Extract from article on card counting and movie 21

[Mr. T]

The number of known card counters I have met through the years I would put in the low hundreds. They are everywhere from the biggest names in the game, to recreational weekend warriors I befriended. All of them were at least fairly smart, ranging up to gifted geniuses. However, in my opinion, you don’t need to be gifted in math or card games to make it in card counting. It really is not that hard. To learn basic strategy and a simple card counting system, like the Knockout or Red Seven, would take only about 40 hours. However, lazy card counters don’t read a book. They skip over basic strategy, and go off of what little they learned from movies like "Rain Man" and "21." They don’t know about proper capitalization, and wipe out their bankroll at the first run of bad luck. Successful people, not just in card counting, have a healthy respect for those who have succeeded before them, and learn from them. They have a healthy skepticism about the many myths that pervade blackjack. They have a respect for their bankroll, and treat it conservatively, letting them ride out the ups and downs of the game. It takes a disciplined personality to make it blackjack, and those types of people tend to be smart to begin with.

The book made it seem like counting cards was like a license to print money. Although the movie clearly took place in the present day, the events the movie was based on happened in 1994. Back then, it was easier. The table limits were higher, and some technical advances to catch counters were not available yet. The reality is that card counting is a grind. However, it would not make for an exciting Hollywood movie to watch some guy sit there playing cards, losing almost half the time.

The movie made it seem like there was only one counter catcher in all of Las Vegas. A surveillance manager seemed amazed that this one consultant could actually count cards himself. What I find to be closer to the truth is that most pit bosses know the rudiments of card counting. They may not be able to successfully play themselves, but they know the red flags. If they suspect something, they can call surveillance for a "skills check." Then somebody in surveillance can use computers to do a more accurate assessment. If the player is counting, and doing it well, the computer should be able to tell. Again, there is an anachronism in the movie, the events it is based on happened in 1994, but the movie clearly took place in the present. It may be that in 1994 surveillance didn't know much about card counting, so maybe my criticism isn't fair. Then, and more so now, card counting is simply hard to get away with. Good card counters can play tricks to avoid setting off the red flags, but often those tricks depress profitability. Card counting has become hard to get away with as a profession. Many former professional card counters have moved onto other games and angles.

[EasyRhino]

Where was the extracted article from?

[runningaces]

Mr. T, very nice post, you actually hit the nail on the head that has ended my cc weekend warrior trips to Vegas. This is the computer assessment of my play. Over 5 different trips to vegas I played just about every casino on the strip and downtown. My last trip after I had cashed out from the cashier I was approached by a suit, "Mr. ******** we have evaluated your play and have decided we don't want you to play BJ here or any of are other properties anymore". I was already under alot of heat at other casinos that were NOT part of there corporation and feeling like my days were numbered in Vegas anyway. So Instead of just nodding to him or quietly walking away I said what do you mean? He said we just evaluated your play and your too good for us, your welcomed to play any other games here besides BJ. I said, just for playing tonight? I only played 1/2 hour, "no Mr. ******* not just tonight. To the people that can keep doing this, you are damn good at what you do if your winning fairly consistently in Vegas. I've been at this for only 3 months or so and am pretty much done, some of you have been doing it for years thats awesome. Now I'm relegated to some Indian Casinos for weekend warrior CC, thats not so bad though.

Sidenote, of all the places I played Caesars didn't seem to give a damn at the 6D games, I played almost exclusively DD at first then started some 6D for less heat, I think Caesars just has alot of high rollers and they could care less if you go from $50-500 at a $50 min. table. I got lucky and caught running +28 with aprox. 2 1/2 decks left and eventually spreaded from one single hand of $50 to 2 hands of $500 each....the card gods let me win every hand ( aprox. 3 more deals after +28) including a double down.

Good luck all.

[moo321]

Originally Posted by runningaces

Mr. T, very nice post, you actually hit the nail on the head that has ended my cc weekend warrior trips to Vegas. This is the computer assessment of my play. Over 5 different trips to vegas I played just about every casino on the strip and downtown. My last trip after I had cashed out from the cashier I was approached by a suit, "Mr. ******** we have evaluated your play and have decided we don't want you to play BJ here or any of are other properties anymore". I was already under alot of heat at other casinos that were NOT part of there corporation and feeling like my days were numbered in Vegas anyway. So Instead of just nodding to him or quietly walking away I said what do you mean? He said we just evaluated your play and your too good for us, your welcomed to play any other games here besides BJ. I said, just for playing tonight? I only played 1/2 hour, "no Mr. ******* not just tonight. To the people that can keep doing this, you are damn good at what you do if your winning fairly consistently in Vegas. I've been at this for only 3 months or so and am pretty much done, some of you have been doing it for years thats awesome. Now I'm relegated to some Indian Casinos for weekend warrior CC, thats not so bad though.

Sidenote, of all the places I played Caesars didn't seem to give a damn at the 6D games, I played almost exclusively DD at first then started some 6D for less heat, I think Caesars just has alot of high rollers and they could care less if you go from $50-500 at a $50 min. table. I got lucky and caught running +28 with aprox. 2 1/2 decks left and eventually spreaded from one single hand of $50 to 2 hands of $500 each....the card gods let me win every hand ( aprox. 3 more deals after +28) including a double down.

Good luck all.

Sounds like you might be playing too aggressively... back off for a few months, and play shorter sessions in the future.

[shadroch]

It would be nice to know who this author is.

[nightspirit]

The article was written by the Wizard of Odds.
21 Movie — Truth and Fiction

[ihate17]

If you remember the original MIT team stories on the history channel, you might remember Andy Anderson and the credit he takes for busting the team.
The fact is, the team operated for about 4 years, while an untrained blind monkey would have figured out what they were doing millions of dollars and years earlier, but that did not stop this ignorant self promoter in his interviews.
The MIT owed much of its Vegas success to the lack of talent and skill provided to the casinos by Griffin. My guess is that the movie character was a take off of the Anderson real life character.

ihate17