The SS ("Strongest and Simplest") Count was developed by professional player and author Ken Uston. It's a balanced system, meaning the running count always starts at zero at the top of a fresh shoe, regardless of how many decks are in play — unlike unbalanced systems like Easy Red 7, which start at a fixed negative number tied to the deck count.
Point values run from −3 to +3, a wider spread than simpler systems, which is what gives SS its sharper edge — it tracks the shoe's composition more precisely. Low cards (2 through 8) add points when dealt; nines and tens subtract points; aces are neutral. Because it's balanced, the raw running count on its own doesn't tell you much — you need the True Count (running count ÷ decks remaining) to know your actual edge, which is exactly what this calculator tracks for you automatically.
SS asks more of you at the table than Easy Red 7, but rewards it with a more accurate read on when the shoe actually favors you — a good next step once the basics feel automatic.