Red Zen Count
Red Robin is a gourmet burger restaurant that offers a host of unique flavor combinations built on half-pound ground beef patties that are fresh, never frozen. The chain also offers salads, pub-style appetizers, chicken sandwiches, milkshakes, smoothies, and full bar service. Zen Card Counting System in Blackjack. The Zen Card Counting system is another contribution from recognized card counting master, Arnold Snyder. The Zen system is one of several that were detailed in Snyder’s authoritative book, Blackbelt In Blackjack. He also introduced the RED 7 method and others. While Snyder was a master card counter, he did not neglect the beginning counter when developing.
Zen Count Method of Card Counting. The Zen Count system of card counting is a unique creation by Arnold Snyder. Originally published in 1983, Blackbelt in Blackjack outlines Snyder's Zen Count method, as well as other information about card counting and methods. Snyder's advancement in card counting and prowess at the game led to his being one of the seven original players elected to the Blackjack. Red Seven Card Counting System. The red seven count is another widely popular system among card counters. It is actually a simple level 1 and one of the easier systems to use. There is a small difference in this strategy compared to many of the others and it has to do with the seven point cards. This is also one of the few systems in blackjack that actually depends on what suit and color the cards have as well. Start your running count with a -2 based on our guidance in the section above. Then, if the dealer deals a queen, you’ll take the value of that card (-1) and add it to your running count. This will bring your new running count total to a-3. Then, if a red 7 is dealt next, you’ll add a +1 to your count, thus bringing your running count to -2.
As well as Hi-Opt 2, Zen Count is a more complicated card counting system than Hi-Lo or KO Count for example. This system first appeared in Arnold Snyder's book Blackbelt in Blackjack where he described Zen Count in details as being a really profitable system for an intermediate player.
As well as other systems, Zen Count is based on basic blackjack strategy; and every card of a deck has its own value: you start with 0 and add/subtract 1 or 2 points each time when you see a card dealt from a shoe. Zen Count is not the easiest system of course, but it cannot be called the most difficult one too.
How to Count
First of all, you should know the value of each card. Zen Count differs from other counting systems here because it does not count an Ace being neutral though many systems do that. So, thanks to Zen Count, you should not use Aces in side-counts but subtract 2 points each time when an Ace appears on the table.
Learn the table below:
A card 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 J Q K A
Value +1 +1 +2 +2 +2 +1 0 0 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2
Red Zen Card Counting System
As well as many other counting systems, Zen Count is a balanced one: it means that you are welcome to increase your bet every time when your count total is positive and decrease it when your count total is negative. The final result of your counting should be 0 after the last card is dealt from a shoe.
But remember that a dealer also has a chance to beat you even when your count total is high. So, do not forget about blackjack secrets and use trustworthy tips in order to win at blackjack.
Zen Count is usually used by advanced blackjack players but it does not mean you should not try it; the main thing is a good practice. And do not forget about basic blackjack strategy!
If you are interested in some more card counting systems to try, Omega II and Red Seven are worth your attention: a professional blackjack player is always ready to learn something new concerning the game.
Top Blackjack Sites Online
The Zen Count system of card counting is a unique creation by Arnold Snyder. Originally published in 1983, Blackbelt in Blackjack outlines Snyder's Zen Count method, as well as other information about card counting and methods. Snyder's advancement in card counting and prowess at the game led to his being one of the seven original players elected to the Blackjack Hall of Fame by fellow professional players.
Snyder has been the editor of Blackjack Forum, a quarterly blackjack trade journal, since 1981. In addition to Blackbelt in Blackjack, Snyder has also published The Blackjack Shuffle Tracker's Cookbook, The Blackjack Formula, The Poker Tournament Formula, The Poker Tournament Formula 2, How To Bet Internet Casinos and Poker Rooms, Big Book of Blackjack, and The Over/Under Report. When Ontario put blackjack team manager Tommy Hyland on trial, Snyder's testimony was influential in preserving the right to play team Blackjack in U.S. and Canadian casinos.
A balanced system, when the Zen Count system is used properly it leads to a count of 0 after an entire deck has been counted. Like most multi-level systems, it can be difficult for novice players to keep track of the running and make conversions to the true count in a timely manner. For the more experienced players, however, this system can be incredibly accurate.
How Zen Count Works
Zen Count card counting uses more than the traditional +1 and -1 values you'll find in other systems, like the Hi-Lo or Knockout methods. In addition to those values, it also includes values or +2 and -2, weighted to provide a greater advantage to the player. The values are distributed as follows:
Zen Count Card Point Values |
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 A |
+1 +1 +2 +2 +2 +1 0 0 -2 -1 |
To practice the Zen count, first grab a deck of cards and simply state the value of each card as you flip them over. This will help familiarize you with the card values, drilling them into your memory. Once the values are securely in your mind, you can start practicing the running count. The running count starts at 0, and increases or decreases based on each card played. Here's an example:
1st card is a 10, so the count is -2.
2nd card is a 4, so the count becomes 0.
3rd card is a 2, so the count becomes 1.
Once you've managed to maintain a running count in your head using a single deck, you can start training to calculate the true count for multiple deck games. The true count is determined by dividing the running count by the number of decks left to be dealt. So a running count of 12 in a six-deck game, with three decks left in the shoe, would yield a true count of 4.
With the Ace included in the count, the Zen Count gives similar playing tendencies to the Hi-Lo system, but many believe it to be more accurate, making it perfect for more advanced blackjack players. As with any system, the idea is to bet larger amounts when the count is higher. There's even a betting scheme for the Zen Count system, based on betting between 1 and 10 units.
Betting units |
True CountWager |
0 or less 1 unit |
+1 1 unit |
+2 2 units |
+3 3 units |
+4 4 units |
+5 5 units |
In fact, betting can increase up to 10 units with a true count of +10. This is, perhaps, one of the widest betting spreads seen in card-counting methods.
Books About the Zen Count Method
The greatest resource for the Zen Count system would be the book in which it first appeared Blackbelt in Blackjack by Arnold Snyder. Another great book by Snyder is The Big Book of Blackjack, which covers many aspects of blackjack, in addition to card counting.