INTERNATIONAL BLACKJACK CLUB

In the early seventies, I found myself meeting a number of other serious players. There was no pattern or purpose; we just met through mutual interests, friends, at conferences, or by noticing each other using similar methods at the tables. Stories were eagerly passed around about how particular players did and about what playing conditions were at the popular casinos. I found these discussions immensely valuable, particularly when the infor-mation covered changes in rules or suspicions of cheating at vari-ous casinos.

But I was frustrated at the lack of real details or any assurance that the stories were reliable. There was no method of com-munication on a regular basis that was detailed or accurate. In fact, there was no communications of any type except for players' paths crossing randomly. These are the reasons I decided to found the International Blackjack Club (IBC).

The IBC was designed to provide a central source for playing information and answers to questions, the club newsletter. The IBC Newsletter currently comes out four times per year and con tains the latest facts and news about Blackjack from member and myself. For example, the early-surrender Basic Strategy giver in Chapter Six first appeared in the newsletter. Member com-ments are passed on as well as general news of the game. Over thE first four years of its publication, the newsletter published report; of player surveys showing winning and losing session results. Th( goal was to determine if there were significant differences fron casino to casino in skilled-player win rates.

The surveys indicated a wide variety of card-counter win rate: over hundreds of sessions. Unfortunately, there seemed to be nc year-to-year consistency. A casino would be very highly rated, ther appear in the bottom ten the following year. Most serious player: now track casino playing conditions and rule variations. Thesc factors are the most important in choosing a casino in which tc play.

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