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In its strictest sense, Blackjack can be considered a purely solitary sport. The game, after all, is between you and the dealer, and what the other people you’re at the table with do not have a direct effect on the outcome of your game. You are not playing for the group or anyone else at the table, you are in this for yourself. But that’s what other people may think.
Because Blackjack can be a team sport and many have done it and have shown that this can be the case. Normally players would only pay close attention to what they are playing in their hands and completely ignore what other players have at the table. But if all the players do it, the house will get the biggest advantage and all the players at the table will eventually lose. But the table can work together to affect the decisions and outcomes of each deal: players will have a better chance of beating the house and winning.
learning from history
One of the greatest masters in blackjack team play is Tommy Hyland, who is known not only as an exceptional blackjack, but also as an effective blackjack team manager, one of the most successful in the history of the game. Tommy constantly improved his game by reading and studying other players, and from there he concluded that it takes an effective blackjack team to achieve much in this game.
His first team had achieved a lot of success in a short period of time, although there were various challenges and problems along the way. However, he never gave up, even though many of his team members left. He soon went on to work with other players and managed them with lasting success that was attributed to his great organizational skills and loyalty to his members that eventually earned him his trust, a vital ingredient for success in this game.
Tommy Hyland and his crew weren’t the only ones who achieved great success by working as a team to bring the house down. There was Ed Thorp, who tested his blackjack theories with teams of two pairs in Las Vegas. Another is Ken Uston, who made millions at the casinos through his elaborate but structured network of players who worked with him for several years. Most famous among these teams are the MIT math students who brought the house down with their exceptional computer-enhanced card counting skills that earned them more than $400,000 in a single weekend.
Work with a Blackjack team
So how did they achieve this? How did this team manage to beat the house? Although their main weapon in their arsenal is their ability to count cards, it is not what could ensure success in these games. Teamwork, proper coordination, proper positioning, and honing each other’s skills, must also maintain effective communication methods to share card counting information and pool the resources they have to have higher bet values.
While it is not necessary for every member of the blackjack team to be exceptional at card counting techniques, each member has a specific role to play in ensuring the success of the team. There’s the backspotter who counts cards and points out other teammates, particularly the “bouncer” who moves from table to table. And then there is the “big player” who eventually handles the betting at a table with more favorable card counting odds.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Blackjack Team Play
There are certain benefits, as well as drawbacks, when it comes to working with a blackjack team. There are definite advantages that would entice other people to leave their solo game behind and work as a team. But there are also downsides that would make one reconsider their strategies for playing this game.
Benefits of team play
- Gathering your sources will allow each player to have a larger bank that they can use to allow themselves to play higher level games and wager larger amounts of money. The bigger the stakes, the higher the income everyone will eventually earn.
- Instead of going it alone, you now have a good team working with you, backing you up and supporting you at all times. Everyone can learn from each other’s strengths and weaknesses, allowing each member to eventually improve their own game and have fun doing it.
Disadvantages of team play
- Friendships can be strained or damaged if things don’t work out well with the team. A team member may panic in the heat of the game and do things her way, regardless of the team’s original game plan.
- There could be luck for betrayal, particularly for team members you don’t really know that well.
The composition of a good blackjack team
The total number of players in a blackjack team is not fixed, although it would be logical to start with four members. The key here is to stay under the radar of casino watchdogs. Although team play and card counting are not illegal, casinos frown on this practice and will eventually blacklist any team identified for doing so.
The characteristics of a good team that will have a better chance of beating the house and winning the game of blackjack are as follows:
- Team members must be honest and trustworthy.
- Members have specific abilities and playing skills depending on the part they play.
- Each player must share the same philosophy and expectations.
- Like-minded and aiming for the same goals.
Finally, the team must have someone who is willing and able to take on the task of leading and managing the team. He is responsible for ensuring that everyone on the team sticks to the game plan and follows the rules agreed upon by everyone. He would also be the one to make the final decisions that would be in line with the goals and objectives of the team.
With all these elements together and correctly placed, everyone would be well on their way to achieving financial success in this team sport called blackjack.