A Hot Strike

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May 14th, 2017
Back A Hot Strike

Few people have had a greater effect on a gambling game than Edward O. Thorp had on blackjack.

Thorp was the math professor at UCLA who wrote the best-selling book, 'Beat The Dealer.' The amazing thing about his strategy, which he developed by using a computer, still works even after casinos changed the rules and added more decks to a shoe in order to frustrate card counters.

While card counting was an important part of Thorp's strategy, it wasn't the only thing he used in order to beat the House.

His method of going down for double on almost any two cards when the dealer showed a 'bust' card -- a three through a six -- proved invaluable to me one starry night in Las Vegas.

That day poker had been very kind to me. I won several hundred dollars in a cash game, switched to a poker tournament, and won it, pocketing $1,200 for first place.

With my pockets full of cash, I ambled through the casino, heading for the valet desk to pick up my car. But as I passed a blackjack table, I decided to test my luck on the game of 21.

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There were three players at the table and the dealer, an attractive redhead, was dealing from a six-deck shoe. I stood behind the players and watched. On one hand, she dealt out three fives. I remembered some advice Thorp gave in his book, that the most important cards in blackjack were aces and fives. The more aces remaining in the deck, the better it was for the player because of the extra pay for a blackjack. And the fewer fives in the deck gave the player a decided boost since a five in the hole with a bust card showing was good for the dealer and bad for the player.

I watched the dealer toss out the cards for another hand. Two more fives fell and no aces.

Perfect. I was ready to play.

I sat down and played $50 on two hands. My first hand was a blackjack. The second was ace-eight. The dealer's up card was a six. I went down for double and the dealer busted, giving me wins on both hands.

I again bet $50 on two hands. This time I was dealt pocket aces, on one hand, an eight-three on the other hand. The dealer's up card was a four. I split the aces, was dealt a king and a nine, and I went down for double on the 11.

The dealer busted again.

'Lucky you,' she said, smiling. I tipped her.

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I raised my bet to $100 and played two hands. The dealer's up-card was a three. She dealt me pocket kings and a jack-seven. I stayed on both hands. Her hole card was a queen and she promptly busted.

I picked up my winnings and began to leave.

She grinned. 'Are you gonna hit and run?' She spoke with a soft Texas accent.

'Why not?," I said. 'The night is young.'

I was on a hot streak and decided to press my luck. She had just been hired as a dealer two days earlier. She was from Amarillo, Texas. I had worked in Hereford, about 60 miles from Amarillo.

'We could have a lot to talk about,' I said. 'What time do you get off?' She told me. I asked her if she would like a late dinner. She wrinkled her nose and said, 'Sure. You're not a serial killer, are you?'

She laughed. I tossed her a $5 chip.

'Only at blackjack,' I said.

“works even after casinos changed the rules”

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