Purchased at a garage sale for 50 cents.

Harback with dust cover.

Describes the gambling activities of a group of MIT students who, in the early 1990s, made millions by using mathematics and card skills to change the odds of blackjack in their favor. Names and places have been changed to protect the innocent, and I couldn’t help but wonder what other little facts have been changed. But it was entertaining and suspenseful.

I saw this on Bkind2books' wishlist and am sending it to her in Tennessee via media mail . Enjoy!

Thank you for your generous RABCK - I look forward to reading this.

Interesting book about a bunch of MIT students under the leadership of Victor who use a variety of techniques to give themselves an edge over the house. It relies on teamwork, a knowledge of dealer's shuffling techniques, and the ability to cut to a precise point in the deck. It was interesting and the casinos definitely did not like these folks darkening their doors. My only criticism is that the action shuffles back and forth between the MIT players and the author's background interviews and investigations - this almost seems an unnecessary interruption of the action.

Reserving for the Nonfiction VBB

Selected from the nonfiction VBB

DC# 9549012289767003115760

Received today. Thanks for sharing!

I really liked the behind the scenes of how this team went out and lived dangerously and sought to break the casino. These types of books/movies fascinate me and this one didn't disappoint. Definitely recommend.

Shipping to Seattle, WA via ABC Bookring. Enjoy!

Received, thank you. Looks interesting.

Hard to say why I didn't like this book very much. First, I thought Seymon's reasons for publishing the techniques used, as stated in the "afterword" didn't ring true. Encouraging people to go to casinos, even to "beat" the casinos, is nonsense. People going to the casinos is the lifeblood of the casinos, most people aren't going to be able to beat the dealer no matter what book or dvd they study. So basically that is just more money in the hands of the casinos. I thought he published the techniques and the book to make money for himself.
The story itself is interesting but the conversations seem made up and why wouldn't they be, it's been a long time, who remembers. But my attention kept snagging on it.
The gambling techniques themselves didn't seem like cheating, I don't think card counting is cheating either; but I'm not surprised that the casinos saw it differently when they started losing lots of money. I wouldn't expect anything to change; people will go to Vegas etc. and lose, casinos will protect their money. If you win at gambling maybe try to win less ostentatiously and less frequently. If you win big and frequently the casinos will stop you, and some of the ways in which they do this may be frightening and unpleasant.

I am putting this book into the ABC VBB

This book is no longer listed in the ABC VBB and will soon be going to a LFL.

LFL Release