1. Blackjack Ko System Blackjack
2. Ko Blackjack Counting System

Learn about the winning Blackjack KO Count method that will tell you the basics of card counting! Knockout (KO) is a card counting system used in blackjack. Learn how to use the knockout system to gain an edge in blackjack. The Knock Out or KO card counting method is an unbalanced method as mentioned in the book Knout Out Blackjack. Details about the KO Blackjack card counting system and a brief review of the book, Knockout Blackjack.

There are dozens of card counting systems for blackjack, each one claiming to offer some advantage over its rivals. What is really the truth?

Here we review one such system, known as the KO System, and take a detailed look at how to use the system and a review of the system itself including its performance statistics.

The History

KO blackjack card counting system. The “KO” is derived from “Knock-Out”. This system was first introduced in 1992 under name “All Sevens” in “The Book of British Blackjack”.

But the book which made this system really popular and brought it to masses “Knock-Out Blackjack: The Easiest Card-Counting System Ever Devised” by Olaf Vancura and Ken Fuchs. This bools presents it as easy to learn but powerful card counting system and I have to agree with that.

How to use KO System

It is professional but at the same time very easy system to follow. It is one level and unbalanced card counting system.

The running count is based as follows:

• Cards 2 through 7 count as +1
• Cards 8 or 9 count as zero (i.e. they can be ignored)
• Cards 10 through ace count as -1

It’s important to note that there are more cards worth +1 than -1 so there is an amount of unbalance in the system. As a result there is no need to calculate the true count. The initial running count should start from zero and then, as normal, simply add or subtract from the running count dependent on the value of each card as it is played. The values are almost same as the values in Hi-Lo system except for sevens which are counted in Hi Lo as -1.

The advantage turns sufficiently to the card counter when the running count reaches +2 or greater. The higher the positive count the higher the advantage becomes.

Betting Strategy Adjustment

The simple strategy, as always, is to bet larger amounts when the advantage is with you and lower amounts when the advantage is with the house. This strategy is based on single deck games, but the strategy can be modified to cope with multi-deck games.

So what constitutes “larger” and “smaller” amounts? It really depends upon the table limits, your psychological attitude to risk and your overall bankroll. Many players choose their smallest bet to be the minimum stake allowed by the table and simply make the larger amount a multiple of this amount. The thing to bear in mind is that the total amount bet must be sufficient to meet your income target given that the edge when playing this system is typically 1% to 2%.

Below is overview of how to increase/decrease the bet size based on the running count. You can also check out software at this website which lets you train the system along with all the strategies.

The betting amount adjustment of this system can be calculated based on the running count:

• running count <= 0
  the betting amount is equal to table minimum
• true count > 1
  the bet amount can be computed as (running count + 1) *(multiplied by) betting unit

The example below is for single deck games. For six deck games it would need to be adjusted as:

• running count < -3
  the betting amount is equal to table minimum
• true count >= -3
  the bet amount can be computed as 2 * table minimum for -3 and -2, 5 * table minimum for -1 to +1 and then increase the bet after each 2 running count increments by doubling it

Playing Strategy Adjustments

Once you are comfortable with the betting strategy adjustments, and holding a running count sufficiently accurately to win money, you can add other bolt on strategies to further increase your winning potential. Once of these is insurance. The concept of insurance is that it is offered to players when the dealer shows an ace. The insurance provides protection against the dealer having a ten with the ace and therefore a winning hand. It’s effectively a side bet on the game and card counting provides an opportunity to win with it. The idea is to generally not take the insurance unless there is a good proportion of tens remaining. The K-O system allows you to identify these opportunities by simply knowing the running count and taking insurance when it is +3 or greater.

Blackjack Ko System Blackjack

The Rating

Many players consider the K-O system to be too simplistic to provide enough edge but it compares very well with other more complex systems. So how does this system compare?

For ease of use the K-O system clearly score highly since a number of cards do not score and can therefore be ignored. The playing efficiency of the system scores mid range compared with other sites, the betting correlation scores very highly and the insurance correlation scores mid-range. Overall it is virtually on par with the popular Hi-Low system, and simpler to operate.

One other little considered aspect of system performance is the length of losing run. This is the expected number of continuous losing bets overall a period of time. The reason that this parameter is important is that a losing run of any significant length when compared with a small bankroll will ultimately result in you losing all and being out of the game. To prevent this some experts have recommended that the minimum and maximum bets are specific percentages of your overall bankroll. The percentage used should relate to the expectation of length of losing run and the way that most systems are tested for this parameter is by using simulation.

Computers make this easy to do with tens of thousands of runs being able to be made in a short time and the maximum length of losing run noted. As an example, if the maximum length of losing runs is 12 games then your bet size strategy needs to be able to cope without you losing all your bankroll.

The edge created by most card counting systems, and the K-O is no exception, is normally between 1% and 2%. Your winnings therefore rely solely on your ability to card count and the size of your bets. This assumes, of course, that you remain undetected by the house.

Ko Blackjack Counting System

Another way of increasing your winnings is to pit your skills against other blackjack players in competition. The ultimate prize is to win the World Series of Blackjack, normally held at the Las Vegas Hilton, where 40 of the worlds best players compete for a prize of half a million dollars!