The Advantage Players

Blackjack has long been a game of intrigue and skill, drawing not only casual gamblers but also those who study the game’s math and strategies to gain an edge over the house. Some players have become legends in the world of gambling due to their ability to consistently beat the odds. Known as "advantage players," these individuals used techniques like card counting, team play, and other advanced strategies to exploit weaknesses in the casino’s setup and walk away with huge winnings. Here’s a look at five of history’s best-known blackjack advantage players and how they made their mark.

1. Edward O. Thorp: The Pioneer of Card Counting

Edward O. Thorp is widely regarded as the father of modern card counting. His revolutionary work, Beat the Dealer, published in 1962, laid out the first mathematically sound system for gaining an advantage at blackjack. Thorp’s interest in the game began while he was a mathematics professor at MIT, where he applied his knowledge of probability theory to blackjack. His breakthrough came when he realized that by keeping track of the cards that had already been dealt, players could predict the likelihood of certain cards coming up, and adjust their betting accordingly.

Thorp developed what is known as the "Ten-Count System," a strategy that counts high-value and low-value cards. High cards favor the player because they increase the chance of hitting a blackjack, while low cards favor the dealer. Thorp’s system was effective in tracking the ratio of high cards to low cards remaining in the deck, giving the player an advantage when the deck was rich in high cards.

Armed with this system, Thorp took to the casinos and began proving his theory. He and a partner made consistent profits, and his success drew the attention of casino operators, who scrambled to change the rules to thwart card counters. However, Thorp’s legacy was already cemented. His work inspired countless others to pursue card counting, and he is credited with revolutionizing the way blackjack is played. Even today, card counting systems are based on the principles Thorp established.

2. Ken Uston: The Master of Team Play

Ken Uston is another iconic figure in the world of blackjack. Known for his flamboyant personality and love of showmanship, Uston became famous for popularizing team play in blackjack. Uston was originally a highly successful financial analyst but left his lucrative career to pursue gambling full-time after discovering his talent for blackjack. His genius wasn’t just in card counting, but in organizing and running highly effective blackjack teams.

Uston's team-based approach involved a group of players working together to beat the house. He employed spotters who would sit at different tables and count the cards without increasing their bets. When the count became favorable, they would signal a "big player" to join the game and place large bets. This coordinated system allowed the team to exploit the favorable conditions without drawing suspicion from the casino.

Uston’s teams had tremendous success in casinos around the world, especially in the 1970s. His book Million Dollar Blackjack (1981) outlined many of his techniques and experiences, including strategies for team play. Uston’s exploits eventually got him banned from numerous casinos, but his impact on the game was undeniable. His methods became a blueprint for future teams, including one of the most famous teams in blackjack history, the MIT Blackjack Team.

3. The MIT Blackjack Team: Legendary Team Strategy

No list of top blackjack advantage players would be complete without mentioning the MIT Blackjack Team. This group of students and former students from MIT, Harvard, and other prestigious universities used advanced mathematical techniques and team-based strategies to win millions from casinos in the 1980s and 1990s. Their story has been immortalized in the book Bringing Down the House by Ben Mezrich, as well as in the 2008 movie 21.

The MIT Blackjack Team operated similarly to Ken Uston’s team-based strategy but took it to a new level of sophistication. They trained rigorously, using complex systems of signals and codes to communicate the count of the cards. Their strategy was to send in spotters to keep track of the deck, and then have "big players" join the game when the deck was favorable, placing large bets at the right moments.

The team was incredibly successful, winning millions from casinos in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and other gambling hotspots. They became so notorious that casinos started implementing more sophisticated methods to detect card counters and team players. Despite these efforts, the MIT team continued to operate for many years, and their legacy as one of the greatest blackjack teams in history remains intact.

4. Tommy Hyland: The Longest-Running Blackjack Team

Tommy Hyland is considered one of the most successful and longest-running blackjack team managers in history. Hyland started playing blackjack in the 1970s after reading Edward O. Thorp’s Beat the Dealer. He quickly realized the potential of team play and formed his first blackjack team. Hyland’s team used many of the same strategies as Uston and the MIT team, but Hyland is known for his exceptional organizational skills and ability to manage large groups of players over long periods.

Hyland’s teams were highly disciplined and focused on teamwork. He emphasized trust and loyalty, traits that allowed his team to thrive for decades. His teams operated successfully through the 1980s, 1990s, and into the 21st century, and their longevity is a testament to Hyland’s ability to adapt to changing casino tactics.

One of the keys to Hyland’s success was his ability to maintain team morale and loyalty, even in the face of casino countermeasures like the use of facial recognition technology and other security advancements. Today, Hyland is recognized as one of the most influential figures in the history of blackjack, and his contributions to team-based play remain a blueprint for modern advantage players.

5. Don Johnson: The Man Who Beat the Casinos at Their Own Game

While the previous players relied on card counting and team play, Don Johnson took a different approach. Johnson made headlines in 2011 when he won over $15 million from three Atlantic City casinos in just a few months. His method wasn’t based on card counting, but rather on negotiating favorable rules and conditions with the casinos themselves.

Johnson was able to use his high-roller status to negotiate special deals with the casinos, including favorable rules like reduced house edges and loss rebates, which gave him an edge. Johnson's keen understanding of blackjack strategy, combined with his ability to negotiate terms that tilted the odds in his favor, allowed him to win millions.

His story is unique because it highlights how advantage play can extend beyond traditional methods like card counting. Johnson's success showed that sometimes the best way to beat the house is to outsmart it by changing the rules of the game itself.