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Famous Blackjack Players
Written by: Kim Birch | The review was last updated: 03 July 2024 | Fact-check by: Jasmin Williams
As a keen blackjack player, I've got heaps of respect for the legends of the game. These players have made a massive impact on punters worldwide, and I reckon it's high time we give them a proper shout-out on BETO.com. It's a chance to put into words how much their contributions mean to the game.
In this write-up, we'll be tipping our hats to the true blackjack greats - the ones who deserve a spot in the hall of fame. These are the folks who came up with the strategies and techniques we all use today. They've not only won ridiculous amounts of cash but have also inspired a whole new generation of players to take blackjack seriously.
We'll be looking at everyone from big-time winners like Don Johnson to clever cookies like Lawrence Revere, highlighting their unique contributions to the game. Now, I'll be honest - there are loads of legendary players who won't get a mention here. I've decided to focus on the ones who've had the biggest influence on me personally in this BETO blackjack piece.
The blackjack legends we're covering aren't just impressive - they're the ones that the blackjack experts here at BETO reckon are the real deal.
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Top Kiwi blackjack pros often draw inspiration from Lawrence Revere.
Lawrence Revere, a clever blackjack strategist, is best known for his book Playing Blackjack as Business. He's one of the most famous professional punters. His maths degree came in handy when developing strategies still used by players today. Revere's work has permanently changed how people play blackjack.
His most well-known strategy, the Revere Point Count, is considered a benchmark and is popular due to its ease of use.
Revere was an innovative bloke who worked as a casino pit boss, giving him insider knowledge. He combined his work experience with his maths skills to create both advanced and straightforward strategies.
Interestingly, it's said Revere advised both dealers and players. In 2005, he was inducted into the Blackjack Hall of Fame, a well-deserved honour.
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Some top-notch blackjack players have really shaken things up in the game. They've come up with new theories, written strategy guides, and raked in some impressive winnings that have put blackjack on the map. Thanks to these punters, we've got a range of strategies to pick from, giving us a fighting chance against the house. Let's have a look at a few of these big names and what they've brought to the table.
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The Four Horsemen of Aberdeen were a group of American Army engineers who cracked the code on optimal blackjack strategy based on the player's and dealer's cards. Roger Baldwin, Wilbert Cantey, Herbert Maisel, and James McDermott made a massive contribution to the game. They even got their findings published in the Journal of the American Statistical Association.
What's impressive is that these fellas did all this back in the 1950s without any fancy computers - just basic desk calculators. Their book Playing to Win, released in 1957, turned out to be a game-changer for blackjack.
While their strategy was crucial, it really got the ball rolling for further developments in blackjack theory. You could say they laid the foundation for everything that came after. Their work was so influential that in 2008, they were honoured with a spot in the Blackjack Hall of Fame.
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James Grosjean was a whiz at finding the best strategy in any game he played as a kid. He was so good at Mah Jong that his mates eventually refused to play with him.
Later on, James would play blackjack with his uni mates on weekends. He had a lightbulb moment when a dealer accidentally showed her hole card. James then used his computer to work out the perfect strategy based on knowing the hole card.
In 2000, James published his masterpiece 'Beyond Counting: Exploiting Casino Games from Blackjack to Video Poker'. It's a comprehensive book that breaks down various strategies and explains the maths behind them.
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Grosjean teamed up with Keith Taft to develop a blackjack computer that gave them an edge in casinos where such devices were legal. Keith Taft, a fellow Blackjack Hall of Famer, praised James for his top-notch programming skills.
James had his fair share of run-ins with casinos due to unfair detentions. He took Caesars Palace and Imperial Casino to court after they detained him, and came out on top. The fact that casinos were so suspicious of James speaks volumes about his skill level.
Griffin Investigations copped the worst of James's legal action, as they were behind the criminal proceedings. The legal fees hit them hard, forcing them into bankruptcy.
James finally got his due when he was inducted into the Blackjack Hall of Fame in 2006.
He later published another book, Exhibit CAA: Beyond Counting, which could be worth its weight in gold. However, James only made it available to his mates and those he trusted.
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Tommy Hyland kicked off his blackjack career in 1979, inspired by Lawrence Revere's book Playing Blackjack as Business. He quickly pulled together a group of mates and they started smashing it at the tables. What's impressive is that Tommy's crew has been one of the longest-running blackjack teams out there.
They were savvy punters, using computer play, shuffle tracking, and ace sequencing. Things got dicey when they were nabbed for ace sequencing at Casino Windsor, but here's the kicker - they won the case.
The casino tried to pin them for cheating, but the judge ruled they weren't cheating, just using a clever strategy. This was a massive win that gave other blackjack players a real boost.
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The MIT Blackjack Team was a group of clever uni students and grads from MIT, Harvard, and other top schools. They used card counting and other tactics to get an edge and win big at various casinos.
We won't go into the whole backstory, but it's worth noting that Bill Kaplan, J.P. Massar, and John Chang led the team. By the early 90s, they had about 80 players. Their story even inspired a book called Bringing Down the House and the 2008 film 21.
There's no doubt these punters were successful at card counting and beating the casinos. While the film takes some creative liberties, it's cool that some of the actual team members made cameos in it.
Before you think about forming your own team to clean out the casinos, why not give Live Blackjack a go? Check out the video below to see how it can help sharpen your blackjack skills.
A blackjack basic strategy chart can boost your game in live dealer pokies.
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Back in '77, Ken shook things up by co-writing a book with Roger Rapoport called The Big Player: How a Team of Blackjack Players Made a Million Dollars. Ken's book spilled the beans on the legendary Al Francesco's team, which Ken had been part of for yonks.
Al Francesco wasn't chuffed about Ken's book, and their relationship went pear-shaped. Still, the book was a hit, and Ken ended up on Good Morning America chatting about it. Ken had a way with words and went on to pen several more blackjack books like Million Dollar Blackjack and One-Third of a Shoe.
While writing, Ken also put together his own team and raked in millions from the casinos. Ken's crew was arguably sharper than Al's old lot, using electronic gadgets to get an edge. Eventually, the casinos cottoned on and Ken got the boot from quite a few. He took Resorts International to court for barring him and won hands down, as his team was only using card counting.
You could say Ken was too good for his own good, and the casinos had to show him the door to stop him from cleaning them out. He's still regarded as one of the top blackjack players of all time.
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Don Johnson stands out as one of blackjack's biggest winners, raking in $6 million at Tropicana, $5 million at Borgata, and $4 million at Caesars. Johnson's success came from playing high-stakes blackjack, betting a whopping $100,000 per hand and consistently beating the house.
Johnson managed to negotiate special rules with the casinos, including the dealer standing on soft 17 and a 20% rebate on significant losses. While these rules boosted his odds, his exceptional blackjack skills were the real key to his success.
It's surprising that the casinos agreed to Johnson's terms. Perhaps they underestimated his abilities, thinking he was just on a lucky streak that would eventually end. But Johnson kept on winning.
He also used clever tactics like claiming free bets for spotting dealer mistakes and bringing along a group to distract the dealers. All up, Johnson pocketed a tidy $15 million profit.
Interestingly, Johnson wasn't always into blackjack. He initially wanted to be a jockey and later worked at racetracks. We're chuffed he found his way to blackjack and developed the perfect strategy to beat the casinos at their own game.
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Edward O. Thorp: The Blackjack Brainbox
Edward Oakley Thorp is widely known as the Father of Card Counting. While he wasn't the first to create a card counting system, his 10 Count System made card counting popular with a wide audience. He introduced his system in his 1962 book Beat the Dealer.
Thorp's 10 Count System revolutionised blackjack. His book sold over 700,000 copies, but the method wasn't suitable for multiple decks. In 1966, Thorp and Julian Braun developed the Hi-Lo Count, now considered the top system for beginners to learn.
It's fair to say Thorp set the groundwork for card counting, forcing casinos to change their rules to counter his method.
Vegas tried to introduce new rules, but punters wouldn't play. So casinos started using multiple decks in some games, and players gradually accepted this change. These days, it's hard to imagine a blackjack dealer game with just one deck.
In a nutshell, Thorp will always be a key figure in blackjack history for his brilliant work and status as the Father of Counting Cards.
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John Ferguson, writing under the pen name Stanford Wong, made waves with his 1975 book 'Professional Blackjack'. It's still a top seller today, despite being geared towards seasoned players. The book's enduring popularity speaks volumes about its quality.
Blackjack was more than just a game for John - it was a lifeline during tough times. He wasn't just skilled at playing; he had a knack for analysing the game too. Interestingly, John picked up Thorp's '10 Count System' from 'Beat the Dealer' and used it to boost his winnings. It's a classic case of one expert's work inspiring the next generation.
John's book introduced the concept of 'wonging' - a technique where you watch the game and jump in when the odds are in your favour. Casinos weren't too chuffed about this and started banning late entry to games to counter it.
Wong didn't stop there. He went on to publish a string of blackjack books including 'Blackjack in Asia', 'Tournament Blackjack', 'Winning Without Counting', basic blackjack, and 'Blackjack Secrets'. He's been a prolific writer on the subject for decades, cementing his place as a true blackjack guru.
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The world of blackjack wouldn't be the same without legends like Edward O. Thorp, Lawrence Revere, James Grosjean, and Ken Uston. These punters have shaped the game's theory, raked in massive wins, and inspired countless others to follow in their footsteps.
Today's players benefit from advanced strategies and techniques developed by these early blackjack pioneers who put in the hard yards.
While there are many other greats like John May, Bill Zender, and Arnold Synder, we've focused on the players who've had the biggest impact on us personally. That said, we tip our hats to all the blackjack legends who've made winning a bit easier for the rest of us.
The ongoing battle between casinos and blackjack players continues, but skilled players often come out on top. If you're keen to beat the house and win big, it pays to learn from these masters of the game.
At BETO, we offer free articles from our experts who've spent years studying casino games and learning from top players. Our team has experience playing in casinos worldwide, so check out our articles to fast-track your own progress at the tables.
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Let's dive into some common questions about well-known blackjack players and the game itself. Whether you're a seasoned punter or new to the pokies scene, these insights might come in handy.
A few standout names in the world of blackjack include James Grosjean, Don Johnson, Ken Uston, Edward O. Thorp, Tommy Hyland, and Lawrence Revere. These punters have made their mark on the game, becoming legends at the tables.
Top card counting methods include Hi-Lo, Ace Five Count, Red Seven Count, and Knock Out. These systems are popular among savvy punters looking to gain an edge at the blackjack table.
When it comes to blackjack legends, Kerry Packer takes the cake with a whopping $40 million win in a single night. Not far behind is Don Johnson, who raked in $15 million over a few months playing at Atlantic City's top casinos. And let's not forget Ken Uston, an early pioneer who pocketed $4.5 million over several years - a massive haul for its time. These punters have certainly set the bar high for blackjack success.
Edward O. Thorp is considered the pioneer of card counting, with his 10 Count System putting the technique on the map for punters worldwide.
When it comes to top-notch blackjack reads, it really boils down to personal taste. That said, a few titles stand out for Kiwi punters looking to up their game. 'Beat the Dealer' by Edward O. Thorp is a classic, while Fred Renzey's 'Blackjack Bluebook 2' offers some solid strategies. For those after a bit of inspiration, Ken Uston's 'Million Dollar Blackjack' might do the trick. And if you're keen on a more academic approach, Stanford Wong's 'Professional Blackjack' is worth a look.
Tommy Hyland's blackjack team holds the record for the longest-running outfit in history. His knack for leadership and swift recruitment of new players when others moved on kept the team going for decades.
The MIT Blackjack Team, headed by Bill Kaplan, J.P. Massar, and John Chang, became the inspiration for the film '21'. Their story was first chronicled in Bill Mezrich's book 'Bringing Down the House', which later formed the basis for the movie. This group of uni students and grads made waves in the gambling world with their card-counting skills at the blackjack tables.
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