Ken Uston and Uston's Blackjack Team

Uston Blackjack Team

Ken Uston

Without any doubt, first words that are needed to be mentioned about Ken Uston are that he was a man, who amazed people around by his skills and abilities. He made a great contribution to gambling world that's why most people can name him as a brilliant blackjack player and gambling expert. Besides that, he was very talented jazz pianist and writer that had an exceptional manner of writing.

Ken was born in New York in 1935. At the age of sixteen years he got the scholarship in Yale. After that he entered Harvard Business School to study a field of finances. In spite of the fact he had a dream to be a professional musician he lend an ear to his father's advice and gave up that idea.

Call of Adventure

After the graduation Uston spent one year in San Francisco holding a post of Pacific Coast Stock Exchange's vice president. Quite a good job, wasn't it? The thing was that Uston needed something more than tranquil and problem-free live.

The Member of Francesco Team

Apparently, he was ready for the new turn in his life, but needed a push, or a kind of opportunity. Well, the last didn't take long to appear. Very soon Uston met a real blackjack pro, whose tactics and strategies always worked - Al Francesco. For Ken, a player that loved mathematical aspects of games and learned many gambling theories such meeting was a chance to change. Thus, he quickly became a part of Al Francesco Team.

Uston was amazed by different innovative techniques that were developed by Al and his team: their 'team play' was perfect, unusual and impossible to expose. The new member played the role of Big Player, who entered the game according to the signal of numerous counters throughout the casino after they found out where the decks are advantageous.

As it was already mentioned, the team played perfectly and every member applied all his talent and skills. As a result the bigger part of Las Vegas casinos at the 70's lost great amounts of money for the benefit of the team. However, with a lapse of time all members were recognized by pit bosses and prohibited to enter different casinos.

The Own Team

In 1978 Uston returned to New Jersey and formed his own blackjack card counting team. He was an experienced player with skills acquired in Al Francesco team and applied all that knowledge for the new team. Very soon the recognition of a threat came to the player as a lot of casinos were barred for him.

Thus, his next step was an active lawsuit against the casino that was highly advertised. In the end the Supreme Court delivered judgement that casinos didn't have rights to prohibit playing of 'skilled players'.

After such ballyhoo the activity of his team was diminished by itself. Uston published a lot of books concerning blackjack, gambling theories and strategies, card counting, etc.

As well as Thomas Hyland and Al Francesco Ken Uston is one of Blackjack Hall of Fame members.