Famous Card Counters in the United States
By
Jane Shaw
Senior Editor Updated: 01/16/2023
We count on Jane to inform our readers about the latest slot games in the US market. With her passion for video games and a degree in engineering, she’s our gambling tech expert. Jane’s also active in our blog section, where she tackles the curiosities and changes in the industry.
- The Most Famous Card Counters
- What is Card Counting?
- How to Count Cards
- Edward O. Thorp
- Ken Uston
- Lawrence Revere
- MIT Blackjack Team
- Pros of Card Counting
- Downsides of Counting Cards
- Questions about Card Counting
Card counting is a technique used in the game of blackjack to give the player an advantage against the casino/house by noting down the ratios of high cards to low cards that have been dealt. It is based on the idea that when there is a higher number of picture cards left in the shoe, the player has a better chance of winning, and vice versa. Today, we’ll be looking at some of the most famous card counters in history.
The Best Card Counters
There are several “best card counters”, including Ken Ulson, Edward O. Thorp, and Lawrence Revere. We’ll be looking at them all – along with the infamous MIT blackjack team – later in this guide.
Please note that just because a blackjack card counter is famous does not mean that they’re wealthy; some have even faced lengthy legal battles, so it’s not all good news. However, it’s incredibly interesting – as you’ll soon see!
What is Card Counting?
Card counting is a technique used in the game of blackjack to give the player an advantage over the house by keeping track of the ratios of high cards to low cards that have been dealt. It is based on the idea that when there are more high cards remaining in the deck, the player has a better chance of winning, and vice versa.
To count cards, a player must keep track of the cards that have been played and assign a value to each card. High cards, such as tens and face cards, are assigned a value of -1, while low cards, such as twos through sixes, are assigned a value of +1. Cards with a value of seven through nine are considered neutral and are not counted.
The player keeps a running total of these values, known as the count, and adjusts their betting and playing strategy based on the count. For example, if the count is high, the player may bet more and be more likely to take hits, since there is a higher probability of being dealt a high card.
Card counting requires a high level of concentration and discipline, as the player must keep track of the count while also following basic blackjack strategy and avoiding detection by the casino. It is not illegal, but it is considered a form of advantage play, and many casinos have policies in place to ban players who are caught using it. If you plan on trying to count cards at any of the best online casinos, then we have some bad news, as this is near impossible to do.
How To Start Card Counting?
If you are interested in learning how to count cards in blackjack, here is a basic overview of the process:
| Technique | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Learn Basic Strategy | Before you start counting cards, it is important to have a solid understanding of basic blackjack strategy. This will help you make the correct decisions based on the count and your hand. |
| Practice Keeping a Count | Start by dealing out cards from a single deck and keeping track of the count. You can use a piece of paper or a small whiteboard to keep track of the count. As you deal each card, add or subtract its value from the count based on the counting system you are using. |
| Learn a Counting Systems | There are several different counting systems that you can use, each with its own set of rules for assigning values to cards and making betting and playing decisions based on the count. Some popular systems include the Hi-Lo system, the Ten Count system, and the Point Count system. |
| Practice with Low Stakes | Once you feel comfortable keeping a count and making basic strategy decisions based on the count, try practicing at a low-stakes blackjack table, either in a casino or online. This will give you a chance to get a feel for the game and make any necessary adjustments to your technique before moving on to higher stakes. |
| Use Discretion | Card counting is not illegal, but it is considered a form of advantage play, and many casinos have policies in place to ban players who are caught using it. As a result, it is important to be discreet and avoid drawing attention to yourself when counting cards. |
Edward O. Thorp
Edward O. Thorp is a mathematician and author who is best known for his contributions to the field of card counting in blackjack. He is considered to be one of the pioneers of card counting and is widely credited with popularizing the technique. For this reason, he can be considered a professional card counter.
Thorp was born in Chicago in 1932 and received a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1958. He became interested in the concept of card counting while working as a professor at MIT, and in 1962 he published the book “Beat the Dealer,” which provided a detailed explanation of the technique and proved that it could be used to give the player an advantage in blackjack.
In addition to his work on card counting, Thorp is also known for his contributions to the field of investment and hedge fund management. He has written several books on finance and investing, including “The Mathematics of Gambling” and “Fortune’s Formula.”
Thorp is also a successful investor, and his hedge fund, Princeton/Newport Partners, was one of the highest performing hedge funds of the 1980s. He has been featured in numerous media outlets and is widely regarded as one of the foremost experts on gambling and investing.
Ken Uston
Ken Uston was a professional gambler and author who is best known for his contributions to the field of card counting in blackjack. He was born in New York City in 1935 and received a degree in economics from Yale University.
Uston became interested in card counting while working as an investment banker, and he quickly became known as one of the most successful blackjack players of all time. He developed the “Big Player” system, which involved using a team of players to count cards and make coordinated betting and playing decisions based on the count.
In addition to his work as a professional gambler, Uston also wrote several books about his experiences, including “The Big Player,” “The Million Dollar Blackjack,” and “Mastering Pac-Man.” Uston was involved in several legal battles with casinos over his use of card counting, and he became an advocate for the rights of blackjack players. He died in 1987 at the age of 52.
Lawrence Revere
Lawrence Revere was a professional gambler and author who is known for his contributions to the field of card counting in blackjack. He was born in California in 1911 and served in the military before becoming a professional gambler. Revere is credited with developing the “Point Count” system, which is a popular method for counting cards in blackjack.
The Point Count system assigns values to cards based on their point value in blackjack, with cards worth ten or more points being given a value of -1, cards worth six or less being given a value of +1, and cards worth seven, eight, or nine being given a value of 0. The player keeps a running total of these values, known as the “count,” and adjusts their betting and playing strategy based on the count.
Revere wrote several books about his experiences as a professional gambler, including “Playing Blackjack as a Business” and “Blackjack for the Clueless.” He was also a frequent contributor to Blackjack Forum, a magazine dedicated to the game of blackjack and advantage play techniques. Revere died in 1991 at the age of 80.
MIT Blackjack Team
The MIT Blackjack Team was a team of smart students and previous students who attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who utilized card counting methods to win millions of dollars at casinos around the world in the 1990s. The team was founded by MIT students who were inspired by the book “Bringing Down the House,” which tells the story of a group of MIT students who used card counting to win big at casinos.
The MIT Blackjack Team used a variety of card counting systems, including the Hi-Lo system and the Zen Count system, to keep track of the ratios of high cards to low cards in the deck and make informed betting and playing decisions based on the count. The team was successful for several years, winning millions of dollars at casinos in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and other locations.
However, the team eventually disbanded as casinos became more adept at detecting and combating card counters. Many of the members of the team went on to successful careers in finance, consulting, and other fields. The story of the MIT Blackjack Team has been told in numerous media outlets and was the basis for the movie “21,” which starred Kevin Spacey.
Pros of Card Counting
There are several advantages to counting cards in blackjack:
- Improved odds: Card counting can give the player an advantage over the house by keeping track of the ratios of high cards to low cards that have been dealt. When there are more high cards remaining in the deck, the player has a better chance of winning, and vice versa. This allows the player to make more informed betting and playing decisions, which can increase their chances of winning.
- Greater control: Card counting gives the player more control over the game by allowing them to adjust their betting and playing strategy based on the count. This can help the player minimize their losses and maximize their winnings.
- Increased profits: By using card counting to improve their odds and make more informed decisions, players can potentially increase their profits over time.
- Enhanced enjoyment: Some players find that the added element of strategy and decision-making involved in card counting adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the game of blackjack.
It’s important to note that card counting is not a guaranteed way to win at blackjack, and it requires a high level of concentration and discipline to be successful. It is also a controversial technique, as many casinos consider it to be a form of cheating and have policies in place to ban players who are caught counting cards. However, there is no benefit to counting cards while playing at the best online blackjack sites, due to the nature of it being online.
Downsides of Counting Cards
There are also several disadvantages to counting cards in blackjack. Firstly, it is time-consuming: Card counting requires a high level of concentration and discipline, and players must be constantly calculating and updating the count as the game progresses. This can be a time-consuming and mentally exhausting process.
Secondly, it is not foolproof: While card counting can give the player an advantage over the house, it is not a guaranteed way to win. The player must still make correct decisions based on the count and follow basic blackjack strategy, and even with an advantage, they may still lose money in the short term.
You’ll also find that, while card counting is not illegal, it is considered a form of advantage play, and some casinos have policies in place to ban players who are caught using it. As a result, players who are caught counting cards may be asked to leave the casino and may even be banned from returning.
It can also be very difficult to learn. Card counting requires a good understanding of basic blackjack strategy and the ability to perform mental calculations quickly and accurately. It can be a challenging technique to master, and it may take some players a long time to become proficient at it.
