If you have ever played Blackjack before then you would know that it is actually possible to win games when you have the right skills. The basic strategies of the game include hitting, which is to take another card from the dealer, and standing which is the opposite. However, other techniques may also be used by players to bring the game to their advantage. Learn how everything started by reading the article we suggest on card counting history.

Shuffle tracking and whole carding. For example, these are used by players in order to track down the cards that had been used during a Blackjack game. Another game strategy that may be used is called card counting. Card counting simply refers to the tracking of the high and low cards in a game of Blackjack. In its most basic principle, all you have to do is track the ratio of the cards. If there are more high cards in the deck, it gives the players a higher possibility in getting a total value of 21 or a Blackjack. Meanwhile, a higher concentration in low cards would bring more advantage to the dealer. Although strict policies have been made by casinos, strategies such as card counting are still considered legal as long as there are no mirrors or other devices used outside the game.

At present, card counting has become one of the most common techniques used to win a game of Blackjack. However, just a few years ago, a group of students and ex-students were able to master this technique and used it to win stakes in various gaming circuits.

J.P. Massar, an MIT graduate, learned how to play Blackjack and the card counting method, through an MIT mini course. He, along with other MIT students, then tried and tested what they have learned and was able to win a series of games. Eventually, they lost many of their players for many reasons. The year after, Massar was able to meet Bill Kaplan, an MBA graduate from Harvard who had recently formed a Blackjack team. Because of the perfect timing – Kaplan had separated from his team – Massar invited him to go and see how his friends play and then possibly give advice on what points to improve.

Later on, Kaplan decided to back the team but they had to have a counting and betting system as well as to undergo strict training. Aside from that, recruitment had to be tough and all casino plays had to be closely monitored. Although Massar’s team was a little hesitant about it, they agreed with the conditions and were able to win Blackjack games successfully.