The Red 7 Card Counting System

Basics of the Red 7 System

Arnold Snyder’s Red 7 count is similar to other card-counting methods in blackjack. It helps players track the ratio of high to low cards remaining in the shoe. The principle is straightforward – high cards create stronger hands and improve the player’s odds, which is why a shoe with more high than low cards is considered favorable. Conversely, when most high cards have already been dealt and the shoe is rich in low ones, the casino gains the edge.

Like other counting systems, the Red 7 assigns point values to every card in the deck. In this system, low cards are worth +1, high cards are counted as -1, and 8s and 9s are neutral with a value of 0. What makes the Red 7 unique is its treatment of 7s – half of them are valued at +1 and the other half at -1, depending on their color.

• 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Red 7 – +1
• 8, 9, Black 7 – 0
• A, 10, J, Q, K – -1

Red vs. Black 7s

As you can see, there are more cards with a positive value than there are high cards with a negative value. The 7 is either neutral or a positive number, which sets this system apart from most others. The total sum of all values is not 0, as it is in balanced systems, but +2. Therefore, after counting down to the last card in the shoe, you should arrive at a final count of +2 – otherwise, a mistake has been made.

Normally, the final count of a standard 52-card deck is irrelevant to playing or betting strategy. For unbalanced systems, however, players must determine the initial running count – the value from which they begin. In the Red 7 System, the red 7s are key to this calculation.

Final Count and Initial Count

As mentioned, the final count when using the Red 7 System is +2. This figure changes as more decks are added: in a single-deck game it is +2 because of the two additional red 7s; in a double-deck game it is +4. Accordingly, a 4-deck game yields +8, 6 decks produce +12, and 8 decks reach +16.

The initial count, or initial running count (IRC), is the value at which counting begins. In balanced systems it is 0, but here we must offset the extra positive values, namely the two red 7s per deck. This adjustment makes the system much more accurate. To find the correct initial count for games with multiple decks, simply multiply the number of decks by -2.

How to Use the Red 7 Count?

The Red 7 system, developed by Arnold Snyder, is easy to follow in live games, even when they move quickly and are dealt by professional dealers. Following the principles described above, you begin counting as soon as the cards are shuffled. The initial count depends on the number of decks in play. For example, in a 6-deck game the first round might reveal 7 (red), 6, Ace, 2, 5, 5, King, 8, and 4.

You would start with an IRC of -12, then add or subtract the value of each card, arriving at a running count of -10. After several more rounds, the running count remains negative at -6. The recommended betting tactic is flat betting, wagering the table minimum (1-unit bets). Once the running count turns positive (+1, +2, +3), increase your stake – this point is known to blackjack pros as the “pivot.” The higher the count, the larger the bets should be. If the running count drops below 0, revert to the minimum wager.

Basic Strategy Deviations

It often takes more than a few hands to reach a positive count with the Red 7 method. Be prepared to flat-bet until at least half of the shoe has been dealt. The system is therefore safe and conservative, yet it introduces several tweaks to basic blackjack strategy.