Book: "Bringing down the house"

My wife got me this book for Xmas. They were MIT students financed by investors w/ big bankroll using team play on shoes in mid 90s Vegas. Some brief mention of shuffle tracking, but largely hi/low counting using BPs. Kenny Uston would be proud.

However, my impression was that it was overly glib, glossy and too positive - there were no losing sessions and some factual errors. 10% advantage used to calculate a weekend's EV? Also, team play just wasn't that novel in the mid 90s. THe BPs were young guys, part Asian, by design. The book also says that the late 80s early 90s was the best time to be in Vegas.

What does the audience think?

The best times I had in Vegas were in the late 80s. The comps were given freely. The games seemed never more favorable. It seemed many places did not believe the card counting could make a player money. I played SD games that dealt 90% pen. DD games that did not have funky rules or crappy pen. There were many 4d games. When I go to Vegas now, it seems they only want comping if you stay in there hotel. You need a rate card. You may even have to confine your action to the casino you stay in for any comping. The table limits increase. The CSMs are on single deck. Single deck is never dealt as a playable game unless you are at El Cortez with 6 to 7 players on your table. The rules suck the pen gets worse. The 90s were the birth time of the burn joints. I spend more time shopping games than playing them when I go. Last time I went I was disappointed because I have better games in Minnesota and Wisconsin than in Vegas.

there is some meat in the technical parts of the book, and agree they spread the butter on pretty thick with the storey telling end of the book. A perfect way to get a movie deal. Only 1% of the public will see thru the rederick, the rest will enjoy it like Lethal Weapon reruns, trample all over Vegas, and go broke.

I could swear the author said the movie's a done deal--they're trying to get the celebraties these kids sat next to (Kevin Costner, etc.), to do cameos. Sounded like an entertaining story.

The CSMs are on single deck.

You've seen this? I sure haven't, and a trackjack search comes up with nothing. Don't confuse CSM's with automatic shufflers... on second hand, please do - maybe everyone else is fooled too, and that's why I can usually find a good game with no crowds at a certain downtown sports-themed joint.

Single deck is never dealt as a playable game unless you are at E l C o r t e z with 6 to 7 players on your table.

Maybe you should try playing different hours... although I've almost always gotten heads up there, regardless of the time of day.

Last time I went I was disappointed because I have better games in Minnesota and Wisconsin than in Vegas.

Curling doesn't count.

He is probably referring to fake single deck. You know, when the machine shuffles six/eight decks and then they only use one. He is probably not referring to the LVC game where they have different single decks being shuffled as the dealer deals.

... is only at the Plaza, across the street from LVC.

Not aware of fake single deck anywhere else, though numerous fake double deck games exist throughout Las Vegas.

I recently visited the Luxor and along with some difficulties at the Cage had the misfortune to realize a bit too late that they were using a bit of chicanery in how they placed the cut card in a two deck game. They stuck the plastic separation card at about the 3/4 of one deck level, leaving a full 1 and 1/4 behind. They then burned about 1/4 of the deck off the bottom to give the impression that the were giving a penetration of one full deck or better. That and difficulties with their casino cage caused to resolve to never gamble in that casino again. Weenie nickel and dime stuff like that should never be rewarded with your patronage.

Chem Nerd, I do not know how I have confused you. A CSM is a continuous shuffle machine. From my understanding it shuffles the cards from one deck while that deck is in play. When the hands are finished the cards are reincorporated by the dealer so you can face another 52 card deck. The only penetration are the cards in play. To count that game is pointless. It is no different then playing dice or roulette. If you have a different idea of a CSM let me know. The machines I described can be found at the Hard Rock and the Golden Gate. To get a heads up game in Vegas is also pointless. Every time I play heads up I am dealt no more than four hands. If I raise my bet on the third hand they shuffle. These practices are done at El Cortez, Circus Circus, and the Horse Shoe. The Horse Shoe only offers marginal games. They removed most of their 6 and 7 player tables and only have 5 player tables. In all of the situations I have described a player gets less than 50% or up to 50% penetration. That really sucks for SD play. Where do you play your fantasy SD?

There is a club back home here that is 6d dealt to 5, Stand soft 17, split pairs 3 times to 4 hands, double on any two cards and splits. This is better than most of the crapjack I saw in Vegas last year. Believe me there is no club in Vegas to have the balls to do those rules on a 6d game. The best 2d game was no better than what I have encounter here in MN. Same rules same penetration. The 4D game here in Minnesota is better because it is a 4 to 1 with S17 Double on any 2 cards and split pairs. I could not find any 4d that offered double on splits in Vegas.

It is more fun for curling here in Minnesota and for blackjack. At least here I am not grinding checks in by butt cheeks thinking I got the best game around.

The 6D is dealt to 1. And I forgot. Why pay $350 to fly to vegas for to get the same or worse games when it only costs me $3.50 to drive to the casinos here?

Chem Nerd, I do not know how I have confused you. A CSM is a continuous shuffle machine. From my understanding it shuffles the cards from one deck while that deck is in play.

No; far more than a single deck is used.

To count that game is pointless.

Correct.

It is no different then playing dice or roulette.

Incorrect.

To get a heads up game in Vegas is also pointless. Every time I play heads up I am dealt no more than four hands.

The best you've seen is RO5?!? You haven't tried very hard. For heads up, this is the worst pen I typically see, and I sure as hell won't stick around long enough to see much of it.

If I raise my bet on the third hand they shuffle.

I rarely experience this; maybe you should work on your act.

Where do you play your fantasy SD?

Mostly in Reno; doesn't mean you can't find it in Vegas. Just don't expect to follow a crowd of ploppies to 80% pen.

There is a club back home here that is 6d dealt to 5, Stand soft 17, split pairs 3 times to 4 hands, double on any two cards and splits. This is better than most of the crapjack I saw in Vegas last year. Believe me there is no club in Vegas to have the balls to do those rules on a 6d game.

No offense, but I'll believe trackjack first - 23 games in Vegas offer these exact rules, with the majority also allowing late surrender. Yes, 5/6 is good pen, if you insist on grinding out a shoe.

As for 4D, this game is virtually extinct in Vegas, so no surprise. I assume the "best" DD game you refer to was S17, DAS.

The 6D is dealt to 1. And I forgot. Why pay $350 to fly to vegas for to get the same or worse games when it only costs me $3.50 to drive to the casinos here?

C'mon - that's got to be your total trip cost, right? It took me two seconds to find multiple flights from Minneapolis to Vegas for less than $200.

Chem Nerd, You probably are not adding the room cost to the air fare. The travel companies sell Hotel air fare packages. And why start hundreds of dollars down when you can start a couple dollars down and make hundreds of dollars?

I have never been to Reno or Tahoe. I hope to go some time if I can convince the Milk Maid. The only reason I enjoy Vegas these days is the food and meeting strange people. It is not like it used to be years ago. Vegas wants to be the new Fort Knox.

What you say is true in many states and is probably the reason tourism is down especially at non-theme type cities such as Reno. In my state of Washington, we have some great deeply cut 6D shoe games and poorly cut good rules DD games. However, I salivate for the juicy Reno SD games and take every opportunity to go there. Try Reno.

Saw several fake single-deck games in Laughlin last week. For sure at Ramada Express, and I think at either Edgewater or Riverside.