Post about BJ and Combinatorial Calculator Hardware

[ummagumma]

Inspired by Counting_Is_Fun here is a question I have for those with more knowledge than me.


Back in the 90s I bought a BJ 'computer' called Casey from a guy in California. It was embedded in some plastic shit with loads of wires to buttons that could be pressed either by my feet (I also bought his custom made black hollowed out shoes to take the buttons) or my hands. I used them extensively at home to practice but I found the whole kit too unwieldy to use in a casino. I'm based in the UK and they didn't have the same laws as in the US in those days. Anyway, while it was fun to use I gather the algo behind the kit was nothing more than simple counting and a good look-up table for strategy.

Counting will never be as accurate as Combinatorial Analysis and I wonder if anyone knows if there's been a similar device made using CA commercially, or anywhere in fact. I would have assumed there would be especially as all the code for the analysis is readily available online and tech has moved on substantially since the 90s.

I'd be really interested in getting hold of one.

Thanks

[DSchles]

Inspired by Counting_Is_Fun here is a question I have for those with more knowledge than me.


Back in the 90s I bought a BJ 'computer' called Casey from a guy in California. It was embedded in some plastic shit with loads of wires to buttons that could be pressed either by my feet (I also bought his custom made black hollowed out shoes to take the buttons) or my hands. I used them extensively at home to practice but I found the whole kit too unwieldy to use in a casino. I'm based in the UK and they didn't have the same laws as in the US in those days. Anyway, while it was fun to use I gather the algo behind the kit was nothing more than simple counting and a good look-up table for strategy.

Counting will never be as accurate as Combinatorial Analysis and I wonder if anyone knows if there's been a similar device made using CA commercially, or anywhere in fact. I would have assumed there would be especially as all the code for the analysis is readily available online and tech has moved on substantially since the 90s.

I'd be really interested in getting hold of one.

Thanks

Casey was the third in a line of concealed computers that began with Keith Taft's George and then David. Casey was a knockoff and wasn't produced by Keith. See here: https://www.gamblingsites.org/biographies/keith-taft/

To my knowledge, there haven't been any commercially sold ones since then, because it's a felony to use them in the U.S., and the extra edge they give isn't worth spending the rest of your life in jail.

Don

[ummagumma]

Casey was the third in a line of concealed computers that began with Keith Taft's George and then David. Casey was a knockoff and wasn't produced by Keith. See here: https://www.gamblingsites.org/biographies/keith-taft/

To my knowledge, there haven't been any commercially sold ones since then, because it's a felony to use them in the U.S., and the extra edge they give isn't worth spending the rest of your life in jail.

Don

OK. Thanks for the info. However, a combinatorial calculator (rather than a simplistic count system) surely gives a significant advantage over counting ? Or am I wrong in my assumption ?

[beating vegas]

Casey was the third in a line of concealed computers that began with Keith Taft's George and then David. Casey was a knockoff and wasn't produced by Keith. See here: https://www.gamblingsites.org/biographies/keith-taft/

To my knowledge, there haven't been any commercially sold ones since then, because it's a felony to use them in the U.S., and the extra edge they give isn't worth spending the rest of your life in jail.

Don

I thought George was a Shuffle tracking computer.

[DSchles]

OK. Thanks for the info. However, a combinatorial calculator (rather than a simplistic count system) surely gives a significant advantage over counting ? Or am I wrong in my assumption ?

For shoe games, mostly wrong in your assumption.

Don

[frankthegypsy]

excluding methods with a high advantage (hole carding, ace sequencing) I cant imagine someone having to fiddle around with a physical interface attached to an arduino board hidden on their body could be more effective than a well-trained and practiced AP. having to manually enter every card, then wait to interpret a response from the device on how to play seems like a huge and unnecessary waste of time.

[DSchles]

excluding methods with a high advantage (hole carding, ace sequencing) I cant imagine someone having to fiddle around with a physical interface attached to an arduino board hidden on their body could be more effective than a well-trained and practiced AP. having to manually enter every card, then wait to interpret a response from the device on how to play seems like a huge and unnecessary waste of time.

Got him in the Blackjack Hall of Fame.

Don

[frankthegypsy]

Got him in the Blackjack Hall of Fame.

Don

True.
Pioneers of any field are often immortalized and revered by their peers. I'll admit, the novelty of a pair of fancy wired-up card counting shoes earns him his spot regardless. However, I doubt even a modern implementation would be able to keep up, given the leaps and bounds taken in advantage play since then. The human mind is really without rival.

[Freightman]

True.
Pioneers of any field are often immortalized and revered by their peers. I'll admit, the novelty of a pair of fancy wired-up card counting shoes earns him his spot regardless. However, I doubt even a modern implementation would be able to keep up, given the leaps and bounds taken in advantage play since then. The human mind is really without rival.

Speaking of deadly shoes

https://youtu.be/m-ZjldsoyAs