DJTeddyBear
DJTeddyBear
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January 3rd, 2011 at 10:02:33 AM permalink
From 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?
I invented a few casino games. Info: http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ ————————————————————————————————————— Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
thlf
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January 3rd, 2011 at 10:17:37 AM permalink
Quote: DJTeddyBear

From 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.
DJTeddyBear
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January 3rd, 2011 at 10:41:29 AM permalink
Oh.

Well, CONGRATS!
I invented a few casino games. Info: http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ ————————————————————————————————————— Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
MathExtremist
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January 3rd, 2011 at 11:18:11 AM permalink
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.
"In my own case, when it seemed to me after a long illness that death was close at hand, I found no little solace in playing constantly at dice." -- Girolamo Cardano, 1563
Wizard
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January 3rd, 2011 at 12:03:05 PM permalink
Thanks!!! :-)

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.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
Croupier
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January 3rd, 2011 at 12:59:13 PM permalink
I 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.
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Nareed
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January 3rd, 2011 at 2:50:33 PM permalink
Quote: Croupier

I 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).
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
mkl654321
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January 3rd, 2011 at 2:58:46 PM permalink
Quote: Wizard

Thanks!!! :-)

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).
The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one. The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.---George Bernard Shaw
EvenBob
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January 3rd, 2011 at 4:14:39 PM permalink
That pic of you in the blog is amazing, you look like refugee's from Eastern Europe.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
Croupier
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January 3rd, 2011 at 4:58:52 PM permalink
Quote: Nareed

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).



Ah. Maybe the use of the :P or :) should be prevalent for any jests. It would definitely help me out. :P
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Nareed
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January 3rd, 2011 at 5:10:45 PM permalink
Quote: Croupier

Ah. 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.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
Wizard
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January 3rd, 2011 at 5:12:09 PM permalink
Quote: EvenBob

That 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.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
Garnabby
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January 3rd, 2011 at 6:35:52 PM permalink
Quote: Wizard

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



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)?
Why bet at all, if you can be sure? Anyway, what constitutes a "good bet"? - The best slots-game in town; a sucker's edge; or some gray-area blackjack-stunts? (P.S. God doesn't even have to exist to be God.)
DJTeddyBear
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January 3rd, 2011 at 6:57:55 PM permalink
Quote: EvenBob

That pic of you in the blog is amazing, you look like refugee's from Eastern Europe.

Well, he DID say it was an unflattering cell phone photo...


Wiz -

Some of those tests seem interesting. But was there also BlackJack play as part of the contest?
I invented a few casino games. Info: http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ ————————————————————————————————————— Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
DJTeddyBear
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January 3rd, 2011 at 7:07:14 PM permalink
Quote: DJTeddyBear

Well, he DID say it was an unflattering cell phone photo...

Then again, since I own PhotoShop, and know how to use it...

Admin note: removed image www.djteddybear.com/images/mike-max.jpg
I invented a few casino games. Info: http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ ————————————————————————————————————— Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
Wizard
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January 3rd, 2011 at 7:58:37 PM permalink
Quote: DJTeddyBear

Then again, since I own PhotoShop, and know how to use it...



Thanks! This is significantly better.

Quote: Garnabby

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)?



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.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
mkl654321
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January 3rd, 2011 at 8:15:31 PM permalink
Quote: Wizard

Thanks! 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"!
The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one. The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.---George Bernard Shaw
EvenBob
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January 3rd, 2011 at 8:17:58 PM permalink
Quote: Wizard

Here 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?
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
Wizard
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January 3rd, 2011 at 9:28:12 PM permalink
Quote: mkl654321

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?



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.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
EvenBob
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January 3rd, 2011 at 9:44:52 PM permalink
Quote: Wizard

the 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.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
Wizard
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January 4th, 2011 at 6:56:16 AM permalink
Quote: EvenBob

From 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!
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
Garnabby
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January 4th, 2011 at 2:18:06 PM permalink
Quote: Wizard

Winning 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"?
Why bet at all, if you can be sure? Anyway, what constitutes a "good bet"? - The best slots-game in town; a sucker's edge; or some gray-area blackjack-stunts? (P.S. God doesn't even have to exist to be God.)
EvenBob
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January 8th, 2012 at 7:17:15 PM permalink
Last year the Blackjack Ball was on Jan 3rd. Is this years ball
over? Did the Wiz win again?
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
dm
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January 8th, 2012 at 7:43:40 PM permalink
Quote: mkl654321

Quote: Wizard

Thanks!!! :-)

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.
EvenBob
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January 8th, 2012 at 8:23:32 PM permalink
Quote: dm

WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When did you get back on here?



That post is from a year ago.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
odiousgambit
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January 9th, 2012 at 1:17:57 AM permalink
Quote: EvenBob

That post is from a year ago.



You're forgiven though, that it is 2012 hasn't sunk in too well for me either.
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!”   She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
EvenBob
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January 9th, 2012 at 11:28:56 AM permalink
So, has the Blackjack Ball happened already? Last
year it was on Jan 3rd. Did the Wiz win? Will he win
if it hasn't been held yet? Is he in training?
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
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