Skilled Blackjack Player Exposed
From Rag to Riches: Ken Uston's Blackjack Adventure
Ken Uston, the notorious card counter, continues to rule the blackjack world, two decades after his demise. His blackjack career spanned over a decade, raking in massive winnings. Uston penned numerous books about his gaming escapades, including "The Big Player" and "One-Third of a Shoe".
The Man Before the Card Count
Born in 1935, Ken Uston grew up amidst the middle-class suburbs of New York City. At 16, he snagged a scholarship to Yale and later studied at Harvard Business School. However, Ken's musical passion hit a snag when his old man said, "Listen, Ken, there's only one Sammy Kaye—" implying the fierce competition in the music industry. So, Uston opted for a career in finance, climbing the corporate ladder and holding prestigious positions after graduation.
However, a fateful encounter at a San Francisco party steered Uston towards a new path. There, he crossed paths with Al Francesco, a blackjack player. Uston's prior interest in the subject, sparked by reading Thorpe's works, ignited the spark for his blackjack journey.
The Lesson from the Cal Tech Kid
Over the weekend, Ken met Al and his friends, including some Cal Tech kids, at the El Cerrito casino, who let him in on their secret sauce—something they called "team play". They stationed team members at multiple blackjack tables to track the shoe's cards, waiting for odds to swing in the player's favor. When the count reached 1.5 to 2 percent, the counters would signal "big players" who would enter the game and bet big.
Ken's finance background made blending into the high-roller scene of the 1970s Las Vegas a breeze. Over the next few weeks, he studied the basics of blackjack strategy, Revere Plus-Minus concepts, and the ace/five counting system. They'd double their $50,000 bankroll in 4-5 days, with the winnings split before returning to San Francisco.
The Gamble
Uston proved to be a quick learner, card counting coming naturally to him. Within three weeks, he was given the Big Player role and made over half a million dollars in Las Vegas over the next two years. However, during a long winning streak, a pit boss at Sands casino suspected foul play, leading to Uston's ban from all Hughes Corporation casinos.
Adopting disguises from a Hollywood makeup artist, Uston and the team grew to 16 members and expanded across cities like Atlantic City, the Bahamas, Lake Tahoe, and Reno. Uston even ventured overseas, playing in France and Panama. Despite the gambling lifestyle, Uston took time to write books and software, penning "Million Dollar Blackjack," sharing his card counting expertise.
Uston's story ended tragically in Paris in 1987, with a heart attack claiming his life at 52. His books continue to educate aspiring card counters about intelligent blackjack play and his refusal to consider it a mere gambling game. Instead, he saw himself as a smart businessman, raking in profits at the tables. To this day, many admire Uston's play, persona, and his unquestionable etiquette in blackjack.
A Quick Glimpse into Ken Uston's Career
- From Engineer to Wall Street: Uston began his career as a computer systems engineer and later transitioned to Wall Street, laying the foundation for his future in card counting.
- Meeting the Card Counters: Uston met the Cal Tech card counter team in the late 1970s, marking his formal foray into the world of card counting.
- Forming His Own Team: By the early 1980s, Uston formed his own card counting team, wreaking havoc on casinos across the globe.
- Courtroom Victory: Uston went head-to-head with casinos in court, ensuring that card counting was legally considered a legitimate strategy in casinos that allowed it.
Uston's life and legacy continue to influence the blackjack world, with his books serving as iconic works for aspiring card counters.
- In the 1970s, coinciding with his foray into the world of blackjack, Ken Uston transitioned from Wall Street to explore his passion for the game, marking a substantial shift from his earlier career as a computer systems engineer.
- His encounter with Al Francesco and the Cal Tech card counter team in the late 1970s was the turning point that led Uston to formalize his involvement in card counting.
- Established in the early 1980s, Uston's card counting team continued to make a significant impression on the gambling scene, causing havoc in casinos worldwide.
- Reminiscent of his dogged determination, Uston famously stood up against casinos in court, successfully establishing card counting as a legitimate strategy in casinos that allowed it.
