Is anyone a winner at Blackjack?

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I was just wondering--I saw the Rainman movie, and I frequently go to a casino for the buffet, but never gamble.

I suppose that it is possible that you could turn the game to your advantage, if you can remember cards that have been played.

Has anyone been successful with this? Or, unsuccessful?

There are a number of well-documented card counting systems, and all the casinos are aware of them, and do everything in their power, from carefully monitoring people's winnings at BJ tables to reshuffling the desk after each deal, to nullify the value of counting cards.

There have been success stories (check out "Bringing Down the House", the book, not the movie), and likely people who operate under the casinos' detection threshold.

Fortunately, counting and knowing the odds of blackjack (statistically the best card game to play if you're going to gamble) doesn't require Rainman-like abilities. Any library will have more books on blackjack than you need, and the math section will have books on probability and statistics that are geared toward card games.

I haven't done it myself because of sensory issues. I'd overload too quickly in a casino environment.

Thanks. I just ordered the book on ebay.

If your going to card count make sure just to use your brain and no devices. You could get in serious trouble if you use an electronic device to do your counting. There has been all kinds of devices ...in shoes and even an iPhone app that counts cards. The casinos are well aware of the application. Even if you do manage to card count without a device there are other "countermeasures" that casinos use to attempt to foil your system. Depending on the area of the casino they can impose more or less countermeasures.
Until your book comes....
Card Counting

the problem is not the card counting. It is that (unless you have an incredible system) it is really easy to catch someone card counting. And then you get kicked out.

The reason that the MIT kids where so successful is because they worked as a team, which made them nearly impossible to catch.

A single person counting cards, even in his head, is not difficult to pick out.

You're not allowed to count cards at all?

Well, I really have no idea how to play right now, anyway. I was thinking of giving it a try at the local Indian casino.

nope. It will get you blacklisted.


it used to get you kneecapped, but Vegas isn't run that way anymore.

That is the basic problem. Counting cards is an old practice, with sophisticated systems already well worked out and well known. Most casinos watch for counting from the tables and their ceiling cams. You'll get caught almost every time and get escorted out the door. And casinos generally share info with each other, so if you're caught at one, you'll likely not get into any nearby.

they also shuffle the cards at random times, to avoid counting.

The "Indian" casino is managed by the Mob.

1762 -- Chief Walking Crow
1862 -- Chief Sitting Bull
1992 -- Chief Rolling Dice.

ruveyn

The Indian casino where I go for my buffets is practically all senior citizens throwing away their money on the slot machines. They don't seem very violent.

Are there any other games where the gambler might be able to turn an advantage?

online poker if you are good at programming.

In vegas on the old strip a lot of the casinos have single deck blackjack. It's easy to keep track on those. The only thing is they have max bets of 3 or 5 bucks only. But you can grind out a hundred or two in a couple hours.

Well, this may be promising. I certainly don't want to risk more than 5 bucks at a time. First, I need to learn how to play the game.

Are there any computer programs that are recommended for learning the game?

I used to be a statistician, and was nearly fired (but won a disability retirement) for being too good of a statistician. So, maybe I could figure this out.

Lots. Many are free. Blackjack is among the simplest of card games. You could probably program your own game quickly, especially if you don't care about graphical niceties. Of if you can't find a free version, find a demo (from Hoyle for instance) and use that. Buy it if you want to. The advantage of programming your own is that you could set the number of decks the game uses.

If you're a professional statistician, you'll have no trouble working the numbers and testing the various counting strategies around, possibly even refining them to meet your needs. Good luck, and avoid casinos where decks are shuffled regularly or players are watched closely.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1mweFSqACU[/youtube]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1mweFSqACU

Does his method look good?