Eliot Jacobson Ph.D.

Received his Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Arizona in 1983. Eliot has been a Professor of both Mathematics and Computer Science. Eliot retired from academia in 2009. Eliot Jacobson

After a decade as an advantage player, Eliot founded Jacobson Gaming, LLC in 2006. His company specializes in casino table game design, advantage play analysis, game development, and mathematical certification. Eliot's most recent book, "Advanced Advantage Play," based on material first published on his infamous blog apheat.net, has quickly become an industry best-seller on the topic of legally beating casino table games, side bets and promotions. Eliot consults with casinos internationally and is a sought after keynote speaker, trainer and seminar leader.

Eliot is widely recognized as one of the world's top experts on casino table games

Eliot Jacobson Ph.D. 's Articles

Pair Square (PS) is a simple-minded blackjack side bet that pays if the player’s first two cards are a pair. There is a premium payout if the pair is suited. This bet is also known by the name “Bet the Set,” though I have never understood that name, as a “set” usually refers to Three-of-a-Kind in poker.

The Dragon Bonus baccarat side bet (DB) is the most popular proprietary side bet for baccarat on the market. Only the "Pair" side bet is more common, perhaps because it is in the public domain. I describe card counting DB in this post. My conclusion was that DB has at most a minimal vulnerability to card counting.

Low-limit blackjack is a tough game for the casino. A blackjack table with two or three reasonably knowledgeable players each betting $5 to $10 per hand may be operating at a net loss for the casino. If the table has shallow cut card placement and a lengthy shuffle procedure then it is a sure loser.

It continues to amaze me that my posts on the 21 + 3 blackjack side bet are among the most frequently viewed articles on this site. This post (Beating the 21+3 Blackjack Side Bet) tops the list. Out of curiosity, I created a computer program to look at how the edge for 21 + 3 changes as hands are dealt from a shoe.