LEGENDS AND FACTS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT BLACKJACK

Andrew Martens 25.08.2020 Leaks and Gossips, News

From movie stars, wealthy executives, to young MIT geniuses, the story of Blackjack has spread its enchantment. These tales have been told far and wide, and they still sound like the plot from a Hollywood flick. Some you have heard and maybe some you haven’t. Let us share with you some stories that have made Blackjack the best card game in the world.

When the Rules Change, so Does Blackjack Basic Strategy

Many players spend a lot of time trying to memorise blackjack basic strategy charts. They know that when played correctly, it reduces the house edge. But committing the different plays to memory is never easy. To learn quicker, a beginner could start by applying the strategies listed in the various tables available online and practice them in one of the casinos recommended on www.ukcasino.xyz

But what you need to consider is that the charts only apply to specific rules. When the rules change, you have to adjust the way you play.

Factors Affecting Basic Strategy Rules

The number of decks in a game
Dealer peeks at the hole card
Doubling down and splitting

MIT Blackjack Card Counting Team

The last place you expect to find investigators working cases involving huge amounts of money which were obtained through an elaborate scheme is MIT. But this is exactly what happened. The goings-on surrounding this club was adapted into a book and subsequently a Hollywood movie called 21.

The first MIT Blackjack Club was set up in 1979. It was a mixed group of alumni and current students. New students were put together into teams where they were taught the tricks of the trade by senior students or alumni. These students focused on various techniques used in card counting.

The Process

The whole MIT Blackjack card counting team consisted of more than 80 members when it was at its peak. They hit casinos in droves, and everyone had a role. Some members sat on the tables while others pretended to be spectators on the sidelines. It was a collaborative effort, not just a player for himself. The team would use hand signals and ace tracking to give them the edge over the casino. Casinos eventually caught on to what was happening. They hired investigators and collected yearbooks to help identify the team members.

The Man Who Won $15,1million in One Run

Don Johnson is recognised as one of the most successful players to play the game. His fame was cemented when he won more than $15million from three casinos in Atlantic City. He was subsequently banned from these casinos, but he had already hit them big.

Brief History

Don was an industry insider and was also famed to be a skilled blackjack player. He held managerial roles in different gambling organisations. At one point Don even set up his own business which provided computer-assisted wagering.

How Don did it

The casino made a few bloopers. First, it allowed Don to bet $25,000 a hand; he then secured a 20% rebate on his loses before turning his attention to the rules of the game. The biggest one was standing on soft 17, but they also allowed him to double down on any two cards. He was also allowed to split up to 4 hands. Don would also bring porn stars to the game to distract the dealer. Every time the dealer made a mistake, Don would catch and get a free bet

Movie Star Banned from Blackjack

You are most likely to recognise Ben as a Hollywood movie actor. He has graced movie screens since his debut in the 90s.

Career

He featured in many blockbuster movies like Argo, Batman and Superman, The Way Back, and The Accountant. But Ben is an ardent blackjack player. Ben is also a film director. He has many films under his belt such as Gone Baby Gone, The Town, and Live by Night.

Ben and Blackjack

Ben has never hidden his love for 21. He got some lessons and started playing like a pro. Is known to have won more than $800,000 from the tables. Ben famously left a $145,000 tip at some point for casino staff.