How familiar is everyone with the history of card counting?

[SPX]

Hey guys. . .

I'm an occasional writer (had one nationally published piece so far) and am working on blackjack-related short story right now. However, while I am familiar with the broad outlines (Julian Braun and BS, Ed Thorp and Beat the Dealer, early use of computers, rule changes, Ken Uston in the 70s, MIT in the 90s, etc.) I'm sure there are a lot of details I'm unfamiliar with.

I'm particularly looking for interesting facts and stories related to the history of card counting and blackjack as well as information on what the Vegas scene was like during the 60s-80s. Truth is, I still haven't had the chance to make it to Vegas and I wasn't even alive during much of that time period as I took my first breath in the final days of 1981.

So any help would be appreciated. . .

[eps6724]

Snyder's Big Book of Blackjack should just about cover everything about the history.

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by SPX

I'm an occasional writer..

Then you’re busier than most of the writers I know. (Hollywood joke)

I agree about Snyder’s Big Book. It has an incredible amount of information about the history of counting and some of the original characters involved. There are also a few good stories in Beat The Dealer about the “old time” count players. Thorp talks about some of the players who were counting cards long before he took an interest in the game. The stories about Greasy John and “Chinese” Sonny are pretty interesting.

-“Caucasian” Sonny-

[shadroch]

It would be interesting to have Scarnes take on card counting included.The self-proclaimed greatest gambler ever was of the opinion that card counting didn't work,and that that Thorpe was a fraud and a cheat.

[eps6724]

Originally Posted by shadroch

It would be interesting to have Scarnes take on card counting included.The self-proclaimed greatest gambler ever was of the opinion that card counting didn't work,and that that Thorpe was a fraud and a cheat.

His history of playing cards themselves, however, is very well researched.

[shadroch]

Scarne was a great gambler and right a hell of a lot more than he was wrong. But he missed the boat on card counting,and how to play BJ in general.

[SPX]

Originally Posted by eps6724

Snyder's Big Book of Blackjack should just about cover everything about the history.

I've flipped through it at the B&N but haven't bought it yet. I intend to eventually.

[SPX]

Originally Posted by Sonny

Then you’re busier than most of the writers I know. (Hollywood joke)

I agree about Snyder’s Big Book. It has an incredible amount of information about the history of counting and some of the original characters involved. There are also a few good stories in Beat The Dealer about the “old time” count players. Thorp talks about some of the players who were counting cards long before he took an interest in the game. The stories about Greasy John and “Chinese” Sonny are pretty interesting.

-“Caucasian” Sonny-

I remember reading some of the stories in Beat the Dealer, but it's been a long time. It wasn't my copy so I might have to order it off Amazon to give it a closer look.

Another question on that topic. . .

Didn't the first edition of Beat the Dealer have some counting system other than Hi-Lo with Hi-Lo being an addition to a later revision?

[SPX]

Originally Posted by shadroch

It would be interesting to have Scarnes take on card counting included.The self-proclaimed greatest gambler ever was of the opinion that card counting didn't work,and that that Thorpe was a fraud and a cheat.

I remember reading in some book by him that covered all gambling games--huge volume, green cover I believe--and he did mention card counting and that it was once effective but had already been rendered ineffective by the addition of new multiple decks, rule changes, etc.

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by SPX

I remember reading some of the stories in Beat the Dealer, but it's been a long time. It wasn't my copy so I might have to order it off Amazon to give it a closer look.

Unless you have an Amazon gift certificate you can almost always get a better deal at Half.com. You can usually find a copy at the library as well, although owning a copy is nice.

Originally Posted by SPX

Didn't the first edition of Beat the Dealer have some counting system other than Hi-Lo with Hi-Lo being an addition to a later revision?

Yeah, originally he talked about the Ten Count (Tens/Others) and the Thorp Ultimate system. In the later version he got rid of the Ultimate system and included the Simple Point Count system (Hi-Lo).

-Sonny-