KISS III is a level-one, unbalanced, suit-aware count published by Fred Renzey. It emphasizes betting correlation and shoe-game use, but its tags and correlation figures do not guarantee profit.
How KISS III fits the KISS family
Fred Renzey presented KISS III in Blackjack Bluebook II. KISS means “Keep It Short and Simple.” KISS III builds on the earlier methods and is similar to Red Seven. Independent strategy documentation says it works better with shoe games, while KISS II is better with single-deck games.
Start with the card-counting overview if running counts, tags and betting correlation are unfamiliar.
Card-tag values
| Red 2 | Black 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
KISS III distinguishes twos by color: red twos are tagged 0 and black twos +1. Sevens are +1, aces are -1, eights and nines are 0, and tens and face cards are -1. Because aces enter the running count at -1, QFIT classifies KISS III as ace-reckoned.
Unbalanced does not mean universally positive
The tags in an unbalanced system do not sum to zero over a complete deck. That is the definition of imbalance; it is not caused by choosing a nonzero initial count. A starting count, key count and betting ramp are version- and deck-specific.
Do not increase every bet merely because a running count crosses zero. Use the exact instructions for the documented KISS III version and the intended number of decks, then account for rules, penetration, limits and risk.
Published performance descriptors
QFIT reports betting correlation 0.98, playing efficiency 0.56 and insurance correlation 0.78 for KISS III. For KISS II, the corresponding figures are 0.90, 0.62 and 0.87. The comparison shows higher betting correlation for KISS III, with lower playing efficiency and insurance correlation—not a universal percentage edge.
Practice the complete method
Suit-aware tags can add recognition errors. Practise with full decks until the running count is consistently correct, and use only documented deviations and betting instructions. Do not combine tags from KISS III with a starting count or ramp from another count.
Further reading
Blackjack involves financial risk. Set affordable limits before playing, and see the responsible-gambling policy if play stops being recreational.
