"21" the movie-how realistic is it?

[KarenB]

Just got back from seeing "21." I was wondering if this could really happen? If it was as easy as the movie made it, I would think that there would be a run of college kids going to Vegas to try it out. But then, they would have to come up with the money to to get there and play with which was thousands in the movie. Plus, wouldn't the casinos put up a big stink about the movie???

I liked it, but am very curious about the entire concept of counting cards and mathematically playing the game.

Share your thoughts!!
Karen

 

[lovemygoofy]

I haven't seen the movie but I thought it was a true story. Counting cards is done by alot of people but very few can do it successfully.

 

[Papa Deuce]

The movie is based on MIT students who did just that, several years ago. There was also a book about it.

 

[pepperw23]

I think lovemygoofy is right. It think it is based on some college kids in the 70's.

 

[KarenB]

Has anyone read the book? I just looked at it on amazon, but I am afraid I may not enjoy it as much since I saw the movie. I put it in my cart though!!

 

[Paull117]

It is based off a true story, how realistic is it? It really depends on everything, there is so much going in a casino you would not be able to keep count. Also the average person does not have a bank roll to support it and to build it up would take years.

Paul

 

[Stacerita]

It is based on a true events. Real MIT students did have a system in which the did card counting. There was a book about it and they were also on one of the shows like 20/20 or 60 minutes. Could someone do that today in Vegas? Probably not. But could someone do it on a smaller scale? I think so.

 

[timmac]

Just got back from seeing "21." I was wondering if this could really happen? If it was as easy as the movie made it, I would think that there would be a run of college kids going to Vegas to try it out. But then, they would have to come up with the money to to get there and play with which was thousands in the movie. Plus, wouldn't the casinos put up a big stink about the movie???

I liked it, but am very curious about the entire concept of counting cards and mathematically playing the game.

Share your thoughts!!
Karen

Yes, it's very realistic, and it happened. Haven't seen the movie yet, but have read about the story behind it many times, and it was very real.

Card counting in the game of blackjack can absolutely be done, even by a novice player. Doing it successfully with all of the distractions around you, takes some measure of practice and is much harder to master. Doing it without them catching on to you is another matter as well.

 

[wvrevy]

Basically, all there is to card counting is keeping a running count, positive or negative, of how the deck is spitting out cards. Lots of low cards still in the deck = bad for the player; lots of high cards still in the deck = good for the player. Start at zero, and subtract one for every 10,J,Q,K, or Ace played, and add one for every 2,3,4,5, or 6. 7's, 8's, and 9's don't affect the count. The higher the count goes (which means more low cards played than high cards), the better it is for the player, as it becomes more likely the dealer will bust on any given hand.

That's really all there is to it. Over a large number of hands, simply doing this and betting more based on the count will eventually win you more money than you lose. It tips the balance in favor of the player rather than the casino, but only so much that it does always work, but not always in the short term.

Card counting isn't illegal, but it is very much discouraged by the casinos and if you're caught they will kick you out. Generally speaking, it's the varying bets that get people caught, which is why the MIT team used signals to bring high stakes bettors to the hot tables.

The History Channel did a documentary on the kids that were part of the MIT Team. They made a TON of money, but eventually everyone got a little too greedy (and a little too recognizable in casinos around the country and even overseas) and things fell apart. But the system worked...no doubt about that.

 

[crazyforgoofy]

Basically, all there is to card counting is keeping a running count, positive or negative, of how the deck is spitting out cards. Lots of low cards still in the deck = bad for the player; lots of high cards still in the deck = good for the player. Start at zero, and subtract one for every 10,J,Q,K, or Ace played, and add one for every 2,3,4,5, or 6. 7's, 8's, and 9's don't affect the count. The higher the count goes (which means more low cards played than high cards), the better it is for the player, as it becomes more likely the dealer will bust on any given hand.

That's really all there is to it. Over a large number of hands, simply doing this and betting more based on the count will eventually win you more money than you lose. It tips the balance in favor of the player rather than the casino, but only so much that it does always work, but not always in the short term.

Card counting isn't illegal, but it is very much discouraged by the casinos and if you're caught they will kick you out. Generally speaking, it's the varying bets that get people caught, which is why the MIT team used signals to bring high stakes bettors to the hot tables.

The History Channel did a documentary on the kids that were part of the MIT Team. They made a TON of money, but eventually everyone got a little too greedy (and a little too recognizable in casinos around the country and even overseas) and things fell apart. But the system worked...no doubt about that.

revy, as usual you are a fountain of information. I'll bet you win when you play Trivial Pursuit. Thanks.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Has anyone read the book? I just looked at it on amazon, but I am afraid I may not enjoy it as much since I saw the movie. I put it in my cart though!!

I got it for Christmas a year or two ago -- it's a quick read, but really good.

As Wvrevy said, the History Channel did a really good documentary on them as well. They're not the only blackjack team in history, but they were widely considered the best ever.

I did, however, read that the movie is a "loosely" adapted version of the book, so if you want a more realistic story, read the book.

 

[suzimar57]

we saw "21", and i read the book a few years ago - plus the History Channel had a 2 hour special on last weekend about the actual MIT students and teacher involved with this "team" (some had blacked-out faces!) - the movie took some liberty with what really happened, but based on truth

 

[Castlebound]

Like everyone else said it is based on a true story. I have even met one of the men who was involved in it.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Basically, all there is to card counting is keeping a running count, positive or negative, of how the deck is spitting out cards. Lots of low cards still in the deck = bad for the player; lots of high cards still in the deck = good for the player. Start at zero, and subtract one for every 10,J,Q,K, or Ace played, and add one for every 2,3,4,5, or 6. 7's, 8's, and 9's don't affect the count. The higher the count goes (which means more low cards played than high cards), the better it is for the player, as it becomes more likely the dealer will bust on any given hand.

Uh, revy? Moe Green's on the phone...he'd like a word.