Arnold Snyder’s Easy Red 7 Count is one of the easiest to learn, especially when counting cards at a real blackjack table where you don’t have the benefit of your smartphone or a computer. Ken Uston’s SS Count, on the other hand, is a little bit tougher, but definitely more effective.

Ken Uston, with the help of Arnold Snyder, developed his SS Count in the 1980s. Similar to the Red 7 Count, points are assigned to the cards, with the starting count dependent upon the number of decks in the shoe. So, once you determine the number of decks in the shoe, you will get your starting count based on the following table:

No. of Decks Starting Count
1 -4
2 -8
4 -16
6 -24
8 -32
10 -40

Basically, you multiple the number of decks in the shoe with -4. For example, a shoe with 8 decks would yield a starting count of -32.

Now, for the count. With an 8 deck shoe, and your starting count at -32, you would add and subtract points based on the following table:

Card Points
A -2
2 +2
3 +2
4 +2
5 +3
6 +2
7 +1
8 0
9 -1
TJQK -2

So, a deal like this:

Your starting count would be -32, subtract 2 for the King, subtract 2 for the Queen, and add 2 for the Three, which would put your total count at -30. Once your count gets to +2 or above, then that’s when things get interesting. You would increase your bet size based on the following table:

Count Bet Size Multiple
+1 or below 1
+2, +3 2
+4, +5 3
+6, +7 4
+8 or higher 5

So, let’s say that your running count is +5 and your starting unit size is $10, then you would increase your bet to $10 x 3 = $30.

If you want to increase your odds by a little bit more, then you can add Arnold Snyder’s insurance and surrender options. Here’s the basis of those bets that I’ve also incorporated into our Uston SS Online Blackjack Card Counter:

Take Insurance – Default is NO, unless the following:
Input is 1 or 2 Decks Used: YES, when Running Count is 0 or higher
Input is 3+ Decks Used: YES, when Running Count is +2 or higher

16 vs. 10 & 12 vs. 3 – Default is HIT, unless the following:
Any number of Decks Used: STAND, when Running Count is 0 or higher

12 vs. 2 & 15 vs. 10 – Default is HIT, unless the following:
Any number of Decks Used: STAND, when Running Count is +2 or higher

10 vs. X – Default is HIT, unless the following:
Any number of Decks Used: DOUBLE, when Running Count is +2 or higher

If you want to test out your skills, then we’ve made it easy for you to use this card counting system with our no download Uston SS Online Blackjack Card Counter. Click on the picture below to test it out: