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Thread: Looking for thoughts/opinions on Grifters Gambit system

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    Looking for thoughts/opinions on Grifters Gambit system

    Reading Zen Grifter Interview and came upon this 'system'. In short, play three hands at minimum bet until count goes up and then drop to one hand with a large bet. What's the thoughts of this? Has anyone tried it? What's your thoughts?

    You’ve pioneered an unusual betting scheme called the “Grifter’s Gambit.” Can you describe this method?Actually I didn’t pioneer the method, I revived it. It was first revealed as “Consolidation Betting” in Mason Malmuth’s Blackjack Essays, in 1985, with little fanfare. Malmuth advocated it as a form of apparent flat-betting for good single deck games. In 1998, George C. took a look at it after I requested he run a simulation. Initially he said it looked like “a stupid idea.” Then he simmed and refined it for quality 2-deck games and discovered it to be a powerful ploy, unknown to pit staffs and surveillance people. Malmuth deserves the credit but George C refined it and respectfully dubbed it “Grifter’s Gambit,” presumably because I rescued it from obscurity and had him run the sims.

    How does it work? Can you give an example?

    Ok, let’s say I’m playing a quality two-deck game, heads-up: In minus and neutral counts I bet three hands of one unit each. This eats cards fast in order to speed things along and get to the plus-deck situations quicker. At modest plus-counts I bet three units on one spot. I increase to five units on one spot in moderate plus-counts. In higher counts I bet one spot of seven units. Playing one spot in plus-counts helps preserve the rich portions longer. Per 100 rounds - not hands - the sim showed a gain of four units - with an apparent spread of three to seven units - just barely more than a 1-2 spread!

    For a good single deck game there can be a virtual flat-bet: in minus counts bet three spots of one unit, and in plus counts bet one spot of three or four units - this will yield a similar gain to a traditional 1-4 spread BUT with higher variance. However, because the minimum bet is 3 x 1 unit, the comps are much better. One other thing: you must be playing alone at the table if it’s single deck or with no more than one other at a double decker.

  2. #2
    Senior Member Gramazeka's Avatar
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    Why not split the cards with the dealer on negative EV ? I think that with this strategy we win in speed, but we lose EV.
    Last edited by Gramazeka; 10-17-2021 at 02:49 PM.
    "Don't Cast Your Pearls Before Swine" (Jesus)

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    Quote Originally Posted by Gramazeka View Post
    Why not split the cards with the dealer on negative EV ? I think that with this strategy we win in speed, but we lose EV.

    First, you need to find a casino that will accept min bets (not 2x, but 1x) on 3 spots. Otherwise the gambit is mute as you would be playing 6x v 3x in order to get to the goodies. Now. If you can find one, looks like some merit.

    Assuming 4 units won per 100 hands with would translate to higher units per hour. Gambit looks great on single, think you need higher soread on double deck

    Gee, wonder if this one gets deleted too.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Freightman View Post
    the gambit is mute
    It's moot, as well.

    You're welcome, Don.

  5. #5
    Random number herder Norm's Avatar
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    Would it have been better if the "gambiter", to coin, had been mute.
    Last edited by Norm; 10-17-2021 at 05:25 PM.
    "I don't think outside the box; I think of what I can do with the box." - Henri Matisse

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    Quote Originally Posted by 21forme View Post
    It's moot, as well.

    You're welcome, Don.
    Busy watching football. Winced when I saw it, then saw your post and smiled.

    Don
    Last edited by DSchles; 10-18-2021 at 10:56 AM.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Freightman View Post
    First, you need to find a casino that will accept min bets (not 2x, but 1x) on 3 spots.
    No. Only related to YOUR min bet, not table min bet.
    G Man

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    Senior Member bigplayer's Avatar
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    It works but the games it used to work on pretty much no longer exist except in rare circumstances. Tied in with Card Eating.

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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