This post is syndicated by the Las Vegas Advisor for the 888 casino group. Anthony Curtis comments on the 888 article introduced and linked to on this page.
AC says: Don’t let the technical nature of this article put you off. The lessons it imparts are good. The discussion of independent (vs. dependent) trials explains why card counting works. Blackjack is a game of dependent trials: It has a “memory,” which means that what’s happened prior influences what will happen subsequently. It’s the reason the game can be beaten. The discussion of standard deviation makes the point that you aren’t guaranteed to win when you have the edge. However, if you’re playing with an advantage, the more hands you play, the more likely that advantage will be realized. Even expert players run the risk of being stopped out of a good game if they don’t have the bankroll necessary to withstand the fluctuations.
This article was written by Nicholas Colon in association with 888Casino.
Casino Money Math
Understanding the statistics used by casinos is essential in evaluating results. We use this to determine whether the results, bad or good, are a function of luck or skill. Here I will apply the statistical analysis to blackjack, but with minimal effort this can be applied to any casino game.
Blackjack does not adhere to the traditional mathematical laws of gaming. Most games of chance reflect the mathematical concept known as “the law of independent trials” that states that past events have no relevance on future events.