The Crux Blog: a blog about black jack.

It’s been a week and a half since I went to Vegas, tested out with a pro I look up to, had my first several back-offs, and crushed every session to finally fly out of a -$4,000 downswing. Looking back is both exciting and exhausting—but man, what a ride. I wasn’t sure if the test…

Here I am, losing hand after hand in an advantaged position. Next I’m slouched in a chair in the high limit room, splitting 10s three times and winning a $600 hand. Now I’m sitting in my local dive bar, tearing up. Not because I just lost 4k in 4 to 5 hours, but because I…

My girlfriend and I arrive at Ikeepforgettingtoredactthese Casino around 2:30 PM on a Saturday. We had just driven up from Phoenix—and man, what a drive it is. It starts in the open desert, dotted with thousands of towering saguaro cacti, then winds through mountain passes and valleys before delivering you, an hour later, into a…

It’s 10:30 PM, and my girlfriend just arrived at REdedacteddddd to play a few rounds. I’ve been eager for more practice, knowing more card counters are in town this weekend, so we’re slicing it short—quick hit and run. We just watched her brother graduate—an event full of names, fireworks, and confetti, which snapped me out…

I’ve had a hectic few weeks with work ramping up and a friend moving out of town. Still, I’ve managed to carve out time for blackjack practice, and I can feel the progress. My game is sharpening—decisions are becoming more instinctive. Most of my mistakes now happen when I drift off during simulations. Staying focused…

I strolled into No se at around 12:30 on a Sunday. The casino was active and the slot machines were singing their usual chaotic and whimsical songs. This place was huge, way bigger than I thought it was. These massive casino’s really are a labyrinth of neon and noise. I was looking a bit disheveled,…

I had the craziest, most positive variance and highest paid weekend of my life. I have no right to have earned as much as I did at the blackjack table in an hour and 7 minutes. I’m playing with an edge, but the cards have gone my way in a way that I just couldn’t…

My dad and I had to go up to Camp Verde this weekend to take care of some things around a ranch that we help manage. A few months ago, we had a blast playing some blackjack at the casino across the street, so now that I’ve been training to beat blackjack, I really wanted…

My brain is completely fried after a 3 to 4 hour training session with Peterbilt and another AP who is in town for work from Dallas. It was really fun meeting up with other players and dealing a few shoes. I was even able to keep the count while dealing for a while, which is…

I went to the casino last Friday at 2 a.m. and was shocked to see how packed it was. Every table was open with at least one player. I was surprised the casino was so alive. I had been hoping to get some heads-up (solo) time in, but that was impossible. The only empty table…