Tag Archive: Card counting

Ken Uston was a natural blackjack player, in that he understood the maths and the game play. So it wasn't long before he was invited to join a professional blackjack team. They would travel from Las Vegas to Europe, visiting one casino after another, and taking each one to the cleaners. But in the end, even the best disguise can't hide your face, and he was banned from all casinos. So Ken turned his hand to video gaming and became a champion at that. He also loved jazz piano and would play daily

Edward O. Thorpe is not the type of person to have an idea and just let it go. So when he settled on the game play of blackjack as a means of testing mathematical theories, he was certain that a method of beating the house edge must exist, if only he could find it. With the help of some other mathematicians, he managed to crack the formula and invented several forms of counting cards. Unfortunately, none of these work today, as casinos were quick to wise up to these techniques and make changes.

Card holing in blackjack involves being able to see the hole card or the downwards facing dealer card. This happens thanks to a sloppy dealer who's not taking enough care to keep the down card hidden. For the player it can be very helpful in making decisions as to whether to bet high or low. The problem comes from the fact that you'd have to wager counter to perfect strategy. This will draw attention, as no one will understand why you made that particular game play. You may be asked to leave.

Join us on our quest for the answer to one of the most frequently asked blackjack questions: does card counting really work?

We explored the Blackjack Ball, the most renowned blackjack event on earth