walker: MIT SEMINAR--last time

[walker]

I reside near the Los Angeles area and have seen posts regarding the MIT blackjack seminar. It will be taking place in the Los Angeles area this month, and I was wondering about any final thoughts from anyone who has attend it in the last year, other than those remarks already made. I need to solidify a commitment to go or not to go, as an intermediate player. Especially at the price of $800 for a weekend.

Thanks.

[Viktor Nacht]

For half of $800 you could spend a lot less money on books and software that would teach you far more and make you much more money in the long run. It doesn't matter if you get them from me or someone else, just get Professional Blackjack, Blackjack Attack, The Shuffle Tracker's Cookbook, and all of Norm's software. With these 7 products you will easily achieve a greater level of technical skills than from one of these seminars.

Further, although I can't be specific, you'll just have to trust me that you SHOULD NOT be seen at one of these seminars if you intend to become a serious player.

Good Cards,

V

[Norm Wattenberger]

If anyone hasn't seen it, Breaking Vegas, about the MIT teams, will be rerun twice Wednesday on the History Channel.

BJStats

[SOTSOG]

"Just get Professional Blackjack, Blackjack Attack, The Shuffle Tracker's Cookbook, and all of Norm's software."

Then just add a month or two to read and digest, and another month or two to practice -- AND YOU WILL BE FEARED BY THE CASINOS!

Plus you will have over $400 in bankroll you wouldn't have by paying for the seminar. (which how much are you going to absorb in a weekend -- and do you think you still aren't going to have to practice your skills?)

[Sun Runner]

> .. which how much are you going to absorb in a weekend --

Alot -assuming the material is good, the instructors are good, and the information relevant and current.

> .. and do you think you still aren't going to have to practice your skills?

Who said that!? I'm sure they don't.

If I was playing to a large BR .. say $20K or better .. and the course was relevant and timely; $800 would be a bargain.

Revere was probably charging the equivalent of that back in the day and I imagine those that paid for the right to get hustled at his kitchen table would not trade the lessons learned for $800 today.

Now, VN's earlier warning to stay away would give me pause for investigation and maybe a private conversation with him regarding security issues would keep me away.

But dismissing out of hand a seminar that costs $800, only because it costs $800, is short sighted.

[98%]

> But dismissing out of hand a seminar that
> costs $800, only because it costs $800, is
> short sighted.

That's not why the seminar would be dismissed. The point is that all of the information that will be presented in that seminar can easily be learned on one's own by buying about 3 good blackjack books (take your pick) and making an effort to learn everything contained within them. If you had to choose between a Hershey Bar in a pretty wrapper for $10 or a Hershey Bar in the plain old brown and foil wrapper for $1, which would it be?

Blackjack is not rocket science; you don't need to labor under the tutelage of so-called masters to get your game to a level where you are beating casinos for a good return. I liken these MIT seminars to the various seminars and programs advertised on infomercials at 3:00 in the morning. These are aimed at people who want a quick and easy "system" to make money, be it in real estate, on ebay or at the blackjack tables. As a general rule, seminars and miracle systems are a way to package and sell information which can readily be found in books for free at the library or for $20 from your favorite retailer.

There is a psychological element to this as well. If you're not enough of a self-starter to master the game of blackjack without resorting to turning to authorities to give you overpriced lessons, you probably don't have what it takes to succeed for very long in advantage gambling.

The message to which this response is posted is entitled 'It's all about goals,' and that is the truth. If being a professional or even long-term recreational advantage player is among your goals, then step one is learning how to get the most out of your $800. Participating in an overpriced seminar from yesteryear's most highly publicized "masters" is not in keeping with this goal.