The Hi-Opt 1 Blackjack System Explained
The Hi-Opt 1 Blackjack system is a system commonly used in order to conduct card counting within the realm of blackjack games more proficiently and whilst it shares a major degree of overlap with the Hi-Lo card counting system it is important to appreciate that there is actually a host of other issues at stake, and supplementary details to be aware of.
The Hi-Opt 1 system is often considered as something of a rites of passage for blackjack players in that it represents the next stage of their development and advancement in the profession. Whilst it is a tough thing to master, for those who are prepared and able to do so, they will be well rewarded for their time and effort as they are provided with highly accurate information with a comfortable margin of error.
This system is also commonly preferred to its counterpart, the Wong Halves. The reason for this is due to the fact that the Hi-Opt system relies solely upon basic arithmetic (nothing more demanding than the addition and removing of the digit 1). However, where the difficulty level does quickly begin to shoot up rapidly is in connection with the need to learn the value of each card in the deck.
A breakdown of the cards, and their respective value under the terms of the system are listed as follows.
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A |
| 0 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | 0 |
It is often advised that the player should regard the numbers not as a static, self-contained entities, but members of the same group. For example, all 2’s in a deck of card will not affect the system at all.
3-6, (so, 16 cards in total) are all classed as +1 whenever they are dealt. In the middle of the proceedings are the “middle” cards which (7-9) and these are 12 in total. Just like the 2’s, they provide no discernible impact on the count.
Finally, the remaining cards (10 and all royal suit cards) are counted as providing a -1 to the count if they are ever played.
Please note that the Aces are treated specially under this system and so there are a number of different rules governing them. Unfortunately, the flaw with this system is that it does not keep a tally of the number of Aces in operation which means that the onus will by necessity then, fall to the player to ensure that they keep up with keeping score.
According to Ken Ushton, the best method for keeping a proper count on the number of Aces that have been played is to use your feet.
Again we must stress that if you try this system online then stick to quality online casino operators that have a proven history of excellence. For UK players we strongly suggest you take up the £150 deposit bonus on offer from Virgin Casino whilst players from other countries such opt for 7Red Casino and take up the $100 bonus on offer.
