The original 2012 report
Original reporting follows. Offers, event dates, product details and opinions are historical. Old outbound links are shown as text.
Blackjack players and those new to the game of blackjack looking to learn some tips and strategies on how to beat the house and win at the game are looking at books written by the MIT team of blackjack players that once trumped the blackjack tables of Las Vegas for millions of dollars.
Almost everyone who is in the blackjack community is aware of the MIT Blackjack Team and the real success. As a result, players find these books of real life experiences and tips very helpful. Furthermore, the books are not just plain instructive but also have interesting anecdotes that make for entertaining and easy reads.
Two books written by members of the MIT Blackjack Team are Bringing down the House and Professional Blackjack.
Bringing down the House which was authored by Ben Mezrich and first broke the story about the team of six MIT students who worked together at blackjack tables counting cards and winning money. This book is more of a story than strategy but considering that it is a real life one – it is very inspiring.
The second book is instructive and is called Professional Blackjack; it is authored by another member of the famous blackjack team, namely Stanford Wong.
Read a little deeper
Enjoy the story, then examine the claims
Books, films and personal stories offer different perspectives on blackjack. Keep the work’s narrative, the reporter’s opinion and any practical advice separate. The original feature is preserved below; rankings, reviews, editions and release references describe its publication period.
- The work
- Identify the book, film, event or person being discussed.
- Perspective
- Separate reported events from praise, interpretation or dramatization.
- Learning
- Use the rules and strategy guides to examine practical blackjack claims.
Is an entertaining blackjack story a complete playing method?
No. A story selects moments and perspectives. Learning the game requires explicit rules and decisions; a dramatic win or an enthusiastic review is not evidence of repeatable results.
More from this era
Archive presentation refreshed 26 October 2026. The original report and publication date are retained; this is not a new offer, event listing or product review.