for Don Schlesinger

Don,

I've been on the site off and on for a good while and have thoroughly enjoyed your posts. I haven't followed all the debates with other posters who have a different viewpoint than yours, but have a pretty good idea of who's selling snake oil and who isn't. Frankly, I think you sometimes waste your time and talent with some of the more myopic posters when clearly they will never see the light of logic, nor care to venture into reality...I'm afraid ploppies and Patrick believers are here to stay.

You have seen the game progress from what must have been the "glory days" to the technology of today where the advantage player must continue to try and outwit the casino. My viewpoint is that with the ever increasing trend to lure the lemmings to Vegas and other venues, the ratcheting up of scrutiny will only continue on those who play at a more serious level and do indeed play to make a withdrawal, not a deposit.

Was wondering if you'd take some time to ponder where you think the game of blackjack is really going. With the increase in surveillance techniques that seem to be ever more insidious and what would appear to be the goal of casinos to eliminate the advantaged player and share this knowledge, how does one survive?

I recently spent some time at Foxwoods...think Animal House with John Belushi. Constant crowds, ploppies, screams of monkey, 8-deck shoes and people pushing hundreds out at each bet...why should they tolerate an advantage player when players toss bets out like that? I was playing on a $10 table (only available non-smoking) with a guy flat betting $1k per hand. He was up $5k in less than 10 minutes then lost it all in the next 10...just mind-boggling stuff.

Is it time to play less, have a drink, lower the spread and fade into the crowd even with a small win?

Thanks in advance for your insights and time to post.

Happy Holidays to you and yours.

Regards,
Wildcard

"Was wondering if you'd take some time to ponder where you think the game of blackjack is really going. With the increase in surveillance techniques that seem to be ever more insidious and what would appear to be the goal of casinos to eliminate the advantaged player and share this knowledge, how does one survive?"

I had already expressed my great concern in the Epilogue of the first edition of BJA, and, unfortunately, much of what I wrote back then has come to pass. Things have gotten much harder, and the game isn't as much fun as it used to be in those "glory days" you mentioned.

Still, there is money being made. I don't want to go into too much detail here on the Free pages, but I still feel one can win playing blackjack.

"I recently spent some time at Foxwoods...think Animal House with John Belushi. Constant crowds, ploppies, screams of monkey, 8-deck shoes and people pushing hundreds out at each bet...why should they tolerate an advantage player when players toss bets out like that?"

They should tolerate them especially BECAUSE there are players like that! If there were no one but counters, the casinos couldn't survive. The jerks make it possible for counters to slip in, unnoticed, among the riffraff. Foxwoods has some very beatable games. And,if you there, be happy that you are surrounded by so many novices.

"Is it time to play less, have a drink, lower the spread and fade into the crowd even with a small win?"

Can't make that decision for you. To each his own. Some are still playing just as much as before. Many have cut back or looked for other ways to beat the game. Personally, I find the casino attitude extremely distasteful, but I play occasionally and continue taking great pleasure in sticking it to them! :-)

"Thanks in advance for your insights and time to post."

You're welcome. And thank you for taking the trouble to write such an accurate, well-written post. Quite a rarity on thes pages!

Don