As you can imagine, I have devoured my fair share of card-counting books over the past five decades. However, one of them stands out because it is unique. The Blackjack Insiders, published by Huntington Press, is a well-written account of how a blackjack dealer turned the proverbial tables on the casino. By doing so, he beat them at their own game.
This isn't a book about how to play and when blackjack games. Instead, it retells the fascinating story of how a blackjack dealer beat the house. The name of the guy in question is Andrew Uyal. When he was 25, he had great potential at the casino. His employers appreciated him, and his contemporaries respected him. This guy started as a dealer at CasaBlanca Casino Mesquite, Nevada. He became a floor supervisor and later a pit boss. So, naturally, this blackjack dealer had lots of upward potential.
Sadly, Andrew had recently divorced, and it cost him big time. His youngster, BJ, needed support, and money was scarce. To begin with, blackjack dealers don't make much money, so he required a change. Fortunately for Andrew, his shift boss, Mark Stevens, took a shine to him. Nobody would have known that Mark was a secret card counter. He practiced this specialized skill on his days off and convinced Andrew to start card counting under his watchful eye.
Even with limited knowledge of card counting, Mark's expertise took a short time to shine through. Finally, he decided to teach Andrew everything about card counting on his days off. It all began with a basic blackjack strategy. Other technical elements include how to count cards (high-low card counting system), betting actions and deviation from basic blackjack strategy based on the current card count.
The training was undoubtedly intense. First, the pair practiced the art of card counting for weeks on end until Andrew became proficient at it. But that's not all; the practice sessions continued until Andrew could play his hands through an entire shoe multiple times. Then, of course, Mark was dealing cards and watching over proceedings. This setup continued until Andrew made no betting or playing errors.
The blackjack card-counting duo kicked off their playing adventures in Las Vegas on multiple weekend jaunts. Mark was thoroughly impressed with Andrew's blackjack playing abilities. As such, he staked him with 5X $100 bills. Then, he advised him to start with small bets. Andrew's first outing as a card counter was a success. Then, as fate would have it, Mark was relieved of duty as a casino shift manager. That's when he decided to start playing blackjack full-time.
It wasn't long afterward that management implemented changes at Andrew's casino. But, unfortunately, he wasn't impressed with the new working conditions. So he resigned and joined his mentor Mark. Together, they began playing blackjack professionally. The Blackjack Insiders book provides a window into the many trips and adventures these two embarked upon in casinos across the country. Venues included New Orleans, Tunica, Biloxi, California, Wendover, Foxwoods, Saint Louis, Kansas City, Laughlin, Vicksburg, and the inimitable Las Vegas.
In each of the chapters, the author goes into tremendous detail. Their blackjack playing prowess – good, bad, or mediocre – is thoroughly examined. Details of the hotel and casino resorts visited, playing conditions, and the casino reactions to their wins are provided. Naturally, there were instances of being blocked from casinos, but that comes with the territory – sizeable wins and devastating losses. The book documents all the highs and lows experienced by Mark and Andrew.
One of the notable aspects of their particular blackjack playing style is the level of aggression associated with it. As blackjack professionals, their task was clear: make as much money as possible from every casino they frequented. The duo typically played for hours at the same venue, with an aggressive betting style. They used mathematically correct deviations from basic blackjack strategy to maximize their profitability. For example, they were doubling up on a soft 20 and a seven against a dealer's six upcard based on the index number.
This blackjack pair was not overly concerned about being blocked or escorted out of casinos. They decided early on that they were taking their game on the road for a short spell, stopping off at many casinos and winning as much money as possible. In total, their blackjack playing days lasted about a year. They had an inside rule that they would not visit a casino that backed them off for at least six months.
The tactics and strategies employed by Mark and Andrew were markedly different from the methodology I used when I started card counting 50 years ago. Back then, there were only a handful of legal casinos in the US, notably Nevada. My objective was to play as long as humanly possible by staying under the casino's radar. But, of course, nothing remains the same forever, and over time, several dozen states, including tribal areas and commercial resorts, began offering legal blackjack games to players. The net effect was a sharp rise in savvy card counters with new and improved methodology. They typically employ advantage play methods, burn-out, or hit-and-run tactics. I'm not judging, but I will say this differs from what I did.
Another critical point you will pick up from The Blackjack Insiders is this: a powerful bond develops between Mark and Andrew. This even though they very rarely played together. Each player had a stash of cash, and they played at different casinos on the same trips. From time to time, Mark or Andrew would take a solo trip to play blackjack. After every play session, they would communicate how it went. In addition, Mark would provide comfort to Andrew if he experienced losses.
There are many benefits to playing as part of a blackjack team. Besides the motivational aspect of having somebody to lift your spirits and guide you, there are also dramatic reductions in variance. Practicing blackjack tactics and strategies together and watching intelligent plays makes it possible to learn from one another and improve your personal game. This approach has the advantage of learning from one another, and improving the win rate, above and beyond that of solo-based play.
The book recounts the euphoria that results when they experience red-hot winning streaks, but it also provides an account of what can happen when you hit a rough patch. The emotional lows of losing can be devastating to professional blackjack players. One part of the book describes Andrew's tremendous misery after a five-month losing streak. He lost an estimated $16,000, approximately 50% of his entire bankroll. This losing streak is detailed in Chapter 16 of the book. I highly recommend all card counters read about the emotional component of losing streaks and how this affects every aspect of your life.
The Blackjack Insiders highlights several important points, many of which may be glossed over by readers. These include the following:
* Effective use of Current Blackjack News to update blackjack rules at casinos before frequenting these venues.
* Mark and Andrew leveraged their in-house experience as blackjack dealers and floor supervisors to understand what to expect under certain conditions and during their card-counting sessions.
* They teach readers how to cash out a ton of casino chips at any casino.
* The reasons why it is better not to provide your ID to the boss of the casino – for blocklisting reasons.
* What happens if you get tapped on the shoulder from behind while you're playing blackjack?
* How you play a solo game as part of the blackjack card counting team, including how to keep track of your winnings and divide profits equally.
* How to determine your session bankroll using blackjack software and gauge whether unusual events can occur, even if there are longshot odds of that happening.
* How to cope with the solitude of this lifestyle, including the stresses of constant travel, uncertainty, fluctuating bankrolls, emotional highs and lows, and the feeling of being constantly watched by casino bosses?
Now that you know what to expect from The Blackjack Insiders, you may wonder why you should buy this book. First off, it's an extremely well-written story. Secondly, it provides a behind-the-scenes expose of how a depressed blackjack dealer going through a rough patch in his life took the necessary risks to become a successful card counter. Finally, it tells you how he took the show on the road and played professional blackjack to earn a living.
Over the year that he played professional blackjack with Mark, Andrew managed to rack up notable wins. The precise figure is available in the book, so I urge you to read it. But of course, like any journey with lots of twists and turns, it's not a singular focus on money that the authors are trying to convey. After reflecting on the year-long adventure, Andrew wrote this on the last page of the book,
I thought about how much the game of blackjack had done for me. It started by giving me something productive and engaging to focus on during a tough time in my life. It grew to help me financially. It afforded me a chance to travel the country … A mere card game had changed my life and put me on the path toward success ... At the end our goal was accomplished. We played. We saved some. Most importantly, we collected great memories during it.
In closing: Andrew decided to move out to Las Vegas with his son after a successful year-long journey as a professional blackjack card counter. They currently work in the casino industry. For Mark, his focus turned to a regular 9-to-5 job at the financial advising company. The end quote in the book reads as follows: The End Is Just A New Beginning.
