Interview with Author of "BlackJack Domination" Part 2

This is part two (see part one here) of an interview with Derek Sutta, author of the ebook ‘BlackJack Domination’ which is a fully comprehensive and interactive guide to learning to count cards. Co-authored by an MIT wizard who has been the main inspiration for several casino films and a blackjack player who has won over $100,000 in blackjack at casinos to date.

Derek has helped run a startup, completed an MBA, worked in strategy consulting and now works in business development.

This part of the interview focuses more on releasing an ebook and card counting in general.

1. What gave you the idea of creating a card counting book?

We knew our blackjack careers were limited so it was sort of a way to live on in the community. We had done some stuff we thought was unique and we wanted to share it with people and for people to understand a) how easy it is to learn card counting, b) how much fun it is and c) we just thought everyone could have a piece of it. We thought it was chronically unfair that not everyone was able to do it and found it daunting!

2. Why did you decide to release it as an ebook?

If you look online there are tons of paper books and we wanted to stand out. This stuff can be tough to learn and if you look at the material in our ebook there’s markups, flash cards, photos, videos and all these different things that kind of made the book come to life.

Instead of doing it the old school way like you would have in high school it's all in one nice, interactive place and you’re not just reading several hundred pages of text. Not only are you learning but we’re also sharing cool videos and techniques such as how you count aces with your chips and all kind of visual tricks.

3. What was it like to make a book solely for digital release knowing that this book cannot be done in a print version unlike most others?

The main difference is it’s more like writing a movie and you have to visualize how it’s going to be laid out. You try not to double-count content and you have to take a bit of a leap of faith just as if you were a director. You have to understand the big picture and not just micro manage each individual chapter.

4. Do you think digital learning and ebooks are the future of learning or do you think there will always be a place for old-fashioned print?

As this generation is a lot more digital than even mine (and I’m not that old!) and they’re a lot more accustomed to tablets and taking notes on a computer whereas I’m used to taking notes by hand and that wasn’t even that long ago. Now you’ve got iPads in high schools and the digital revolution is happening quicker than I thought. I think there’ll always be a place for it just because people do learn that way but I think as people become more accustomed to digital content, print will phase out but it’s going to take a long time and be generational.

5. How hard is it to learn to count cards at a level where it makes a difference to your game?

I would say there’s two main things you have to think about. One would be do you have the pure balls to sit down and count cards knowing that you are nervous and betting on yourself. The other is just your ability to do the math and follow it along. For me it was a three week commitment and then I was confident to bet on myself and had faith in the system. It’ll vary by person but if you can do math and you believe in yourself then it could be a relatively quick and easy process.

6. Do you consider poker and blackjack to be gambling or do you think its possible to stack the odds enough in your favour that you can have an edge and make considerable money from it over the long term?

With blackjack the odds are in your favour if you count cards correctly so definitely yes there. With poker there are people who are consistently at the final table in the WSOP and make a living off of it so they must have a way to do it but mathematically its not the same as poker because you’re playing the player rather than the numbers.

7. Is card counting in a casino worth the risk?

Theres no real risk in the US. They’re public companies and aren’t going to do anything to you, you’re not going to be taken out back and have your legs broken. Some international areas have zero tolerance for card counting so I’d stay away from there but the US is fine. They will politely ask you to leave and that’s it. I’ve had it done to me countless times and I have a perfectly normal life and family. If you want to do it your position is perfectly good.

I’m still allowed in casinos but not to play blackjack in most. I draw the line at a fake moustache and sunglasses haha. After this book I think blackjack in casinos is basically over for me.

8. How does card counting actually work if they shuffle the deck?

There are different rule variations and you have to find games with good rules, usually the more casinos around you the better rules there are. Somewhere like a cruise ship will probably have bad rules.

One of those rules is shuffling, if it’s constant shuffling you can’t count cards, its impossible. The book teaches you to look out for these rule variations which can either help you or make it completely impossible. Vegas, Atlantic City etc. have them. When you find the right game and casino you can count whenever you want.

For example if you see something that says “Blackjack pays 6/5” instead of 3/2, that rule change alone has made it very difficult for you. They now have a 1.5% greater advantage by going from 3/2 to 6/5

[ Author Note – I want to say a huge thank you to Derek for taking the time to do this interview. It was great fun to do and very insightful!. I hope you all enjoy it. Make sure to check out the book at http://openairpub.com/book/blackjack-domination ]

 

Fugiat ut maiores dignissimos excepturi accusantium quo quia. Omnis natus voluptatum architecto perferendis modi ab. Numquam omnis repudiandae quibusdam est repudiandae ullam. Provident distinctio at architecto perspiciatis. Eaque ullam harum nobis error voluptas dolor. Voluptatem nihil cupiditate maxime perferendis sequi aliquam ut.

Totam qui dolorem distinctio error nostrum dolore nostrum dolorem. Repellat sit beatae voluptas. Culpa in consequatur possimus voluptatum iure quibusdam.

Career Advancement Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. (++) 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (13) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (202) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (144) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”