The True Count is calculated as the running count divided by the number of decks remaining. A high True Count means that the player has a high advantage.

In more mathematical terms, the 'True Count' of the shoe is the important statistic. Online casinos will never let you reach the end of the shoe because they shuffle sooner. As such, the card counter's advantage is largest toward the end of the shoe.

The more information that is known about previously-played cards gives a stronger understanding of future/upcoming cards. In layman's terms, card counting is all about having information. In an actual casino, you should easily be able to find a shop that deals 6 (or more) decks out of 8. In an online game, it's customary to see no more than 4 decks out of 8 be used in the game. If you're unfamiliar with what penetration means, it refers the amount of the shoe that is dealt before the cards are re-shuffled for a new shoe. For counters, deep deck penetration is the most important rule (aside from 3:2 vs 6:5) that affects EV. Online casinos are also aware of the vulnerabilities and have put in staunch countermeasures. Quite literally, you could play more hands in 1 hour at a brick-and-mortar casino than you can get in 8 hours online. In online casinos, you waste so much time waiting for other players that you might only get 20-30 hands per hour.

I'm playing at a speed of 200 hands per hour.' Of course, idling sitting at the table doesn't earn you anything you have to actually play. When counters use phrases like 'I'm playing with an EV of $50 per hour' what that really means is 'I'm playing with an EV of $50 per 200 hands.

Online casinos deal slow, have poor penetration, and have more heat.

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