Systems
An ace-neutral level-one count from Humble and Cooper. Twos and sevens are 0; tens are −1; aces sit outside the primary count.
Hi-Opt I
Hi-Opt I is an ace-neutral level-one count. Leaving aces out of the running count raises playing efficiency; side-count them if you want more betting power.
| A | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
The values
Hi-Opt I comes from Charles Einstein’s work, then Lance Humble and Carl Cooper’s The World’s Greatest Blackjack Book (1980). It is ace-neutral: aces are 0 in the running count. That helps playing decisions. It does not make the count “more accurate” overall — betting correlation drops unless you side-count aces.
Published practice is to keep a separate ace side count for betting, then use the primary count for strategy.
+1
3, 4, 5, 6
Low cards that enrich the remaining shoe when they leave.
0
A, 2, 7, 8, 9
Aces are tracked on the side. Twos and 7–9 do not move the primary count.
−1
10, J, Q, K
Tens. When they leave, the remaining mix is weaker for the player.
Extra tracking
Aces are 0 in the running count. Published Hi-Opt I keeps a separate ace side count so you can still bet when the remaining shoe is ace-rich.
Tally aces as they leave the shoe. Remaining aces versus remaining decks tells you when to raise the bet. The primary true count still drives playing deviations.
The math
Start at 0 and add Hi-Opt I values. The count is balanced, so a full deck returns to 0. Aces never move that total.
Convert to true count for betting and indices. If you side-count aces, combine that with the true count when you size the bet — the primary count alone understates ace density.
Efficiency
Leaving aces out raises playing efficiency and insurance correlation relative to Hi-Lo, and lowers betting correlation until you add the side count.
BC
88%
Betting correlation of 88% for the primary count. Side-count aces if you want Hi-Lo-like betting power.
PE
61%
Playing efficiency of 61% — the reason people pick an ace-neutral count.
IC
85%
Insurance correlation of 85%. Tens in the primary count are a clean insurance signal.
In the app
Hi-Opt I is free in the app. Memorize the values, then run the same Running Count and True Count drills as Hi-Lo.
Drill the Hi-Opt I values until every rank is automatic.
Add every card as it comes off the shoe. Start at 0. A full deck returns to 0.
Divide the running count by remaining decks. Betting and deviations use this number.
Keep exploring
Features
Counting drills, strategy, session logs, live teams, and analytics — in one iPhone app.
Read more →Training
Running count, true count, speed drills, swipe practice, dealt-out shoes, and a full table.
Read more →Pro Mode
A one-time $9.99 purchase — extra systems, deviations, sessions, teams, and no ads.
Read more →Support
Email us for bugs and billing, or browse common questions about practice, Pro Mode, sessions, and teams.
Read more →Hi-Opt I is free in Card Counting Coach. Drill the ace-neutral map, then convert to true count.
