When it comes to card games, few have such a high skill ceiling as Blackjack. Other than skill, Blackjack also requires patience, practice and a bit of luck. Add the possibility to make a lot of money, and it’s no wonder that mastering Blackjack is one of the most relentlessly pursued forms of gambling. The game has been around since the 1700’s, and naturally there have been more than one remarkable individual seeming to have completely figured out the game since then. Many of these renowned gamblers decided to share their knowledge with the world, often in the form of books. For the aspiring Blackjack player, picking up one or a few of these books can greatly help with understanding and mastering the game. Let’s have a look at some of the most influential Blackjack players throughout history, and the titles they produced. Special thanks to Nettcasino.nu, who helped us put this list together.

Edward O. Thorp – The grandfather of modern card counting

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Born in 1932, Edward Thorp is considered by most to be the grandfather of modern card counting. After reading an article about a scientific approach to gambling in his 20’s, Thorp ended up dedicating most of his life to beating the dealer and stock market. With immense success. The mathematics professor has written several books on subjects such as elementary probability, the mathematics of gambling and strategies and systems for playing Blackjack. While his works have aged a bit, most- if not all professional Blackjack players will vouch for his books. No matter if you are interested in making money on Blackjack, casinos, Wall Street or even sports betting (For more information visit Legalni-bukmacherzy.eu), Thorpe is definitely a must-read! His most well known titles include:

• Beat the Dealer: A Winning Strategy for the Game of Twenty-One
• Beat the Market: A Scientific Stock Market System
• Elementary Probability

Stanford Wong – Redefining the old ways

Stanford Wong, the pseudonym used by John Ferguson, was born in 1943. He started playing Blackjack in the mid 60’s while getting his Phd in Finance, and simultaneously teaching finance courses at San Francisco state university. It was not long before he realized that he stood to make a lot more money while playing Blackjack than teaching, and so he came to an agreement with the University: Wong would be paid a salary of $1 USD teaching his final term, and in exchange he would be excused from all faculty meetings and use the time to pursue his gambling career instead. Throughout his career, Wong managed to produce multiple high quality books about gambling, coin the Blackjack expression “wonging” and create the first ever commercially available Blackjack probability analyzing software. His most influential books on gambling include:

• Professional Blackjack
• Blackjack Secrets
• The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Gambling Like a Pro

The masters of Blackjack today

Without Thorp and Wong, Blackjack would not have been the same today. But for aspiring players, many prefer to get a more modern take on the subjects of Blackjack strategies, systems and card counting. Luckily, the techniques invented by the masters have spawned a multitude of incredible players and counters that have gone on to make history. Who could for example forget the MIT Blackjack team that started playing in the late 70’s, and went on to clean casinos for more than $50 million dollars over the years? This incredible story can be seen in the blockbuster movie 21, or read in Bringing Down the House. These modern players, and many others, went on to make millions of dollars and write their own books about how to play Blackjack. If you want a more modern take and writing style, and for online casino Blackjack to be taken into consideration, opt for one or more of the following titles:

• Blackjack Attack – Playing the Pros’ Way by Don Schlesinger
• Blackjack for Blood by Bryce Carlson
• Blackbelt in Blackjack by Arnold Snyder
• 101 Ways to Win Blackjack: Includes Tips to Win at the Casino and Online by Sonia Weiss and Tom Hagen

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Table Of Contents

If you are asking the question, you have probably played your fair share of hands at the blackjack tables.

You seem to have been doing pretty well too, so now you are thinking of becoming a professional blackjack player.

Great! We're here to tell you that it's possible to make a living from playing blackjack, as long as you know all the right things and you are lucky enough to win your games.

The world of online gambling has made life even easier for pro blackjack players. They no longer need to worry about those pesky casino croupiers we see all too often in the movies.

Becoming a pro is more accessible than most blackjack enthusiasts expect. But...

It does take commitment, a stellar ability to count cards in blackjack, solid money management skills, and a lot of luck. That's among many other things.

Playing blackjack games for fun is good, but if you want to make some cash, we have some tips for you.

Go practice and test your skills at one of the top casinos for real money blackjack!

How to become a professional blackjack player

So you know how to play blackjack, you know you're good enough to make a full time living, you just need that extra push and a plan.

There are three significant steps in becoming a professional:

• Commit time and energy to understand the game.
• Learn how to count cards. Do it phenomenally.
• Manage your money and do it well.

Let's take a closer look at each of those.

Understanding the game

Look:

If your pockets are full, but you don't know how a 1% edge can benefit you, turning professional might not be the right move for you. At least not just yet.

Luck is a major factor in gambling, but if that's what you've been counting on and winning up until now, that does not ensure success in the pro arena, not one bit.

However, if you're willing to learn the blackjack strategy, then earning a healthy living is doable.

By this point, you should know the basic rules of blackjack, all the variances of the game, and all the different ways to play blackjack with friends.

If you don't, it's about the time to start, and you can do it with this blackjack cheat sheet.

Casinos offer different types of online blackjack games. Practice all of them first to make sure you play the right one when the time comes to commit for the long run.

Knowing the rules of each table you visit is vital. When you hit a card, you should know what you need to get closest to 21 and how to get it.

Blackjack Advanced Strategy

Counting cards

Compared to most other games played at casinos, blackjack has a small house edge. Turning that house edge in your favour is the most critical way to make money at the blackjack table.

If you have played at a recreational level, chances are you haven't been counting cards. And that's fine, yet that won't work for a pro.

A card counter is someone who can better predict what card is drawn from the deck and doing that takes skill and knowledge. It includes keeping track - in your head - of all the cards that are no longer in play because they were used during the game.

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We know what you're thinking; if you get caught card counting, you'll be kicked out of the casino or kicked from your online game.

And that could happen because while it's not against the law, it's against many of the casinos' rules. But that's only if you get caught.

And that's what separates a professional from an amateur - an amateur will evidently behave as if they are cheating and give away signs while a pro will simply be assessing the situation with no grounds for suspicion.

It's important you get to that higher level. You might not need to be as good as the MIT Blackjack Team, but you need to be pretty good at card counting if you are to make a living from blackjack.

Now let's talk numbers.

Don't get all scared by thinking that you need to remember every single card that has been dealt. That's not it.

There is a system that helps you keep it simple.

Assigning numerical values to cards helps a player count cards. For example, value cards 2-6 are put as +1, 7-9 as 0, and face cards and aces are counted as -1.

It's a standard card counting method used by blackjack players, so give it a try and see how it works for you. You won't be able to master card counting overnight, and it can be an expensive lesson. But it's a crucial one.

Don't forget - losing at blackjack from time to time is inevitable, especially when you're practicing something new. It's a tough game to win at, so when you're learning how to count cards, we suggest lower-limit tables to start and a conservative attitudes when it comes to blackjack side bets.

The more you play, the better you become at predicting cards. A card counter can never perfect their craft, but all the best blackjack professionals are pretty darn good at it. And you should be as well.

Since the number of decks in play affects the difficulty of card counting, you should always look for games of single deck blackjack.

In these, you can apply all the principles of the single deck blackjack strategy and increase your winning chances to fight the 'luck' factor.

Managing money

While that might not be the most exciting part of a professional blackjack player's day-to-day routine, it's a mandatory one.

It includes understanding your tolerance for risk so that you don't go broke all of a sudden.

Look at it this way - adjust the size of your bets based on the bankroll you have available for playing and never bet more than you can afford. If you stick to this, you'll have a chance to earn back the money you lost on a couple of bad bets and it will keep you afloat even if the luck is not on your side (which will inevitably happen once in a while).

As your bankroll grows, you'll be able to move up in stakes, and you'll be able to make more money.

It's a process though, so don't just dive in with everything you have or you might as well find yourself opting out of this whole professional blackjack player thing.

You need to take emotion out of the equation and stick to your strategy. Otherwise, you'll spend hours trying to get back what you lost, and chasing is no good for any gambler.

How much do professional blackjack players make

How much a professional blackjack player makes depends on many variables. Factors such as bankroll, table limits, number of hands played, and the counting system all play a significant role in what a gains on a case-to-case basis.

Some professionals make upwards of £150,000 a year at casinos.

Professional blackjack games aren't for the faint of heart. Gambling for a living is one of those professions where you can lose money on a day-to-day basis.

You are not guaranteed a salary, and you have to commit your time and expertise to the game. A professional blackjack player comes in many forms, so try not to get disillusioned by a player making thousands each week.

The reality is that playing blackjack at casinos is a grind, and the same goes for an online casino. Some play upwards of 200 hands per hour, which can be taxing on your mental well being and financial well being.

Tips from professional blackjack players

Every blackjack player offers similar advice on how to become an expert.

We have collected the best tips from professional blackjack players to help you take your game to the next level:

• Find your groove. A table you feel good at will help you keep your emotions in tact.
• Play at casinos that offer excellent odds when blackjack is struck.
• Fewer decks are preferred over more decks. The more decks, the harder it is to count.
• Find tables with the best rules, such as Soft 17, and surrender rules.
• Find the right table limit for your bankroll, especially if you play online blackjack with a live dealer. If you have a small budget, try smaller limit tables at first.
• Don't get frustrated. Keep a level head.
• Don't drink and play. It might seem simple, but professionals don't let outside factors affect their game.
• Don't play based on emotions. The cards won't magically change, so stay within yourself and trust your ability.
• Control your money. Don't double your bet because you lost the previous bet. Keep calm and stick to your strategy.
• Whenever possible, play blackjack surrender.

Best professional blackjack players

Unlike poker, we don't hear much about the best blackjack players in the world. Why? Because it's not a game that is heavily televised, so the media usually doesn't cover the big events.

That being said, there have been some high-quality and hugely successful blackjack players in the history of the game. Let the inspiration sink in.

At the top of the list is none other than Bryce Carlson. A pro since the '70s, Carlson knows all about the ups and downs of blackjack.

He once went on a losing streak that lasted 47 hours. However, through developing custom strategies and perseverance, he has been able to win consistently throughout his career.

Arnold Snyder is another famous name in the world of blackjack. He has authored many books on how to play blackjack, which looks at card counting and shuffle techniques.

He believes there's always a new angle to explore, and that's always great when you're looking to bring in some fresh strategies into your gameplay.

Still unsure if you can handle the pressure of pro blackjack arena? Go practice blackjack online at one of the top casinos, test your strategies, mental strength and find out for yourself!

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