You’re at the casino cashier window and a clerk asks for your

driver’s license. Did you notice the stranger standing nearby,

clicking a photo of your license with his cell-phone camera? What do
you know about the clerk to whom you’ve just given the keys to
your privacy, or any other casino employee with access to the casino
database?
Casinos love to dangle the carrot in front of players. They offer
freebies for all who sign up for a players card. Most commonly,
you’re given an application to fill out. In addition to the standard
name, address, and phone number, among other things, they may
ask for your date of birth, Social Security number, anniversary date,
and maybe even your favorite sports. Here again, in order to obtain
a players card, you must also present a photo ID. This requirement
varies from casino to casino, so let’s break down the term “photo ID”
into three common categories:
Category #1: Any respectable-looking ID card with a name and
photo that resembles you (company ID card; photo credit card;
medical-alert card; any self-manufactured photo identifcation, the
possession or use of which does not break any laws).
Category #2: A government-issued photo ID (passport, military
ID; government employee ID; state-issued firearms permit).
Category #3: Your driver’s license.
From this point forward, do yourself a favor and never give your
driver’s license to anyone other than a police officer. Category #1
gives you the most flexibility, but as an advantage player with a
desire to stay anonymous, you may find the need to go to Category
#2 (giving up only some minor details). You should do this only in
the event that the place is offering something good enough to
persuade you to make the exception. One trick that’s always worth a
try is to have whatever application is necessary already filled out,
then present it along with a Category #1 ID before they ask you for their
choice of ID.
 Government-issued photo ID comprises a broad category that
gives you more safety than a driver’s license. A passport, for
example, does not provide your home address or Social Security
number. Given a choice, providing a passport is preferable to a
driver’s license any day.

Profiling Through the Players Club

Casinos invest an obscene amount of energy and money in
customer profiling. Look at all the weapons a casino has at its
disposal: players clubs, casino credit, hotel rooms, valet parking,
cameras everywhere. Now add facial recognition.
The most powerful weapon is the players club card. Most casinos
encourage regular use of players cards by patrons, in order to
reward them with free stuff. However, every time you present or
insert this card, that event is recorded in the casino’s monstrous
database. Even if you don’t present your card when you eat,
purchase show tickets, play golf, or buy something in a retail shop, if
the purchase is made using a credit card, that information is
captured.
The main reason for gathering this information is to enable the
casino to market to you, so you’ll come back, gamble, and lose more
money. When a player has points on a players card, he feels
obligated not to “let the points go to waste.” Send a customer an
offer for a free room and there’s a good chance he’ll be a return
visitor. Throw in a free meal or two? The odds of the return visit
have just increased.
Am I saying you shouldn’t use a players card? No. The perks
offered by casinos are a part of the gaming experience for casual
players and even calculated into the gains of many advantage
players. With this in mind, using a players card is beneficial, if not
mandatory, to get the highest return.
 However, be aware that it comes at the price of privacy. If you
care about your privacy and use a players card, I recommend that
you take measures to limit the information casinos can obtain about
you, which is to say, give them the bare minimum you need to to get
what you want. Keep in mind that many casinos have a policy
whereby all players at a specified bet level must present valid
identification or they will not permit play. Yes, they do have that
power!

Casino Credit
In three words: Don’t do it!
Take a look at a typical application for a casino credit line. After
providing the casino with all that information about yourself, it goes
into a database … and we all know how secure databases are!
Imagine an employee who manages to get a copy of a casino’s
database of premium players: names, addresses, bank account
numbers—an identity thief’s dream!
Central Credit has provided services for the casino industry since
the late 1950s. Global Cash Access acquired it in 1998 and increased
the number of services offered, as well as its ability to invade an
individual’s personal privacy. While Global Cash Access provides
identity verification of casino patrons to protect all parties from
identity theft, the player’s personal information is in its database,
which is accessible by any number of casino employees worldwide.
Casino Credit Services can provide casinos with a dossier of all a
subject’s recorded casino activities. At some casinos, your name is
checked against that database when you check in. I’ll bet you didn’t
know how invasive the simple process of getting a hotel room could
be.

Cash Transaction Report (CTR)

 Federal law requires casinos to report all currency transactions in
excess of $10,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies). The stated
purpose of this requirement is to thwart laundering of money used
to finance terrorist activities, drug trafficking, and other crimes.
Casinos have historically been targets for these practices.
A casino is required to file a Currency Transaction Report (CTR)
with the IRS, identifying any customer who conducts a cash
transaction or series of cash transactions totaling more than $10,000
in a gaming day. The CTR details the customer’s name, address, date
of birth, and Social Security number. If the customer is a regular
player, he probably has a players card with an account number and
the casino should already have the information in its system. If not, a
casino employee will ask for a form of government identification. If
the customer refuses to provide this, he will no longer be permitted
to engage in cash transactions of any type.
Notice the phrase “totaling more than $10,000 in a gaming day.”
If you go to a table game and buy $5,000 in chips, then later in the
day go to a different table and buy another $6,000 in chips, your total
buy-ins are $11,000 and the casino is required to identify you.
Officially, buy-ins have to exceed the $10,000 mark. The casino staff
tracks cash buy-ins and attempts to identify anyone who looks like a
threat to exceed the threshold early on. In fact, some casinos have
specific thresholds at which they won’t allow further buy-ins for an
unidentified player, i.e., one who won’t surrender ID when first asked.
It could be $5,000, $7,000, or any such amount.
Here is an important point. It is federal law to report a cash
transaction exceeding $10,000. If you attempt to cash in $10,001 in
chips, the casino cannot legally give you the cash unless it has
information (obtained from a government ID) on file. The same goes
for buying in for chips with cash at a table. However, any
requirement to obtain ID prior to the $10,000 point is solely dictated
by internal casino procedures and not by federal law. That means
you don’t have to produce ID prior to $10,000 in cash transactions.
But keep in mind that if a casino asks for ID and you refuse to
provide it, you will be watched very closely from that point on, or
possibly even backed off.
A simple way to view this is as follows.
An ID request resulting from cash transactions exceeding $10,000
= federal law.
An ID request resulting from cash transactions below $10,000 =
internal casino policy.
Privacy problems can arise out of the blue as a result of CTR
issues. For example, it’s not uncommon to buy in for something like
$9,000, get on a bad run, and ask to buy in for another $3,000, at
which point you’ll be asked for ID. If you refuse, the casino is within
its legal rights to refuse to allow the additional buy-in.
The regulations as outlined under the Bank Secrecy Act clearly
define a currency transaction as the physical exchange of currency
between two parties. When you go to a casino gaming table and
place $5,000 cash down in exchange for chips, that is a physical
exchange of currency. After that initial $5,000 buy-in, you’re using
casino chips to play. Now, say you win $12,000 and leave the table
with a total of $17,000 in chips. That is not an additional physical
exchange of currency. It only becomes defined as an exchange when
you go to the cashier and exchange those chips for cash. So playing
with chips you’ve won shouldn’t trigger a CTR, but once you cash
them, that transaction will likely accrue toward your total, including
any other cash transactions you’ve made that day.
Casino policy may impose additional actions or requirements of
identification when cashing out chips. They include the following:
• The cashier may require identification any time chips higher
than a designated denomination are presented. While this
varies by casino, it’s most common with $5,000-denomination
chips or higher. Since casinos are known to track these chips
 very closely, many players never accept them at the table, but
rather work only with $1,000 or lower denominations.
• The cashier may phone the pit where you recently played to
verify the amount of chips you walked away with. For
convenience, it makes sense to keep an ample amount of
chips available if you plan to play more at a casino, which
means it’s rarely necessary to cash out large amounts at any
one time. Keep in mind that if it’s determined that you’re
“structuring,” you’ll have bigger problems to deal with, as
explained below. Be careful and obey the law.
• Some casinos use Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
technology, with tracers implanted in high-denomination
chips. Caution must be exercised if this type of chip is in use.
In such cases, only you should attempt to cash it or break it
down at a table for future play.
The term “gaming day” also needs to be considered, as its
definintion differs among casinos. A gaming day (or designated 24-
hour period) might run from midnight until 11:59 p.m. in one casino,
while it’s 7 a.m. until 6:59 a.m. in another. Most customers won’t
know what constitutes the casino’s gaming day. And while it might
be good to know, you have to be careful about what you do with
that knowledge. Cashing out different amounts at different times
can be perfectly legitimate. However, making multiple cashouts in a
deliberate attempt to avoid a CTR is called “structuring,” a crime for
which you can be arrested. If you’re with a spouse, relative, or
friend, you legally cannot break down your chips and have them
cashed out for you to avoid a CTR. That could also be considered a
form of structuring.
To summarize, if your usual level of play causes you to exceed
$10,000 in cash transactions, then dealing with CTRs will be
something you have to get used to. If you keep your cash activity
under $10,000, you’re not legally required to provide the casino with
your personal information, but understand that your refusal might
prompt other actions, as you’ll see below.

Suspicious Activity Report (SAR)

Financial institutions are required by federal regulations to file a
Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) when they suspect that a violation
of federal criminal law or regulations is being committed or
attempted and involves the money being transacted. Guess what?
Casinos are considered financial institutions and are required to
comply with this regulation as well. Given the vagueness of the
requirements, anyone can be subject to such reporting. The actual
dollar amount that warrants an SAR filing is also vague. It’s
generally understood that banks use a $5,000 benchmark, whereas
casinos are more likely to use $3,000. Remember how a cash
transaction in excess of $10,000 requires a CTR filing? The $10,000
number can score you both a CTR and an SAR if someone finds you
suspicious!
You’re in the blind with regard to when such filings are made.
The Bank Secrecy Act prohibits the institution filing the SAR from
informing the filing’s subject. However, there are two areas in which
a patron is protected by this same Bank Secrecy Act.
The filing institution is prohibited from disclosing to other
institutions that an SAR has been filed on a patron. In the casino
business, patrons frequently move from casino to casino. A player
may even bring chips from one casino to cash in another. It’s not
uncommon for one casino to call another and inquire about a
suspicious patron. If this occurs and a casino reveals that an SAR
was filed, that casino is in violation of the Bank Secrecy Act. Quite
serious! Additionally, the filing institution is not permitted to inform
law-enforcement authorities that an SAR was filed. Suppose you’re
detained by casino security and local police get involved. If a casino
employee informs the police that they filed an SAR on the player, the
casino is in violation of the Bank Secrecy Act.
Financial institutions have a “better safe than sorry” mentality on
this issue. They fall under the protection of the Safe Harbor
Provision, where they’re granted immunity for any consequences
that stem from illegal transactions, provided they filed an SAR.
Casinos are especially sensitive to this.
In fairness to casinos, they encounter many players who engage
in multiple cash exchanges throughout a 24-hour period and it’s
difficult to keep track. To aid in tracking, most maintain Multiple
Transaction Logs, in which they either have the patron’s player card
number or, in the absence of that, a physical description of the
patron. They may be logging your transactions, but at this point it’s
not a legal requirement to obtain official identification, and any
attempt by a casino to do so is merely an anticipatory effort based on
internal policy. The tricky part is that if you wish not to comply with
the request, the casino may not allow you to make any further
currency exchanges. Even though you may not have even
approached the $10,000 mark, the casino can implement this as
internal policy to protect itself. This is risky territory due to its
vagueness, making decisions subject to opinion rather than
verifiable facts.
Other than determining whether you’re old enough to engage in
casino play, the only legal reason a casino has to identify you is if
you engage in cash transactions in excess of $10,000 during the
course of a day. This will trigger a CTR. Additionally, an SAR can be
filed below the $10,000 threshold if the casino deems you to be
suspicious.
Here are some of the major differences between the CTR and
SAR reports:
• Federal law has an established threshold of $10,000 for CTR
reporting, but none for SAR reporting, which is subject to the
 judgment of the casino.
• The patron’s Social Security number is necessary for a CTR,
but not required for an SAR.
• If a patron does not provide identification when a CTR is
required, the casino is prohibited by law from completing the
transaction. With an SAR, the casino is under no such
prohibition by law. However, a refusal to complete a
transaction could be a result of internal casino policy and not
federal law.

Be Informed
From my experiences and those of others I’ve spoken with, the
pit staffs in most casinos aren’t knowledgeable about the whys of
these requests for identification. Their actions give every indication
that they were lightly trained and simply proceed in a robotic
manner when they ask for IDs. Players (including me) have
encountered situations where pit staff asks for ID at specific points
below the $10K mark, stating, “The government requires it.”
You’re now armed with some knowledge that will help protect
your privacy. As you implement the necessary measures outlined
here, all perfectly legal and within your rights, to protect yourself,
you may come up with new tricks of your own. Don’t forget to pass
them on, so others can better protect their own privacy. The best
way to battle devious practices is to educate others. This is not
limited to card counters playing blackjack, but applies to many other
areas of life.
 

The
Black Zone
 

16

Cheating

This chapter is divided into two sections. The first is “Player

Cheating” and the second is “House Cheating.” Note that I’m
mentioning methods of player cheating strictly as a point of
awareness. In the event you observe another player cheating in any
form, you should leave the table immediately. You don’t want to be
anywhere near cheating in a casino. That’s the sole purpose of
pointing out their illegal acts. We’ve never utilized any method of
cheating. I’m confident that I play well enough using honest
methods. Those using such techniques are committing a crime.

Player Cheating
Capping Bets
A player who’s dealt a strong hand attempts to place one or more
chips on top of the initial bet. A cheating player attempting this most
likely does so in a hand-held game, where the player picks up the
cards and uses them to mask his move. In Cheating at Blackjack
Squared, by Dustin Marks, he shows a method of capping bets
during the double-down process.
It’s also possible to cap a bet by slipping an additional chip under
the initial chips. This technique is performed at the time a player
slips the initial two cards underneath the chip(s), indicating the
desire to stand on that hand. While doing so, he slides an additional
chip underneath. In this move, it’s common to “accidentally” knock
over the chips.
Pinching Bets
A player with a weak hand attempts to remove one or more
chips from the original bet. Again, a cheating player in a hand-held
game uses the cards to cover the pinch.

Card Mucking
A player attempts to remove one or more cards from play and
use them when needed in a future hand. For example, a player
might draw and deliberately bust, without tossing in the hand.
When the dealer moves on, the player then removes the desired
card, using sleight-of-hand techniques. With this illegal move, a
skilled card mucker can constantly switch cards in and out of the
game to improve a hand. A card mucker can be caught with an
additional card if the pit decides to change decks. In that case, the pit
person will count down the deck(s) and realize that one or more
cards are missing.

Card Marking
Marking cards can, at times, give a cheating player knowledge of
the dealer’s hole card and/or the next card to be dealt. This is very
powerful information for a player to have. Cheating players can
attempt to mark cards in various ways. One of the most common
methods is by “bending” certain cards. A player who bends all the
aces in a 2-deck game will sometimes know that an ace will be dealt
prior to making a bet. Such information would be extremely
valuable. In another method of marking cards, the cheating player
uses a sharp object to nick the edges of certain cards. A ring or
sharpened fingernail is a common tool for this illegal practice.
Another creative method of this illegal practice is to use a fluorescent
coloring, which can best be seen with the use of special eyeglasses.

House Cheating
 In recent years, large corporations that run the casinos have
attempted to ensure that casino games are handled in a legitimate
manner. However, some casino employees may try to test the
boundaries. For example, a dealer could have a friend sitting at a
blackjack table and perform certain maneuvers (e.g., overpayments)
to help this friend win. Now this dealer has a bit of a problem,
because if the table ends up a “house loser,” the dealer may be
placed under scrutiny and tapes of the table would be reviewed a bit
more closely. To avoid this, the cheating dealer would perform
certain maneuvers to ensure that another player at the table loses
money. This would balance out the fact that the dealer’s friend wins.
Such cheating is usually not sanctioned by the house. In the old days, if
a high roller was having a streak of luck, the house might be inclined
to bring in a “special-situation dealer,” a card “mechanic” capable of
manipulating the cards in a deck by various means to the dealer’s (or
the casino’s) benefit. This form of cheating is house sanctioned.
I asked Dustin Marks, author and expert authority on this topic,
to look over this chapter. He confirms that in his experiences house
cheating is quite uncommon. His rationale is that each move a dealer
makes provides an opportunity for the casino to identify the form of
cheating.

Dealing Seconds
This method of cheating is generally performed by dealers in
hand-dealt games, where dealers pitch the cards rather than deal
from a shoe. The cheating dealer peeks at the top card by positioning
the deck in a certain manner. If that card is beneficial to the player’s
hand, the dealer pitches the second card instead. This maneuver can
also be performed if the top card benefits the dealer’s hand, thus
saving the top card until the dealer is taking a card. A skilled card
mechanic dealing seconds is extremely difficult to detect. Strangely
enough, the best way to detect it is by sound rather than sight. When
a card is legitimately dealt from the top of a deck, it makes a distinct
sound, which differs when a second is dealt. While this method is
fine in a poker game or a quiet environment, in a noisy casino it’s
difficult to hear. Dealers are also trained to lift their thumb when
dispensing a card off the top of the deck. If the dealer’s thumb
remains on the deck and appears to be pulling back as the cards are
dealt, that may be a sign of dealing seconds.
Dustin mentions that while it’s rare, if a dealer uses this move,
it’s usually done as a one-shot deal at an opportune moment, such as
a double-down card with a large bet out. One such hand can truly
make all the difference!

Incomplete Shuffle
It’s a good idea to occasionally observe the manner in which the
dealer shuffles. Look for consistency and a thorough mixing of the
cards during each shuffle. In one form of cheating, the dealer picks
up the discards in a certain manner and shuffles in an unorthodox
way, which may be detrimental to the players.

Selective Upcard
If a cheating dealer is aware of the value of both dealer cards, the
decision on which card is exposed as the upcard can be
manipulated.

“Suggestive Cut”
Considering the above shuffling method, a dealer may have
knowledge of where a certain clump of cards is located within the
deck(s). Knowing this, the dealer wants to ensure that certain cards
are cut either into or out of play. A cheating dealer might hand you
the cut card and move the deck(s) toward your hand, positioning the
cut card next to where the dealer would like it placed.
Incomplete Deck(s)
Whenever one or more new decks is introduced to a table, the
dealer examines all the fronts and backs of the cards. This is to
ensure that complete decks are put into play and the backs of the
cards don’t have any unintentional marks from the printing process
or shipping. Although discrepancies are rare, they’re known to
happen. It’s a good idea to pay attention when this is being done,
just to make sure the dealer doesn’t miss something. The act of
intentionally removing cards from a deck rarely occurs today.

The Preferential Shuffle

This method of house cheating, commonly used by casinos, is
deadly to players. When we say players, we refer to all players, not
just card-counting players. Unfortunately, there’s no law that
prevents a casino from shuffling decks whenever it desires.
Therefore, the casinos are armed with a lethal weapon.
A preferential shuffle is where dealers shuffle or are instructed
by their superior(s) to shuffle decks when they believe that the cards
remaining favor the player or when a player makes an unusually
large wager. For an example of how this can be detrimental to all
players at the table, suppose a dealer is keeping track of aces. If, after a
few rounds are dealt, the dealer (who has knowledge of a surplus of
aces remaining in the deck) shuffles, the players at the table would
be deprived of having the benefit of the aces, minimizing their
chances of getting a natural and benefiting from the 3-2 payoff.

Preferential Shuffle by a Card-Counting Dealer

This is the worst type of preferential shuffling. A game played
under these conditions is unbeatable. The dealer in this case, who
can be completely skilled in card counting, shuffles away all
positive-count decks, while dealing out all negative-count decks.
You may also encounter a dealer who’s simply tracking aces. In any
shape or form, you’re playing at a huge disadvantage. When you
encounter such a game, just get up and leave.

Preferential Shuffle by a Non-Card-Counting Dealer

An astute player can actually manipulate this type of dealer to an
advantage. This type of dealer has determined, or has been
informed, that you’re counting cards. As a countermeasure, the
dealer shuffles when you raise your bets. Some casinos have a built-
in policy to shuffle any time a player triples the previous bet. If you
encounter such a dealer, you can actually use this to your advantage
(more on this further in the chapter).

Is it Legal for Casinos to Preferential Shuffle?

At the time of this writing, there’s no regulation prohibiting this
action by casinos. Many people, including me, feel strongly that
giving the casinos the right to shuffle at will has resulted in
preferential shuffle tactics. The argument of players who are against
it is that by allowing them to use this tactic, the casinos have the
ability to alter the randomness of what’s supposed to be a game of
chance. If a game has a fixed and consistent shuffle point, the casino
dealing it would have an already-existing house advantage against
the average player. The house advantage can be determined based
on the rules of the game. In a game where a casino can shuffle at will
as is the case today, the casino has the ability to further improve the
house advantage by selectively dealing or not dealing certain cards.
This is essentially equivalent to removing cards from a deck, which
is cheating.

Some Player Countermeasures Against the Preferential Shuffle

In hand-dealt games, you have a lesser chance of encountering a
preferential shuffle if the casino employs a shuffle card. This is a cut
card placed within the deck(s) used to dictate the last round dealt.
Casinos using shuffle cards don’t normally shuffle the deck(s) prior
to reaching that card. However, be on the lookout for such tactics, as
when a dealer leaves for a break earlier than normal and lays the
remaining cards out prior to reaching the shuffle card. If you
encounter this during only positive counts, you may be dealing with
a very crafty and creative pit crew.
When you encounter a non-counting dealer who’s using your bet
range as a basis for shuffling, you have an opportunity to work this
to your advantage. When playing against a shuffle anytime you
triple your prior bet, you can bet $50 off the top. If the count rises,
bet $100, but if it drops, bet $150 to force a shuffle. After your $100
wager, if the count drops, bet $300 to force a shuffle. If the count
continues to be in the plus region, stay with the $100 bet. This way,
you’re controlling the dealer and manipulating the shuffle of
negative decks. This method doesn’t always work and even when it
does, the dealer and/or pit may eventually get hip to what you’re
doing.
It’s important for you to be able to identify a card-counting
dealer. This is easy. Just look for some of the signs that the pit looks
for in identifying a card-counting player. If a dealer is non-talkative
and seems to be intently concentrating (more so than other dealers),
it could be a warning sign. You may even see a dealer’s lips moving!
When you encounter a card-counting dealer, leave the table. If you
want to confirm your suspicions, engage the suspect dealer in
conversation. This dealer may try to ignore you. Keep on talking and
make certain that some form of number is included in parts of your
conversation. A counting dealer will become frustrated. Of course,
this is best to do just standing or sitting, without playing.
 

17

Advantage Play: Some Gray and

Not-So-Gray Areas

This chapter discusses some questionable methods of gaining an

advantage in a blackjack game. At the time of this writing, some are
clearly illegal and can land you a jail sentence, while others are not
illegal. Some methods are simply based on taking advantage of a
sloppy dealer. Years ago, crafty players used to cruise the casinos in
search of sloppy dealers, then made a bundle playing against them.
Today, the casinos, aware of these tactics, have installed measures to
eliminate or minimize their effectiveness.

Front-Loading
On occasion, the dealer may accidentally expose the hole card as
it’s removed from the deck, placed on the table, and slipped
underneath the upcard. A sloppy dealer angles the card while going
through the motions, so that a player seated at third base, or the next
seat over, has the ability to catch a glimpse of the card’s value. A
right-handed front-loader normally exposes the hole card to the
third-base side of the table, while a left-handed front-loader exposes
it to the first-base side.
Having constant knowledge of the dealer’s hole card can provide
a player with a huge advantage. One powerful use of this
knowledge is always making a correct insurance decision. Another is
where you’d normally hit a stiff against a dealer’s ten upcard. Now,
armed with the knowledge that the dealer has a stiff hand, you’d
stand on your stiff hand, eliminating your chance of busting and
taking advantage of the dealer’s chance of busting. Some plays bring
immediate suspicion and for that reason are avoided by players
using this tactic. If you have a 19 with knowledge the dealer has a 20,
for example, hitting 19 isn’t wise.

First-Basing
Sometimes you may catch a glimpse of the dealer’s hole card
when the dealer manually peeks under an ace or ten to check for a
natural. A sloppy dealer who doesn’t protect the hand while
performing this check exposes the hole card to an alert player seated
at first base. This doesn’t occur as frequently as it did years ago,
since the casinos have installed two countermeasures. One: The
dealer doesn’t check for a natural until the play of all hands is
completed. This can be applied to only tens or both tens and aces.
Two: the installation of the “automatic peek device.” With this, the
dealer slips the hole card into the device, which is installed on the
table, enabling the apparatus to read the specially coded cards to
indicate whether the hole card is an ace or ten. If so, a light flashes. If
not, the dealer, not having manually peeked under the hole card,
hasn’t any further knowledge of what the card is.
This form of hole-card play is not as powerful as front-loading.
Whereas a front-loading dealer exposes the hole card close to 100%
of the time, a first-basing dealer exposes the hole card only when
checking for a natural, which is roughly 35% of the time at best. In
any event, a player who has the opportunity to use this technique
can play at a strong advantage, strictly on such information.

Playing the “Warps”

In a game where the dealer manually checks under aces and tens
for a natural, some dealers may bend the cards in such a way that
they remain warped after being in play for a while. This can be
advantageous if a dealer’s hole card appears on the table with the
corners lying flat and the center of the edge slightly bridged upward.
The card could be an ace or ten that’s been warped. Due to the
casino countermeasures, the ability to read warps is less common
today.

Knowledge of Bottom Card Before the Cut

On occasion, a sloppy dealer will expose the bottom of the deck
when presenting it to you for cutting. This is good information, as
you can insert the cut card in a strategic location to either cut a good
card into play or cut a poor card out of play. The rule here is that if
the bottom card is a high card, you cut low, ensuring it will be dealt.
If the bottom card is a low card, you cut high, where that card will
end up not being dealt. In many single-deck games, cutting a 5 out
of play gives you an advantage off the top. With this information,
you can place a larger bet off the top.

Knowledge of Bottom Card After the Cut

A sloppy dealer may expose the bottom of the deck(s) while
completing the cut. This is good information, as you can incorporate
the value of the bottom card, which won’t be dealt, into your count.
If you catch the bottom card before and after the cut, you have two
cards to incorporate into your count. Knowledge of this information
also can justify placing a larger bet right off the top.

Knowledge of the Burn Card

You may also benefit from a sloppy dealer’s exposing the burn
card while placing it into the discard tray. You can incorporate its
value into your count. If you’re fortunate enough to catch the bottom
card before the cut and after the cut, in addition to the burn card,
you have three cards to incorporate into your count. If these three
cards are low value cards, which will not be dealt, you’re playing at
a nice advantage off the top of a hand-dealt game and can bet
accordingly.

Use of a Concealed Computer

This is a felony offense in most U.S. jurisdictions. On July 1, 1985,
a bill in the state of Nevada went into effect, whereby anyone caught
using a computer in a casino would be subject to up to a $10,000 fine
and/or 10-year jail sentence.
Nevada Statute 465.075 Use of Device for Calculating
Probabilities:
It is unlawful for any person at a licensed gaming establishment
to use, or possess with intent to use, any device to assist:
1. In projecting the outcome of the game;
2. In keeping track of the cards played;
3. In analyzing the probability of the occurrence of an event
relating to the game; or
4. In analyzing the strategy for playing or betting to be used in
the game, except as permitted by the commission.
Other jurisdictions followed suit, passing similar bills.
During the 1970s, one of the first known concealed computers
was developed and used very successfully to count cards and
provide the player with the strongest betting and playing strategies
based on the information input into the computer. This computer
was comprised of components about the size of a pack of cigarettes,
which were strapped to the player’s waist, connected to a set of
wires running down the player’s legs, connected to a mini-keyboard
located inside one shoe. The value of each card dealt was input with
the mini-keyboard by tapping toes in accordance with the codes
indicating the card values. The computer, receiving this information,
would go through the necessary calculations in practically one
second and respond with a series of buzzes back to the player,
directing how many units to bet and how to play the hand.
Use of a computer is far more powerful than traditional card
counting. The computer knows exactly what cards remain to be
played.
Let’s take an extreme situation. You’re playing a single-deck
game with all the cards dealt. You have T,T for a pat hand of 20 and
the dealer’s upcard is a 7. Only one card remains undealt. If you
know that the only three unseen cards are three aces, one being the
dealer’s hole card, one representing the burn card, and one being
that only undealt card, what play decision would you make? The
insane move of doubling down on a 20—giving you the opportunity
to win twice your original bet!
As you can see, using a computer results in some strange play
decisions. Before the casinos caught on to the use of computers, such
plays helped minimize heat from the winning computer player, as
the pit attributed such winning to dumb luck, figuring that anyone
making such stupid plays would eventually start to lose. Nowadays,
such plays bring immediate attention from the pit personnel, who
are a bit more educated. The bottom line is that if you get caught
using a computer in a casino, you’ll be arrested. Don’t try it.
 

18

Tactics for Double-Deck Play

It has become far more difficult to get away with betting large
money in single-deck and double-deck games. The majority of the
big-money advantage players stick to shoe games, which they
consider safer from detection. It’s still possible to play a winning
game against double-deck games using some careful tactics and
modifications to the textbook strategies. Especially here, it’s crucial
to a player’s survival to develop relationships with casino staff and
use various methods to ensure the action is well accepted.
Mix up your play between all three shifts of a casino, so as not to
overexpose yourself on any given shift.
If you’re comped a room in a specific hotel-casino, play there
only the days you’re staying as a hotel guest (this applies to players
working to satisfy comp requirements).
It’s a good idea to stay a maximum of two nights at a hotel.
Although this means changing hotels during a trip, it minimizes the
amount of time you’ll be required to play in that casino, thus
minimizing your exposure.

Dealer Weaknesses
Stay alert to dealer weaknesses noted in Chapter 17 as follows:
Exposure of the bottom card before the cut—If you see a high card,
cut low to get that card into play. If you see a low card, cut high to
get that card out of play and include this card in the count.
 Exposure of the bottom card after the cut—You can use this
information in your count before the first hand is dealt.
Exposure of the burn card—You can use this information in your
count before the first hand is dealt.
A “high-riffling” dealer—When the dealer riffles the cards on the
final riffle, you can observe some of the cards as they’re falling in
place. You’re looking for “paint” here and this can help you
determine where to cut. The best dealers for this practice are females
with long fingernails.

Identifying Quality Games

Pit—A good pit setup for you, as a player, is where the
floorperson has several tables to monitor. Observe the number of
tables open when you play and record this information in your
session notes.
Time to play—Best time for head-on action is graveyard shift (4
a.m.–noon in many casinos). A good time to play is toward the end
of the shift. The dealers and pit are getting tired. Dealers may get
sloppy and lazy. If you encounter a dealer who’s too lazy to shuffle
all the time, the deck penetration may be better. If you’re in a pit
where shoe games are mixed in with double-deck games, a great
time to play is when they’re changing cards on the shoe games. This
procedure requires lots of pit attention and a double-deck player can
play unobserved.
Number of players at table—As a guideline, we aim to play at tables
with no more than two other players. The fewer players at the table,
the more hands per hour you get, playing at an advantage. There’s
flexibility here, but exercise sound judgment before entering a game
at a crowded table.
Dealer selection—Aside from any exploitable weaknesses, the two
most important qualities to look for in a dealer are deep dealing and
fast dealing.
 Rules—Be aware of the different rules in each casino. In the event
you note a change from your records, update this information in
your session notes.
Table Limits—Ensure the minimum and maximum bets permitted
at the table are within your betting guidelines.

Initial Entrance into a Game

Timing your arrival—Watch for a new shuffle and approach the
table just as the first round is being dealt. This gives you the
opportunity to see the first round of cards dealt, establish your
count, and determine whether it’s worthwhile to enter the game at
that point. This is a good opportunity if the count warrants entering
the game with a higher bet. This tactic is not applicable in games
with no mid-deck entry allowed.
Entrance Bet(s)—If you already have chips (recommended), you
have a good opportunity to sneak them in without the dealer
announcing your buy-in or a money-plays bet. If the count calls for a
minimum bet and the floorperson isn’t watching the table, bet that
minimum. If the floorperson is watching, you may want to bet more
than the minimum for the first few hands, if the count isn’t
extremely negative.
Initial Aggressive Play—If you enter a game and the count
immediately jumps up, don’t hesitate to put the big bets out. There’s
no way the pit or the eye can establish any pattern so soon.
However, if you happen to win some big bets right off the bat,
chances are you’ll then be under observation. One thing you can do
is simply leave. Another tactic is to go to a 1- or 2-unit bet after the
next shuffle, which may give the impression that you were just
“going crazy” off the bat and have now cooled off. You can throw
some cover by using a parlay/progression, if you’re comfortable
doing so. If you lose your initial big bets, you’re justified cutting
back to a table-minimum bet at the shuffle. In this case, flat bet the
table minimum for a bit, unless the count really jumps up. Then go
for another “going-crazy” round. If you win those big bets, leave a
big bet out at the shuffle, until you lose a bet. Then cut your bet back
to 1 unit.
Initial Passive Play—Flat bet the first two rounds regardless of the
count. Another tactic is to go with a parlay/progression for the first
two rounds regardless of the count (but not a strict parlay; be
creative). During this time, if the count jumps up, throw a few extra
chips up or spread to that second spot. In an initial passive entrance,
you’re setting yourself up to become more aggressive shortly
thereafter. When using an initial passive entrance, play very slowly
(see “Controlling the Tempo” next page).

During Play Session

Changing tables—Break down your 1-hour session into three 20-
minute mini-sessions at a table. After 20 minutes, change tables.
Never leave a table at a positive count; always wait for a negative.
When you enter a new table, time your arrival with the shuffle as
outlined above.
Restroom break—During each 20-minute mini-session, take one
restroom break or leave the table for some reason or another (phone
call, sports bet). When you return from your restroom break, time
your arrival with the shuffle as outlined in the above section.
Players jumping into game—If a player starts to enter a game in
progress and if the count is negative, wait for the player to put a bet
in the circle, then pull yours back, without saying a word. Body
language is important here, as you want to look disturbed. If the
count is positive, catch the player before the bet is dropped and ask
him to please wait for the shuffle. Ask politely but firmly.
Players jumping out of game—If a player leaves a game at a
negative count and there’s another player at the table, pull your bet
back. If the count improves, jump back in. The message you’re
giving here is that you’re cognizant of the order of the cards being
changed and that maybe by sitting out a hand or two or three, might
things will change for the better. If a player leaves a game at a
positive count, this is a good opportunity to spread to two spots.
Your message is that you want to keep the order of the cards.
Pocketing chips—Good times to pocket chips are when you’re
changing tables and taking restroom breaks, and during dealer
changes. This makes it difficult for the pit to get an accurate handle
on your win. Be aware of the tolerance levels of the casino, as this
determines the denomination of the chips that you should pocket.
Also note the bet levels of the other players at your table. If, on the
rare occasion, there’s another big bettor at the table who’s not
getting rated, and he leaves, you can comment that the player left
with a lot of chips.
Controlling the tempo—This is a key tactic. When the count is
positive, play fast and aggressively. When the count is negative, play
slowly. When playing unobserved by the pit, play fast. When the pit
is watching, slow it down.

Summary
While the recommendations presented in this chapter may help
your longevity playing double-deck games with an advantage, it has
become increasingly difficult. If it’s your preference to stick to these
games, remember to keep your sessions short and be careful not to
overplay any one casino.
 

19

Backcounting

Focus and Discipline in Backcounting

Backcounting a non-crowded table with a deeply dealt six-deck
game is a welcome opportunity for a knowledgeable player. You’ve
done your homework and determined an “entrance point” where
you’ll jump into a game, along with an “exit point” to leave the
game. This is the heart and soul of your game plan, card counting at
its finest. You’re playing only when you have the advantage and
never betting into a house edge.
Now, here you are one hour later and you haven’t realized a
count warranting the placing of a bet! This is common with
backcounting players, which results in many players becoming
impatient and lowering their standards. Once a player falls prey to
this emotional uppercut, he’s no longer playing a winning game.
Since a majority of card counters operate more on the recreational
level and incorporate their play as part of a vacation, one of the
biggest problems is limited time. This is similar to the vacationing
recreational poker player who ends up staying in on poor hands
rather than folding. This player has a plane to catch, came into town
for some action, and is going to get some action! In the meantime,
the local pros are licking their chops, folding hand after hand and
staying in only on the premium plays, while taking advantage of the
impatient player’s mistakes. Relate this to playing blackjack. As with
most things, it all begins with preparation.
Game Plan
The goal is never to play against a house advantage. You’ve
scouted various casinos with enough tables and even noted some of
the better dealers. You’ve established that in a six-deck game, if after
two decks are dealt and you’re not at an acceptable entrance point,
you’ll look for a new table to backcount. You drill into your head
that you’ll enter the game only at this given point, and once the
count indicates you no longer have an advantage, you’ll exit the
game. This is cut in stone. You are in strict discipline mode.

Patience
It takes a great deal of restraint to resist the urge to get into action
when you’re thinking about the clock ticking. One solution is to stop
thinking about the time element. Plant in your mind that you may
end up spending a few hours working and counting down games
without ever placing a bet. You say, “What a waste of time”? I say
you should think about it as betting zero units in negative counts. By
not playing the hands, you’re actually playing, only you’re playing
with one heck of a bet spread! You say, “Great. That makes me feel a
little better, but how boring!” Use the time as effectively as you can.
It’s not all about counting down a game. You also need to study
the opposition. Watch the procedures the pit follows when a player
enters a game betting big money. Notice what goes on in the pit.
Which floorperson is most or least attentive? These factors are all
part of your game, and although you’re not physically laying down
bets, the time will come when you are, and knowledge of these
workings can make a huge difference.

Your Worst Enemy

You end up being your own worst enemy.
Take a situation where you’ve been patient and after a couple of
hours you get that hot count and send the chips in. You lose hand
after hand! It happens and it happens often. Still, you mustn’t get
impatient, which leads to altering your game plan. Do not play in
substandard conditions. We all know that blackjack is a game played
for the long run. Well, this long run can be quite long. It’s crucial to
accept this and develop a balanced approach to the game, where
you’re active in playing without betting, but ready to enter a game
with aggressive betting once the conditions dictate.

Who Owns the Table?

It has become more frequent that a backcounting player enters a
game and soon finds that the table is already occupied by another
counter. It can put both players at the risk of being exposed as
counters when their bet movements are similar. In other words,
“This table ain’t big enough for the both of us!” Now we have a
problem. Who has rights to the table? The answer is, “There are no
rules.” Let’s look at a typical scenario that a backcounting player
may encounter.
You’ve spent some time counting a particular table. During that
time, several players have been in and out of the game. Some folks
feel that one of the first things you should look for is whether
another counter is at the table. I’ve always disagreed with the
concept, because unless you actually know on sight that such a
player is at the table, I feel you’re wasting your time attempting to
evaluate another player in such a short period. Although you may
possess a well-trained eye, there are more important things to be
watching. Further, if you’re not already in the game, which would
indicate the game is not yet advantageous, chances are any counter
who is on the game will be relatively flat in betting. Sure, there are
some tell-tale signs that can lead you to making a quick educated
guess, but why waste your time playing “Peekaboo, I see you”?
Now you have the situation where the count justifies your
entering the game and all of a sudden another player’s bet jumps up.
All of a sudden you’re on the receiving end of some dirty looks from
this person. Whose table is it? Again, there are no rules, so there is
no right or wrong. This already-seated player is thinking, “I’m at the
table already, therefore I have rights to the table,” whereas the
backcounting player is thinking, “I’ve been backcounting this game
for 30 minutes and this player just arrived 10 minutes ago, so I own
it.” Clever players can develop some creative ways to deal with such
situations.
 

20

Blackjack and the Internet

This chapter isn’t about actually playing blackjack at an Internet

casino (although you can). Discussed here are various sources of
online information and some precautions you should think about
exercising. Like all subjects, a world of information on many aspects
of blackjack is available on the Net.

Some History
One of the earliest online sources of blackjack information was
the Usenet Newsgroup rec.gambling, formed in late 1989. It was a
gambling-oriented bulletin board where visitors posted questions,
ideas, and theories of any sort. After first addressing all forms of
gambling in one place, the volume of messages grew to the point
where it was necessary to split the newsgroup into different
gambling-related categories. In 1995, blackjack players gathered at
rec.gambling.blackjack. In November 1997, a moderated newsgroup
enabled designated moderators to monitor all posts to the bulletin
board and reject those considered inappropriate. This group, with its
dedicated and high-quality participants, was very popular for a
while. But as the Internet gained prominence, many new sites were
formed.
While there are several blackjack-related sites on the Internet
today, the following are the most popular at the time of this writing.
Some of these provide links to other such sites. Additionally, many
casinos have their own websites, which can also provide lots of
useful information.

BJ21.com
After participating on the RG Newsgroups for a short while, in
1996 blackjack author and expert Stanford Wong put together a well-
organized bulletin board-type website called BJ21.com. The site
quickly expanded into private sections (available by paid
membership) and grew to more than 2,000 members, in addition to
several hundred visitors and contributors to the free sections.
BJ21.com has grown to now host several bulletin boards, where
information on blackjack conditions at casinos throughout the
country can be accessed. This is a great place to get answers to basic
questions from a large cross-section of theorists and players. Wong’s
monthly newsletter, Current Blackjack News, is also available by
accessing the BJ21.com website via paid subscription.

Blackjacktheforum.com
Software developer and blackjack author Norm Wattenberger
runs this comprehensive website, which has lively forums and an
active chat room with occasional guest experts as hosts. Participation
on the site is free, requiring only initial registration.

Blackjackforumonline.com
Loyal readers of Blackjack Forum were pleased to see Bishop
Arnold Snyder back on the scene with the launch of his
blackjackforumonline.com. Visitors can access a treasure trove of
articles from past issues of Blackjack Forum, along with message
forums, including a members-only player’s forum.

LasVegasAdvisor.com
 Anthony Curtis has been publishing the Las Vegas Advisor
newsletter for more than 25 years, providing readers with
information on the best deals in Sin City. In a rapidly changing
environment, this online resource turns you onto incentives as they
happen. The website has complete visitor information for
accommodations, dining, transportation, shows, gambling, and just
about anything Vegas-centric. There are also forums where visitors
of all levels of casino knowledge engage in discussions on all things
casino-related. At this writing, there are plans for a big
redevelopment of the site, which will include a much-heightened
emphasis on gambling information and strategies, formed in
conjunction with highly respected gambling expert James Grosjean
and others from LVA’s deep pool of gambling authors.

Security Tips for Participating in Blackjack-Related Websites

Contributing Information
It’s good to gather up every tidbit of information you can find, as
you never know what you might come across. Some of the best
information can come from the most unlikely sources. But if you
contribute information to gambling websites, I recommend that you
be careful about including specific information about what you,
specifically, did during a trip or play. Some players feel it’s fine to
give details about rules, penetration, etc., but anything specific that
may link you to a given table, during a given shift, on a given day
may lead to someone (maybe from a casino) figuring out who you
are. On a website where anyone can have (or pay for) access, you
never know who’s reading the posts. Exercise the necessary caution.
Most contributors use pseudonyms when posting to maintain
anonymity. But remember that when you post something about a
specific event, it’s very easy for the casino to say, “Let’s go to the
videotape.”
 Preserving good situations is also a concern. While it’s nice to
have a network of players who provide information about great
game opportunities, it can prove unwise to share too much with a
large audience. When information about something particularly
good gets out onto the Net, it often leads to a flood of players
converging on a game all at once. When a casino running a good
game or promotion suddenly sees a bunch of unknown faces betting
big bucks, those good situations tend to deteriorate quickly.
You may also encounter players offering to sell information
about profitable games. Keep in mind that if someone is making
money by providing information about an exploitable situation,
you’re probably not the only person buying it. Remember: If two
people know a secret, it’s no longer a secret!

The Best Players You Don’t Know

Remember that in order to be a successful player, you must
remain unknown. That goes for socializing with other card counters.
If you’re uncertain who has access to certain websites, exercise
caution with regard to whom you communicate with. Keep a low
profile and be wary about conveying information about yourself. It
gets lonely playing solo, especially during a losing trip. If you’re
fortunate enough to get into the right network, you can find your
way onto a successful team where you’ll have other players around.
But make sure it’s the right network, meaning one with other low-
profile players, who also aren’t known, haven’t been barred, and
certainly do not appear in the infamous photo album known as the
Griffin Book, or other databases of player photos/profiles that are
accessible by casinos.

Playing Blackjack on the Internet

Online gaming grew quickly around the world and is now a
multi-billion-dollar industry. However, as a result of government
efforts to contain it, online gambling is nowhere near as accessible in
the U.S. as it is in other countries. Online poker is making
breakthroughs in the U.S. and gambling of all types, including
blackjack, will likely follow.
Except on rare occasions, the methods for gaining an advantage
outlined in this book won’t work when playing blackjack online.
Some players, however, have discovered another way to outsmart
the online casinos. It’s called “bonus-hustling.” Scouting, record-
keeping, and playing applicable basic strategy for the game at hand
are some of the keys to success in online bonus hunting. The out-of-
print Crushing the Internet Casinos by Barry Meadow is one of the
best sources for information on this topic, even though many of the
specific opportunities it references no longer exist.
In addition to playing blackjack against an online casino, you can
also match your tournament skills against other players, and
profitable situations can be found in online tournament play (see the
next chapter for information on playing blackjack tournaments
online).
 

21

Blackjack Tournaments

On a September afternoon in 2004, after returning to my office

following lunch with a colleague, I retrieved the following phone
message: “Rick. It’s Max Rubin. We want to know if you’re
interested in playing in the second World Series of Blackjack. First
prize is two hundred and fifty grand. It’s going to be filmed and
televised on GSN. Call me back.”
I returned Max’s call, and after he told me it would be okay to
wear a subtle disguise, I agreed to participate.
I’ve played a few tournaments and held my own, but I’m far
from being a tournament expert. I figured that in order to give
myself a fighting chance against a strong field of tournament talent, I
needed to tap into some resources.
The first thing I did was dig out my copy of Stanford Wong’s
book, Casino Tournament Strategy. I went through the section on
blackjack tournaments and took some notes.
Next, I cruised onto Ken Smith’s website,
blackjacktournaments.com, and found a wealth of current
information on tournament strategies. I printed about a dozen pages
of material and went through it, highlighting numerous points.
The third step was to seek out some expert tutelage. I contacted
my good friend Mr. Lucky, who’s played in many tournaments and
won a few along the way. Lucky referred me to someone whom he
hailed as the best in the business: S. Yama. I phoned Mr. Yama, who
was extremely generous in sharing information.
 The final part of my training involved studying the opposition. A
friend had tapes from the past year’s tournament, and I reviewed
them several times. Since I knew many of the participants would be
returning to the tables this year, I wanted to get a feel for each one’s
style. Competitors in most sporting events study films of their
opponents, so why not here? This was very helpful.
The two missing components were some form of practice
software geared for blackjack tournaments and live practice, either
online or in a casino. Though both of these are available, time didn’t
permit me to avail myself of them before playing.
The tournament format consisted of eight preliminary rounds of
five players each. The preliminary rounds consisted of 25 hands. The
winner of each table progressed to the semi-finals and second-place
finishers went into a wild-card round. In the semi-finals, the top two
finishers from each of the two tables advanced to the final table.
The tournament was held at the Golden Nugget Casino in Las
Vegas. Shortly after arrival, I met up with some other participants, a
few of whom I already knew and others whom I was meeting for the
first time. A preliminary round had just ended, and everyone was
congratulating Viktor Nacht, who had just won, with Mickey Rosa
taking second place. Mickey was a bit hurried, as he had to jump
right into the wild-card round moments later. I wished him luck, but
he didn’t get past the tough opposition.
My opponents were author and gambling expert Henry
Tamburin; Nancy Kubasek, an experienced tournament player;
Kami Lis, a highly skilled professional player; and Michael Konik,
another author and gambling expert. The only returning player from
the first tournament was Michael. He’s a very aggressive player who
comes out swinging for the fences. More than one person told me I
had a tough table, as all four opponents were skilled tournament
players.
 A few changes to my appearance—on with my Oxxford suit and
a pair of shades—and next thing I knew I was in seat number two
with Henry on my right and Nancy, wearing a blue wig, to my left.
Wired for sound and with lights blaring and cameras rolling, we
were underway. I started off betting the minimum. Michael, as
predicted, came out strong. He was the one player I was most
worried about, since his aggressive style could get him a big lead
fast. But it turned out that the opposite occurred, as Michael busted
out on hand 12.
Once Michael left the table, I immediately recalculated what my
betting position would be on the final hand. Although Kami had the
lead, it turned out that I was in the best betting position. If no one
else busted prior to the final hand, I’d be the last to act on the end,
which is a powerful spot to be in.
Having observed my three remaining opponents over the first 12
hands, my take was that they weren’t aggressive players. Based on
that assumption, I decided it would be best to make an aggressive
move at an early opportunity. On hand 15, when I was second to act
following Henry, I came out with a moderate-sized bet, which lost.
My next move came two hands later, when I was last to act. I put up
a large bet and this time I won and took the lead. I was feeling
strong, but still had eight hands to go.
The lead bounced back to Kami on hand 20, and on hand 22 I put
out a large bet and reclaimed the lead. That didn’t last long, as Kami
took it from me on the next hand. I was the first to bet on hand 24
and decided to go with the minimum. Afterwards, several experts
expressed their belief that I should have gone for the lead, as it
would have been a huge advantage to go into the final hand with the
chip lead and being last to bet.
Betting in front of me on the final hand, Nancy bet the max and
Kami made an extremely well-calculated wager. I went with the
minimum, hoping for a “lose-lose” result, which would have given
me the win. My bet also made it necessary for Nancy to win a
double to beat me for the wild-card spot. The dealer showed an ace
up and, even though she didn’t have the natural, things were
looking good for me. Nancy doubled down her maximum bet and I
realized then that I should have known that she would double no
matter what. With the ace up, the dealer was still a favorite to beat
the table. However, she had to hit and busted the hand, dropping
me to third place. I was out of the tournament, having been
outplayed on the last hand.
The fact is, the cream should, and usually does, rise in blackjack
tournaments. This means that you can enjoy a significant advantage
playing them if you practice and become skilled. Tournament play is
also fun, and in today’s TV environment, it offers the opportunity
for additional lines of positive EV. For example, as this book goes to
press, I’ve been invited to compete in the first Ultimate Blackjack
Tour (UBT), a televised tournament with a new playing format and a
prize pool of $1.4 million.
The downside to tournament play is that you become highly
visible by playing them—especially when you win. Disguises help,
but the most successful players in the televised events figure to
shorten their playing careers (in outside play) as a consequence. Still,
the potential profits from big-time tournament play may make this
an acceptable trade for you.
Due to the rise in popularity of blackjack tournaments, you can
pursue several sources of information to learn to play them well. In
the end, though, there’s no substitute for experience. You simply
can’t become a winning tournament player without playing
tournaments.

Fundamentals
The most important fundamental concepts of tournament play
are relatively easy to learn.
 1. Bet your money—Winning a tournament requires that you reach
a specified goal regarding your chip count relative to that of your
opponents. The best way to do this is to use all of your available
chips to accumulate more. It’s imperative that you get as many of
your chips into play as possible during the short period of play.
Don’t try to get fancy at the expense of achieving this goal. As the
pros say, “When in doubt, put it out.”
2. Consider position—As in most games, position is very
important. Be aware of where you’ll bet on the final hand and play
accordingly. If you’ll be betting first or near first, be even more
aggressive. The closer you’ll be to betting last, the more you can
afford to be out of position at the end. This is because you can play
off the bets of your opponents. But be careful; you have to know
what you’re doing to take advantage of this. Beginners should be
aggressive regardless of position (see next).
3. Position yourself—The rule of thumb is to be in the position you
need to be in to advance or win going into the last hand. Even if you
have perfect position on the end, all players—and especially
beginners—are much better off being in the lead with one hand to
play. Bet in a manner that optimizes your chances of getting to this
spot, then be prepared to bet the maximum on the end.
4. Be alert in the play—Tournaments are mostly about betting, but
they’re also about how you play your hand. Card counting isn’t
important, given the short duration of play; it’s okay to play your
hands according to basic strategy. But not always. If you’re playing
alertly, you’ll notice key situations where you must play your hand
contrary to basic to give yourself a chance. A perfect example is
Nancy Kubasek’s last-hand double down described earlier in this
chapter.
5. Consider equity—Equity is the relationship between the amount
of money collected in entry fees and the amount returned in prize
money. Most blackjack tournaments are 100% equity (or better). If
you play many tournaments with less than even equity, it will take
its toll.
Tournament expert Ken Einiger won the World Series of
Blackjack II and promptly wrote his book Play to Win. PTW covers
these fundamental concepts (and others) in much greater detail. It
also explains tournament-play considerations from the ground up—
how to find them, enter them, prepare for them, etc. Play to Win is a
must-read for anyone entering this arena.

Advanced Play
Study and practice are what it takes to advance to the expert level
as a tournament player. I’ve already mentioned Stanford Wong’s
book, Casino Tournament Strategy. It provides an in-depth treatment
of last-hand scenarios. It’s technical, but essential to winning play.
Wong also has a software program called Tournament Blackjack. It’s
decent, but I expect other programs to surface in the near future.
Also be on the lookout for the book Hollywood Blackjack, by
Hollywood Dave Stann, a colorful participant on the tournament
circuit, who took second place in the inaugural World Series of
Blackjack.
On the Web, Ken Smith’s blackjacktournaments.com, which I
cited earlier, is an excellent source of information. Another is
Anthony Curtis’ LasVegasAdvisor.com. The LVA site has a message
board devoted to the UBT, which also generates discussions on other
aspects of tournament play. LVA also maintains lists of upcoming
tournaments and valuable analysis of the big TV tournaments
written by Anthony Curtis.
As I’ve mentioned, you can’t become a great tournament player
without practicing in real tournaments. Almost all of the major
casino destinations have casinos that run mini tournaments. Usually
costing $20 or $25 to enter, these minis are where you improve and
enhance your game. LasVegasAdvisor.com keeps an up-to-date list
of such tournaments in Las Vegas and has plans to expand its
coverage.
You can also play blackjack tournaments at selected sites online
—either on full-fledged money sites, or on subscription services,
such as ClubWPT.com. This and other subscription services provide
an excellent way to learn the ropes of blackjack (and poker)
tournaments without risking a lot of money. In these clubs, you pay
one monthly fee to become a member, which qualifies you to play as
many tournaments as you want for prizes, cash, and even seats to
major events, but there are no additional entry fees or buy-ins, so
your losses are capped.
 

22

The Comp Game and Travel

Strategies

The Allure
The casinos, having a built-in advantage in just about every game
they offer, know that they’ll win money from the players in the long
run. The key is to keep them at the tables. One method of doing so is
to offer comps. Depending on the amount one is wagering, the
casino offers meals, rooms, and more to demonstrate that they value
the player’s business. What they really mean is that they’re
welcoming the player to lose more money at their tables. People
easily fall into the trap of thinking they’re getting something for
nothing.
Typical story. A man has been playing blackjack in a casino,
betting $100 a hand. He’s been at it for about two hours when his
wife stops by the table. She asks, “Are you winning?” He responds,
“I’m up about $500.” She then says, “Well, let’s go then.” He tells
her, “I just ordered a drink; we can leave after I get it.” Fifteen
minutes later his drink arrives, but not before he loses $1,000.
Instead of leaving the table a $500 winner, he ended up a $500 loser,
but he got his free drink!

Play on Your Own Terms

Players don’t stop to consider what they’re risking to get a
freebie, which wouldn’t really cost much upon closer inspection.
When playing for a specific comp, it’s important to know how long
you must play and what your average bet must be in order to get
that comp in that particular casino. The criteria for comp eligibility
vary from casino to casino. If you’re going to Las Vegas during a
time of year when room rates are low, you’d be better off paying the
$40 per night, rather than betting higher than you normally would
or playing longer just to get the room for free. If you don’t normally
eat large meals, paying for the $10–$20 buffet may suit your needs,
instead of playing at the table an additional 30 minutes just for a free
meal, when a game has deteriorated.
A typical situation is where a player asks a floorperson for a
comp. The floorperson responds, “You’ve only been playing for
forty-five minutes. See me in another hour and I’ll see what I can
do.” Most players fall into this trap and end up losing more bets just
to get their free meal. That is why it is imperative to play on your own
terms.

Do Your Homework
There are ways to save money and get comps without even
placing a wager in a casino. It all starts when you first decide to take
your trip.

Airfare
Frequent Flier Programs
It’s a good strategy to do your air travel using one specific airline.
You can accumulate points in that airline’s frequent-flier program
and eventually get a free airline ticket. The target number most
airlines use to qualify for a free round-trip flight anywhere in the
continental United States is 25,000. However, you don’t need to
actually fly 25,000 miles to achieve this. Some shortcuts are:
• When first joining the airline’s frequent-flier program, you
usually get an enrollment bonus in points.
 • Some airlines offer bonus points for travel at different times of
the year or to select destinations.
• Some airlines offer bonus points when purchasing your ticket
with a credit card or other payment method (e.g., electronic
ticketing).
• When staying at a hotel or renting a car, find out which hotels
or car rental companies are partners with the airline. By using
the partners, you earn points on your airline frequent-flier
account.
• Some credit cards have programs in which, for every dollar
you spend using that credit card, you earn points on your
airline frequent-flier account.
• Your telephone long-distance service provider may have a
program under which your long-distance expenses can earn
points on your airline frequent-flier account.
• Various retailers have similar programs that can also earn you
points, such as ordering flowers or custom shirts.
Check the different airlines’ programs to see how you can
achieve maximum benefits.

Overbooked Flights
If you once again do a little homework, you can get a free airline
ticket by using some creativity. Airlines often overbook flights by
selling more seats than are actually available, which allows for some
“no-shows” along the way. At times, they end up having to turn
away passengers from a specific flight prior to boarding. When this
happens, they usually put the passenger on the next scheduled flight
out to that destination and offer a form of compensation for this
inconvenience. This compensation can be a free round-trip airline
ticket for a future date.
Here’s how to optimize your chances of getting bumped:
 Check the airline’s schedule and make sure that they offer two or
more flights the same day, within a few hours of each another.
Call the airline to check for availability on the early flights out. If
there’s limited availability, book it. It doesn’t matter if the same
situation exists on the later flight(s), because if you are “bounced”
from the first flight, you will be almost guaranteed first priority to
get on the next available flight. As an added bonus, if only first-class
seats are available, guess who may get it? Party on!
When you arrive at the gate to check in for your scheduled flight
(try to arrive at least one hour prior), ask the attendant if the flight is
overbooked. If so, offer to volunteer your seat, only if you’ll be
confirmed on the next available flight and might be compensated
with a free round-trip ticket for a future flight.
If you’re creative enough and do your homework, you can, in
theory, fly every other flight for free.

Package Deals
When shopping around for the best airfares, you’ll usually bump
up against some restrictions, such as you need to stay over a
Saturday and book at least 14 days in advance. Many airlines have a
“vacation package desk.” Booking your trip through them, you can
end up paying less in airfare than you normally would. The
casino/hotels make rooms available for such discounted
airfare/hotel packages. Here’s a recent example of such a savings:
Checking the airlines for round-trip airfare from New York to
Las Vegas for a two-night stay, I found the following.
Lowest available airfare per person:
$298—late-night flights
$360—normal flights
Room Rates:
$0—(comped)
 After checking with this same airline’s vacation package desk, I
was quoted the following deal:
Airfare + two nights hotel per person:
$302—late-night flights
$321—normal flights

Yes, you read that correctly. By booking through the airline’s

vacation package desk, I ended up with not only a lower airfare, but
the room also included, giving me the ability to save my comp for a
later date.
When booking your trip through the airline’s vacation package
desk, it’s not necessary to stay over a Saturday.
For the absolute lowest rates, restrict your travel to Sunday
through Thursday and take those dreadful late-night flights
(departing from the West Coast around midnight for arrival in East
Coast cities around sunrise, referred to as “red-eyes”), if you can
deal with them.
You can extend your stay to more than two nights without
paying more for the package and use your comp for those additional
nights. When booking a hotel/air package, as long as you book the
hotel for minimum of two nights, you can book the flights for any
days, without the restriction of booking the additional hotel nights
through them.
You can also book a “fly/drive” package, where you’re not
required to book a hotel at all. In this method, the airline vacation
package desk will get you the same super-discounted airfare, along
with a car rental included in the price. If you already have a room
comp for your stay and want to rent a car, this is a good deal. If you
don’t want the car rental, you’re under no obligation to actually pick
up the car. Just book the package with the car rental included and
never pick up the car! You still get the low package airfare price,
with the car rental price included.
 Now that we have some strategies to get you to your destination,
let’s discuss a little more about getting the best deal on rooms.

Saving Money on Hotel Rooms

For popular casino cities such as Reno and Lake Tahoe, check the
Sunday issue of the San Francisco Chronicle’s “Date-book” section and
for Las Vegas, check the Los Angeles Times’ “Calendar” section,
which lists current room specials in various casinos.
If you have Internet access, you can surf numerous websites that
may list special deals for hotel rooms in casino towns.
Call various casinos in the city you’re planning to visit and ask
for a casino host. Tell the host you’re a rated player at (name a few
casinos) and interested in checking out his club. Then ask if a room
can be arranged for you. Chances are you’ll be offered a room at
casino rate (a good discounted rate) with the understanding that at
the end of your visit, he’ll evaluate your play to determine if your
action warrants a full room comp.
Check for a coupon in funbooks (coupon books given out by
casinos) you may have from a previous visit, which may contain
special room discounts or two-nights-for-the-price-of-one specials.
Booking directly through the hotel reservations desk will usually
result in being quoted the highest room rate.

Complimentaries
Basic Comps
These are comps that can be obtained without even giving your
name to be rated to a pit person.
Parking—In most casinos, parking is free. You can self-park or
use the valet. If you use the valet, you have to tip appropriately. In
some places, you may need to have your parking ticket validated at
the cashier’s cage of the casino.
 Cocktails/Beverages—Shortly after you sit down at a table, a
cocktail server will approach you and ask if you’d like to order a
beverage. It’s that simple and there’s no minimum betting
requirement. It’s customary to tip the server.
Line Passes—If you’re seeing a show or going to pay for a meal at
the buffet/coffee shop without having qualified for a comp, you can
ask for a line pass, which allows you to go in the “invited-guests”
line without having to wait in long lines. The pit is usually very
generous in giving line passes, as they want you back at the tables as
soon as possible, and helping you avoid waiting on long lines
accomplishes this.

Rating Slips
When you sit down at a table, a pit person normally asks you if
you wish to be rated. This is the process whereby the casino keeps
track of the amount of money you buy in for, your average bet,
length of time you play, and your win/loss. Based on this
information, the casino may extend you comps of different levels.
Meals—If you sit down at a table and play for an hour, you can
normally get a meal comp for two. Depending on the casino, the
amount you bet will determine whether you get a comp for the
buffet or coffee shop. Comps for gourmet restaurants usually require
a higher bet level and more playing time at the tables. At some
casinos in Las Vegas, Reno, and elsewhere, a player can score a meal
comp for one hour of $5 average betting.
You usually have to ask for a comp, so do it. At times it will be
offered to you. Always accept it even if you don’t plan on using it
immediately. Normally, meal comps are valid for 24 hours; you’ll
probably plan on eating at some point during that time.
After you’ve played for an hour, always ask for a meal comp, if
you haven’t already been offered one. Even if you don’t plan on
using it immediately, ask anyway for the same reason as stated
above.
Always ask for a comp for two to the coffee shop (unless your
betting qualifies for a gourmet room). If the pit person replies that
your play doesn’t qualify yet, ask if you can get the buffet for two, or
the buffet or coffee shop for one. A little negotiating usually gets you
something.
Rooms—The best method for getting a comped room is to ensure
it’s arranged prior to your arrival at the casino. This can be
accomplished based on your previous play in that casino and
executed in a variety of ways. If you’re staying as a guest with
someone else who already has a comped room, you have the
opportunity to establish yourself as a player in that casino or several
casinos to set up future comped rooms. While the person who’s
being comped has a certain playing requirement to fulfill in order to
be invited back for a subsequent comp, you’re a new player; the
casino should look at you as a potential regular. Casinos have
different criteria based on play whereby they can extend a room
comp. For a standard room, you can score a free one-night room for
roughly four hours of play, betting as low as a $25 average bet in
some places.
When you’re traveling with another and can stay in the same
hotel room, it’s best to do so. Both of you are being rated separately
and the comped room is being applied against only one of your
accounts. In the event the comped player is unable, for any reason,
to satisfy the play requirements to qualify for a subsequent comp,
the other player may be able to qualify.
Spread your action around town. Don’t initially limit your action
to any one casino. Play in various clubs, get on all the mailing lists,
and then determine which place treats you the best. You may receive
invitations in the mail for free rooms.
 Once you settle on a place or two where you are comfortable
playing and staying, get to know a casino host and pit boss there.
Get friendly with them. Take their business cards, when offered.
When planning your next visit, phone them to see if they can
arrange for a room for you.
When you phone for a room in advance and are told that they are
unable to comp you a room, as you didn’t give enough action, ask if
your previous play qualifies for a room at “casino rate.” They may
offer this to you anyway. Take it, as casino rate can be half the price
of the rate regular hotel guests might pay. They may also tell you
that “If your play qualifies for a room comp, we will adjust your bill
when you check out.” Limiting your play to just this casino is fine. If
you plan on spreading your action amongst several casinos, just take
the casino rate and pay it without expecting any further discounts,
but if you’ve given some action to the casino, you may want to ask
anyway at the end of your stay.
If you are not established in a casino where you are staying, but
you are being rated and betting within the guidelines that may
qualify for a room comp, let the pit know that you are a hotel guest
there. After you’ve been playing for a few hours, ask if they can take
care of your room. You may get your room comped or perhaps get it
discounted to casino rate.
If there are two of you staying in the same room, see if your total
play combined might qualify for a room comp or discounted rate.

Room, Food & Beverage (“RFB”)

If you are an established player betting well within the casino
guidelines for such comps, you will be invited to stay as an “RFB
Guest” of the casino. As an RFB guest, you get your room comped
(“R”), along with all food, which can be room service or any of the
restaurants (“F”), and drinks, bottles of wine, champagne at all bars,
restaurants or orders from room service (“B”). In many casinos, to
qualify for such an RFB comp, a player would need to play for four
hours per day at an average bet of $150 per hand.
If you and the other person staying with you aren’t big drinkers,
you may be able to negotiate an RFB comp without the “B.” By
doing so, you may be able to score the comp despite betting a little
less than the standard RFB requirement. Even if you like to drink a
bit, you can order your drinks while playing (preferably toward the
end of your playing sessions, so as to not hinder your playing
ability). If you’re a non-discriminating diner, you may be able to
further negotiate your comp by having the casino limit your food
comps to a certain dollar amount. Such negotiated comps fall under
the category of Room, Food, Limited (“RFL”).

Airline-Ticket Reimbursement
As you become an established player in a casino, you may
qualify for reimbursement of the cost of your airline tickets. If your
casino host doesn’t offer this to you, you can ask. Although your
play may not warrant a total reimbursement for the ticket(s), you
may qualify for a partial rebate. A $200 average bet is probably the
minimum to qualify for some sort of airfare rebate. When calculating
a player’s eligibility for a comp such as airfare reimbursement, the
casino may have some additional criteria that must be met, such as a
minimum requirement for hours played. In the past, the common
requirement was a minimum of 12 hours play. Other requirements
may be a minimum amount of front money on deposit or a
minimum credit line. Many casinos reimburse airfare only for
players who stay at the hotel. Sometimes, a player comes out betting
heavy and loses all his front money before reaching the minimum
hourly requirement. In this case, the casino may elect to reimburse
based on actual loss, provided certain criteria are met.
Take a situation where a player puts $20,000 on deposit at the
start of a three-day stay. Airfare reimbursement at this casino
requires a minimum of 12 hours play at a minimum average bet of
$200. After playing nine hours, the player loses $16,000 with a
recorded $500 average bet. In this case, although the player didn’t
meet the terms for reimbursement based on theoretical loss (he’s light
on hours played), he may be eligible for airfare reimbursement
based on his actual loss of $16,000 regardless of hours played and
average bet size. If the casino’s policy is to reimburse 10% of a
player’s actual loss toward the cost of airline tickets, this player is
eligible for up to $1,600.
The next step is for the player to present copies of his ticket and
the ticket of his traveling companion, if applicable, to determine the
total reimbursement. If he presents tickets totaling only $400, then
that’s all he’ll receive. If the tickets total $2,400, all he’ll get is $1,600,
representing a partial airfare reimbursement. However, a creative
player can maximize his benefit here. In addition to an example
provided later in this chapter, the subject is covered well in Max
Rubin’s book Comp City, as well as in Ian Andersen’s Burning the
Tables in Las Vegas.
Let’s take a closer look at the two above scenarios.
If your airline tickets are less than your eligible reimbursement
amount, there are various techniques for coming up with a second
set of tickets to get the higher value. Basically, purchase and fly on
the less-expensive tickets, while also buying fully refundable first-
class tickets with another airline. Present the higher-value tickets for
reimbursement, subsequently turning them in to the airline for a
refund. Of course, there are precautions to consider, such as if you
are being picked up and dropped off at the airport by a casino
limousine. Of course, you want to avoid this, but for image
purposes, you may need to improvise so you’re dropped in one
place and have time to get to where you really need to be. It’s not
difficult. Be prepared for anything, even a casino host riding along in
the limo, taking your tickets, and assisting with your check-in at the
airline counter. Oops!
If casino records show your cumulative loss as being lower than
the price of your airline tickets, you can fix that. A quick session
transferring chips with a partner, as outlined in Chapter 14, can
show a higher loss without much effort. See the section “Disguising
Wins And Hiding Chips.”
An American Express Platinum cardholder went on a business
trip to an overseas destination with casinos offering decent
blackjack. One of the benefits of the platinum card is that you get a
free companion ticket when purchasing a business or first-class
ticket on designated airlines. In addition to his full-time job, this guy
was a part-time blackjack player working on a team. He used the
free ticket to take a teammate along and used vacation time to
extend the trip for casino play. The price of the paid airline ticket
was about $8,500. Although the companion ticket on this program is
free (except for the taxes), it’s an airline requirement for auditing
purposes that the full airfare is shown on the ticket. After giving
sufficient action to his host casino, he presented two first-class
tickets, each showing a cost of $8,500, and received $17,000 cash.
Since he was on a business trip, his company paid for his $8,500
ticket, leaving his team with only the expense of the taxes and other
fees (roughly $400) for the otherwise free companion ticket. The
$17,000 was considered team money in accordance with their
regulations.
A teammate was playing at a casino and losing. Although his
numbers didn’t qualify for airfare reimbursement, he managed to
schmooze the host and, on settling his account, received a cash
equivalent for the price of his ticket. With time to burn before
departure, he played one final session. He won big, turning his
losing trip into a winner. It was nice timing on his part, though it
didn’t please his host any!
 Airline-ticket reimbursement is a comp where the casino is
actually giving you cash, which they really don’t like to do. As an
advantage player, it’s your job to do your homework and learn the
best routes to get the casinos to dip into their cash boxes.

Loss-Rebate Programs
Casinos have been offering loss rebates for many years, but they
don’t go around advertising it. Though a loss rebate is one of the
strongest marketing weapons in a casino arsenal, it can, at times,
provide knowledgeable players with the ammunition to turn a
losing game into a winning one. Several variables are involved in
how rebate programs are structured by the casinos. We’ll start by
looking at how a loss rebate works in its simplest form.
Let’s say you’re offered the opportunity to wager $100 on each
flip in a series of coin tosses, where you win even money on each
winning wager and lose even money on each losing wager, but after
X number of flips, you receive a 10% rebate on the losing wagers. For
example, if you bet on 10 flips, winning five and losing five, you’ll
be paid a total of $500 (5 x $100) and also pay out $500 (5 x $100),
thus breaking even on the game. But then the loss rebate enters the
equation, and you receive $50, representing the agreed upon 10%
rebate on each of your losing wagers (5 x $10). If it were only that
simple!
In today’s cutthroat environment, competition for the highest-
level players has grown to a point where one casino has to offer
something more than the next in order to win the business. Players,
in turn, are becoming more educated and are now shopping around
for the best deal. It’s no longer just about the biggest and most
elaborate hotel suites, gourmet restaurants, top entertainment,
private jets, and free gifts (such as expensive jewelry and shopping
sprees), it’s also about negotiating the best loss-rebate deal.
 I’ve used the word “negotiating” here for two reasons. First,
although the casino has a benchmark for its typical loss rebate, it’s
always negotiable. Second, the profile of the typical high-level player
is that of a successful highly competitive player. The nature of
business deals in which such an individual engages often involves a
high level of negotiating. It’s gotten to the point where negotiating
has become a competitive sport in many business cultures.
Therefore, when negotiating a loss rebate with a casino, many
players view it as a game in which their goal is to beat the casino
into a deal that’s better than the standard offer.
It happens all the time, but the most famous example of a big win
materializing from a negotiated deal occurred in Atlantic City in
2011, when a finance expert named Don Johnson beat a couple of
casinos there for several million dollars. Johnson was a good player,
but his win was more attributable to the skillful manner in which he
set up his deal, which allowed him to bet large amounts knowing
the refund was pending if he lost. As it worked out, he won. Better
yet!
To get the most value out of a loss rebate, an advantage player
would like to make one and only one bet. If the bet wins, he leaves.
If it loses, he collects the rebate and leaves. Imagine being able to do
this once per day indefinitely! But the casinos are aware that their
theoretical advantage is based on a great number of wagering
decisions and as a result, they usually require a certain volume of
bets before a player qualifies for a loss rebate. Since the player is
required to put a lot of money in action, he needs to be aware of the
important variables.
1. The house advantage when flat betting and playing perfect
basic strategy is the first thing that needs to be considered. You want
to play in a game offering the most player-favorable conditions. In
addition to negotiating a higher loss rebate, Don Johnson managed
to get some Atlantic City casinos to modify their blackjack rules and
increase their table maximums just for him, in exchange for giving
them an agreed-upon level of play.
2. Based on the rebate deal, a betting and playing strategy must
be devised that preserves a player advantage beyond the point the
casino establishes as the minimum-play amount. A typical scenario
might be that a player is required to deposit $500,000 in front money
and play it through a minimum of five times to be eligible for a
rebate on losses. The strategy needs to ensure that he’s playing at an
advantage after putting this amount of money in action with the
rebate considered. But here’s the important part: You have to do this
without looking like a card counter or an otherwise similarly
competent player. You also have to know how to run the numbers to
determine if you have to move your bets too much to preserve an
edge, thereby needing a better loss rebate to participate if you do.
Since you’ll experience some winning trips, a key element in
incorporating a loss-rebate strategy into your game is determining at
what point of a win a player should quit and call it a trip. Knowing
the proper stopping point is a key element in forming an optimal
strategy. Currently, nothing on the market can formulate these
strategies, but Norm Wattenberger, creator of the Casino Verite
software products, is developing such a tool.
3. Loss rebates work best as stand-alone programs that don’t
incorporate other complimentary offers. If comps such as room,
food, beverage, shows, and airfare are applied toward the loss
rebate, it decreases the amount of cash you can walk with. The best
programs offer a loss rebate and complimentaries independent of
one another. For example, a program might require $100,000 in front
money or a credit line that’s turned over a minimum of five times for
a 15% rebate on losses. Additionally, complimentaries are added in
based on .25% of the total action wagered for the trip. With this
program, you get the comps as outlined, win or lose, and if the
criteria are met to justify a loss rebate, you get that in cash—in
addition to the comps.
4. Determine if the loss rebate is based on a minimum loss
amount—you need to know all of the parameters of the deal and
what’s required of you before you start.
5. Determine how soon a new “trip” can commence after
settlement of a prior trip. In theory, if a player comes in on a Friday
and meets the minimum requirement for a loss rebate by Saturday,
he can conclude his trip, collect the rebate, check out of the casino,
then check back in and start a new trip immediately. This isn’t the
most convenient application, but it can be done.
6. What method do the pit and cashier use to monitor/record
table results for each session? If the casino uses specific chips for the
purpose of tracking rebate players, it gives them a better tool for
accurately monitoring win/loss. Some casinos assign a floor person
to record every bet made by a player on a rebate program. Yes, you
read that correctly—your own personal floorperson records the
result of every hand you play. In all cases, it’s important to verify
what the floorperson’s results show at the end of each session. If you
lost big, it’s imperative that the loss is recorded accurately.

Rolling-Chip Rebate Programs

“Rolling-chip” programs are common in Asian casinos. Since the
basis of these programs is the use of non-cash chips, we first need to
differentiate between the two popular forms offered by casinos.
Action Chips—Cannot be exchanged for cash and can be used for
table play only. An action chip is good for a one-time bet. Win or lose,
the chip is collected by the dealer. For example, if you bet a $100
action chip and win, the dealer takes the chip and pays you with a
$100 cash chip.
Non-Negotiable Chips—Just as with action chips, non-negotiables
cannot be exchanged for cash. The difference is that a non-negotiable
chip is played until it loses. If you bet a $100 non-negotiable chip and
win, the dealer pays with a $100 cash chip, but does not collect the
non-negotiable chip. You can then play the same non-negotiable
chip over and over until it loses.
Non-negotiable chips are obviously more valuable than action
chips. There are also other considerations that affect their value:
How does the casino treat bets with either of these chips when a
wager results in a tie? If the chip is collected on ties, it decreases its
value.
Are you restricted to even-money wagers or can you bet these
chips on propositions with higher payouts? Mathematically, the
chips are worth more on bets with higher payouts, e.g., 35-1 on a
roulette number straight up or 8-1 on the baccarat tie bet. Your
expected return is higher on the long-shot wagers, although the
variance when playing them goes up, creating more risk.
Are naturals paid at 3-2 or are the payouts restricted to even
money? If payouts on naturals are restricted to even money, the
value of the chips is decreased.
Can the chips be used for insurance, surrender, splits, and double
downs? Being allowed to use the chips for all playing options
increases their value.
How does the casino staff (pit and cashier) monitor results? If the
casino closely monitors your play and results, it reduces the
opportunities for teammates to exchange chips.
Loss-rebate programs can be very valuable for players. Since the
programs vary by casino, all of the scenarios cannot be addressed
here. However, creative players have been successful in exploiting
loss rebates for years and programs of varying value are there for the
taking, especially when you employ creative methods.

A Creative Loss Rebate

 If your level of play doesn’t qualify for a loss rebate, you can
create your own. In his book Comp City, Max Rubin talks about
players who maximize airfare reimbursement using various
techniques. For example, some casinos will reimburse up to 10% of a
player’s actual loss, but apply it only toward the cost of airline
tickets. As suggested by Max, a player can purchase and present a
set of fully refundable airline tickets valued in the neighborhood of
10% of his front money, while actually traveling via less-expensive
tickets. Now, whether a true loss or an exaggerated loss has been
recorded by the casino, the player has, in essence, created his own
loss-rebate program.

Other Comps
Other comps you can score are free golf, show tickets, fight
tickets, and tickets to other special events. When you’re playing, ask
a pit person or casino host if you qualify for such comps. If they say
you don’t currently qualify, find out the criteria for the comp you
want.

Some Final Tips on Scoring Comps

When you first sit down to play and the pit person is filling out
your rating slip, make your first few bets higher than normal. This
may help get you a higher rating. After the pit person leaves, you
can lower your bet. If the pit person returns, you may wish to raise
your bet again. Use this method if you’re playing strictly for comps.
When combining card counting with playing for comps, you’ll need
to consider what the count is when the pit person visits the table. If
the count is high, there’s no problem making that big bet. However,
if the count is low, you may want to consider taking a restroom
break to avoid exposing a smaller bet and jeopardizing your rating.
You can also use your own creativity to figure out reasons to sit out
a hand or two when being observed during a poor count.
 Play in a pit where the floorpeople have several tables to
monitor. They won’t have the time or luxury to monitor any one
table closely. This takes some pre-scouting.
If you’re playing strictly for comps, look for shoe games with a
slow dealer, poor penetration, and a full table with slow players.
While such games are undesirable for card counters, the slow pace of
such games gives a player looking to score comps the luxury of
playing fewer hands per hour, thus risking less money.
If playing strictly for comps, try to schedule your play shortly
before the playing cards at that table will be changed. This
procedure provides about 10–15 minutes of down time for which
you’ll receive credit, without having to place a bet. This commonly
occurs around the changing of shifts.
• Ask for your desired comp.
• Ask in a nice way and smile.
• Ask as though you know you’re entitled to the comp.
Whether you’re counting cards or not, the comps are there for the
asking. It’s up to you to get them. It can be as simple as asking.
 

23

Airline Travel Security

For international travel, laws define what you can and can’t do in
terms of carrying money. If you fail to follow them, you could be
subjected to arrest and confiscation of your cash. When traveling
overseas, if you have no alternative but to carry cash, I strongly
advise that you familiarize yourself with and strictly adhere to the
laws of the countries you’re visiting, as well as U.S. laws regarding
transport of currencies. When traveling within the United States,
there are no restrictions on the amount of currency one may carry, at
the time of this writing. However, there have been reports of
individuals who have been victimized under the guise of
“suspicious activity” for carrying what was considered large
amounts of cash.

Beware Local Law Enforcement

Upon passing through airport security, if you’re pulled aside by
reason of suspicion (justified or unjustified), you’ll immediately be
turned over by airport security to local police. The federal authorities
won’t be in the picture yet. This is where the problems have arisen.
In some jurisdictions, individuals who have been detained as a result
of carrying large sums of cash claim that all their cash was
confiscated, but the total amount officially reported as confiscated
was less than what was truly taken. In other words, the victim
claimed the cops stole the money.
Protective Measures
If at all possible, try to find an alternative to carrying cash.
Carrying travelers’ checks for domestic travel can work. Even if
you’re playing under an alias at a given casino and several casinos
are in the area, you can usually go next door to cash your travelers’
checks. If you’re using your real name and are comfortable with
having a Currency Transaction Report (“CTR”) filed in your name
for a cash transaction in excess of $10,000, it may be a good idea to
wire money in or use similar means.
I have not verified whether these are workable, but they are
suggestions from a reliable source:
Have your attorney and/or accountant write a letter indicating
that you plan to carry (exact amount of cash), and such amount has
been officially recorded. If you really want to go overboard
(remember, paranoia can save lives!), have the actual denominations
and serial numbers of the bills included. Note: This will be in sync
with what you carry on your departing flight. After a win/loss,
you’ll have different amounts and different bills/serial numbers.
You can attach amended records to this letter and the letter can be
worded as such to allow for this latitude.
Carry a certified copy of your most recent tax return,
highlighting the areas that demonstrate gambling activities. This
should divert any attention from an illegal activity to that of legal
gambling, as documented.
If you’ve withdrawn in excess of $10K in cash from your bank, as
you know, they file a CTR with the U.S. Treasury Department. While
many banks claim they’re not supposed to give you a copy of this
report, you can sometimes get an uninformed clerk to give you one
(it happens more often than not). Carry this with you to demonstrate
that you legally obtained the subject cash. In absence of this, you
may even ask a bank officer to draft a letter certifying that the
amount of cash (which should correspond to the amount on your
person at the time of your departing flight) was withdrawn from
that financial institution. For your return flight where the amounts
are different, if you’re playing under your real name, have no
problem with CTRs, ratings, and other forms of related disclosure,
ask your host for a letter indicating the dates you played and your
win/loss. Note: If you’ve been hiding chips, it’s best not to cash in
all of your chips, so the amount of cash you’re carrying corresponds
with your documentation.
Unfortunately, if you’re playing under an alias, it weakens your
position. Carrying IDs under aliases will make authorities
suspicious, should they find them. It may help to have your attorney
include in the letter something to this effect, referencing the aliases
used, so it’s on record. What you’re trying to demonstrate here is
that you’re not looking to hide anything from the government, but
wish to maintain your privacy in respect to the casinos, while
engaging in perfectly legal activities. Sorry, I have nothing better,
but if you’re using an alias and carrying cash, you’re skating on thin
ice!
Someone suggested this … carry a Bible, pictures of your mother,
grandmother, kids, dog and/or cat. If you’re pulled in as suspicious,
you want to present yourself as “the boy (or girl) next door,” as
opposed to some slickster. Who ever said gamblers weren’t
religious?
Also, I don’t recommend you attempt to skirt the CTR issue.
There are two things in life that I’m afraid of: sewer rats and the IRS!
If you try to play with the IRS and get caught, in all likelihood, your
life will be ruined. There are legal ways to work the system, which
you should research.
I don’t know how the above holds up legally, but my thought is,
if you’re detained and questioned by local cops who have any
inclination to try skimming some cash, these precautions may make
them think twice about pulling anything.
 

24

Blackjack Outside the U.S.

Casinos dealing blackjack can be found in many countries

around the globe. Blackjack opportunities do exist around the world,
but a player needs to do additional homework to identify potentially
profitable situations. Also, the games can be a bit different from
those found in the U.S., based on several variables, which can be
both good and bad.

Different Rules
The most common rule you will find in play outside the USA is
the “no-hole-card” rule. This is where the dealer does not take a
second card (hole card) until all players have played their hands. In
many places, there’s an additional spin on this rule, where after a
double down or split, when the dealer’s second card makes a
blackjack, the player loses both the initial wager and the amount put
up for the double down or split. When playing with this rule, you
need to adjust your basic strategy as follows:

1. 11 vs. T Hit instead of Double

2. 11 vs. A Hit instead of Double
3. A,A vs. A Hit instead of Split
4. 8,8 vs. T Hit instead of Split
5. 8,8 vs. A Hit instead of Split

Bet Spreads, Penetration, and Heat

 Players can get away with higher bet spreads in many countries
outside the U.S. If you possess a strong bankroll, you can increase
your edge by spreading your bets accordingly. While a typical game
found in casinos throughout Europe is a 6-decker with less than
desirable rules, such a bet spread may overcome this type of game.
Penetration can vary widely, just as it does within the U.S.
casinos. As always, this factor should be the key to determining
whether a game is worth playing.
While it’s difficult to gauge the extent of heat in casinos abroad,
it’s evident in many places that American players at a blackjack table
arouse suspicions, especially if they happen to be winning big. Such
casinos immediately label American players as card counters on
sight. It’s just a reputation!

Finding Good Games

You may at some point come across a game with great rules.
This, along with other variables such as penetration and the ability
to use a large bet spread, can provide a player with a super
opportunity. You won’t have to worry about word getting out about
such a game and dozens of players burning it out in a matter of
days. While this happens often enough in the U.S., abroad one can
enjoy the luxury of having found a hidden treasure and playing it
without worrying about the masses.

Identification and Barring

In the U.S. you can legally get rated under an alias. When playing
in a casino abroad, you usually need to show a passport as
identification. While people are known to obtain passports under
false names, it’s a crime that you don’t want to get caught
committing in a foreign country. With that in mind, you should
check in under your real name using your real passport. Another
consideration is that in the event a foreign casino becomes
suspicious of you, it might check with some U.S. casinos and give
them this real name. If you’ve been playing in the U.S. under an
alias, those U.S. casinos won’t have a record of you, but may be able
to identify a photo of you. Get creative, but stay within legal
boundaries.

Safety
Exercise care when carrying large sums of money and traveling
abroad. It’s advisable to carry most in travelers’ checks, while
keeping hard currencies secured on your person at all times, using a
money belt or other discreet method. Be aware of the exchange rates
when converting your U.S. dollars into the local currency.
While many travelers make use of hotel safes, it’s recommended
to exercise caution, especially if you’re staying at a smaller hotel. In
this case, it may be more prudent to keep the money on you, rather
than in a hotel safe.

Electronic Pen-Pals
Some players worldwide participate regularly in some of the
blackjack websites and communicate with one another. Such players
have reciprocally hosted one another during visits to their respective
countries. Having a local player guiding you around in a foreign
country is an invaluable asset.

Currency Laws
Be aware of the various regulations with respect to bringing
currencies into or out of the country. Failure to follow the proper
procedures can result in having all your money confiscated, in
addition to your being detained.

Foreign Currency Exchange (“FX”) 101

 For the examples in this chapter, we will use U.S. dollars and the
euro (€).

General Info
If you check a local financial newspaper listing exchange rates,
you might see the euro trading at .9059, which is the amount in euro
you’d receive for one U.S. dollar. Alongside, you might also see a
rate quoted as 1.10387, indicating that you’d receive US$1.10 for one
euro. Translated to our purposes:
SCENARIO “A”—You have US$100,000 and purchase euro at a
rate of .9059. You arrive at your European destination with €90,590.
After a break-even play, you return home with €90,950 and you
purchase US$ at a rate of 1.10387 and receive US$100,000 in
exchange.
In reality, the above scenario is not common, since the rates
quoted are considered just a “quote.” The banks adjust these rates in
a manner that enables them to make a profit from both sides of the
transaction (the purchase and the sale).
Using the “for-information-purposes-only” rate in the above
example, a more realistic translation would be as follows:
SCENARIO “B”—You have US$100,000 and purchase Euro at a
rate of .8950 (1.117). You arrive at your European destination with
€89,500.
After a break-even play, you return home with €89,500 and you
purchase US$ at a rate of 1.099 (.9100) and receive US$98,360.50 in
exchange.
You played a break-even game, but lost US$1,639.50 due to the
cost of exchanging currency.
Based on the above transactions, here is how the exchange rate
chart would appear:
Quote: .9059 1.10387
 Buy: .8950 1.117
Sell: .9100 1.099

Note: In the event only currencies are listed in one of these

columns, you can determine the flipside by dividing 1 by the quoted
rate (e.g., 1/.9059 = 1.10387; or 1/1.10387 = .9059).

Method to Minimize Loss on Currency Exchange

Best Method—Some casinos provide a nice service, where you
wire US$ to their account held in their local bank. They establish a
rate for your buy-in, which is locked in. If you play a break-even
game, your exchange transactions would resemble Scenario “A”
above. In my past trips, this service was extended to me without any
commission.
If you end your play with a win, your winnings are converted at
a spot rate (the rate at the moment the bank wires the funds back to
your U.S. account). This can work to your advantage or
disadvantage (usually the latter), depending on the strength of the
currency involved at that time.
When you’re receiving reimbursement for airfare, they use a spot
rate to convert the amount you give the receipt (the US$ amount)
and convert it to a euro amount. When funds are wired back to you,
they will be once again converted back to US$ the day they are
wired to your account back home. You’ll want to ensure the rate
used is the same in both of these steps and that it’s done when you
settle.
One hint: When you settle up your account, do so on a banking
day (not a Saturday or Sunday), and do it first thing in the morning.
That way you can have them confirm the rate used for all these
purposes and all the conversions will be performed that day.
 

25

Basics of Zone Tracking

There may be just a handful of players truly skilled enough to

achieve long-term success in the art of “zone tracking.” Also known
as “shuffle tracking,” while many take a crack at it, most are
unsuccessful. The easiest aspect of zone tracking is the ability to
make an error. There are simply too many ways a player can
miscalculate. Errors are far more common and far more costly than
those related to straight card-counting. If I ran a casino, I would
implement a simple enough shuffle where the wannabe zone
trackers would come out of the woodwork. These are the players
from whom the casino will make the most money when they make
mistakes that give the casino an even bigger advantage than it
already possesses. The players who can flawlessly track a shuffle
will be few and far between, and not nearly enough to raise a
concern. The sharper casinos are beginning to realize this and are
looking to speed things up to improve their bottom line.
In early 2002, I was remotely involved with a group, co-led by an
individual who, at that time, I considered the most brilliant zone
tracker I’d encountered. This is someone who put forth the highest
level of intensity, dedication, and sacrifice to achieve an inordinate
level of excellence. Due to my limited availability, I wasn’t privy to
the actual methods used by this master, except for one small
refinement in the method I was using to track a specific shuffle. I’m
grateful for this little insight, and out of respect I won’t pass on what
I learned from this individual. The secrets are kept well guarded.
 I parted company with this group and continued to work on fine-
tuning my zone-tracking methods. A couple of months later, I had
the good fortune of meeting up with another gifted individual in the
unlikeliest place. This person not only took the skills of zone
tracking, along with other advanced methods, to levels beyond, but
also proved to be quite generous with sharing knowledge. I was
amazed at the surgical approach used to analyze various casino
shuffle procedures, including the inner workings of several
commercial shuffle machines. While this individual was quite open
and sharing with the methods used, I was asked not to write about
these details. I will honor my promise.
The methods presented here are very basic. Although they’ve
already been discussed in some of the blackjack literature, the intent
is to present them in a most easy-to-learn manner.
The mathematics of card counting assumes a random shuffle
process that provides a thorough mixing of all the cards. However,
expert studies show that random shuffles in casinos today are the
exception rather than the rule. It would take too much time to
shuffle so precisely. The less time a casino spends on the shuffle, the
more it spends time dealing, resulting in more profit. Since few
players can take advantage of a non-random shuffle, it makes sense
for the casinos to spend as little time as possible doing this,
regardless of how poorly the cards are mixed.
When “slugs” of cards are less than thoroughly distributed due
to a non-random shuffle, an astute tracker can identify the positions
in the shoe where the slugs reside. If a “segment” is rich in high
cards, the tracker cuts this segment into play and bets with an
advantage off the top. On the other hand, if a segment has excess
low cards, the tracker cuts this segment out of play.
The most important skill required to succeed in zone tracking is
visually following the cards being tracked. This means estimating
the size of a segment in a discard tray, the size of the segment as