and insurance; the side count then lets you adjust your bet when aces are rich or poor.

Is Hi-Opt I better than Hi-Lo?

It depends on the game. Hi-Opt I has the higher published playing efficiency and insurance correlation, while Hi-Lo has the higher betting correlation. In shoe games, where most of the edge comes from betting, Hi-Lo is usually preferred.

Can I use Hi-Opt I without the ace side count?

Yes, but its betting correlation drops to 0.88. Many players who skip the side count are better served by Hi-Lo, which already counts the ace in the main count.