Blackjack Thorp Strategy

Since casinos were once known as venues for the royalty and the very well-to-do, those who were in the lower or middle class brackets simply could not afford to participate. Thanks to a man by the name of Edward Thorp and his infamous blackjack strategy, this is no longer the case.

Edward Thorpe's Idea

In order to revolutionize the game of blackjack and prove to players that winning was not all about the amount of money in their bankroll, a man by the name of Dr. Edward O. Thorpe spent years analyzing the mathematics behind the game. Finally, in 1962, his book entitled "Beat the Dealer" made its way to bookstore shelves all over the country. The book included very specific information about the mathematical principles behind the game, and though it was a bit complicated for some, it was incredibly accurate. After its release, casino-goers worldwide embraced the game and understood that winning came down to odds and probabilities--not the amount of money they could afford to spend.

Employing the Strategy

Although Dr. Thorpe's book was a huge hit and promised to change the game of blackjack forever, its early days were fraught with despair. Players were in such a rush to hit the casinos with their new-found knowledge that they failed to read the entire strategy properly. As a result, many people lost quite a bit of money, and Dr. Thorpe almost lost his credibility. A few rogue players who managed to utilize the strategy properly took it upon themselves to re-write the pages and simplify them even further, resulting in an easy-to-read strategy guide that is still in use today.

These days, there are dozens of blackjack strategies from which players can choose. Though some of these strategies are certainly more effective than others, players everywhere can thank Dr. Edward Thorpe for bringing the ideas of blackjack strategy in general into the public eye.