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BJI Newsletter, April 2008, #99

A WORD FROM HENRY

Congratulations are in order for several BJI contributing writers. Frank Scoblete wrote his memoir about a life lived beating the odds in his latest book, The Virgin Kiss and Other Adventures. We've got an inside look at why he wrote his memoir in a Q&A article in this issue. Joe Pane is the #1 ranked tournament player in the country and was named 2007 Player of the Year by Las Vegas Advisor publisher Anthony Curtis. In Joe's last 11 tournaments in 2007/2008, he made the final tables eight times and won two of them for an impressive 73% final table appearance rate with just over $225,000 won in the past 12 months.

This month's issue is jammed-packed with interesting articles and reports. We begin with Australian Katarina Walker's eye-opening article on Spanish 21, and how it can be beaten by card counting (no, I'm not kidding ...Katarina is the world's foremost authority on Spanish 21, and has won a lot of money playing this game ... don't miss reading this article). Mathematician Alan Krigman shows how it's possible to gain a slight edge over the house by just counting Aces (simple method for a basic strategy player). Is a cruise in your future? Then you don't want to miss reading Milton Benjamin's report on what cruise lines have to offer their blackjack players. Joe Pane describes his recent casino adventure with none other than MIT's Micky Rosa (played by Kevin Spacey in the new movie "21"), in which they tried to take advantage of a 2-1 blackjack promotion. What happened to them is ... well, I'll let Joe tell you. Frank Scoblete is America's #1 best-selling gambling author, yet his terrific new book has only two chapters on gambling (the rest describe his adventurous life outside the casinos). If you are wondering why Frank published his memoir in The Virgin Kiss and Other Adventure Adventures, read the exclusive interview with Frank. Speaking of Frank, he and his lovely wife Alene summarize the latest blackjack playing conditions in their AC BJ Report, including which casinos currently offer the best blackjack games. Did you know you could have a big edge against unskilled tournament players but only if you use a few tricks of the trade? Kenneth Smith explains what they are. We've got LVBear's latest growls against abuses that occurred in the inspections of remodeling done in several Strip casino hotels (another eye-opener), and his review of the new movie "21". If you are a poker player, don't miss reading Bill Burton's column on why many poker players self-destruct. And last, but not least, we have a summary of upcoming major blackjack tournaments courtesy of blackjacktournaments.com.

I'll be teaching the next Speed Count course in Las Vegas the weekend of June 21 & 22. There are a few openings left. Plan now to attend this two day hands-on course that will teach you how to become an advantage player at blackjack. For details on the course, visit www.goldentouchblackjack.com or call 1-800-944-0406.

I finally completed my taxes, did you? If you've got gambling wins and losses for 2007, and you don't know how to report them to Uncle Sam, I highly recommend Jean Scott & Marissa Chien's new book, Tax Help for Gamblers, as a resource. Follow their advice to avoid a dreaded IRS audit. We have copies of their book in stock for immediate delivery. Click here to order.

My Total 21 column in the April issue of Casino Player magazine on "Just Say NO! to 6:5 Blackjack" is posted on their web site. In the article, I ranted about the evils of the 6-5 blackjack games, and what readers can do to stop the proliferation of this dastardly game. If you'd like to help eliminate 6-5 games from casinos everywhere, read the article for information on what you can do. Here's the link: http://www.casinoplayer.com/archive/0803cp/total21.htm.

If you come across an unfamiliar blackjack term in one of our articles or reports, see our Blackjack Glossary: www.bjinsider.com/questions_glossary.shtml

E-mail subscribers can also read each month's issue online at our web site: BJI Issue #99, April 2008.

Henry Tamburin

Editor

P.S... Blackjack Insider Celebrates it's 100th Issue!!

NEW BOOK! THE VIRGIN KISS and OTHER ADVENTURES By Frank Scoblete Read the dazzling, amazing, wonderful and hilariously funny adventures of best-selling gambling author Frank Scoblete, a man whose life is stranger and more exciting than fiction. Retail Price $17.95. BJI Subscribers special price only $16, plus $5.50 S&H. Limited time: All copies will be autograph by Frank Scoblete To order the book or for more details, click here.

BETTER THAN BLACKJACK? by Katarina Walker

"As you can probably deduce (from the information in this article), Spanish 21 is every bit as countable as Blackjack. As Anthony Curtis says, "As is often the case in gambling, cursory investigation, erroneous assumptions, and limited information can lead to missed opportunities"...

Read Walker's complete article.

CAN YOU GAIN AN EDGE AT BLACKJACK BY ONLY COUNTING ACES? By Alan Krigman

"The most evident benefit of aces, arguably the most important, is their role in blackjacks. Everyone likes to get blackjacks. The worst they do is push if the dealer also lucks out and gets a blackjack. Otherwise, they win automatically and, most importantly, it pays 3-to-2 - a half-bet bonus..."

Read Krigman's complete article.

CAN A SERIOUS BLACKJACK PLAYER FIND HAPPINESS IN A CASINO ON A CRUISE SHIP? By Milton Benjamin

"The casino scene on cruise ships is changing rapidly, driven in part by the huge expansion of casinos that has taken place on land. Cruise lines today offer players clubs, free drinks, onboard comps, and even big cruise discounts. Several cruise lines are actively marketing to high-rollers (and not so high-rollers) willing to spend a few hours a day in their casinos..."

Read Benjamin's complete article.

ONE CRAZY DAY IN THE LIFE OF A PROFESSIONAL BLACKJACK PLAYER by Joe Pane

Read Pane's complete article.

THE INSIDE STORY OF FRANK SCOBLETE'S THE VIRGIN KISS AND OTHER ADVENTURE by Melissa Kaplan

"The Virgin Kiss is a real departure for you because it only has two chapters on casino gambling in it. Why did you [Frank Scoblete] write it?..."

Read Kaplan's complete article.

ATLANTIC CITY BLACKJACK REPORT by Alene and Frank Scoblete

"We are now in April and the boardwalk will start getting busier, especially during the week when the senior citizens start to shed their warm clothes and head for the shore. It seems the marketing departments of many of the boardwalk casinos have rediscovered the weekday slot crowd thanks to the new slot parlors in Pennsylvania taking a lot of slot play away from AC..."

Read Scobletes' complete article.

PLAYING AGAINST UNSKILLED TOURNAMENT PLAYERS by Kenneth Smith

"There are still plenty of inexperienced players at the tables in most events. This especially is the case when you attend an invitational event at a casino where you'll often find that much of the field has little, or no, tournament experience. These situations offer great opportunity for the skilled player, but it is important to note how your game plan should change..."

Read Smith's complete article.

THE BEAR GROWLS by LVBear

"Long-time Las Vegas-based advantage player, casino critic, and frequent BJ21.com contributor LVBear offers his opinions on things that sometimes go wrong in the world of casinos, and alos reviews the new movie '21'..."

Read LVBear's complete article.

ALL ABOUT POKER: PLAYING YOUR BEST GAME by Bill Burton

"Your game can also be affected by the play at the table. Some nights you will sit for hours folding hand after hand, while other players are winning with garbage. You may be tempted to start loosening up your standards for starting hands. Don't do it! When you do, you are getting away from your best game..."

Read Burton's complete article.

BLACKJACK TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Check out the schedule of major blackjack tournaments in April and May by region in our Blackjack Tournament Report.

Read our tournament schedule.