Gene… My then question would be "Why do the Casino's bar Card Counters from Playing blackjack in their Casino?" It is mathematically possible under certain deck situations (the deck being 10 rich) to have a mathematical advantage over the house. If one does not believe that, they should only play Spanish 21. In Spanish 21 the house gives many benefits over regular blackjack, and only ask for one thing in return, they get to take our 24 tens in a 6 deck shoe.

When you say that Casino's welcome system players, are you including card counting blackjack players? I would be willing to bet (I have a few extra chips that I won in a wager from Jim R.!) that if I walk into the Fiesta and blatantly count cards while playing from minimum bet ($5, or sitting out hands when the count is negative) to $100 when the positive count is very high, I will be asked to leave (or asked to go play craps, roulette, or slots) in less than two hours. In addition, I would offer this same bet at 20 other casino's (You pick 10 and I will pick 10).

I was taught how to count cards by my dad. When Thorpes book "Beat the Dealer" came out almost 40 years ago. My dad (a school administrator) studied and practiced religiously for 2 years. He paid me by the hour to deal to him. I got to be a pretty good dealer! and card counter myself. I could count cards very well long before I was old enough to visit a casino. My father has very, very detailed records, spanning 38 years. Not one losing year in those 38. His Blackjack "money market account" has had principal deposits in it of over $410,000. Is that enough to live on each year.. No, but it has sure turned into a nice retirement account (love that compound interest!) In addition, we live in Iowa. Gambling has not been easily accessible here for very many years. My dad would take the old Junkets every other weekend to Las Vegas, Reno, and even Ely. He now is able to go to the Riverboat and Indian Casino's around here twice a week or so (He is retired). In the past 3 years he has played 346 sessions, with each session averaging a little less than 7 hours. 29 losing sessions out of the 446. $63,331 net profit. This net profit does not include transportation costs, or figure a value on his time (he is retired). Keep in mind my Dad still plays low stakes (usually $5 up to a $60 bet). He loves to play the game and says that it keeps his mind sharp.

So, I guess that was a bit off topic, and I respect your professional knowledge very much, but just do not agree with your statement that it is not possible to play winning blackjack long term. Unless 38 years is not long term enough, I have lived with one. My dad does not consider himself a lucky person, but hard working. The Records are accurate and honest to the penny. That fund certainly was not built raising 5 kids on "school teacher wages"! My estimate of the top 2% may have been generous. 1% may be more like it. I can spot these players in 20 minutes, and out of 100 players in a normal blackjack pit there probably is no more than 1 (if any) players of this type playing on an average.

So, yes I agree with you Casino's welcome Craps, Roulette, and Slot "system players" with open arms. They do not share that enthusiasm for card counting blackjack players. In fact if the Fiesta would allow it… I could assemble a team of 7 of us. We would put one counter at each of 6 tables, playing minimum bets, counting the cards, and one person with the big bankroll floating around jumping in making very large bets when they get the signal from the player at the table that the deck is very "ten rich". This is why many casino's have adopted "No Midshoe Entry" rules on higher stakes tables. It certainly is not to protect the players from people jumping into the game. Check with your BJ pits and see if they would allow this, and I promise we would not even ask for a free buffet <G>.

In the meantime I am brushing up on my Poker skills, and am wishing that my Dad would have taken up Poker 40 years ago. Then I could have seen his picture in magazines ect. Instead when we go to Las Vegas, we can't even play on the same blackjack table together… "It will be too suspicious" :(