Sorry if this is a dumb question but that is why I am posting on the beginner's page. When reading posts on the main forum, I notice that when folks do computer simulations of various strategies, upwards of one billion hand might be simulated. That makes sense to me because one then eliminates the effects of variance and arrives at the long-term EV for that situation. How can I reconcile that with stories I read about the MIT teams, etc. who essentially "plunder" the casinos in a short time. I understand that variance can be decreased by team play and multiple hands, but I still don't understand how these big score stories that I often read about are truly "advantaged" and not just gambling in the short term. It would seem to me that the long-term would be much longer than hitting Vegas on weekends for six months. Hopefully, this is an appropriate question and I thank you for any comments in advance.