My friend says that there are people who are so skilled at blackjack that they can consistantly win against the house. (meaning that each hand they have a 51% or greater probability of winning) If this is true why are these people not billionaires?
2006-10-09 08:22:02 · 8 answers · asked by conklinmichael 1 in Sports ➔ Other - Sports
some folks are skilled at the art of "card couting", where they know certain times that the percentage favors the player. This occurs when the deck is very heavy woth '10s'. In this situatuon, they increase thier bets. most casinos use a ten deck shoe to foil card counters, but it is still done. Very few folks can do this, and if the casino spots you, they will ask you to leave.
2006-10-09 08:26:33 · answer #1 · answered by alanc_59 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We are called card counters. We know how to keep track of the cards that have been played. Casinos do not like us as they are out looking for losers not winners. That is how they make money, from all the people that lose.
We are regularly banned from the casinos and in the last few years they have developed a photo data base of us that they share.
The skill is just a good memory and math skills. Many of us are also certified geniuses.
By the way no individual hand has a better chance of winning unless you have a good hand and bet high on it.
The odds favor the house until the majority of 2s, 3s, 4s, and 5s are gone. Those cards are safe for the house if the house hand is under 16 (the house hits at 16 or less.) Higher cards favor the house busting and the player getting an easy win.
2006-10-09 08:35:57 · answer #2 · answered by my_iq_135 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a game of odds with a bit of luck on the side. There are various tables on the market that outline when to hit, fold, double, split etc. The cards that are dealt to you and that the dealer has is out of your control so what you get in your hand is strictly luck. If you follow the tables you will automatically follow what is the best thing to do in terms of odds of winning. For example you are dealt a 4 and K and the dealer is showing a 9 then the chart says hit. It is pure luck if the next card is a 7 or less. (the dealer may only have a 9 and 4 as well and if you decided to go against what the chart says and stay then he would look at your 4 and he would hit knowing you may have 14 and he only has 13. If he busts then you would have won a hand by going against the odds. That is the part when I consider it to be some luck on the side. When I play I follow the table 99 percent of the time but sometimes you have to go against what is in the tables which is where luck comes in. In terms of skill, it is only skill if you are card counting. The rest is odds with some luck.
2016-03-28 02:50:32 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, there are "card-counters" - see links below.
Here's an excerpt from the first link:
"Card counters are normally caught because they work alone and appear suspicious when they suddenly raise their bets once they predict a win.
The MIT team was different in that it employed a method of communication between seemingly unrelated players.
Mezrich described four basic roles for a team of the blackjack players. The back-spotter counts cards without playing and signals teammates when high cards are imminent. The spotter consistently places small bets at the table while secretly counting cards as well and relaying the information to teammates. The “Gorilla,” who always makes large bets, moves from table to table, guided by signals from spotters indicating advantageous positions. Finally, the position requiring the most skill is that of the Big Player, who counts cards, plays at the same time, and is advanced enough to always place high bets. Because of the division of labor, dealers could not easily spot these card counting teams.
Getting caught
Eventually, members of the blackjack team were betrayed. Out of greed, some team members sold names and faces to the Griffin Agency, which is hired by some casinos to track players who win disproportionately. The Griffin Agency compiles a face book of card counters and prohibits them from betting."
2006-10-09 08:30:45 · answer #4 · answered by johnslat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is such thing as a "skilled" blackjack player. Some that knows when to hit and when to stand and along with card counting which is a little difficult to do these days because most play with 6 to 10 decks, the odds of card counting is difficult. But there is still a plus / minus system that you can use, along with experience playing that you can beat the system. However, their not billionaires because its a slow progression and most can't afford the big bucks it takes to stake a high paying game.
2006-10-09 08:31:37 · answer #5 · answered by Sandi A 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If one plays at a casino there is NO chance that even a skilled card-counting player will win over the long term.
2006-10-09 08:25:38 · answer #6 · answered by kearneyconsulting 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, and those people are often known to the casinos and are forbidden to play (which casinos are allowed to do). There was a book by a guy from MIT that described a club of MIT students who used math algorithms to beat the house and make hundreds of thousands if not more.
2006-10-09 08:31:01 · answer #7 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably, but anyone that wins consistently will be labeled a cheat even if they aren't, and will be banned from the casinos
2006-10-09 08:27:11 · answer #8 · answered by mooncoimprovements 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋