As a blackjack player myself, I can tell you that you SHOULD learn to count if you find such a prospect even remotely interesting. If you like the game of blackjack and you are capable of card counting, there really is no reason not to learn. Card counting makes the game more enjoyable, in my opinion, and there are some relatively simple systems which should not take a good poker player much time to learn. If you only spread $5 to $10 in eight deck shoes, you will never get an edge, regardless of the count you use (unless you stick to back counting and even then it will be very hard with such a low spread) but you can definitely improve your game and have more fun at the tables.


For a casual or recreational blackjack player who is considering breaking into the world of counting, I recommend Arnold Snyder's Red Seven count as presented in 'Blackbelt in Blackjack'. As far as I know, there is no simpler count out there and, as a bonus, that happens to be one of the very best books on blackjack out there today. You're not going to break the bank at the casinos spreading $5 to $10 using the Red Seven, but it will only serve to improve your game and make your blackjack sessions more rewarding overall.