anyone ever learned to count cards?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bringing_Down_the_House_(book)

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bringing_Down_the_House_(book)

Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six MIT Students Who Took Vegas for Millions (ISBN 0-7432-4999-2) is a book by Ben Mezrich about a group of MIT card counters and their MIT Blackjack Team.

The book's main character is Kevin Lewis, an MIT graduate who was invited to join the MIT Blackjack Team in 1993. The team was financed by a colorful character named Micky Rosa, who had organized a number of other teams to play the Vegas strip. This the new team was the most profitable yet. Personality conflicts and card counting deterrent efforts at the casinos eventually ended this incarnation of the MIT Blackjack Team. There is no record of Kevin Lewis in MIT.

 

I'm not say it isnt fake, but I did see an interview with the "main" guy on TechTV many months ago (before it was G4) and he made it seem that he did infact do everything that the book says..

 

Depending on the payout and rules of the particular BJ you play, your winning odd is about 47-48%. Depending the counting method you used, you gain maybe 2-3% advantage, assuming the dealer will deal to the last card, and they never do.
Counting only helps a little bit yet the house frowns upon it if they notice you counting. They can ask you to leave, thay can close the table, they can reshuffle after every hand. It happened to me.
BJ is your best game out there though. Over the years, I may break even in BJ and lose my shirt on other games.