Top Blackjack Players

1. Top Poker Players Rankings
2. Two Player Blackjack
3. Top Poker Players
4. Top Poker Players In The World
5. Free Single Player Blackjack

Normally I'm not one who enjoys tooting my own horn. However, in this blog entry it just can't be helped, so I'm going to throw all modesty aside and blast that trumpet. I'm proud to announce that I am the winner of the World's Greatest Blackjack Player tournament at the 2011 Blackjack Ball.

For those of you who have never heard of the Blackjack Ball, it is an annual gathering of the world's best blackjack players and those who have contributed to the study of the game. For years it has been hosted by gambling writer Max Rubin at a secret location in Las Vegas. The tab is paid for by the Barona casino in San Diego, which I think is very sporting of them. It is a prestigious thing just to get invited. For more information, I highly recommend the article The Blackjack Ball by Michael Konik, which appeared in the Sep/Oct 1999 issue of Cigar Aficionado magazine.

The 'Salary' (Income) of a Pro Blackjack Player. Blackjack Player EarningsEvery blackjack player has a theoretical 'expected value' of their play. When you bet $100 on a hand, you're going to win or lose $100 (assuming you don't push, double, split, surrender or get a blackjack). However, over time there's an average value of that. Our ultimate blackjack guide is designed to teach you the best blackjack strategy, and you'll also benefit from some expert tips. We also provide a free blackjack game for you to get practicing, and a top casinos list so that you can play real money blackjack safely.

The evening starts with a cocktail reception, dinner, and then voting on an inductee into the Blackjack Hall of Fame. The winner is a little-known, but one of the best blackjack players ever, Zeljko Ranogajec. Next came the tournament for the Grosjean Cup for the 2011 World's Greatest Blackjack Player. It starts with a Calcutta, in which everybody can bet on who will win. No, I didn't bet on myself, unfortunately.

As always, the first step is to narrow down a room of about 100 outstanding blackjack players to just six. This is done with a 21-question test on knowledge of blackjack and casinos. Some questions were serious, some trivial. A good question, that I'm embarrassed to say I missed was, 'Which Clark County casino has the most 3-2 single-deck blackjack games?' I'll post the answer at the bottom. Another one, which I did get correct, was in what city is the Chumash casino? Having lived in Santa Barbara for five years made this one easy — Santa Ynez, which is a small town inland from Santa Barbara, close to Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch.

My score on the test was 11. I didn't think that was a score good enough to qualify, but I tied with six other people with 11 as the highest score. One had to be eliminated. This was done by taking turns naming any Harrah's (I still have trouble calling them Caesars Entertainment) property in the country. As soon as somebody gave a wrong answer, or a repeat, he or she was eliminated. We went through all the Vegas properties first. After a about two or three more rounds somebody else got one wrong, and I advanced to the table.

However, the table had five spots only, and six people advanced. A game of darts was used to eliminate one person. Just that morning I had been shooting a BB gun with my son, so I was primed and ready! I'm proud to say that not only didn't I lose, but I won, giving me the first-base position at the table, and some positional advantage, although I'm not sure if it helped.

Next came various games of blackjack skill. Some serious and some fun. These included: chip shuffling, cut-card placement estimation, a Blackjack Switch type game, and a charades-type game of signaling a chosen teammate something a card counter might need to convey with hand signals. My instruction was 'This game stinks, let's leave.' At various points in the game players were eliminated either for having the fewest chips, or by Survivor style choice of the chip leader. I did well at the chip shuffling and cut-card estimation. Who would have ever thought shuffling chips would serve me any purpose?

To try to make a long story short (I know, too late), it came down to three of us: Anthony Curtis, a guy I didn't know, and myself. Anthony mentioned his place at his own lasvegasadvisor.com, so I don't think he will mind that I mention this. I was chip leader and got to eliminate somebody. I knew the final competition would be who could count down a deck of cards fastest. I'm by no means the fastest counter, so my expectations were not high. However, the choice was whom to bring with me. I know that Anthony Curtis used to be a very active card counter, so I would probably be in trouble going against him. As I said, the other guy I just didn't know. Anthony is the publisher of my book and a good pal for years. I chose him as my opponent because friendship means a lot to me, and if I didn't win, I would have liked to see Anthony win the cup.

So our great host Max Rubin gave each of us a single deck of cards. He drew four cards face down off the top of each. Then he said the first person to count his deck, slap the table, and correctly indicate the count of his deck, as evidenced by the four remaining cards, would win. I have not practiced counting down a practice deck in about 20 years, so I was not feeling very confident. However, back at UCSB in the eighties, I taught myself counting out of Revere's Playing Blackjack as a Business. Between classes I counted down a deck for at least an hour a day until I got my speed to about the point where my hands just could not turn cards over much faster. Fortunately, this training stuck with me somewhat 25 years later (seems like yesterday).

After explaining the rules, Max had us pick up our decks and wait for the 'go.' After Max gave the word I did my best to turn over cards two at a time while keeping a running count in my head, just as I did in college many years ago. However, never have I been so nervous doing it. Fortunately, my deck never went very far from neutral. I think it is a bit harder when the count has extreme swings, which fortunately was not the case.

After what must have seemed like a very slow performance from the audience, I put down the cards, slapped the table, and said 'zero!' That means that my deck had balanced in terms of high and low cards, meaning the four remaining cards would too. Max turned over three of them, two small cards and one large. Before turning over the last card he said, 'If this is a ten or ace, Shack wins.'

It was a ten! What is the green jersey in the vuelta. I think the queen of diamonds. I couldn't believe it! Max handed me the trophy and I proudly accepted the applause from the audience. This was truly a night to remember. I fully admit there were plenty of other people in the room with greater money-making skill at blackjack than myself. However, when you mix in general blackjack and gambling knowledge, I think I'm no slouch. I also fully admit there was a lot of luck too, and I got more than my fair share of it that evening.

After I wrote about this in my Wizard of Vegas blog, my father wrote, 'Now that you are officially the world's greatest blackjack player, will you be banned from playing everywhere?' Maybe I'm the first winner foolish enough to openly broadcast it, using his real name. However, I fly so high above the radar already, what more harm can it do? Thanks Max for hosting the tournament and to the Barona for paying for it.

Answer to trivia question: The Riverside in Laughlin.

Live dealer blackjack is a game of online blackjack that is played in real-time and run by a real dealer.

Some of the advantages of playing blackjack with a live dealer include:

• Professional dealers handle the game.
• Live video is streamed in high definition.
• You get to interact with the dealer and the other players via chat.

If you are looking for the top online casinos where to play live blackjack, continue reading this post. We will show you how to join a live game of blackjack at an online casino and will share with you the best tips and strategies for you to improve your chances of winning.

Know More About Blackjack With Live Dealers

Top Live Casinos To Play Online Blackjack

• • Play Live Dealer Blackjack for real money online
  • Up to 8 Blackjack Games to play
  • Legit Casino for US players
  • Single-deck Blackjack, Live Dealer, and more

  Deposit Options include:

  • visa
  • mastercard
  • bitcoin
  • debit
• • Amazing live dealer Blackjack games
  • 15 Blackjack Games to play for real money
  • Visa, Bitcoin and Mastercard accepted
  • Legit Casino with an amazing mobile experience

  Deposit Options include:

  • visa
  • mastercard
  • bitcoin
  • skrill
  • neteller
• • Live dealer blackjack games to play
  • Trusted, Legit USA online Casino for real money
  • Fast Payouts, easy to use software
  • $10 minimum deposit

  Compatible with:

  • windows
  • apple
  • android
  • mobile
• • Most Reputable Online Casino
  • Up to $1,000 Welcome Bonus
  • Visa, MasterCard, & More Deposit Methods
  • Offers Live Casino Games

  Deposit Options include:

  • visa
  • paypal
  • neteller
  • mastercard
  • debit

  100% up to €250
• • Safe and Secure Online Casino
  • $/€1600 Casino Welcome Bonus
  • Play Over 400 Casino Games
  • Huge Jackpot Slots

  Deposit Options include:

  • visa
  • mastercard
  • paypal
  • check
  • wire
  • neteller
  • skrill

  100% up to €1600
• • Legit Online Casino
  • $200 Casino Welcome Bonus
  • Accepts Visa, MasterCard, eWallets, & More
  • Dozens of Casino Games to Pick From

  Deposit Options include:

  • visa
  • mastercard
  • neteller
  • paypal
  • wire

  100% up to €140
• • Large Australian Bitcoin-Friendly Casino
  • Mobile Friendly
  • Up to $2,250 in Welcome Bonuses
  • Large Selection of Pokies

  Compatible with:

  • windows
  • apple
  • android
  • mobile
• • Safe and Legitimate Australian Casino
  • 100s of Slots and Table Games
  • Mutiple Daily Deposit and Reload Deals
  • Easy Deposits with Bitcoin

  Compatible with:

  • windows
  • apple
  • android
  • mobile

Steps To Play Live Blackjack At An Online Casino

Playing blackjack at your favorite live casino online is simple. Just follow these steps and you'll be sitting at a live blackjack table in no time:

1. Pick a trusted casino: Log in or create an account at one of our recommended casinos.
2. Make a deposit: Find the casino cashier's page, select a preferred deposit method, and add funds to your account. Take into account that depending on the deposit method you choose this can be instant or take a few days (for example, with checks).
3. Take advantage of sites' very attractive Welcome or Live Playing Bonuses (see section below). Note that there are no free versions of live dealer blackjack available at online casinos.
4. Find the live dealer option: Most online casino have a live dealer section that is separate from the regular casino games. In some cases, like El Royale Casino, you may need to create an account with them be able to see their live dealer games.
5. Select a live blackjack table: You can select any of the live blackjack tables available based on game variations, amount of people playing, betting limits, or because you liked one particular dealer.
6. Pick a seat and start playing: A chip selector will allow you to place your bet.
7. Wait for the dealer to start dealing the cards and have fun!

Legit Live Dealer Blackjack Casinos Of 2021

Picking a reliable online casino to play live blackjack online is the very first step to enjoy the game. Check out our top recommended casinos, all of which offer the option to play online blackjack with a live dealer:

Live Blackjack Bonuses

You will find that some casinos offer specific bonuses for live dealer games. If the casino you will be playing at doesn't, make sure you claim the general bonuses that apply to casino gaming.

Top Poker Players Rankings

BetOnline offers a Live Casino weekly prize pool of up to $1800. It applies to both Blackjack and Roulette.
To take home a share of the $1,800 cash prize pool, you need to finish the week in the Top-3 in either the Blackjack or Roulette Leaderboard. You will earn points for every $10 you play.

Each point helps you move higher in the Leaderboard and improves your chances of getting a piece of the guaranteed prize.

Strategy: Tips To Play Live Blackjack And Win

Playing against a live dealer as opposed to a computer program affords a blackjack player many opportunities. Human dealers make mistakes that sharp players can always use to their own benefit.

Various forms of advantage play can be used, such as shuffle tracking and hole carding. And unless the dealer uses a continuous shuffle machine, participating in a live game makes it possible to count cards – the most powerful weapon in a blackjack player's arsenal.

Tip #1: Evaluating House Edge During The Game

When you play online blackjack against a computer application, it is common for each new deal to start with a freshly shuffled deck or for multiple decks to be used (in this case, discards are added in a never-ending shuffle). This means the house edge remains almost constant for every hand, typically on the order of 0.85%~1.15%.

When playing against a live dealer, on the other hand, the edge is always shifting. That's because the composition of the remaining cards to be dealt is changing continually as cards are taken out of play.

This creates situations in which the deck is relatively rich in cards of advantage to the player, and times when it is depleted of them, which favors the House. A player who knows the difference between the two is in a position to wager more when the deck is favorable and less when it is not.

For example, it has been demonstrated by computer simulation that the removal of Aces from a single deck hurts the player by raising the house edge to as much as 2.59%. Similarly, a deck poor in nines and tens also decreases the player's odds of winning.

By contrast, the removal of low-value cards, 2~8, swings the advantage toward the player. Specifically, a deck depleted of 5s can give the player an edge of as much as 3.04%.

Tip #2: Counting Cards In Live Dealer Blackjack Online

Two Player Blackjack

A great number of systems have been developed to help players identify and take advantage of shifts in the edge. One of the easiest to learn and apply is the Revere Five Count system.
In the Revere Five Count System, the player keeps track only of the number of fives that have been played and bets more when the deck is low in fives and less when they are relatively abundant. The system also has special playing strategies for hitting/standing, splitting pairs and doubling down that can raise the player's edge to as high as 3.6%.

More complex and arguably 'better' card counting systems are almost universally based upon tracking high cards as they are removed from the deck. They include the Plus-Minus, Hi/Lo, Ten Count and Point Count systems, to name a few.

The best of these let a player know not only how much to wager at each stage of play but also how to play each hand based upon the composition of the deck. Modified strategy charts assist in learning the nuances of each card counting system.

Top Poker Players

Be Discrete!

Refraining from calling attention to one's card counting activities is of critical importance when playing against a live dealer. Most casinos train their dealers to be on the lookout for card counters and report any who come to their tables.

Bracket Pool Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) The following are some common questions that are related to Bracket office pools. What leagues are supported? What is the deadline for participants to make their picks? The picks for the entire bracket must be in by the start time of the first game. Pool administrators also have the option to set a. What is a bracket pool table.

Management is well aware of how powerful a tool card counting can be, and players who seem 'too successful' may be barred from play. Although it may not be illegal to count cards, courts have frequently upheld the rights of private properties to exclude 'undesirable' customers. Casinos obviously have a stake in keeping the House edge with the House.

Online Live Blackjack Betting Limits

Betting limits at online casinos generally mimic those you can find at brick-and-mortar casinos. Bets generally start as low as $1 and climb up to $5,000 or even $10,000, depending on the site.

Below you will find the betting limits for live blackjack at some of our top-rated casinos:

Red Dog Live Dealer Blackjack

Live Dealer Blackjack At Las Atlantis

BetOnline's Live Blackjack

Live Blackjack Dealer At Wild Casino

Top Poker Players In The World

Live Blackjack At El Royale Casino

Live Blackjack Game Variations

There are many variations of live blackjack you can play at the online casinos we recommend. What varies from one game to another are the specific rules (there are slight variations), the amount you are allowed to bet and the real dealer you get at the table.

These are some of our favorite Live Dealer Blackjack options:

• Blackjack HD: it is classic American Blackjack with the Bet-Behind feature, allowing players to place bets on other players' hands so you never have to wait on a table.
• Early Payout Blackjack: in Early Payout Blackjack, you lose the entire bet if the dealer has a natural blackjack.
• Blackjack VIP: this game is blackjack for high-rollers. Betting limits can reach $10,000!

Mobile Live Dealer Blackjack

Answer to trivia question: The Riverside in Laughlin.

Live dealer blackjack is a game of online blackjack that is played in real-time and run by a real dealer.

Some of the advantages of playing blackjack with a live dealer include:

• Professional dealers handle the game.
• Live video is streamed in high definition.
• You get to interact with the dealer and the other players via chat.

If you are looking for the top online casinos where to play live blackjack, continue reading this post. We will show you how to join a live game of blackjack at an online casino and will share with you the best tips and strategies for you to improve your chances of winning.

Know More About Blackjack With Live Dealers

Top Live Casinos To Play Online Blackjack

• • Play Live Dealer Blackjack for real money online
  • Up to 8 Blackjack Games to play
  • Legit Casino for US players
  • Single-deck Blackjack, Live Dealer, and more

  Deposit Options include:

  • visa
  • mastercard
  • bitcoin
  • debit
• • Amazing live dealer Blackjack games
  • 15 Blackjack Games to play for real money
  • Visa, Bitcoin and Mastercard accepted
  • Legit Casino with an amazing mobile experience

  Deposit Options include:

  • visa
  • mastercard
  • bitcoin
  • skrill
  • neteller
• • Live dealer blackjack games to play
  • Trusted, Legit USA online Casino for real money
  • Fast Payouts, easy to use software
  • $10 minimum deposit

  Compatible with:

  • windows
  • apple
  • android
  • mobile
• • Most Reputable Online Casino
  • Up to $1,000 Welcome Bonus
  • Visa, MasterCard, & More Deposit Methods
  • Offers Live Casino Games

  Deposit Options include:

  • visa
  • paypal
  • neteller
  • mastercard
  • debit

  100% up to €250
• • Safe and Secure Online Casino
  • $/€1600 Casino Welcome Bonus
  • Play Over 400 Casino Games
  • Huge Jackpot Slots

  Deposit Options include:

  • visa
  • mastercard
  • paypal
  • check
  • wire
  • neteller
  • skrill

  100% up to €1600
• • Legit Online Casino
  • $200 Casino Welcome Bonus
  • Accepts Visa, MasterCard, eWallets, & More
  • Dozens of Casino Games to Pick From

  Deposit Options include:

  • visa
  • mastercard
  • neteller
  • paypal
  • wire

  100% up to €140
• • Large Australian Bitcoin-Friendly Casino
  • Mobile Friendly
  • Up to $2,250 in Welcome Bonuses
  • Large Selection of Pokies

  Compatible with:

  • windows
  • apple
  • android
  • mobile
• • Safe and Legitimate Australian Casino
  • 100s of Slots and Table Games
  • Mutiple Daily Deposit and Reload Deals
  • Easy Deposits with Bitcoin

  Compatible with:

  • windows
  • apple
  • android
  • mobile

Steps To Play Live Blackjack At An Online Casino

Playing blackjack at your favorite live casino online is simple. Just follow these steps and you'll be sitting at a live blackjack table in no time:

1. Pick a trusted casino: Log in or create an account at one of our recommended casinos.
2. Make a deposit: Find the casino cashier's page, select a preferred deposit method, and add funds to your account. Take into account that depending on the deposit method you choose this can be instant or take a few days (for example, with checks).
3. Take advantage of sites' very attractive Welcome or Live Playing Bonuses (see section below). Note that there are no free versions of live dealer blackjack available at online casinos.
4. Find the live dealer option: Most online casino have a live dealer section that is separate from the regular casino games. In some cases, like El Royale Casino, you may need to create an account with them be able to see their live dealer games.
5. Select a live blackjack table: You can select any of the live blackjack tables available based on game variations, amount of people playing, betting limits, or because you liked one particular dealer.
6. Pick a seat and start playing: A chip selector will allow you to place your bet.
7. Wait for the dealer to start dealing the cards and have fun!

Legit Live Dealer Blackjack Casinos Of 2021

Picking a reliable online casino to play live blackjack online is the very first step to enjoy the game. Check out our top recommended casinos, all of which offer the option to play online blackjack with a live dealer:

Live Blackjack Bonuses

You will find that some casinos offer specific bonuses for live dealer games. If the casino you will be playing at doesn't, make sure you claim the general bonuses that apply to casino gaming.

Top Poker Players Rankings

BetOnline offers a Live Casino weekly prize pool of up to $1800. It applies to both Blackjack and Roulette.
To take home a share of the $1,800 cash prize pool, you need to finish the week in the Top-3 in either the Blackjack or Roulette Leaderboard. You will earn points for every $10 you play.

Each point helps you move higher in the Leaderboard and improves your chances of getting a piece of the guaranteed prize.

Strategy: Tips To Play Live Blackjack And Win

Playing against a live dealer as opposed to a computer program affords a blackjack player many opportunities. Human dealers make mistakes that sharp players can always use to their own benefit.

Various forms of advantage play can be used, such as shuffle tracking and hole carding. And unless the dealer uses a continuous shuffle machine, participating in a live game makes it possible to count cards – the most powerful weapon in a blackjack player's arsenal.

Tip #1: Evaluating House Edge During The Game

When you play online blackjack against a computer application, it is common for each new deal to start with a freshly shuffled deck or for multiple decks to be used (in this case, discards are added in a never-ending shuffle). This means the house edge remains almost constant for every hand, typically on the order of 0.85%~1.15%.

When playing against a live dealer, on the other hand, the edge is always shifting. That's because the composition of the remaining cards to be dealt is changing continually as cards are taken out of play.

This creates situations in which the deck is relatively rich in cards of advantage to the player, and times when it is depleted of them, which favors the House. A player who knows the difference between the two is in a position to wager more when the deck is favorable and less when it is not.

For example, it has been demonstrated by computer simulation that the removal of Aces from a single deck hurts the player by raising the house edge to as much as 2.59%. Similarly, a deck poor in nines and tens also decreases the player's odds of winning.

By contrast, the removal of low-value cards, 2~8, swings the advantage toward the player. Specifically, a deck depleted of 5s can give the player an edge of as much as 3.04%.

Tip #2: Counting Cards In Live Dealer Blackjack Online

Two Player Blackjack

A great number of systems have been developed to help players identify and take advantage of shifts in the edge. One of the easiest to learn and apply is the Revere Five Count system.
In the Revere Five Count System, the player keeps track only of the number of fives that have been played and bets more when the deck is low in fives and less when they are relatively abundant. The system also has special playing strategies for hitting/standing, splitting pairs and doubling down that can raise the player's edge to as high as 3.6%.

More complex and arguably 'better' card counting systems are almost universally based upon tracking high cards as they are removed from the deck. They include the Plus-Minus, Hi/Lo, Ten Count and Point Count systems, to name a few.

The best of these let a player know not only how much to wager at each stage of play but also how to play each hand based upon the composition of the deck. Modified strategy charts assist in learning the nuances of each card counting system.

Top Poker Players

Be Discrete!

Refraining from calling attention to one's card counting activities is of critical importance when playing against a live dealer. Most casinos train their dealers to be on the lookout for card counters and report any who come to their tables.

Bracket Pool Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) The following are some common questions that are related to Bracket office pools. What leagues are supported? What is the deadline for participants to make their picks? The picks for the entire bracket must be in by the start time of the first game. Pool administrators also have the option to set a. What is a bracket pool table.

Management is well aware of how powerful a tool card counting can be, and players who seem 'too successful' may be barred from play. Although it may not be illegal to count cards, courts have frequently upheld the rights of private properties to exclude 'undesirable' customers. Casinos obviously have a stake in keeping the House edge with the House.

Online Live Blackjack Betting Limits

Betting limits at online casinos generally mimic those you can find at brick-and-mortar casinos. Bets generally start as low as $1 and climb up to $5,000 or even $10,000, depending on the site.

Below you will find the betting limits for live blackjack at some of our top-rated casinos:

Red Dog Live Dealer Blackjack

Live Dealer Blackjack At Las Atlantis

BetOnline's Live Blackjack

Live Blackjack Dealer At Wild Casino

Top Poker Players In The World

Live Blackjack At El Royale Casino

Live Blackjack Game Variations

There are many variations of live blackjack you can play at the online casinos we recommend. What varies from one game to another are the specific rules (there are slight variations), the amount you are allowed to bet and the real dealer you get at the table.

These are some of our favorite Live Dealer Blackjack options:

• Blackjack HD: it is classic American Blackjack with the Bet-Behind feature, allowing players to place bets on other players' hands so you never have to wait on a table.
• Early Payout Blackjack: in Early Payout Blackjack, you lose the entire bet if the dealer has a natural blackjack.
• Blackjack VIP: this game is blackjack for high-rollers. Betting limits can reach $10,000!

Mobile Live Dealer Blackjack

Playing live dealer blackjack on your mobile is easy. Online casinos' high-tech software allows you to join a live blackjack room as simply as you would from your computer.

All the buttons and the chat feature are available to use and activate from your phone or tablet device's touch screen. And high-resolution streaming guarantees that you don't miss out on any of the action at the table.

Are there any live blackjack apps available?

Some online casinos have apps available to play live blackjack online, but there really is no need to download it. These casinos are mobile-friendly and have these games available to play straight from your phone's browser.

Now You're Ready to Play Live Blackjack!

Now that you understand the basics of how and where to play live dealer blackjack, it's time to get into the action. Live blackjack is fun and can provide you with an additional edge against the house. Take the strategies we shared with you into account and play wisely!

If you are looking for more options, check out our in-depth reviews of online casinos we recommend.

Answers To Some Of Your Live Dealer Blackjack Questions

Free Single Player Blackjack

• Is live blackjack online safe?

  Yes, live blackjack online is a safe game if you pick a reputable online casino. Check out our recommended casinos or carry out your own in-depth research to find reliable online operators.

• Is live dealer blackjack rigged?

  No, blackjack with a live dealer is not rigged. The trustworthy casinos we recommend have professional dealers running the games. All these casinos are licensed and regulated so you can rest assured that the game will be fair.

• What happens if I lose wifi connection during a live blackjack game?

  If your hand is in play, your last bet will count. After that, your status will be set to 'away,' and the casino won't take any bets until you are back online.