If you’ve ever seen the movie 21, then you know the story of the MIT Blackjack Team and how through card counting, they took Las Vegas casinos to the cleaners for years. Mike Aponte was one of the leaders of the team in the mid-90s, and in this brief YouTube video, teaches us a few tricks of the trade.
The only problem with trying to pick up what he’s putting down is that it’s pretty damn difficult to master without an MIT education. However with lots of practice and a Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man-type mentality, anything is possible.
Aponte recommends a hi-low count system with high cards consisting of 10, J, Q, K, which have a value of minus-1 because as the high cards are depleted from the game, the player advantage goes down. On the opposite end of the spectrum, cards such as 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are worth a value of plus-1 because as the low cards are pulled from the decks, there are fewer of them in action to hurt the player. Lastly, cards such as 7, 8, and 9 have a neutral count value and do not go into the equation.
With a little skill and a whole lot of practice, you too could try and hustle the casinos on the Las Vegas strip. But, remember, the odds are stacked against you.