Sorry to be a bit off topic, but I thought you might all enjoy this.
My 5 year old has been watching me practice my counting with a double deck of cards. I stepped out of the room and when I came back he had both decks in his little hands and was making up some kind of new counting scheme. He tells me he is going to win in the casinos because he is the best player.
Maybe someday he and I can team play!
all I hope is that the game remains beatable untill your son will be 21 ! By this time I should have made some serious money ;-)
take him to the barbary coast now.they will let him play as long as he cant count or read.
a child who started at five to play cards every day could easily learn to keep track of all ten ranks by the time he's 18 -- and I mean while playing rapidly! Bridge prodigies typically remember the entire deck and bidding, including suits, in chronological order. Chess and music prodigies do even more amazing feats.
Not saying it would be good for the kid. However, if it means more quality time with dad, it could be far better than neglect, IMHO.
Don't forget to tell him about hole card play and shuffle tracking. ;-)
ETF
..I was playing online the other night. My six month old was in his high chair beside me sucking back some juice and flapping his arms every once in a while. I draw 10 versus 9 so I just hit. Baby flails his arms, lets out a scream. I find a soother and pop it into his mouth. Later, I draw 8's to a dealer's face. I don't split, just hit and bust. Baby shakes his head and bangs his juice cup down repeatedly on the eating tray. I tend to baby and try to calm him down. He does finally, but is pouting and crossing his arms. I'm getting annoyed at all these distractions but as I've got to babysit I might as well gamble, right? So I continue playing, baby scowling at me, and I'm on a losing streak so I'm thinking this casino must be "rigged". I begin to chase my losses, ramping my bets to the max* . I continue to lose. Griipping my mouse tightly I aggressively slide the $25 chip out there, catching the slightly different sound as it falls on the betting square. I draw a hard 9 versus a 4. I ponder about this, having just enough chips left to double. If I lose the double I'm broke. If I win I might be able to get all my deposit back, the bonus having disappeared long ago but the play requirments remaining. I think intently and then, for some reason, look up over the baby as I sheepishly press "Hit". Baby scowls which catches me off guard. I draw a 7. Stand. Dealer draws a 7 for an 11. "Great". Then, mysteriously, another 4. I perk up. Dealer flips a 10. I let out a whoop!, fist pumped.
Then it happens.
The juice cup richochets off the back of my head, splattering juice all over my keyboard. An unearthly scream is let out which startles me before I can get angry. Baby holds up a block pointing to the "W" on it. "W'? Baby shakes his head at my stupidity, makes a peace sign. "What?" Then it dawns on me. He's telling me I was an idiot for not doubling! I slap my forehead, recalling his intensity while watching the screen. I get him out of the highchair and try to calm him down, just as his mommy comes home. "What's wrong now?", she says as she takes him from me, draping him over her shoulder. I sputter an explanation. "Why don't you pay more attention to the baby and less attention to that damn computer." I look at him, starting to calm down now but still flushed. "You're right dear. I will from now on." I give him a wink. He winks back, and begins to giggle.
Note: story entirely true and can be read in its entirety in an upcoming National Enquirer.
*(well....online that's like $25 so everything is relative)
