Probably one of the most well known strategies to be ever used in blackjack history is the card counting strategy. The famous MIT Blackjack Team had used this technique in order to make millions of dollars at the casinos all over the world.
History
It was in the year 1962 that the book Beat the Dealer by Edward Thorpe had first appeared where he had claimed that a few cards were favorable for the player while the other were not. He proved one could determine what cards were left at any point of time and the more favorable cards that were left for the player, the better the advantage of the player would be.
Blackjack History
Learn everything about the history and development of blackjack: beginning with French vingt-et-un and ending with modern America: how did blackjack overcome all difficulties and prohibitions?
What is card counting?
Card counting in blackjack is the only way that a player an get a long term advantage statistically over the casino. The card counting strategy works on the concept that a few cards are good for the players while others are not. The low values are good for the dealer. Taking not of the particular cards which have been played can help a player determine whether the cards which are remaining are beneficial to an individual or not.
On some hands the advantage of the players could be as high as 3 to 4% but on an average the advantage is about 1% which depends on the rules of the game. counting cards does not guarantee a win to the player on every single hand. For example, on an average a player would win 44% of the hands that he/she plays in the long run. The long run here refers to around 400 or 500 hours of play.
Is card counting illegal?
Card counting is not illegal as long as it is done without the help of any outside devices and done solely by the player’s brain. In Nevada though, since the casinos are all built on private property, the casinos have the right to ask any individual to leave at any point of time. There also could be an arrest for trespassing is the player returns after being asked to return.
This is not discrimination according to the laws through. However, in Atlantic City card counting is legal and is allowed in the casinos according to law. However, in order to avoid that the casinos there have made their rules tougher. The casinos there use an 8 deck shoe, have a lower penetration and prohibit mid shoe entry for the players.
A very well known term related to card counting is “backroom”. This is the process where the casino personnel take a player to their backroom in order to take the player’s picture, ask for the ID and sometimes rough them up. However, this never happens in today’s day and age. Most states have strict rules when it comes to gambling. It is illegal for the casinos to detain any individual unless a crime has been committed and the casino is waiting for the police to arrive. Since card counting is not illegal, casinos cannot do it.
