Ed Thorp & Blackjack Card Counting

In any attempt to study the history of Blackjack, it would be impossible not to mention or come across Edward O. Thorp. As the originator (or propagator) of card counting, he revolutionized the game, and the rules as well.

Thorp was a professor of mathematics in MIT, and it was during the course of his research that he came across works describing the math involved with Blackjack. As he devoted more time on the subject, Thorp realized that through card counting, one could not just lessen, but actually remove the casino edge and tilt it in favor of the player.

With the help of a computer, Thorp began working out the formula for Blackjack card counting. When he finished his work, he decided to go to Las Vegas with Manny Kimmel to take it for a test drive. By counting the number of cards, Thorp ended up winning over $10,000 in a few days, a substantial amount in the late 50s. The end result of that little adventure was he ended up being banished from every venue he played in.

His success did not go unnoticed in the gambling world, and Thorp decided to publish a book about it. Called Beat the Dealer, it became an instant best seller. With detailed instructions on how to perform Blackjack card counting, people from all over America flocked to casinos to test the method.

Thorp would go on to publish a revised edition of the book in 1966 and this would prove to be even more popular than the first. His Blackjack card counting method was simplified, and thus made even more accessible to even those new to gambling.

The casinos, naturally, did not take this sitting down. Several new rules were implemented, and among the most notable being that Blackjack decks were reshuffled before being down to the last few cards. In a lot of venues, card counting was banned outright, and anyone caught in the act would be included in the black book. In addition, even those that still try card counting admit that it is very difficult and time consuming.

The impact that Ed Thorp had in the history of Blackjack, though, has few equals. His work totally altered the way that people look and strategize with cards, and while card counting may no longer be applicable, it certainly succeeded in getting more and more people to participate, increasing awareness for the game itself.