The Legality of Card Counting

Card counting is a method that allows players to have more positive winning odds but this method is not tolerated by any casino. Its origins began in the United States where casinos across the country ban any player caught using this method. If a casino is not able to prove that a player is counting cards, they will use defensive methods to prevent the player from doing this, such as using multiple card decks and constantly shuffling them.

Is Card Counting Legal?

The majority of United State’s law jurisdictions state that card counting breaks no laws. In actuality, card counting is a way to mentally count cards and discover the cards’ winning probabilities. But since casinos are considered to be private property, they are well within their rights to ban a player they believe to be engaged in card counting.

How Do Casinos Prevent Card Counting?

Thanks to modern technology, casinos have many security systems available to spot card counters. Every hall is closely watched by pit bosses who use computer analysis and video surveillance to find these people. Sometimes, casinos bring in psychologists to discern the average player from the card counting one. Those with state-of-the-art technology utilize databases full of known card counters from other casinos in order to analyze a player’s face.

Another method employed by casinos are automated shufflers. These shufflers keep track of card values, approximate the player’s edge, and follow small and large bets for regularities. It can also be used to figure out any errors made by people when they double or split, calculating the variations of average play according to the card count.

It is plain to see that casinos have a myriad of ways to keep people from counting cards. Even so, there are some players who know how to avoid their techniques and watchful eye, allowing them to win.

The Perfect Pairs Blackjack Version

One of the many variations of blackjack is known as perfect pairs. Perfect pairs works nearly as same as standard blackjack but it allows player to place side bets that can help them win the jackpot. This bet carries a payout of 30-to-1 by placing a maximum $25 bet for the perfect pair. And if the pair falls within the initial two cards, there is an extra bonus.

The Dealer’s Role

Every player as well as the dealer is given two cards. The players’ cards are distributed face up and the dealer’s cards are distributed with one face down and the other face up. Anyone who has a blackjack receives a 3-2 payout. Any player with a perfect pair who has plunked down a side bet at this time will be paid and all lost side bets are taken off the table. When the dealer has a 17 or higher, he must stand; any card total below that requires the dealer to hit.

When Splitting

There are three splitting rules in perfect pairs blackjack. First, the player can split two times. Second, re-splitting aces is not allowed. And third, a player can only have one additional card when splitting aces.

When Doubling Down

Doubling is permitted but only when players have their initial two cards. However, doubling is not permitted after a player splits their aces.

Pairs and Their Payout

When a player is holding one pair consisting of red and black, that player will receive a 5-1 or 6-1 payout, depending upon the casino; this pair is known as a mixed pair. If someone is holding a pair consisting of one color but in different suites – a colored pair – he will either get a 10-1 or 12-1 payout per the casino. Then there is the perfect pair, which is when someone has two cards with the same color and suite; this has a 30-1 payout.

Tips for Elimination Blackjack Players

The biggest trend to hit the online gambling world is the elimination blackjack tournament. Now, experienced players are searching for ways to improve their blackjack strategies and trying to find methods that will also help them in elimination tournaments. Thankfully, despite the variances found in elimination blackjack, its core objectives still run parallel with standard blackjack, making it easier for players to find their way to the winners’ table.

Hard Eights and Less

When playing in an Internet-based blackjack elimination tournament, the main tip to remember is hitting hard eights and anything less, always. On the other end of the spectrum, it is also necessary to stand on hard 17s and higher. These two guidelines should always be strictly adhered to. Not doing so will send players straight into elimination.

Stiff Hands

Stiff hands, which are hands ranging from hard 12s to hard 16s, are a source of great frustration for blackjack players everywhere, especially those who are competing in elimination tournaments. The negative aspects of stiff hands are that they are not only very rarely strong enough to stand up to and overcome what the blackjack dealer is holding, but also carry a huge chance of busting.

Doubling Down

However, there are double down hands that tend to pop up on occasion and these hands are very beneficial to blackjack players. For example, hard nines to hard 11s are ideal for doubling down in elimination tournaments.

Splitting

Splitting requires players to use good common sense. Players should split eights and aces no matter what card the dealer shows. There are also some cards that should never be split, such as fives and 10s. All of these tips should be followed in all blackjack games and should never be tweaked or ignored in the case of elimination tournaments.

Avoid One-Deck Blackjack

Not too long ago, casinos began offering a certain kind of blackjack game that only utilizes one deck. Once players got wind of this new blackjack version, its popularity grew. However, not many people know that one-deck blackjack can be tricky because it only gives a 6-5 payout ratio. In other words, if a player bets $20, that player will only receive $24 in the event of a blackjack. This is why experienced blackjack players recommend to carefully review all of this game’s rules in order to prevent being blindsided.

The House Advantage

Although the one-deck blackjack version appears to be an easy, attractive and fun card game, the truth is that this game has the highest house advantage in comparison to other blackjack versions. This is due to the lesser amount of cards. This influences the odds to the point where the house advantage experiences a 1.39 percent increase.

A General Rule of Avoidance

Since players are at a greater risk of losing more money when playing one-deck blackjack, this game is considered to be one of the worst blackjack variations in relation to players. In general, players should avoid any blackjack version that has less than a 3-2 payout ratio.

In the Casino

Once you get ready to make a trip to the casino for some blackjack fun, make sure to read the signs on the table as these detail the payouts for each game. If you are feeling generous, feel free to spread the word about one-deck blackjack to other players. Remember, the demand for a particular game carries a lot of weight in casinos and they always consider any changes that will not only increase their bottom line, but also add to the players’ enjoyable casino experience. So feel free to express your likes and dislikes about any game.

Thomas Hyland – A Card Counter

Thomas Hyland enjoyed much success as a card counter and his fame is widespread in the blackjack community as an original Hall of Fame member. In 1976, Hyland also became the leader of Team Blackjack, which is a blackjack team that is history’s longest running.

Hyland’s Blackjack Team

In 1979, Hyland began his gambling career by assembling his first team of blackjack card counters. The idea behind this team was inspired by “Playing Blackjack as a Business,” which is a book written by Lawrence Revere. Because of this book, Hyland went from playing blackjack for simple leisure to playing it for huge profits.

The initial team created by Hyland was made up of four players who all threw in $4,000 a piece to get the bankroll started. Due to their usage of “early surrender,” Hyland’s team raked in a healthy $50,000 in its charter year.

However, when the conditions for players in Atlantic City, NJ became worse, Hyland’s entire team set up shop in Asia, except for Hyland himself. Instead, he stayed behind in Atlantic City in order to form a new group of players.

The Team’s Gambling Tactics

Hyland’s team used several tactics to improve their gambling endeavors. Some of the tactics they are most well-known for include computer playing, ace sequencing, and shuffle tracking. Even though these techniques are more difficult than counting cards, they give players a slightly higher edge.

The Windsor Casino Debacle

After many years of success, Hyland’s team was arrested in Ontario’s Windsor Casino in 1994 for using the ace sequencing technique in the casino. However, three casinos in Las Vegas stated that their technique was merely a smart strategy instead of a cheating method. Because of these three casinos’ statements, the team was declared not guilty.