Wiz Wins!
Quote: Las Vegas Advisor January 3, 2011 Shack Wins BJ Ball: "Wizard of Odds" and Gambling 102 author Michael Shackleford won last night's annual Blackjack Ball, beating out a field of gambling luminaries; Anthony Curtis was runner-up, his third time on the final table.
Congrats, but how come we gotta hear about this third-hand?
Quote: DJTeddyBearFrom http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/whatsnews.cfm#9504:
Quote: Las Vegas Advisor January 3, 2011 Shack Wins BJ Ball: "Wizard of Odds" and Gambling 102 author Michael Shackleford won last night's annual Blackjack Ball, beating out a field of gambling luminaries; Anthony Curtis was runner-up, his third time on the final table.
Congrats, but how come we gotta hear about this third-hand?
It's in the Wiz blog, and been there all morning.
Well, CONGRATS!
Quote: Las Vegas Advisor January 3, 2011 Shack Wins BJ Ball: "Wizard of Odds" and Gambling 102 author Michael Shackleford won last night's annual Blackjack Ball, beating out a field of gambling luminaries; Anthony Curtis was runner-up, his third time on the final table.
That should have said "other gambling luminaries"...
And nice work, Wiz.
As mentioned, I wrote about it a blog entry.
I'd be happy to answer any questions here though. To answer one posted about my blog entry, no, I have no plans to do a WizardOfBlackjack site. I feel just about everything there is to so about blackjack has been said. Besides, if I start going down that road, I could see making special sites about lots of games. Actually, I have thought about a special site devoted to pai gow tiles, since I have a particular interest in that game, and there are no good free sites devoted to the game. If I could ever get the guy squatting on geejoon.com to sell it to me, I probably would. He has ignored all my inquires so far.
Quote: CroupierI think my meaning in the comment on the blog was misconstrued. I was not requesting a WOBlackjack side site, merely stating that it could be another moniker added to the Wizards growing Wizard of xxxx collection.
I sugested it as a jest based on your comment.
I mean it's a jest because, as the Wizard pointed out, he's already written extensively on BJ and related games (like BJ Switch, 6:5 21, Spanish 21, etc), not to mention the many BJ and 21 discussions on this site (if 6:5 isn't Blackjack, then even momney for BJ isn't Blackjack either).
Quote: WizardThanks!!! :-)
As mentioned, I wrote about it a blog entry.
I'd be happy to answer any questions here though. To answer one posted about my blog entry, no, I have no plans to do a WizardOfBlackjack site. I feel just about everything there is to so about blackjack has been said. Besides, if I start going down that road, I could see making special sites about lots of games. Actually, I have thought about a special site devoted to pai gow tiles, since I have a particular interest in that game, and there are no good free sites devoted to the game. If I could ever get the guy squatting on geejoon.com to sell it to me, I probably would. He has ignored all my inquires so far.
Pai Gow tiles is one of my favorite games. I learned it in Oakland's Chinatown, pretty much by osmosis, in an environment where I was usually the only foreign devil, and NO ONE was speaking English. I made a LOT of money banking (usually by myself; no one wanted to bank together with a gaijin), and everyone playing against me would be volubly discussing their hands (since most player spots and bets were shared by three or more people)--but I wouldn't let on that I understood quite a bit of what they were saying. So they were essentially turning their hands face up, and since I set my hand last, I had a huge advantage--and they never caught on to why I would set my hand the "wrong" way (I basically played against the hand with the biggest bet and ignored everyone else).
Quote: NareedI sugested it as a jest based on your comment.
I mean it's a jest because, as the Wizard pointed out, he's already written extensively on BJ and related games (like BJ Switch, 6:5 21, Spanish 21, etc), not to mention the many BJ and 21 discussions on this site (if 6:5 isn't Blackjack, then even momney for BJ isn't Blackjack either).
Ah. Maybe the use of the :P or :) should be prevalent for any jests. It would definitely help me out. :P
Quote: CroupierAh. Maybe the use of the :P or :) should be prevalent for any jests. It would definitely help me out. :P
Sometimes I get a smiley overload and begin to think they look unseemly. Sometimes I just plain forget them.
Quote: EvenBobThat pic of you in the blog is amazing, you look like refugee's from Eastern Europe.
Especially me. It was a cell phone picture so the quality is not the best. I also had quite a few drinks, as the picture seems to show. Not the most most flattering picture of me. I'm hoping somebody else who took some will send me a copy.
Quote: WizardEspecially me. It was a cell phone picture so the quality is not the best. I also had quite a few drinks, as the picture seems to show. Not the most most flattering picture of me
Congratulations Wizard, for at least having some fun.
How many times have you won what there? Was there a buy-in, or was it another HSP "glorified circus-act" (w/o the HSP)?
Well, he DID say it was an unflattering cell phone photo...Quote: EvenBobThat pic of you in the blog is amazing, you look like refugee's from Eastern Europe.
Wiz -
Some of those tests seem interesting. But was there also BlackJack play as part of the contest?
Then again, since I own PhotoShop, and know how to use it...Quote: DJTeddyBearWell, he DID say it was an unflattering cell phone photo...
Admin note: removed image www.djteddybear.com/images/mike-max.jpg
Quote: DJTeddyBearThen again, since I own PhotoShop, and know how to use it...
Thanks! This is significantly better.
Quote: GarnabbyHow many times have you won what there? Was there a buy-in, or was it another HSP "glorified circus-act" (w/o the HSP)?
I have never made it to the final table before. Once I was tied to make it there, but lost in a tie breaking round. No prize money, but there is a Calcutta, in which everyone gambles on who will win. I did not bet on myself, unfortunately. The person who bid the most on me likely won several thousand dollars. It is just a fun thing among blackjack players. Winning gives me BIG bragging rights. Here is a good article about it.
Quote: WizardThanks! This is significantly better.
I have never made it to the final table before. Once I was tied to make it there, but lost in a tie breaking round. No prize money, but there is a Calcutta, in which everyone gambles on who will win. I did not bet on myself, unfortunately. The person who bid the most on me likely won several thousand dollars. It is just a fun thing among blackjack players. Winning gives me BIG bragging rights. Here is a good article about it.
Congrats and woo hoo!, by the way.
Bridge tournaments used to have Calcuttas, and the one feature I remember is that any player that someone else had bet on had the right to buy back half of himself from that person. Did you have such an opportunity here?
So you can add to your signature line, "Bet On the Wizard"!
Quote: WizardHere is a good article about it.
"Most Feared Man in the Casino Business." Is that a good thing when you live in Vegas, are already well known, and now have the rep as the fastest counter? Isn't that like making the fox wear a bell so you know when he's in the henhouse?
Quote: mkl654321Bridge tournaments used to have Calcuttas, and the one feature I remember is that any player that someone else had bet on had the right to buy back half of himself from that person. Did you have such an opportunity here?
They have that rule at the Blackjack Ball too, but I unfortunately didn't invoke it. I was on a team Wizards by myself because two other math-heads didn't show up. So I didn't think I was a good bet at around $400.
Quote: EvenBob"Most Feared Man in the Casino Business." Is that a good thing when you live in Vegas, are already well known, and now have the rep as the fastest counter? Isn't that like making the fox wear a bell so you know when he's in the henhouse?
They are very secretive at the Blackjack Ball. They don't make a public list of the tournament winners. However, I suppose the word can spread. Most blackjack players use multiple assumed names anyway.
Also, the competition isn't just counting fast. I would have never won in that case. It is a combination of lots of things, which I mentioned in my blog entry about it.
Quote: Wizardthe competition isn't just counting fast. .
But its the one the casinos care about. Doesn't seem to secret to me, we all know about it and we don't even live in Vegas. From reading the article about the contest, you are now the best of the best BJ players in the world.
Quote: EvenBobFrom reading the article about the contest, you are now the best of the best BJ players in the world.
That is what my trophy says too!
Quote: WizardWinning gives me BIG bragging rights.
Oh boys, and all cows holy... someone should start a "mental age" thread on this board.
The thought popping into my mind, i'm back in high school (in the seventies) when our big brothers were out there "playing chicken" in Trans Ams and Corvettes. What's next, Burger King "power chips"?
over? Did the Wiz win again?
Quote: mkl654321Quote: WizardThanks!!! :-)
As mentioned, I wrote about it a blog entry.
I'd be happy to answer any questions here though. To answer one posted about my blog entry, no, I have no plans to do a WizardOfBlackjack site. I feel just about everything there is to so about blackjack has been said. Besides, if I start going down that road, I could see making special sites about lots of games. Actually, I have thought about a special site devoted to pai gow tiles, since I have a particular interest in that game, and there are no good free sites devoted to the game. If I could ever get the guy squatting on geejoon.com to sell it to me, I probably would. He has ignored all my inquires so far.
Pai Gow tiles is one of my favorite games. I learned it in Oakland's Chinatown, pretty much by osmosis, in an environment where I was usually the only foreign devil, and NO ONE was speaking English. I made a LOT of money banking (usually by myself; no one wanted to bank together with a gaijin), and everyone playing against me would be volubly discussing their hands (since most player spots and bets were shared by three or more people)--but I wouldn't let on that I understood quite a bit of what they were saying. So they were essentially turning their hands face up, and since I set my hand last, I had a huge advantage--and they never caught on to why I would set my hand the "wrong" way (I basically played against the hand with the biggest bet and ignored everyone else).
WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When did you get back on here? How could I have missed that magic moment. Welcome back............to both of us. I will be the only one welcoming me back, which is exactly how I like it.
Quote: dmWTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When did you get back on here?
That post is from a year ago.
Quote: EvenBobThat post is from a year ago.
You're forgiven though, that it is 2012 hasn't sunk in too well for me either.
year it was on Jan 3rd. Did the Wiz win? Will he win
if it hasn't been held yet? Is he in training?
