games and gaming

I've probably told this online before, but it bears repeating here. About twenty years ago I was in Vegas playing poker, and killed some time over at Caesar's Palace at a blackjack table. It was about three in the morning and I was the only one playing. It was a three-deck game.

My basic bet was $10, the minimum. I'd go up to $20 and $30 when the count was good (that is, when the percentage of face cards, tens, and aces dealt had declined sufficiently to tip the odds in favor of the player...