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Can you earn money playing Blackjack? (The software engineer's approach)

  • Tests a number of strategies that are supposedly helpful (with and without counting cards) by simulating them with Python and charting the average results over many hands
  • Fun!

Original video by Tech With Nikola:

🃏 Exploring Blackjack: Understanding Card Counting 🃏

Greetings, coding enthusiasts! Today, let’s dive into the fascinating world of Blackjack. I’m Nikola, and I’m excited to walk you through an exploration of this renowned card game, focusing particularly on the intriguing concept of card counting.

In this video, we’ll start by brushing up on the basics of Blackjack, ensuring everyone’s on the same page. Then, we’ll delve into implementing and discussing the basic strategy that offers players the best odds, without factoring in card counting.

Following that, we’ll shift our attention to card counting—a strategy whispered about in gambling circles for its potential to swing the odds in the player’s favor. Through practical implementation and analysis, we’ll assess its effectiveness and whether it’s a viable tactic for beating the casino.

So, if you’re keen to unravel the mysteries of Blackjack and explore the realm of card counting, join me on this analytical journey. Hit play, and let’s get started! And hey, if you find this exploration insightful, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more coding adventures!

Resources
🃏 How to play Blackjack (rules + basic strategy): https://bicyclecards.com/how-to-play/blackjack/

🔍 Illustrious 18 and Fab 4 deviations: https://www.casinoguardian.co.uk/blackjack/blackjack-illustrious-18/

📚 Blackjack Attack: Playing Pros Way by Don Schlesinger (affiliate link): https://www.amazon.com/Blackjack-Attack-Playing-Pros-Way/dp/194487724X?&\_encoding=UTF8&tag=techwithnikol-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=ed3c1916472918483f2cbe25a2f4ff0a&camp=1789&creative=9325

🚀 If you found this video helpful, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more tech tutorials!

Source code available for my Patreon supporters at: https://www.patreon.com/posts/source-code-99082226

🔗 Connect with me:
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Timecodes
00:00 - Intro
00:38 - Contents
01:05 - Blackjack Rules Overview
04:41 - Implementing Blackjack Engine
08:12 - Implementing (part of) Basic Strategy
09:28 - Running Simulations
10:22 - Implementing all rules in Basic Strategy
12:27 - Hi-Lo Card Counting Method
14:00 - Implementing Hi-Lo Card Counting
15:08 - Smarter Bets lead to profit
15:55 - Illustrios 18 deviations
18:25 - The analysis. Is it worth it?
19:29 - Surrender using Fab 4
20:19 - Outro