The unbalanced card counting technique is the gateway to learning card counting. These systems focus on the Running Count and point values to determine whether the shoe deck is high-card or low-card rich — without needing to calculate a True Count.
Key Advantage: No True Count Conversion Required
With unbalanced card counting systems, you track only the Running Count. No conversion to True Count is needed, which makes these systems significantly easier to learn and use at the table.
The KO Count (Knock-Out Count)
The KO Count is one of the most popular unbalanced systems and is perfect for beginners. Unlike many systems that ignore the 7, the KO Count includes it.
| Card | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10/J/Q/K | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 |
Neutral cards: 8 and 9
Example: If the dealer deals K and Q, the RC drops to -2. After two more cards — 10 and 5 — the RC is -3. A negative RC indicates more high cards have been dealt, leaving a low-card-rich deck.
The KO Count is very similar to the Easy Red 7 Count, but it counts all 7s as +1 (not just red 7s).
The Zen II Count
The Zen II is similar to the regular Zen Count but assigns positive values to three cards. It requires more memorization but delivers better results.
| Card | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10/J/Q/K | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | +1 | +2 | +2 | +2 | +2 | +1 | 0 | 0 | -2 | -1 |
Key differences from KO Count:
- •Cards 3–6 are worth +2 instead of +1
- •10-value cards are -2 instead of -1
- •Ace is -1 instead of -1 (same, but differentiated)
- •More point values to remember
Which should you use?
- •KO Count — Best for beginners; simple, effective
- •Zen II Count — Better for intermediate players who want improved accuracy while staying with an unbalanced system
Starting Counts
Both the KO Count and Zen II Count start at 0 for single-deck games. For multi-deck games, adjust the Initial Running Count accordingly (multiply the imbalance by the number of decks).