John Patrick, the card counter (Really!)

More wisdom from his site (Hey, I'm shameless, I'll dig as deep as I need to for a good laugh) reveal that John Patrick is, indeed, a master card counter!

(BLACKJACK TIP #21)

"After cashing in my chips, I stood watching the action at BJ and invariably started counting as the dealer was just starting a new shoe. In about 3 hands, the shoe reached 55, a signal it was rich.."

55?! Can you get 55 CARDS in three hands? If it got that high, he must be using the Level 11 Thorp Ultimate - Yes, it's a Level 11 count and yet, Thorp honestly expected people to use it - along with counting tens and non-tens. The tags for 2-A: 5, 6, 8, 11, 6, 4, 0, -3, -7, -9. Only John Patrick could pull off such mental magic!

"..My first bet was $15 at this $10 table and I was dealt a pair of tens vs the dealers 9, stood and picked up a win."

I wish every high count worked out for me like that!

"..My next bet was $10 and this time I was dealt a 10/5, which I stood on (the deck was rich, remember), vs the dealers 6."

Of course you stand on 15 against a 6 only because the count is high! Just like Tom Cruise not going to double 11 against a 6 until his brother tells him how high the count is - with a side count of queens, no less!

John Patrick, on his message board, would later comment:

"This dork criticized my suggestion (demand) to stand with a hard 15 when the deck is RICH (loaded with 10 value cards).

Of course the proper move would be to SURRENDER, but I am just taking for granted that there is no Surrender in this particular example."

Surrender 15 against a 6! Oh yeah, because the deck is rich! Never mind that the dealer will bust, oh, LOTS, when the deck is rich!

".. She turned over a 4 (to my delight).."

Wow, no wonder he wanted to SURRENDER, the dealer had a 4 in the hole. Thorp Ultimate, tens and non-tens, AND he can read hole-cards! Why else would he be delighted that the dealer now has 10 instead of 6?

".. and broke with a nine..."

6+4+9 = A bust?!! No wonder John Patrick is a professional gambler! He can count Thorp Ultimate, tens, non-tens, read hole-cards, AND convince the dealer that 19 is a busting hand!

Hmmm... wait a minute.. the dealer has a 6, and only needs to get NINETEEN or more to bust, and he still wants to surrender?!

Geez, and just when I was ready to buy his book, I find this inconsistency!

***

Folks, if you want funny shit like this, you have to dive straight into the lion's den. For I on honeydew hath fed, and drunk the milk of paradise. Straight from the source. Does it get any better than that?

M.

bring forth upon you a single session without sight of Mr. O. for the comedy you have shared with us today.

Thank you,

--Mayor

Listen up moosey I was gamblin when you were a figment of you daddys imagination. I've gambled in more gin joints, back alley rooms, and international casinos than all you whippersnappers could ever imagine. My books and thier strategies are very old and very much used by many high rollers around the world. The martengale is an ancient betting strategy that I profess to be very successful for slot players. My counting strategy is very accurate and my knowledge of making the right bet on the right feeling which is i-n-t-u-i-t-i-o-n...there i spelled it fer ya... is well proven over a lifetime of gambling. Hey why da think the suckers by my books? So they can learn to be gamblers!!! There I said my part...Hey moosey my classic collectors edition So you want to be a Gambler slots craps poker blackjack and roulette is half price at the old web site. Buy it, study it, learn from it!

Winning by using all kinds of strategies that do not have much direct relation with card counting (CC). CC is another tool and as far as experience tells me... just an insignificant side issue.

Only those who lack experience and newbies believe that they can win relying on CC alone.

BJ21.com: Progressions Zone
I do exactly the same!
Posted By: WSD on 4 January 02, 5:06 p.m. in response to: Changing tables is what usually pulls me out of a slump! (BadSam)

I leave a table when I lose 4 hands in a row especially when most are caused by dealers strong hands. I leave a table when after a 20-30 minutes play, I am not going forward by any means. One important thing is also notice how the players at any given table are faring before you settle down. No appreciable chips at the table and unhappy faces tell the story

alone, but I do believe it does give you a distinct advantage. But don't forget, we still are just gambling. And anything can happen. Count or no count. I don't know why it works that way, but a bad night is just a bad night.

At least it is if you mean me personally. I have made a rather nice second income playing part time for the last couple of years. Sure, I have had some bad nights - lots of them - but I have also had some rather good nights.

Furthermore, I am personally aware of at least 50-60 other people who are doing the exactly same thing, with similar results.

And finally, I know of about a half-dozen or so full time pros who make six-figure incomes counting cards. This is hard work. I have a huge amount of respect for these people, but I do not envy them.

You are entitled to think whatever you want. Maybe you cannot win counting cards. But many people can and do.

I dont think it is necessary to explain to this person and(or) several others on details of how many successful counters you know and how much money they make, it is none of his damn business. If he believes we cant win and does not understand how (and why) this happens by the way we explain .....then so be it, nothing more need be said.

I laughed hysterically for about 5 minutes, at the guy who had to Stand on 15v6 because the count was high and they wouldn't permit Surrender.

But I hope it is clear to everyone else that there was just a simply typo here. The whole thing makes sense if the "6" was a 10. Maybe "T", which is right below 6 on the keyboard.

Then the other players would complain about standing on 15v10, he would have wanted to surrender, he would have been delighted to see a "4" in the hole, and the 9 would have broke the dealer.

Now I am not a big fan of JP, but I thank we should halve a little compassion for topographical errors.

As I said in my post, this character is welcome to think anything he wants. If he thinks he cannot win counting cards, nobody is forcing him to try.

However, some people actually come to this website in search of knowledge regarding advantage play, and I think it is important for those people to know that many people can and do make good money counting cards in today's games, despite the opinions of a handful of naysayers.

It requires an adequate bankroll, the fluctuations can be tremendous, and it is certainly not "easy money." Nonetheless, people are doing it every day.

Mathprof,

Every other time Mr. Patrick refers to a ten, he uses the numeral "10". I counted 9 occurrences. Most telling:

"..An ace (BJ) 9, 10, J, Q, or K.."

It's not a typo by any means. Maybe he got his (dare I say fictituous) story details mixed up? Maybe he meant a ten. But he said 6, and six it shall be.

Plus, when someone responded to his post saying that you wouldn't hit 15 against a 6 unless the count was -9 or something, he took no opportunity to correct this.

So, good try, but I'm not convinced. Ironically, though, you did hit the nail on the head (by accident):

".. we should halve a little compassion .."

Yes, let's give a little compassion to JP, then cut it in half :)

Sorry, couldn't resist.

M.
M.

I laughed so hard at "topographical," I completely missed "thank" and "halve." Nyuck x 3.

--BWT

Somebody might throw you off the board for a sp or typo!