Best Blackjack Players
Our best blackjack player list is an elite group of card players. While some blackjack players on our most famous list bask in the limelight for their substantial winnings, others secured their spot through groundbreaking contributions to blackjack strategy. Either way, the success of this list of blackjack gamers can be attributed to a passion for cards, casino thrills, and a quest to outsmart the house; not to mention PhDs and high IQs, and a penchant for probability and game theory.
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Introduction
Blackjack is a classic card game played in casinos worldwide. It’s based on creating a card hand valued at 21, or closest to it, without going over (or ‘bust’). In this beloved card game, face cards are worth 10 points, numbered cards retain their face value, and an ace can serve as either a 1 or 11.
Players are dealt two cards with the option to ‘hit’ and take on additional cards, or ‘stand’ with what they have. The dealer also has these options, so the players’ goal is to beat the dealer - the house.
While blackjack is a game known for its simplicity, don’t be fooled! It may be easy to learn, but mastery is often a lifelong pursuit. That is, unless you happen to be among this group of widely celebrated blackjack players. By nature of their own curiosity and intellect, the blackjack players on this list were not only captivated by the game of blackjack, they were compelled to beat it.
By creating basic and advanced card counting strategies, these fellows have helped blackjack players compete with casinos on a much more even playing field. Their influence extends beyond personal victories and earnings, but has inspired players around the world, and contributed to the ongoing allure of blackjack as a skill-based game.
Let’s meet this list of ‘blackjack influencers’, shall we?
Edward O. Thorp
The card-father seems an appropriate title for Edward O. Thorp, the inventor of blackjack card counting. An influencer in mathematics, finance, and gambling, Thorps’ contributions to blackjack are based on probability and game theory, and it can be said that all winning card counting strategies lead back to him. In his 1962 best-selling book ‘Beat the Dealer’, Thorp transformed the blackjack game with strategies and card counting techniques that empowered players and challenged casinos.
Using computer simulations to validate and refine his strategies, Thorp analyzed millions of blackjack hands, eventually forcing casinos to react by adjusting their house rules to counteract his card counting advantages. Not to worry though, this only encouraged Thorp to create more evolved strategies.
Beyond the casino, his 1967 book ‘Beat the Market’ pioneered quantitative investing, and revolutionized how investors approached the stock market. His legacy as a strategic thinker and risk analyst is solidified in both the financial world and the probability-focused casino games community.
Stanford Wong
Born John Ferguson in 1943, ‘Stanford’ Wong earned his moniker from Stanford University academia, where he received a Ph.D. in Fiance. He is a gambling author, best known for his 1975 book ‘Professional Blackjack’, which is considered a classic by gamblers. For decades, it has served as the black book for card counting, revealing secrets and strategies to help blackjack players outsmart the house. Beyond books, Wong also released the first blackjack odds-analyzing software and has appeared on various TV programs as a gambling expert and blackjack professional.
Bryce Carlson
If Thorp is the father of card counting strategies, then Bryce Carlson may be the godson. Carlson created an advanced card counting system for blackjack, the Omega II, which is detailed in his how-to blackjack book, ‘Blackjack for Blood’. Published some thirty years ago, it continues to sell well to this day, a testament to its influence on the game of blackjack. Carlson's expertise extends beyond blackjack, across the casino floor, and into the poker room, as he showcases an unparalleled ability to read tells, hold a stone cold poker face, and dominate high stakes games.
Henry Tamburin
If you know about the prestigious Blackjack Ball, an annual gathering of blackjack professionals, then you likely already know that Henry Tamburin is a frequent guest at the event. Regarded as one of the world’s most respected blackjack players, Tamburin has carved legendary status in the blackjack and gambling community as an author, speaker, and expert, especially when it comes to blackjack strategy. He has authored hundreds of articles in various top publications, teaches gambling courses, and has written six books, most notably, ‘Blackjack: Take the Money and Run’. This particular book is a guide for many blackjack players, covering everything from basic strategy to expert card counting, but also offers bankroll management and side bet advice and know-how.
Don Johnson
Let’s start with the best part. Don Johnson, born 1962, is best known for taking over $15 million from Atlantic City casinos. In a breakdown of dollars, he beat the Tropicana out of close to $6 million, took $5 million from the Borgata, and $4 million from Caesars. Despite being a math whiz, he was also a rockstar negotiator who managed to negotiate favourable terms with the casinos who invited him to their tables. These included dealers staying on Soft 17, a 20% rebate on losses over $500k, and the option to re-split aces, among others! It was this fearlessness alongside his blackjack skills and high-stake victories that captured the attention of the gambling community.
Russ Hamilton
Russ Hamilton is a gambling man, known for his success and failures in the blackjack and poker arena. Moving to Las Vegas in his 30s, Hamilton found success by joining a blackjack team and inventing the Elimination Blackjack Tournament made popular in the TV series, ‘Ultimate Blackjack Tour’. When blackjack tournaments banned pros, Hamilton moved on to poker. He clinched a coveted World Series of Poker (WSOP) main event bracelet in 1994. His title landed him a position with UltimateBet, an early online poker platform, that contributed significantly to the digital evolution of card games. However, his legacy is shadowed by controversy over his involvement in the UltimateBet cheating scandal. Despite his tarnished reputation, Hamilton's impact on the gambling industry remains noteworthy, showcasing both success and setbacks.
Ken Uston (1935-1987)
Ken Uston's life is no ordinary tale. Renowned for his remarkable intellect, he was also a child piano prodigy, a high school student at 14, and obtained various degrees before landing a corporate financial career. But it was blackjack that etched his name in history. Uston’s reputation as a skilled blackjack player led him to become a pivotal member of the MIT Blackjack Team and gave him an outlet for his mathematical and analytical wizardry. He authored 'The Big Player' and 'Million Dollar Blackjack’, among others, but was also famous for his antics, opting to dress in elaborate disguises to elude casino authorities who were not fond of his card-counting success. His flamboyant personality, controversial tactics, and success in challenging casinos cemented his legacy as one of the most famous and influential blackjack players in history.
MIT Blackjack Team
Guided by Bill Kaplan and J.P. Massar, the MIT Blackjack Team was composed of students and alumni of MIT and Harvard. By working seamlessly as a team, they executed advanced card-counting strategies on Las Vegas and Atlantic City blackjack tables, to name a few locales, that tilted the house odds in their favour and turned the casino world on its head. Their successful run occurred during the late 70s and 80s, and during this time they amassed significant wins in the ballpark of $50 to $100 Million! It’s a story so captivating, that it inspired the book ‘Bringing Down the House’ and later, the 2008 movie, ‘21’. Though now disbanded, the MIT Blackjack Team's impact is a timeless testament to the allure of outsmarting the house!
Lawrence Revere
Author, mathematician, and gambling pro, Lawrence Revere has been playing blackjack since he was 13 years old. An avid card counting expert that perfected his strategies with the help of Julian Braun, he analyzed and refined his game plans using millions of computer simulations. His numerous card counting strategies are detailed in his book, ‘Playing blackjack as a Business’, however, as they are based mostly on single deck or hand held games, many are now sadly obsolete. Nonetheless, he has secured his legendary position as a blackjack mastermind through his namesake strategies like the Revere 14 Count Strategy, Revere Point Count Strategy, and the Revere Plus-Minus Strategy, to name just a few.
Famous Blackjack Players FAQs
Who is the best professional blackjack player?
The best professional blackjack player depends on how you define ‘best’. If it’s winning, that distinction is reserved for Don Johnson who took over $15 Million from Atlantic City casinos in 2017. If you want to make the question plural, then the group of players who are deserving is the MIT Blackjack Team with a guesstimated $50 to $100 Million in profit!
Do professional blackjack players exist?
Yes, being a professional blackjack player is a career, although one you’ll unlikely see at your local Career Fair. It’s a path that requires a healthy dose of self control, stress and bankroll management, and an understanding of probability and game theory.
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