If you have been playing Blackjack for a long time, you have probably noticed that there are a few people in the game who are consistently making more money than the rest. Among those players are Russ Hamilton, James Grosjean, Edward Thorp, and Kerry Packer. But which one is truly the best player in the world?
James Grosjean
If you’ve ever been to a casino, you have probably heard the name James Grosjean. He’s one of the best blackjack players in the world. However, his achievements go beyond the game itself.
In fact, he has written two books that are considered to be the best of their kind. One is Beyond Counting: Exploiting Casino Games From Blackjack To Video Poker. The other is Table-Game Strategy Cards.
Grosjean has also been a member of the Ultimate Blackjack Tour. This 10-week series was aired nationally on CBS. During the tour, he played against Jimmy Pine, Eric Bloore, David Matthews, Robert Blechman, Antonio Esfandiari, and Joanna Wlodawer.
Russ Hamilton
Russ Hamilton is one of the most accomplished blackjack players of all time. He is known for his expertise in the game and was also involved in the Ultimate Bet scandal.
In 1994, he won the World Series of Poker Main Event for $1 million. He won the title in heads-up play against Hugh Vincent.
After winning the WSOP, he moved to Las Vegas and worked as a blackjack pro. He was also a consultant for Ultimate Bet, an online poker site.
Ultimate Bet had a cheating scandal in 2008 where players were defrauded out of up to $22 million. The site developed a hole card cheating system, which allowed any player’s account to see the hole cards of other players.
Lance Humble
Lance Humble is considered to be the best blackjack player in the world. He has a long and successful career in the casino games. Besides playing, he is also a blackjack instructor.
Before he became a professional blackjack player, Humble worked as a teacher at York University. As part of his class, he taught students the basic strategies of the game.
He also studied risk analysis and compared systems. In his book, Blackjack Attack, he wrote about his experience playing the game.
He is currently a member of the Blackjack Hall of Fame. Besides, he has won many legal victories against casinos.
He has written several books on the subject. Among them, his most popular one is The World’s Greatest Blackjack Book. This is a comprehensive guide to all aspects of the professional game. It is a must-read for serious players.
Thomas Hyland
Thomas Hyland is a world-renowned blackjack player. He is one of the first seven inductees into the Blackjack Hall of Fame. And he is still active as a card counter today.
In 1979, when he was only 18 years old, Tommy Hyland decided to start playing blackjack. He read Lawrence Revere’s Playing Blackjack as a Business book and began to study his methods. Soon, he was convinced that there was more to blackjack than just chasing the house’s edge.
He decided to form his own team, recruiting friends to help him win the game. After some initial losses, Hyland’s team eventually gained momentum. Its bankroll grew to over fifty thousand dollars in a short amount of time.
Kerry Packer
Kerry Packer is one of the best blackjack players of all time. He is a larger-than-life media magnate who was famous for his gambling skills.
In a recent visit to Las Vegas, Packer won $20 million. But on another night, he lost $10 million. This was a good example of how he had a tendency to gamble for big scores.
Although his life was dominated by gambling, he also made a lot of other contributions. Packer was the founder of World Series Cricket and Cleo, a women’s magazine. And he also owned a radio station in Sydney.
He was an influential figure in Australia, and he was able to get his way in many ways. His net worth was several billion dollars.
Edward Thorp
Known for his card counting technique, Edward Thorp is a mathematician and a famous blackjack player. He authored the best selling book “Beat the Dealer,” and has become an inaugural member of the Blackjack Hall of Fame.
The concept of card counting was first used by four men in 1953 who created a basic strategy. The system is still used today, even if it’s not as popular as it once was.
Edward Thorp is also known as the father of modern card counting. He was a renowned mathematician who became fascinated with gambling maths, particularly in roulette and blackjack.
Thorp’s idea was to use mathematics to win at blackjack. Using his skills as a mathematician, he discovered a way to beat casinos. In fact, he figured out that casinos weren’t as strong as their numbers claimed. He proved that a player could win if they played well and made smart decisions.
