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 Edward O. Thorpe
Edward Thorpe, sometimes known as the Einstein of blackjack,
developed the first card counting technique used in the game.
His results were published in his classic book, "Beat
the Dealer" which actually appeared on the New York Times
Best Seller List in 1963. It has become widely referred to
as the father of all blackjack reference books.
Prior to Thorpe's findings, the game of blackjack was primarily
an afterthought to "serious" gamblers, a game for
their wives and girlfriends to play while they won real money
at the craps tables. It had also been widely thought that
the dealers/casinos could not possibly be beat. Thorpe's findings
paved the way for future scientists and mathematicians to
teach professionals, as well as average Joes , how to win
at blackjack against the house, and made the game a popular
destination rather than an aside.
Thorpe was a Professor of Mathematics at the University of
California at Irvine when he decided that it was possible
to use mathematics in casino games. It was the first time
a real winning strategy had been formed using results of computer
simulation. Thorpe?s book actually forced casinos to reassess,
and in some cases change, the rules of the game. Thorpe had
proved to all that the house edge could almost be eliminated.
Thorpe assessed every possible hand and the most advantageous
ways of playing them. In time, these moves became known as
the Basic Strategy and has since become the solid basis for
all subsequent winning Blackjack methods. |
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