Wild Cards: A Year Counting Cards with a Professional Blackjack Player, a Priest

Description: Wild Cards by Philip Reed Philip Reed is coasting toward retirement, looking for one last adventure, when he meets Bill Palis, a professional blackjack player and former member of the legendary MIT team that took the casinos for millions.At a blackjack table in a strip casino, Phil sees Bill win $1,600 in 20 minutes of play-and hes intrigued. Initially, he plans to write the book as a spectator, but Bill encourages him to overcome his fears, learn to count cards, and get a piece of the action for himself. The two men form a friendship and begin traveling and playing blackjack together, often with Father Andy, who kicks in money so they can play out of a $30,000 bankroll.Phil, who has adult ADD, and flunked math in high school, adopts the challenge of card counting as a way to banish the old ghosts of his poor self-image and build new synapses in his aging brain. With Bill as his tough mentor, Phil struggles to learn the game and secretly track the cards. As Phils play improves, Bill teaches him to disguise his wins and avoid scrutiny from casino security and the Orwellian "eye-in-the-sky" security cameras.Philip Reed punctuates My Piece of the Action with short, funny, informational sections on various gambling-related subjects. These sections step outside the main story and add depth by investigating different card counting systems, the danger of gambling addiction, interviews with memory experts, and secrets of dealers, pit bosses, and casino surveillance specialists. Throughout, he takes a humorous look at casino characters, even as he begins to sink into the gambling world himself. FORMAT Hardcover LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Author Biography Philip Reed is the author of Free Throw, In Search of the Greatest Golf Swing, and four "car noir" thrillers. The first one, Bird Dog, was a nominee for the Edgar and Anthony Awards. Review "How Philip Reed managed to write a book about life, death, faith, family, and infinity while at the same time learning to count cards and beat the casinos, Ill never know. But he did, and its magnificent."-Martin J. Smith, author of The Wild Duck Chase, Oops, and Poplorica, as well as five novels, including Combustion"It sounds like an Elmore Leonard novel...a professional gambler, a sports writer, and a priest hit Vegas with a $30,000 bankroll. This is an exhilarating, wildly entertaining read that, as a bonus, will also teach you how to a win at the blackjack table. Theres no risk involved in gambling on this book... its a bet thats sure to pay-off."-Lee Goldberg, New York Times bestselling author of Adrian Monk mysteries and Fox & OHare thrillers"The best description of the rollercoaster life of a professional blackjack player. Reed makes you feel you are at the table with big money on the line. I will encourage my students to read this book." -Ted Baptista, Professional Blackjack Player and Instructor"How Philip Reed managed to write a book about life, death, faith, family, and infinity while at the same time learning to count cards and beat the casinos, Ill never know. But he did, and its magnificent."-Martin J. Smith, author of The Wild Duck Chase, Oops, and Poplorica, as well as five novels, including Combustion"It sounds like an Elmore Leonard novel...a professional gambler, a sports writer, and a priest hit Vegas with a $30,000 bankroll. This is an exhilarating, wildly entertaining read that, as a bonus, will also teach you how to a win at the blackjack table. Theres no risk involved in gambling on this book... its a bet thats sure to pay-off."-Lee Goldberg, New York Times bestselling author of Adrian Monk mysteries and Fox & OHare thrillers"The best description of the rollercoaster life of a professional blackjack player. Reed makes you feel you are at the table with big money on the line. I will encourage my students to read this book." -Ted Baptista, Professional Blackjack Player and Instructor Long Description Philip Reed is coasting toward retirement, looking for one last adventure, when he meets Bill Palis, a professional blackjack player and former member of the legendary MIT team that took the casinos for millions. At a blackjack table in a strip casino, Phil sees Bill win $1,600 in 20 minutes of play--and hes intrigued. Initially, he plans to write the book as a spectator, but Bill encourages him to overcome his fears, learn to count cards, and get a piece of the action for himself. The two men form a friendship and begin traveling and playing blackjack together, often with Father Andy, who kicks in money so they can play out of a $30,000 bankroll. Phil, who has adult ADD, and flunked math in high school, adopts the challenge of card counting as a way to banish the old ghosts of his poor self-image and build new synapses in his aging brain. With Bill as his tough mentor, Phil struggles to learn the game and secretly track the cards. As Phils play improves, Bill teaches him to disguise his wins and avoid scrutiny from casino security and the Orwellian "eye-in-the-sky" security cameras. Philip Reed punctuates My Piece of the Action with short, funny, informational sections on various gambling-related subjects. These sections step outside the main story and add depth by investigating different card counting systems, the danger of gambling addiction, interviews with memory experts, and secrets of dealers, pit bosses, and casino surveillance specialists. Throughout, he takes a humorous look at casino characters, even as he begins to sink into the gambling world himself. Review Quote "How Philip Reed managed to write a book about life, death, faith, family, and infinity while at the same time learning to count cards and beat the casinos, Ill never know. But he did, and its magnificent." -Martin J. Smith, author of The Wild Duck Chase , Oops , and Poplorica , as well as five novels, including Combustion "It sounds like an Elmore Leonard novel...a professional gambler, a sports writer, and a priest hit Vegas with a $30,000 bankroll. This is an exhilarating, wildly entertaining read that, as a bonus, will also teach you how to a win at the blackjack table. Theres no risk involved in gambling on this book... its a bet thats sure to pay-off." -Lee Goldberg, New York Times bestselling author of Adrian Monk mysteries and Fox & OHare thrillers "The best description of the rollercoaster life of a professional blackjack player. Reed makes you feel you are at the table with big money on the line. I will encourage my students to read this book." -Ted Baptista, Professional Blackjack Player and Instructor Details ISBN1634503406 Author Philip Reed Publisher Skyhorse Publishing Language English ISBN-10 1634503406 ISBN-13 9781634503402 Media Book Format Hardcover Year 2015 Imprint Skyhorse Publishing Place of Publication New York, NY Country of Publication United States Affiliation Britten-Pears Library, Aldeburgh, UK Subtitle A Year Counting Cards with a Professional Blackjack Player, a Priest, and a $30,000 Bankroll DEWEY 795.4092 Short Title WILD CARDS Pages 256 UK Release Date 2015-12-03 Publication Date 2015-12-03 NZ Release Date 2015-12-03 US Release Date 2015-12-03 Audience General AU Release Date 2015-11-16 We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:151665609;

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