|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
::::::
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Online Blackjack News - Edward O. Thorpe - The FAther of Modern Card Counting
|
|
When he was a young student, Edward O. Thorpe regularly read mathematical journals. Being pressed for money, the idea of out playing the casino in a scientific manner appealed to him, and he decided to study the tactics of card counters on order to find out how to make the system work for him. In time, Thorpe wrote a book called “Beat the Dealer,” a bestseller.
What Thorpe did different from the other card counters that came before him was to use powerful computers. He wrote several programs that actually counted cards in blackjack. For his day, his methods were quite revolutionary. From these calculations, Thorpe was able to ascertain that dead cards had a considerable effect on a player’s chances to win. His main idea was about memorizing the dead cards in a simplified way. In this way, the player would be able to play for high stakes, knowing that his risk was minimal.
The counting system introduced by Thorp, was rather complicated for usage in real casinos, requiring great concentration and large amount of mental arithmetic actions. However with good training there was nothing impossible in its application. Thorp’s book immediately became a success and bestseller. Everyone understood that with quite simple actions you can get an advantage. Every reader dreamt of enormous prizes. However, the casinos also knew the score.
Panic seized them. And in 1962 after Thorp’s book, all Las Vegas Casinos without exception changed their rules being, afraid of mass influx of “system players”. The quality of the rules worsened terribly and no counting system could ever help you to win. However, the effect for casino turned out to be quite unpredictable and reverse - people stopped playing blackjack. And during several months, all the casinos had to return to the former rules for their own survival.
Another interesting effect caused by Thorp’s book- incredible popularity of blackjack outrunning the favorite American craps. After reading the book a lot of people considered themselves potential winners and rushed to the blackjack tables. However, most of them had a bad understanding of the mathematical principles of the game and did not become winners but quite the opposite. Therefore, the casinos got more clients and moreover losing clients.
Teven for professionals and only the few could apply it under the conditions of a real game. In subsequent systems, the playing strategy was simplified.
|
| Source:
Blackjack2002 News Staff
| Tuesday, 7 August 2007 |
Related Articles
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Directory LinksThe new and improved Blackjack 2002 directory is currently in development. If you are interested in adding your link, just click on Add Links button.
Add Link
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright © 2002-2008. All rights reserved.BLACKJACK2002.com |
|
