Counting cards is a subject that every blackjack player is familiar with. While it is true that counting cards can tip the odds in your favor, it is difficult to find the perfect card counting strategy. There are entire books written on the subject of card counting strategies, and every player will have a different level of natural talent for counting cards.

One of the most popular methods for counting cards is known as cluster counting. Cluster counting seeks to determine the probability of a higher than average percentage of high value cards being dealt. Cluster counting is also sometimes referred to as shuffle tracking.

The cluster method of counting cards is based upon the observation that cards have a tendency to cluster together in various parts of a multi-deck shoe, and that players are able to track the shuffling of cards at the end of a shoe. This tracking helps to determine which portions of the next shoe will be higher in face cards and Aces. The basic tenets of the cluster counting method include:

• When dealing with a new shoe, take note of the flow of cards, while mentally dividing that shoe into deck sections
• Next observe the portions of each section that are high in face cards, tens and Aces.
• Rate each deck section as either rich or poor in high value cards, and make note of how those cards are placed in the discard box.
• At the end of each shoe, pay attention to how the dealer shuffles the next shoe, and keep track of the location of the high value cards wthin each section. This will help you predict where such cards will surface in the next shoe.
• When playing the next shoe, increase your bet as each high value section is reached, and decrease your wager after the high value cards have passed.

Cluster counting is not an easy skill to master, and casinos have employed counter measures to reduce the effectiveness of this strategy. Some of these counter measures include using two discard boxes, changing shuffle patterns and using automated shufflers.