Card counting is a technique that helps players gain an edge over the house at casino card games. This advantage is usually around 1%, which is enough to make the average player a winning gambler in the long run. It’s no wonder that people are so eager to learn the technique and try it out at their favorite casinos. However, if you’ve ever heard about card counting in the media, you might be wondering if it can also work in poker. The answer is yes, but there are some differences between blackjack and poker when it comes to using card counting to improve your game.

Unlike blackjack, which is a game in which all the cards are visible to everyone at the table, poker involves private hand cards that are only known to the player holding them. This makes it a bit more difficult to use card counting in poker, but there are some tricks that can help you. Counting cards in poker involves tracking the number of good outs that your opponent has for his or her hand. This can be done by assigning different values to the cards, based on their presumed value for the dealer or player, and then adding up the total number of outs. It’s a common misconception that card counters have to memorize and track every single card, but this isn’t true. Rather, a player only needs to remember the total number of outs for each type of hand.

While counting outs is useful, it’s not as beneficial as knowing the overall odds of your hand. This allows you to calculate your pot equity and determine whether or not to risk a big bet with a weak hand, or call a bet with an excellent chance of improving your hand. To figure out your pot equity, you need to multiply the number of outs for each type of hand by its probability. For example, a flush draw has nine outs, while an open-ended straight draw has eight outs. This calculation can be made easier by using shortcut running counts, which are based on the type of hand you hold and are easy to memorize.

It’s important to note that while card counting can give you an edge in poker, it won’t be as substantial as it is in blackjack. This is because the deck is shuffled after each hand, so back counting (trying to guess which cards will come in future hands) won’t work. Furthermore, many casinos have strict policies on card counting and will kick you out if they see you doing it. So, if you’re hoping to become a professional poker player, card counting probably isn’t the best route to take. Instead, focus on more profitable strategies that will increase your chances of winning.