Which counting system is best?
Most answers to this question come from folklore, an author's own scoring, or simulation software you have to buy. We simulated all eight major Counting Systems for 20 million hands each on the same table (6 decks, H17, DAS, late surrender, 75% penetration). Each system plays its own validated Index Plays and bets the best spread it can reach at the same $10,000 bankroll and the same 5% risk of ruin. Same money and same risk, so the EV/hr column compares the systems and not the bankrolls.
| System | EV/hr | SD/hr | N0 | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wong Halves | $29.14 | $712.32 | 59,756 | level 3 · true-count conversion · fractional tags | |
| Red 7 | $28.08 | $729.75 | 67,516 | level 1 · no conversion | |
| Omega II (with ace side count) | $27.96 | $712.08 | 64,852 | level 2 · true-count conversion · ace side count | |
| Hi-Lo | $27.64 | $701.14 | 64,346 | level 1 · true-count conversion | |
| Hi-Opt II (with ace side count) | $27.05 | $669.24 | 61,208 | level 2 · true-count conversion · ace side count | |
| Zen | $26.42 | $657.39 | 61,929 | level 2 · true-count conversion | |
| KO (Knock-Out) | $26.40 | $659.81 | 62,444 | level 1 · no conversion | |
| Hi-Opt I (with ace side count) | $25.90 | $693.71 | 71,752 | level 1 · true-count conversion · ace side count |
The harder systems buy a small edge
The gap between best and worst is real but small. The harder systems buy a modest edge and charge for it in attention, whether that is level-2 tags at speed, a second count for the aces, or fractional arithmetic. The best system is the one you can run without errors for four hours in a loud casino. The table shows the ace-side-count systems at full published strength. If you won't keep the side count, use their calculator numbers without it.
Methodology
We measured each system over 20,000,000 simulated rounds per rule configuration, with its Index Plays played at live in-hand counts. Index tables are cited or oracle-derived and validated, and each system's record says which. The same Kelly-shaped search the betting calculator uses finds the equal-risk spread: the highest EV with lifetime risk of ruin at or below 5%, at a $10,000 bankroll, a $25 unit, bets of 1 to 20 units, and 100 hands an hour. Seeds are deterministic, so a rerun reproduces every number. The calculator prices any of the eight systems on your own rules, and the training table deals it. Hi-Lo is free everywhere on this site and is the system we recommend you start with. The other seven systems' calculators, Courses, and training are part of Premium ($39/yr, shared with roulettesim), with the Coach, the trip planner, and the casino session logbook with expected-vs-actual analysis. This comparison page is free.