This Man Won $15M at Blackjack, How Did He Do It?

**Blitzkrieg** · 01-21-2014, 07:48 PM

I heard about this story in 2012 from multiple sources. I am sure this will enlighten you on just how, he did it. http://scoblete.casinocitytimes.com/...lackjack-61224 Enjoy.

**ico2525** · 01-21-2014, 08:08 PM

and a small 1-4x spread goes a long way when getting a 20% loss rebate

**Blitzkrieg** · 01-21-2014, 08:21 PM

Who knows what kind of spread Johnson used but with a 20% rebate on losses I would have to agree with Skinny's thinking in that he probably would not have to use a spread to leave the game a winner and just play proper basic strategy.

**Blitzkrieg** · 01-21-2014, 08:48 PM

Another article on the subject... http://www.bjinsider.com/newsletter_138_rebate.shtml

**RustyNCrusty** · 01-21-2014, 09:29 PM

Blitzkreig.

Thanks for the citations, great explanations - yes, per session loss rebate appears to have been the core strat....makes sense. Re: Johnson's misdirect on dealer mistakes...yeah, all we need is porn stars to accompany us so we can make millions by cap'g on dealer mistakes....geeez!

**Three** · 01-22-2014, 04:37 AM

Originally Posted by Blitzkrieg

Who knows what kind of spread Johnson used but with a 20% rebate on losses I would have to agree with Skinny's thinking in that he probably would not have to use a spread to leave the game a winner and just play proper basic strategy.

I heard he flat bet $200K 6 spots when good and used others to come join the table and play small when not good while he still bet $200K a hand but fewer spots. It has been a while since I read the article and discussed it with people that knew more than those that wrote the article so fuzzy memory. Basically it looked like he had no spread to the uninitiated but he was getting more money out when it was good and less money when not good. He also had a more agressive quitting goal. The important part wasn't that he could claim a rebate and start a new one immediately but how quickly the rebate reset while winning. If he was ahead $2,000,000 he didn't have to wait months before he could get the rebate without losing $2,500,000. It would reset to a 0 win in a short time.

**ZenMaster_Flash** · 01-22-2014, 07:38 AM

He never had anyone else playing at the same table.

The rebate was on a session to session basis, but he

allowed a lot of time between sessions, e.g. a month.

**muffdiver** · 01-22-2014, 08:09 AM

I'd like to see bigplayer and KJ weigh in on this. Guys?

**ohbehave** · 01-22-2014, 08:43 AM

Was it said in the program that he flat bet? I only saw half the show but I heard him mention 75k bets I think.

Did he play pitch games or shoe?

He steered his answers regarding skill toward rules and dealer error. No doubt to avoid discussion of playing skill.

**RustyNCrusty** · 01-22-2014, 09:27 AM

At one point he said they had agreed he'd wager $5k on 3 spots and later in the show he said he could place $75k bets. So, that sounds like $15k min to a $75k max, for a 1-5 spread. That might mean he was not flat betting (?) and that seems to imply that he was counting at times to spread. Also, love to know if he negotiated a PEN, or were his "stars" distracting the dealer on cutoffs? But, still speculating a bit on the total strategy employed...nevertheless props to him for puling this off.

**muffdiver** · 01-22-2014, 09:31 AM

Originally Posted by ohbehave

Was it said in the program that he flat bet? I only saw half the show but I heard him mention 75k bets I think.

Did he play pitch games or shoe?

He steered his answers regarding skill toward rules and dealer error. No doubt to avoid discussion of playing skill.

For the short time that it supposedly took him to win the millions, it wasn't simply because he knew the count at all times. We surely know that!!!

**ZenMaster_Flash** · 01-22-2014, 11:29 AM

So … I watched the show.

As I had expected, Don Johnson distorted the facts numerous times.

e.g. his bankroll statement of $400,000 was off by about 2 orders of magnitude.

The producers were almost as bad.

e.g. stating that "the moves" on a basic strategy card are "not" permitted by casinos.

Much of the show was focused on the marketing of casinos to lure big players.

**Jabberwocky** · 01-22-2014, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by ZenMaster_Flash

So … I watched the show.
As I had expected, Don Johnson distorted the facts numerous times.

e.g. his bankroll statement of $400,000 was off by about 2 orders of magnitude.

The producers were almost as bad.

e.g. stating that "the moves" on a basic strategy card are "not" permitted by casinos.

Much of the show was focused on the marketing of casinos to lure big players.

Oila!