It does make the Zen system easier to use because the player has one less thing to track during live play. Snyder believed this method was just as effective as eliminating them from the running count and counting them separately.

To compensate for the reduction in the percentage edge which occurs as aces are removed from the deck, Arnold Snyder assigned the aces a value of -1 in the running count. They are simply accounted for in the running count along with the other cards. Aces in the Zen system are not side-reckoned or counted separately. The manner in which a player handles aces in the Zen system deserves some explanation. The indices of the Zen system are fairly uncomplicated and can be committed to memory after a few sessions of practice at home. Card Values in the Zen SystemĮach card in the deck has a numerical value in the Zen system. In the Zen system a positive running count (+2, +3, +4) demands a bet increase and a negative running count (-1, -2, -3) demands betting the minimum allowed at the table. The running count is your signal to increase or decrease your blackjack bets. The Zen system and all other card counting methods rely upon creating a running count derived from numerical values assigned to each card in the deck. If you do not know when to properly execute the options available to you as a player, card counting won’t help you very much. The Basics of the Zen SystemĪn important thing for would-be card counters to understand is that all card counting methods, including the Zen system, depend upon a sound comprehension of basic blackjack strategy.

There are a few elements of the Zen system that will require some practice at home before they can be executed in a quick fashion.

In order to use it successfully your skill level should probably fall somewhere in between beginner and mildly experienced. We would characterize the Zen system as a middle-of-the-road option for card counters. The Zen system is complex enough to create a significant edge for the player, but at the same time it simplifies the point values assigned to each card in order to make the method easier to use in live blackjack play. W hile Snyder was a master card counter, he did not neglect the beginning counter when developing his systems. He also introduced the RED 7 method and others. The Zen system is one of several that were detailed in Snyder’s authoritative book, Blackbelt In Blackjack. The Zen Card Counting system is another contribution from recognized card counting master, Arnold Snyder.

Blackjack tables at running aces