About 25 months ago I was fed up with being broke. I was sick and tired of hearing and witnessing about people making a killing in the stock market or real estate when I was working harder and earning less than anyone I knew. I was living in a dark, dirty, and noise apartment. I was eating "Numen" noodle while listening to the news men talk about "the booming economy", the "skyrocketing Dow Jones Index" and the stock price. I felt like opportunity was passing me by. But there was something out there for me and if I could somehow get just a small break, I too could start enjoying the good life.

On Wednesday April 8th my break finally happened. I was remodeling an old home in Missouri during the night and weekend, and working in a university lab during the day. I had nearly been evicted from my apartment because I forgot to pay my rent while I was working very hard day in and day out. While standing on the termites damaged roof, I was so nervous and my legs was shaking. Finally, I decided to write down a list of material things that I wanted in life: a new car (I just couldn't tolerate the smell in my 1982 Sunbird), a nice house (not this one I was repairing for) and a saving account. That day at work, I was so tired, I took a short break and sitting at the front of the house and I didn't notice the man who had been there watching for me. Instead, he asked me what I was working on. I explained to him that I was writing down my goals in life and someday I was going to be living the good life. He smiled and introduced himself as John or Jone (I can't remember) and left with a junk mail in my ugly, rotted mailbox hunging at front of the vinyl siding of the house.

I usually didn't read junk mail, but I did that day. I opened the letter, it was a chain letter everybody knew for years. I felt so sad since it said if you didn't sent out copies of the letter to 10 different people, I might have some trouble. Well, it did trouble me overnight, I lost my sleep. For my biggest surprise, I got some new idea based on that chain letter, I couldn't wait the day break. That idea is "How To Play Blackjack" in the casino, which I failed couple of times at Atlantic City, especially at Trump (TAJ MAHAL) Casino. In order to test it to see if it works, I would have had to miss work. I hardly slept at all that night, I made the decision that I would sacrifice my much-needed day at work for a shot to make dreams come true.

I drove so fast and arrived STATION CASINO at St. Charles 45 minutes early before it opened. I was amazed at the lavish decoration at there, where I misregarded as a shopping mall before, although I had passed by Missouri River dozens of times. There were pictures of celebrities holding a hand of Blackjack cards, including that girl in the movie "Love Story", it is so impressive. I couldn't believe I came to this kind of place in the early morning. I got so sick for that 45 minutes waiting since I wanted to test my BLACKJACK SECRET immediately, I hated that 2 hours per session casino policy since I couldn't wait any longer.

Oh! My! What a play. The "pit boss" asked me how long I played in casino, I was very nervous, and told him I was a first time player. He was surprised to my playing speed, strategy and techniques, and said I should have pretty good math at school. One lady sitting on my side had losen a lot, and eventually touched my shoulder with jealous voice, said: "Math-man, can you teach me how to play?" I said I had to go, I felt so sorry for her. I thought it was enough: I took out $200 and got back $685 in just one hour. I knew there was nothing to do with my math. It is "Betting Strategy" and "Card Hitting Techniques".

I quickly wrote down my methods. I clutched the page of notebook paper I had written on like a multi-million dollar check made out by myself. What my method seemed so simple, yet made so much sense. I could't wait to get started to translate it into computer language (I write a fancy Blackjack program in C language). I figured if I could achieve just 10% of what the one hour was making, I would make at least $600 every single day! (I surposed I only worked 8 hours per day, maybe more in the casino).

After I came back, the first night I made a list of everything I was going to do and buy when I achieved financial freedom. The car that I wanted became a Ferrari, the house became a seaside mansion, and I wouldn't settle for less than a million dollars cash in the bank. I pledged to repay everyone who had helped me along in those tough days, my uncle, my aunt, my grandma-in-law, my mother, my father, and many people I owe a lot.

I was thinking it was maybe just lucky. In the second week, I tested at PRESIDENT CASINO ON THE ADMIRAL on the Mississippi River at St. Louis, where I lost some dollars before. I was so thrilled for the outstanding results. Then I did the same at QUEEN CASINO, also on the mississippi river, but on the other side of the river in Illinois territory.

I am a person with strong persistance, I knew what was my next stop. The next weekend, I drove to Evansville, Indiana, the only casino city on the Ohio River at that time as I understood. I headed to AZTAR RIVERBOAT CASINO without any delay. To my surprise, they had the same rule as in St. Louis - 2 hours per session. Well, I didn't care. I took out another 200 bucks, I watched out those tables for a while since I was confident I would win again. I felt like I was dreaming, but indeed I looked like a hungary wolf. In the end, I was making about $1,190 a day while working only two hours. That came out to $595 an hour.

When I was waiting the line at AZTAR RIVERBOAT CASINO, I talked with one gentleman in the middle 50. I asked him what he would play in the casino, he said craps and blackjack. He told me his father was a professional gambler. His father usually played in Las Vegas once a month, he said. I did tell him I would play Blackjack. I told him I always win on Blackjack table while he told me sometimes he win, sometimes he lose.

I quickly realized that I needed to practice my skill in Las Vegas. That time I was very busy: My family just moved to South Carolina, and I had to take care about my new born baby. I was very happy when I saw a lot of gambling sign across the road on HW 41, but I felt so sad when I knew there is no casino in Georgia. Although they have a lot of machines on the street, or in some gas stations and fast food restaurants, honestly, I won't put a single penny in the machine. I know how to make computer program, I know how to set up the rules which general people don't know.

When I told my wife I was going to Las Vegas, she was astounished. You may guess what she said, you will score 100 points, I am sure. After I explained them for nearly 10 hours, my mother-in-law compromised and said: Let him try it, but putting more practice on contingency. I was thrilled since I got the passport from a very traditional family. My mother-in-law went with me to CHEROKEE TRIBAL CASINO in North Carolina. We drove about 2 hours and 45 minutes to there, to my surprise, they have no Blackjack table except some machines. I felt very sorry and deeply depressed. Again, I won't put one single penny in the machines.

Somebody told me there is a casino at the border of Georgia and South Carolina. I said I would go there and took a look. What made me sick was that the casino, which named as Steve's Casino, only with few Poker and Blackjack machines. Although I felt so easy and so good to play at casino, but I felt hard to find one around there.

Finally, I went to New Brunswick of Georgia. Unfortunately, I missed the cruise. Then I drove back about 20 miles and stopped at the city of Savannah. It seemed I saw another sun when I found there is another casino cruise at Tybee Island. Tybee is a beautiful island on the Atlantic Ocean, the sea gull, the boat, the crab, the restaurant, and the nice people. Well, when I saw the cruise, I just felt bad when I recognized it is just a small boat. Even I won, I would feel bad for the owner. The most concern was no fun, and I didn't want to be threw into the Atlantic Ocean as well. Eventually, I just put small bet, and enjoy the sea gull, the drink, and the talk with the crew. When I saw a guy from Virginia lost a lot of money without any good playing strategy, I just shaked my head. But he was still so concentrated and continued to lose. Later, I knew he is a construction supervisor, well, the salary is still hard money for a supervisor.

I thought I was ready to Las Vegas. I did.

My plane was taking off. The Sky was so beautiful. I knew where I was going to go, I knew what I was going to do, I knew what I was going to have. From Atlanta to Dallas, nobody was talking or asking me who I am. After changing the plane at Dallas - Fort Worth Airport, the environment in the plane changed, both for the people and for those people's mission. During it headed to Las Vegas, one gentleman, his name is Jimmy, a pilot of American Airline, talked all the time with me and another poker lover, Niel. I did mention to them I am a good Blackjack player. Jimmy did trust me, but Niel didn't. Niel said there is no way to beat Las Vegas. It is true to Niel, though, since he played at Las Vegas for his life, still in struggle. Jimmy's wife is the dean of a medical school, she was surprised when she knew I got my PhD, too. I don't want to talk about the long story on the plane. I'd like to get back on our Blackjack topic.

I told Jimmy I was going to stay at CALIFORNIA HOTEL AND CASINO, he said he was going to stay at UNION PLAZA HOTEL AND CASINO. It is only 4 minutes' walk, we set to meet each other the second day. Niel is an old gentleman, and poker lover as I mentioned before. He was going to attend the Yearly Poker Tournament, which I didn't show big interests yet, but Niel said he will come to see me, too. I knew they wanted to see how I was playing.

After I arrived my hotel, I just couldn't wait to play, after warming up one hour at CALIFORNIA HOTEL AND CASINO, I switched to GOLDEN NUGGET HOTEL & CASINO, which is just cross the street. I swore I would fight every casino in Las Vegas in the three days' vocation (I didn't know Las Vegas has so many casinos at that time). Just for another one hour at GOLDEN NUGGET, my $100 chips became $500, a Korean-look floor superviser came to see me play, I felt very, very uncomfortable at that time, since I don't like so many people watching me play. He knew I played too good to stop for even a second. After changing few dealers, they still could not stopped me although I was bothered. They couldn't figure out why I stll played so well even they frequently changed the dealers, and frequently asked me where did I live, what was my career, and how many kids I had etc. Eventually, that Korean guy said, maybe you wanted to have your dinner and then play somewhere else. He said if I stopped playing, he'd like to write a free luxury meal to me. I said: Why not? The meal is so wonderful, I never had that kind service, that kind of free food before. I could have anything I want to eat (that was not buffet since there were at least four waiters and waitresses were waiting for my order, I felt like I was a king, honestly). At that time (it was 3:00 AM), Niel passed the window and saw me having that luxury meal, he knew what happened to me: He knew I made my promise and won, then he pointed his thump up and mumped away. I smiled back to him, though.

Story omitted

Story omitted

Story omitted

Story omitted

Story omitted

Story omitted

Story omitted

Story omitted

Story omitted

Story omitted

Story omitted

Story omitted

Story omitted

Story omitted

Story omitted

Story omitted

Story omitted

Story omitted