Volume 1 - Number 10                                                                 November 1, 1998
Blackjack Pro®
Pursuing Excellence and Profit

Tournament Play - Take the Chance?

Blackjack tournaments are a great way for skilled players to get a chance at winning some very big cash prizes. They amount to playing poker with a jackpot for the big hands that can be made, like royal flushes. But is it worth taking a chance to win this money if you are an exceptionally good player? What if you are a skilled card counter? Will this blow your cover?

Many of the plays you can end up being forced to make during a tournament will not make much sence other than in a tournament setting. The key to winning is to have more money than anyone else after say 50 hands being dealt. In the last few hands the count can be up or down or flat, and it will all be about who has what on the table in chips, and nothing more. Your last bet can be the all important one, and how you play that hand after you have made your bet more important that anything else. Using the count to change the way you play those last hands is extremely important, and counting gives you all the right moves regardless of the sizes of your bets.

As far as blowing your cover goes, you have to answer this on your own. Do you already have a good act? Can you play like a dolt while the exact opposite is the truth? Is a cash prize of $100,000 worth trying for regardless? How about a $30,000 second prize? $10,000 third prize? It takes a long time to skim $100,000 off a Blackjack table by counting cards, so toss a coin and make your choice.

System Selling Scam Artists

How many offers have you seen that claim to be able to beat games with fixed mathematical odds? I have seen many of them. Most are easy to spot, with high price tags that the salesperson trys to reason away with the fact you are gauranteed to make that all back the first week you use the system. Some of these salesmen even claim that the system will work with Blackjack. If you know how to play basic strategy, some of these systems almost work because you can play at less than a .5% negative expectation against the casino. The fact remains, until you have a positive expectation, and know how to take advantage of that expectation, you can't make money gambling, period. If the system worked, there would be many ways to get your hands on it for free, just like you can get at the information about counting cards for free. Here at Blackjack Pro® we remain dedicated to providing you with sound advice to MAKE money, not lose it. Stay away from these scamers and concentrate on sound mathematical information that can make you money. Keep your eyes open for free info on these systems, try them if you must, but never pay a cent for one and you will never go wrong.

Woodbine Loses First Round

The Ontario Municipal Board found in favor of the City of Toronto to keep the slot machines from being installed in the Woodbine Race Track. The track is for racing horses, and the OMB stated that a slot machine is not a part of a horse, and therefore not permitted in the track as a gambling device! As odd as the reasoning behind the OMB decision, it is great to see that fellow handicapers able to beat the odds at the track will not have to listen to the incesant noise created by these terrible machines designed to distract able minded people from forming thoughts that could save them a lot of money. There is so much money involved here I am sure this is not over yet.

Ontario Casinos Illegal?

There have been accusations that the casinos in Ontario are illegal since they hold private interests as well as charitable ones. It has been a long standing fact that any type of gambling in Ontario would only be allowed if a charity was to be the benefactor of the gaming. Obviously controlled by the Government, totally independant private interests would never be permitted to open casinos, otherwise there would be half a dozen of them right here in Toronto. The market for casinos seems to be cornered by the Government, not charities, and definetly not private companies - yet -

Train for Profit

Take the time to learn to play Blackjack professionally. Go beyond Basic Strategy one step at a time and become a Professional Card Counter. From simple counts to advanced systems, accompanied by sound money management skills, anyone can learn to make "Easy Money". Get in touch with Rob at blakjack@idirect.com.

Visit the Blackjack Pro® Website at http://webhome.idirect.com/~blakjack for the latest information on the game, not only in Southern Ontario, but all of North America.

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