Goodfella: Cheat Card

[Goodfella]

A newbie is allowed by casinos to use a basic strategy "cheat card", sold in most sundry shops.

What if I create and use a "cheat card", that looks like the plastic basic strategy card. However, my card has playing strategy numbers, for the counting strategy I am using.

Should the pit yank it from my hand, inspect it, and find out it has strategy numbers on it, I understandably might be barred.

But, can they cuff me? Is this a crime, since counting is not a crime in Vegas?

I am planning to do this, so long as it is not a crime.

Should I consult a lawyer before doing this to be safe?

[SOTSOG]

It is common practice for pit bosses to ask and look at the basic strategy cards people are using at the tables. (for just the reason you are thinking -- but I think they also get a kick out of all the bad cards that are out there)

Technically, a card could be considered a 'device' and hence illegal, although they let it slide if it is indeed a regular basic strategy card. There have been cases were people have been asked not use those, but probably more due to them slowing down the game than anything.

You probably won't get handcuffed or arrested, but you certainly will get barred. Just memorize the damm numbers -- if you aren't at that point, you need more practice.

[Parker]

First the legal part. The relevant Nevada Gaming Statute states:

"It is unlawful for any person at a licensed gaming establishment to use, or possess with the intent to use, any device to assist in projecting the outcome of the game."

The penalty for the first offense is 1 to 10 years, up to $10,000, or both. The second offense includes mandatory imprisonment.

If that sounds awfully vague, it is. It seems to me that just about anything could be considered a "device" if the casino wanted to call it that. They won't say anything about a basic strategy card, since many casinos sell them in their gift shops.

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer.

Anyway, put aside the legal question and just think about it. You are holding a 12 vs dealer 6 and the count is negative. You consult your little card and, seeing that the count is below the index, you signal for a hit. The pit critter has been watching this, and now is very curious as to just what sort of basic strategy card you have.

From here things cannot possibly go anywhere but downhill.

Bottom line: Fuggadaboudit and spend a few hours memorizing indices.

[Dancer]

> A newbie is allowed by casinos to use a
> basic strategy "cheat card", sold
> in most sundry shops.

> What if I create and use a "cheat
> card", that looks like the plastic
> basic strategy card. However, my card has
> playing strategy numbers, for the counting
> strategy I am using.

> Should the pit yank it from my hand, inspect
> it, and find out it has strategy numbers on
> it, I understandably might be barred.

> But, can they cuff me? Is this a crime,
> since counting is not a crime in Vegas?

> I am planning to do this, so long as it is
> not a crime.

> Should I consult a lawyer before doing this
> to be safe?

Why not just tattoo all the strategy numbers on your forearm. That should at least help you get around the "device" law.

Seriously, how lazy can you be? As SOTSOG and Parker alluded to earlier, does it really take that much effort to learn 18 numbers?

Still too tough? You can get better than 50% of all the benefits of BS departures by learning just 3 numbers.

[Viktor Nacht]

on ignoring the other good advice in this thread, the other option is create two cards, one w/ indices and a [nearly] identical number without. Keep them in separate pockets. If the boss ever asks to see it, give them the BS chart. This only works if you reference the chart quickly.

This is how others before you have done it. But you are much better off memorizing a few index numbers (the ones you're most likely to use, i.e. 0, 1, 2, etc), play with those for awhile, and then learn a few more.

[Hip Hip]

Make your own BS card but do not put any index numbers on it. You could put some sort of small irregularity to represent the index number. Similar to marking a deck of cards. You could use different fonts to represent different index numbers or position the BS letter differently in it's square. Small voids in the print pattern would be easy for you to see but difficult for the pit, again similar to marking cards. The possibilities are infinite and would be easy to accomplish with any photoshop type application.

Hip Hop

> A newbie is allowed by casinos to use a
> basic strategy "cheat card", sold
> in most sundry shops.

> What if I create and use a "cheat
> card", that looks like the plastic
> basic strategy card. However, my card has
> playing strategy numbers, for the counting
> strategy I am using.

> Should the pit yank it from my hand, inspect
> it, and find out it has strategy numbers on
> it, I understandably might be barred.

> But, can they cuff me? Is this a crime,
> since counting is not a crime in Vegas?

> I am planning to do this, so long as it is
> not a crime.

> Should I consult a lawyer before doing this
> to be safe?