Anvil Table · study notes
Hi-Lo card counting system — tags, true count, and bet ramp
Hi-Lo is a balanced level-1 count. Low cards 2–6 are +1, 7–9 are 0, tens and aces are −1. Because the tags sum to zero over a full deck, you divide the running count by decks remaining to get a true count, then bet and take insurance off that true count. It is the system to learn first: almost as much betting power as the exotic counts, with one number per card and no side counts. Anvil Table applies these tags as you tap, shows the true count, and ramps the suggested bet from true count +2. Schlesinger’s Illustrious 18 and Fab 4 overlay is a $5/month subscription (Hi-Lo counting itself stays free).
Last updated 2026-08-21
Tag values
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 |
Balanced: convert running count to true count (RC ÷ decks remaining). Initial running count: 0 — start every shoe at zero. Insurance default in Anvil Table: True count +3 (editable in the trainer).
| Betting correlation | 0.97 |
|---|---|
| Playing efficiency | 0.51 |
| Ace-neutral? | No — ace is in the main count |
Why Hi-Lo is the system to learn first
This is the reference system. Everything else in Anvil Table is a trade of extra effort for a little more betting correlation or playing efficiency.
Best effort-to-reward ratio of any published count. If you can only keep one system in your head, keep this one.
Weaknesses
Playing efficiency is only about .51. Anvil Table ships the Illustrious 18 overlay for Hi-Lo as a $5/month option; a full index set and ace-neutral counts still beat it at playing decisions.
Practise Hi-Lo in the trainer
Open the Hi-Lo calculator. The count strip shows these tags live. Educational use only — not for a device at a live table. Hi-Lo counting is free. The Illustrious 18 overlay is $5/month.
Related
- All nine systems
- True count
- Illustrious 18 (Hi-Lo)
- Wong Halves Catch-18
- Subscriptions
- Where the numbers come from
- Zen Count
- KO (Knock-Out)
- Wong Halves
FAQ
What is the true count in Hi-Lo?
Running count divided by the number of decks still to be dealt. A running count of +6 with two decks left is a true count of +3.
Does Hi-Lo use the Illustrious 18 in Anvil Table?
The live overlay is $5/month (or All included at $10). Hi-Lo counting stays free. With the plan active, the action uses Schlesinger’s six-deck Illustrious 18 and Fab 4 (floored true count). Toggle them off to drill basic strategy only.
Is Hi-Lo balanced?
Yes. Over a full deck the plus and minus tags cancel, so the running count tends toward zero as the shoe empties unless the remaining cards are rich in tens and aces.
Educational study aid only. No real money. Do not use a phone or this trainer to assist play at a live casino table. Trainer.