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This past weekend I went to see Kevin Spacey’s new movie: 21

This is something that I had heard about for several years, it is based on a book called “Bringing down the house” The story is about how some students from MIT made millions of dollars at Casino Black Jack tables, using a mathematical skill called card counting.

To my understanding card counting is a system where you count ones, zeros = negative ones (1, 0 and -1) in rapid succession based upon the face values of the cards that are dealt at a blackjack table. If done properly you can have about a 10 percent advantage over the house. Usually the lower cards will have the value of 1 so, if more low cards are dealt first then your tally will be higher and this means you will have a mathematical advantage over the house. This is not as easy as you think, because not only do you have to know how to count very fast, you also have to have very good eye sight and coordination. Also this is something that Casino owners do not like, and I don’t blame them. Nobody like you to did into their own profits.

Another way that you can make money using statistical calculations is if you are trading in the Stock markets or Forex markets. There is actually software that you can legally use to help you predict exactly when a stock price is going to rise or fall based upon past chart trends, statistical analysis and current buying and selling pressures. I once used a program called Wizetrade that did exactly that. The program does really work, however you have to be very disciplined and follow the training and rules exactly. I also think that the market makers just like the casino operators will find ways to make you overlook your programs recommendations and instead make you interested in buying a stock that does not meet the current criteria recommended by the software program or rules.

I remember falling for these stocks and they caused me to loose money. Other users that were more disciplined did not touch those stocks, so they made the money while I was loosing it.

As for card counting, I only find it interesting to learn or be aware of, but I would never use it in a real live casino. I do not want to get beat up by angry casino security personnel. If I ever play blackjack in a casino I will just play once for fun only.

I really love movies that are of this type and which involve really smart people, and 21 is definitely that type of movie. Some other movies that I enjoyed that are also of this intellectual type are “The Game” with Michael Douglas and “A Beautiful Mind”