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The GameMaster's Secrets
Guerrilla Gambling - Part 2

The last time, I outlined a plan for my friend who wanted a little 'adventure' as a full-time gambler, at least for several months. If you haven't yet read that, you should go there now so that you'll be up to speed on what I'm talking about.

Anyway, she began her adventure on August 1, 1999 and has either called me or sent me updates by e-mail on a fairly regular basis. What I've done is compile them as a kind of diary of her play and have added my comments and/or observations as appropriate.

The primary thrust of my friend's play is back counting at some of the Blackjack games we have here and to enter the game with a $20 bet when the true count is 2 or more and up the bet to $40 if the true count gets to 4 or more. We didn't really establish the $40 bet point in the first article, but at a true of 4, she'll have about a 1.5+% edge over the house and, with a bankroll of $2000, she's certainly over betting, but we expected to operate at about a 30% 'risk of ruin' factor.

The second area of play was to be the exploitation of 'beatable' slots and the third was to play quarter All American Video Poker. Along the way, she'd try a slot tournament or two, if any were offered and she would try to take advantage of as many casino promos like double-point day, etc. as possible.

The Street Fighter's Diary

Sunday, August 1
Went to Casino Station St. Charles to check beatable slots and do some backcounting at the 6-deck games. Hit a dollar Wild Cherry Pie slot for a quick $12 profit. Had a little problem with finding BJ games where they allow mid-shoe entry and had more of a problem seeing all the cards, since I'm so short. But, did get in on a shoe where the count went up from the first hand and kept going up like crazy. Didn't kill it, but left with a $50 profit.

Time: 3.0 hours
Win/loss: +$62

Monday, August 2
Checked out the BJ games at Harrah's; not crowded enough to feel comfortable back counting, so sat down to play All American. The first hour saw me put in $200; am I playing correctly? I used my 'cheat sheet' and think I'm doing it right, but still have some doubts. Finally got a swing in my favor and quit down only $50. Wandered over to Players, found a good BJ game, played about 10 hands and won most of them. Up $120 in a half-hour!

Time: 3.5 hours Win/loss: +$70

Tuesday, August 3
Back to Harrah's for some BJ, but went at night so it was busier. Finally found a shoe worth playing and lost every damn hand! The count was good, but I'd have 20, he'd get a 21. Lost $240 and that sucks. Played some All American, but my heart wasn't in it, so I quit after an hour, up $40.

Time: 2.0 hours
Win/loss: -$200

GM note: My friend is learning about the emotional part of this business. We talked and I pointed out that she cannot let losses bother her. Easy to say, I know, but that's how it has to be. My emotions, both up and down were burned out a long time ago (at least in regard to casino games) because I know the $$$ will eventually come. Knowing that you're playing a beatable game in a competent manner is what matters. I also pointed out that she wasn't putting in enough time to hit her goal.

Wednesday, August 4
New attitude. Damn the torpedos....full speed ahead! Went to the Admiral and spent 5 hours at All American and hit a Straight Flush for $250 and a bunch of other good hands. Made $280!! Just one shoe at Blackjack and won $40.

Time: 5.5 hours
Win/loss: +$320

Thursday-Saturday, August 5-7
Had some friends in from out of town, so didn't play a lot, but the week is showing a nice profit. Went with a friend to Players on Friday to show her how I do it and the BJ gods smiled on me; $140 profit in about two hours' play. It's a lot easier to back count and move in on a shoe when it's busy like it was.

Time: 2.0 hours
Win/loss: +140

Sunday, August 8
Really beginning to feel good about Video Poker, played for 6 hours on $60 and made $120. Making some slot club points, too. No Blackjack.

Time: 6.0 hours
Win/loss: +120

Monday, August 9
Went to the Admiral at night and got in a lot of BJ play, but just couldn't win! Didn't lose too much either, but it's frustrating to get all those great hands and not win. I can see, though, how powerful back counting is; I just need to work on my patience. It's tough to just stand there and do nothing.

Time: 5.0 hours
Win/loss: -$40

GM note: Discipline is the key to making this work. I told her to resist the urge to sit down and play in shoes under a true of 2. It's tough, I know.

Tuesday, August 10
I'm developing more of a routine at this and it works well. Went to Harrah's, played a couple of shoes at BJ; won a little, then sat sown at All American and lost a bit, then prowled the floor for some more BJ, went back to Video Poker, etc. Cuts down on the boredom and keeps me enthusiastic. Positive thinking definitely works.

Time: 7 hours
Win/loss: +$80

Wednesday, August 11
Went to St. Charles and spent the afternoon at the slots. Lost $40 on quarter Wild Cherry Pie, but made it back in no time at Diamond Mine. Then hit a dollar 'Pie' for a $52 profit and dumped like crazy at one shoe of BJ.

Time: 6.0 hours
Win/loss: -$198

Thursday, August 12
I hate Blackjack! Well, not really, but I hate losing at it. It was at Players and I had a $40 bet out. Dealt a pair of 8s against a 10, I split, doubled one and had a 12 on that and an 18 on the other. Of course the dealer had a 16 and hit it with a 5! Goodbye to $120. That sucks. Strolled over to Harrah's and made a bit back at All American.

Time: 4.0 hours
Win/loss: -$180

GM note: I pointed out to my friend that often just one hand in a session will make the difference between a profit and a loss. But, that gets evened out as more and more hands are played.

Friday, August 13
This week has been a bummer! I'm basically even for the 'adventure', which is better than losing, I'll admit, but no fun. But, hope springs eternal and this was a good day. Got every card I needed at Blackjack and attracted no attention from the pit at Harrah's in a lot of play.

Time: 6.0 hours
Win/loss: +$315

Saturday, August 14
Being a woman who plays Blackjack has its advantages. Standing behind guys as I'm back counting gives me a perfect cover; the egomaniacs all think I'm there for them! Did meet a cute guy that way, but when the count went up real fast and he said something too me, I forgot the count! I knew the shoe was still very positive, so I just bet $25 a hand until they shuffled. Even so, making money while meeting guys is a lot of fun.

Time: 4.0 hours
Win/loss: +$105

GM note: I told her she's there for the $$$, not the guys. Her answer: "Oh yeah?"

Sunday, August 15
Starting week #3 with a profit of $594 for the 'adventure' thus far feels very, very good and I can hardly believe it, though I've worked hard to get here. The work in the casino isn't hard; it's all the practice at home that's hard. I practice more than I play, but that's the way the GM said it is. Finally got a seat at All American at Harrah's and played for 7 hours, though I lost. This really works, right?

Time: 7.0 hours
Win/loss: -$220

GM note: Yes, it does.

Monday-Wednesday, August 16-18
Just concentrated on Video Poker and finally 'dug out' from Sunday's loss. Racking up the slot club points, though.

Time: 20 hours
Win/loss: +$240

GM note: I played next to my friend on Wednesday and she has a good handle on the very difficult All American playing strategy, though she plays only about 400 hands/hour. The slot club points are making her about $1.25 an hour. She did have a few coupons to get some more points, so her total cash back is about $75.

Thursday, August 19
Played some serious Blackjack with the GM today; I won and he lost, but it didn't bother him. He would backcount one table while I was backcounting another and we'd 'call' each other in. Got a lot of hands.

Time: 6 hours
Win/loss:+$345

Friday, August 20
Back to Video Poker on the Admiral. Got clobbered for the first 3 hours; was down $400 and then the flood gates opened, though didn't get all the way back to even.

Time: 5.0 hours
Win/loss: -$60

Saturday, August 21
Took the day off to catch up with life.

GM note: Day off? What's a day off?

Sunday, August 22
Back at it. Slot play in St. Charles cost me $60, but got in a bit of Blackjack for a modest profit.

Time: 5.0 hours
Win/loss: +$20

Monday, August 23
From now on, this will be called "Black Monday". Couldn't win at anything! Alternated between All American and Blackjack, but nothing worked.

Time: 7.5 hours
Win/loss: -$440

GM note: My friend was really upset when she called me after this session, but we discussed it thoroughly and I'm convinced she just had 'one of those days'. It's like getting tossed off a horse, you've got to climb right back on.

Tuesday, August 24
Oh, this can be so painful. It's almost like a toothache at times. Played BJ and of course the dealer would have 21 whenever I have 20! Hitting a 12 guarantees that I'll get a 10. I'm going to start doubling on 12; maybe then I'll get the Ace, like I do when I double 11.

Time: 4.0 hours Win/loss: -$260

Wednesday, August 25
Played with the GM so that he could verify my counting, betting, etc. I swear I'm going to offer him gratuitous sex for helping me today. The numbers speak for themselves.

Time: 3.0 hours Win/loss: +$535

GM note: I may take her up on it, but it wasn't me who did it; she did it on her own. This is just how the game works; there's nothing consistent about the ebb and flow of $$$ at Blackjack.

We have to pause here so that I can get this up on the site, but my friend is doing quite well and I'm thrilled. For the 3 or so weeks thus far, she has played 111.5 hours and has a profit of $754, not counting her slot club cash. We were looking for an average of 40 hours/week in play and a $400/week profit, so she's actually making more like $7 an hour, and is playing less. Still, I think this is a good start.