Counting the attackers and defenders

so I am trying to learn the counting trick instead of doing all of the take, take, take in my head. Is there like something I need to know because in this position 4 pieces attack the d4 pawn and 4 defend. if you attack the pawn in this position you are going to be down in exchange.

but in this position 6 pieces attack the pawn on e5 but when you exchange you will be equal in material.

is there a way i can tell if i am going to be down material when i do the counting method or equal in exchange? 

Don’t know about tricks, but I would say there are 5 pieces and a pawn attacking the e5 pawn in the second one. That is different than having 6 pieces attacking it.

I quess you can count it like this, all your attacking pieces in the first one 3+3+5+5=16 the pawn to be captured + all the pieces defending it (not counting the most valuable piece, if it can be used last, if it must be used earlier then don’t count the most valuable piece that can capture last) 1+3+3+5=12 and you’d be down because you will lose 16 and gain 12 so you will be down 4. Basically traded your rook for a pawn.

In the second one it is 1+3+3+3+5+5=20 attacking and 1+3+3+3+5+5=20 defenders to be captured. The queen is the most valuable and can be used last so won’t be captured and that is why it is not counted. That is equal.

I think Habana... said it well basically. It's not just the number of pieces but also their value. If you start the exchanges you will never lose in terms of number of pieces  (I include pawns here). But if a higher value piece capture a lower value you may still lose in terms of material.

Even though this is a good trick unfortunately I still think you need to calculate the sequence in your head to not miss intermediate moves (like checks, etc). 

I find captures/counting can be super tricky, especially when it involves multiple squares and a pin or a zwischenzug. I only know of one author that has addressed it properly for the post-beginner: Dan Heisman, in Back to Basics Tactics. And he has some great free YouTube videos for intermediate/cross-over club players, including one or two on "Counting."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_MafyOPxLs