“Beat the Dealer”

This book, which was written in 1962, is the first known strategy guide for blackjack card-counting; this strategy will decrease the dealer’s advantage to approximately 5 percent, making it one of the largest, most profitable blackjack strategies of Thorp’s time. This book found its way to New York Time’s bestsellers’ list; 700,000 copies were sold.

Educational Background

Thorp’s numerous success and talents at blackjack are due to his amazing mathematical capabilities. After he earned his doctorate in 1958 at University of California, he began working as a math professor at MIT until 1961.

Computers and Gambling Theories

Through the use of computer programs, Thorp created a blackjack strategy. The strategy he made was the first ever to be developed on a computer. The computer he used was the IBM 704, which proved successful in calculating game odds and tweaking the system in order to increase a player’s advantage.

His Reputation With Casinos

Because of his computer calculations, Thorp became a household name in the world of blackjack. However, his fame irked casinos so much that Thorp ended up becoming banned. But this did not stop him. Instead, he donned various disguises and continued to frequent the casinos where he was not allowed.

Due to Thorp’s craftiness, casinos took it upon themselves to put certain measures in place that kept him and others like him from counting cards. Among the most used methods still employed today is constant shuffling.

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Eight, Nine, and 10

Whenever you may have a possible eight, nine, or 10, you should never double down when holding a two. In this instance, the dealer has the best chance of hitting higher than what you will.

Blackjack Insurance

Do not purchase blackjack insurance if you hold anything else but 20 total card points. If you follow this strategy, you can save yourself the aggravation of losing money on worthless card insurance.

Hitting on 16

Some players have realized that hitting on 16 increases their winning edge, even if it risky. Specifically, it increases your odds of receiving a higher card-point total than the dealer.

Splitting Cards

Although you are allowed to split the cards two different times and play two different games simultaneously, it is advisable not to split a third time. If you do, you could lose all of them, causing you to waste a lot of money.

Hitting on 12

If you have 12 total points and the dealer’s face-up card shows a value of two, the dealer will usually bust. This tip is meant for “21” tables.

If you play blackjack and utilize the above strategies when you do, you will soon enjoy more wins and a bigger gambling cash flow, all without relying on sheer luck. Do not be someone who loses more than they win because they let luck be their guide. If you add card counting to your strategy repertoire, you will be unstoppable at the tables.

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Counting Cards Online

When counting cards in a brick-and-mortar casino, the task is difficult because the player must keep track of the count while cards are dealt at a quick pace. And the counting has to be done in a way that the casino does not catch on to what the player is doing.

Even though this is not a problem when counting cards online, Internet casinos use number generators as opposed to actual card decks, rendering the card counting method useless. These generators can shuffle, reshuffle, and work with as many decks as it chooses, all without a player’s knowledge.

Playing a Basic Strategy

A lot of people want to know if using a basic blackjack strategy when playing online is helpful. Actually, a basic strategy is definitely a step up from trying to count cards, making it a better way to increase a bankroll. A basic strategy is simply a mathematical chart that makes each play as optimal as possible.

But even when using a perfectly-created strategy coupled with player-favored rules, the house still has an edge, usually around 2 percent. So while you may not crash and burn quickly, you still have a small chance of adding to your playing funds.

Using Online Bonuses

If you utilize a combination consisting of bonuses and basic strategies, it is possible to increase your bankroll. By getting a bonus that is double the amount of your first deposit and then playing flawlessly in order to lose the minimum amount needed to clear the bonus, you stand a good chance of enjoying a healthy bankroll from your online blackjack endeavors.

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His Beginnings in Blackjack

In 1976, Wong began his career in gambling as a finance teacher who worked at San Francisco’s State University. And even when his blackjack career reached an ultimate high, he was still able to further his education by earning a Doctorate in Finance as a student at Stanford University. However, by the time he reached his last year of teaching at the university, Wong became so tired of faculty meetings and school bureaucracy that he agreed to take a $1 yearly salary in order to focus on his blackjack career and avoid meetings.

Contributions to the Blackjack Community

In 1975, Wong published “Professional Blackjack,” which is a book that provides detailed blackjack tutorials. Besides his written-word accomplishments, Wong also created the computer program called the Blackjack Analyzer that is made to analyze a blackjack game’s odds. Currently, Wong heads up a publishing house called Pi Yee Press.

Wong is also the creator of a certain blackjack technique coined “the wong” and referred to as “wonging.” In the 1980s, wonging found great popularity. The wong consists of not only watching the game, but also calculating the odds so as soon as the player believes the odds to be in his favor, he will join in a game. On the other hand, when the player’s odds begin to sink, the player should remove himself from the game to avoid further losses. However, casinos started combating this with a policy called “no mid shoe entries,” preventing people from counting odds and wonging.

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Card Values

In blackjack, the face cards equal 10 points and the ace equals either one or 11, depending upon the player’s preference. Of course, the cards with a numerical value are worth the points shown on them. A blackjack is when a player holds 21 points worth of cards when one of those cards has a 10 value and the other is an ace.

Dealt Cards

Even though there are no hard and fast rules shared by all casinos, players are always given two cards and then get to make a decision about whether or not to take a card, depending on what the dealer’s face-up card shows.

Dealer Rules

The blackjack dealer usually holds when he has 17 or over; the dealer will continue to hit until he gets 17 points. With this in mind, the most effective way to practice the game is to deal out two hands – one for yourself and one for the dealer. Begin playing against the dealer and once the round is over, flip up the dealer’s face-down card.

The “Charlie Rule”

There are a few casinos that follow the “charlie rule.” This rule states that a blackjack player will win if he or she draws a particular number of cards without busting; the usual amount of cards to qualify is five. Of course, the total amount of card points must be 21 or under. The charlie rule affords players quite the favorable benefit and should be used to their advantage at every opportunity.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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