Chapter Plus Eighteen
When we think of Blackjack teams, we generally think of the movie or book version where lots of spotters call an expert into a good table. There are three major versions:
Ø Big Player – This version is much like back-counting. Only the big player doesn’t perform the back-counting. He waits a short distance from the tables as spotters back-count and call in the BP when the count is high. Spotters either play for lower stakes or back-count and do not play. (Talk about a boring job.) Spotters signal the BP, a knowledgeable player, to a good table and signal the count when he enters. The big player knows how to count, play and when to leave.
Ø Gorilla – This version is very like the first, except that spotters bring in a not-so-knowledgeable high bettor and signal plays to him. The Gorilla does not know how to count and may take instructions on some plays.
Ø Shared Bankroll – Knowledgeable players that share a common bankroll, sometimes supplied by investors. They may play identically, or differently. They may be loosely connected or tightly managed. They may be straight counters, hole-carders, shuffle-trackers or use other advantage player techniques. They usually do not count in the same casino at the same time, but may use techniques more easily performed by pairs of players, or sometimes attack a particular casino promotion or weakness.
I will not be discussing the mechanics of team play in this book. The best source of information that I have found for team play is Rick Blaine’s Blackjack Blueprint. Also see Don Schlesinger’s Blackjack Attack.
© 2009 Norman Wattenberger
