Reference

Hi-Lo Cheat Sheet

Everything on one page. Bookmark it, or hit print for a physical copy to study away from the screen.

Card values

true count = running count ÷ decks remaining

Decks remaining: estimate by eye, rounded to the nearest half deck. Running count always starts at 0 for a new shoe.

Start at zero every new shoe, every time.
Count in pairs when you can — a 4 and a 9 cancel out, a 2 and a king cancel out. Pairing opposite values is faster than adding every card individually.
Higher true count = more favorable shoe. A positive true count means more high cards remain relative to low ones.
The dealer's hole card doesn't count until it's actually revealed. Don't count a card you haven't seen.
Speed before pressure. Get accurate at a slow pace before trying to go fast — accuracy that falls apart under speed isn't useful at a real table.

These bands are a general reference for orientation while you're learning, not a formal betting system.