Known as the KO Counting method of blackjack card counting, the Knockout card counting system is quite similar to the hi-lo card counting method. The main difference is that unlike the hi-lo system, the KO counting system assigns a value to sevens in the blackjack shoe.
In the KO method of blackjack card counting, sevens are assigned a positive one value. In fact, all cards that range between two and seven receive a plus one count, while face cards and aces call for a negative one count. Just like the hi-lo method, eights and nines are considered neutral cards.
When counting cards straight through using the KO Counting system, you will not end up with a count of zero. This means that the KO card counting system is not a balanced card counting system. It is unbalanced, as there are more positive cards than there are negative cards. When the count is positive, the deck is rich in high cards. Thus, the chance of a dealer going bust is higher. When the count is negative, the chance of the dealer drawing out is greater. A player should up his bet when the KO card count is high and bet minimally when the KO count is low.
When cards between two and seven are displayed, the KO count increases by one and is reduced by one when a face card or an ace is shown. The following is an example of how one can keep track of the KO Count on the blackjack table:
Ace of Hearts (-1) -1
Ten of Diamonds (-1) -2
Three of Spades (+1) -1
Two of Clubs (+1) even
Five of Diamonds (+1) +1
Seven of Spades (+1) +2
Six of Hearts (+1) +3
Seven of Diamonds (+1) +4
Ace of Spades (-1) +3
King of Hearts (-1) +2
Five of Clubs (+1) +3
Four of Diamonds (+1) +4
After seeing these cards, the KO count is plus four. Because the KO count is positive, the player can increase their bet. The blackjack game continues on the same shoe and the following cards are shown:
Queen of Hearts (-1) +3
Queen of Diamonds (-1) +2
Jack of Spades (-1) +1
Nine of Hearts (neutral) +1
Seven of Clubs (+1) +2
Ten of Spades (-1) +1
Six of Spades (+1) +2
Ten of Clubs (-1) +1
Two of Clubs (+1) +2
Jack of Spades (-1) +1
King of Diamonds (-1) even
Ace of Hearts (-1) -1
The KO count has now gone slightly negative. This means that the edge goes to the house, according to the KO count. Thus, players want to reduce their bets to the table minimum.
