How to Win at Blackjack - Interview with Expert Henry Tamburin

When it comes to Blackjack, there is no-one more respected or educated in the game than Henry Tamburin. The man himself would never claim such expertise, but a who’s-who of the gambling world would happily disagree with him.

In the 47 years since he blew his entire holiday budget on his first visit to the tables - in barely ten minutes - the maths and chemistry buff has made it his goal to learn how to beat the blackjack tables, and has shared this knowledge in countless articles and books since.

Check out this video about Tamburin and the 5 Biggest Myths in the Game of Blackjack:

Tamburin's seminal work ‘Blackjack: Take the Money and Run’ covers everything a wannabe blackjack winner needs to know; strategy, bankroll management, side-betting and the elusive card-counting techniques which have made him a world-renowned figure in the game.

Always seeking to learn more about the game himself, Tamburin also passes his knowledge on to students and can often be found playing live at the tables, using his tried and trusted techniques to great effect.

A true casino games expert, Tamburin spoke exclusively to PokerTube on subjects such as the allure of Blackjack, high-stakes and hilarious episodes, and what exactly it takes to break the bank. Read on and learn how to become an expert…just like Henry.

Henry, if someone asked you why he should play blackjack, how would you answer?

It’s ironic that you are asking me that question because that happens to be the title of one of the sub-chapters in my new Ultimate Guide to Blackjack. Essentially, this is what I tell players: playing blackjack is fun, but losing isn’t.

With most casino games, the only way you can win is to get lucky but the reality is that because the casino has the edge in just about all of the games, eventually most players will lose. However, blackjack is different because it’s a game of skill not luck.

First, by simply learning a set of rules that tell you how to play every hand, you can reduce the house edge to only half a percent (or less, depending on the rules).

Moreover, with a little bit more training, you can turn the tables on the casino and have the advantage over them. (Yes, even recreational players can play with the edge and win. How to accomplish this is fully explained in the Ultimate Guide to Blackjack.)

Can you tell us an exciting/crazy story playing blackjack in a casino?

I once was dealt a hand in blackjack that I forever called the “Lucky 7 Hand.”

I had bet $100 and the dealer dealt me a pair of 7’s and her upcard was a 6. The correct playing strategy is to split the 7’s, so I slid another black chip on the layout to split.

On the first 7, my draw card was another 7 so I bet another black chip and re-split. I hit the first 7 and drew a 4 for 11. Out went another $100 for a double-down.

On the second 7, I drew a 3 for 10. Out went another black chip for another double-down.

On the third 7, I drew (you guessed it) another 7 so I re-split again.

To make a long story short, I ended up playing four hands and on three of them I had doubled down. (If you do the arithmetic, I had a total of $700 on the layout.)

When it was the dealer’s turn to act, she flipped over her hole card, which was a 9, giving her 15. My heart started beating faster as she pulled the next card from the shoe and flipped it over. It was another beautiful 7 giving her a 22!

She busted and I won $700 from an initial wager of only $100 on that Lucky 7 Hand (consisting of my four 7s and the dealer’s 7 draw card that busted her, hence my dubbing it the Lucky 7 Hand).

What are the highest stakes you've ever played for?

I started my playing career a long time ago just betting nickels ($5). As I started winning and my bankroll grew, I gradually increased my betting levels. At the height of my playing career, I was betting green ($25), black ($100), and sometimes Barney’s (purple $500 chips).

So, is it still possible to profit playing blackjack?

Yes, but it requires more scouting to find good blackjack games, and, of course, learning the strategies that allow you to beat the game.

Do blackjack professionals actually exist?

They most certainly do. In fact, every year professional players from around the world meet at a secret location in Las Vegas to exchange playing experiences and compete for the Grosjean Cup (formerly known as the Blackjack Ball Cup).

This event is known as the Blackjack Ball and you must be invited to attend. You can read more about the Blackjack Ball in the Ultimate Guide to Blackjack Chapter 16.

What's the biggest myth surrounding blackjack?

I would say it’s the myth that “bad players on your table will hurt you.” The reality is this: your chance of winning does not depend on the skill of any other player on your table.

You're very well educated with a doctorate in chemistry; what was the allure of blackjack?

When I was a graduate student at the University of Maryland, one of my math professors gave us a project, which was to statistically analyze any game of our choosing, and then give an oral report on the rules of the game, the odds of winning, the best strategies, etc.

I decided to analyze blackjack even though I had never played it in a casino. That’s when I first discovered that it’s possible to get the edge at blackjack, which was the big allure that got me started studying and playing blackjack.

Who's the biggest blackjack gambler you ever came across?

There are too many to mention. Most attend the Blackjack Ball; others are friends of mine that play for very high stakes.

What's the easiest way to learn basic strategy and start playing blackjack?

Funny you should ask me that question because I’ve summarized several techniques to help players learn the basic strategy in the Ultimate Guide to Blackjack (Chapter 4).

They include preparing flash cards (I explain what to put on them); reproducing the basic strategy chart (a blank one is in the guide); practicing with a deck of cards (specific drills explained); and practicing with a basic strategy software trainer on your PC or smart phone.

We would like to thank Henry Tamburin for taking the time to join us for this interview as well as sharing his Ultimate Guide to Blackjack. It has been a pleasure and a valuable learning experience.