Mike Aponte (3rd photo) has recently returned to MIT to share its experience as a professional player in the legendary MIT blackjack team.

“During the week, I was a normal college student,” says Mike Aponte , better known under the alias of Jason Fisher in the book “Bringing Down the House” and the character of Ben in the movie “Las Vegas 21. “He added:” But on the weekend, I was a VIP. “

During his senior year at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Aponte joined the team of card counters who amassed about $ 10 million, is impressive when you know he had never heard of card counting and he did not know all the rules of blackjack before joining the team. This exploit is described in detail in the movie “Las Vegas 21.

Aponte option changed three times during his college years because he had no idea what to do with his life. It was during this period of wandering that one of his friends advised him to join the blackjack team and he understood the appeal of this game. The appeal of the games is excellent at the platform Pkv qq for playing of the games with team. The advice of the experts and friends can be taken at the platform to get effective results. The understanding of the appeal is necessary at the platform to gain more profits for the bank account. 

The Blackjack is unique because it is based on dependent events,” Aponte said, referring to the cards already distributed to announce the player which cards will be distributed later.

Aponte and his teammates used the card counting system Hi-Lo to play in casinos. This technique of counting effective proven blackjack, as evidenced by the success of the MIT team and other famous players of blackjack.

There is nothing illegal about card counting. However, casinos have the right to ban the players, “said Aponte. The MIT blackjack team made the charge on many occasions. Aponte can no longer play blackjack because it is one of the best card counters in the world and is easily recognizable. “Ironically, I give lectures in many casinos. But they get nervous when I sit at a blackjack table, “jokes Aponte.

Mike Aponte enjoyed the book and movie in which his exploits are recounted, although it concedes that its authors took some liberties. This is the case of one of the most memorable scenes from “Las Vegas 21″ where Jeff Ma, played by Jim Sturgess , is taken to the basement of a casino and then tied up and tortured. “It is a scene totally fabricated,” says Aponte

The only event that could have gone wrong in his career with the MIT blackjack team took place when the owners of a casino wanted to keep the affairs of the team as a ransom. They wanted to force Aponte and his teammates to pay a hotel room that had been available for free after they had won $ 200,000 in one night, “says Aponte. Determined to pay nothing, Aponte and his team used a credit card to enter the room, take their belongings and flee.

A sequence of film that has actually occurred is that disguises. Aponte often wore wigs, colored contact lenses and fake beards and mustaches. He was given the nickname “suit fatso” in his favorite disguise. Disguise the most memorable is the member of the MIT team named John, who is the inspiration of the teacher played by Kevin Spacey in “Las Vegas 21. One day he disguised himself as a woman but he was unmasked after 10 minutes

Las Vegas 21 is therefore based on real facts but do not always correspond with reality. Among the most obvious differences, there is ethnic difference between the incarnation of Mike Aponte the screen and the man in real life. “I’m not a white man and thin,” Aponte said, smiling. He noted that contrary to what one might think, Korean and Puerto Rican origins have facilitated the task in casinos. “Security personnel often thought that card counters were white men to look smart,” said Aponte.

However, all good things come to an end. After six years, the team was listed by Griffen Investigations, a company that tracks the specialists of the scam, card counters and others who profit from the casino system. MIT players were too well known to continue to play blackjack, and the team was disbanded.

Three members of the team, including Mike Aponte, began a solo career in professional blackjack player. The career of Mike Aponte as brilliant as it won the World Series of Blackjack in 2004. Now based in Los Angeles, Aponte teaches volunteers to students in secondary education and is also coach of blackjack.

Before concluding his speech at MIT, Aponte gave advice to students: “When you’re young, it is quite normal not to know what you want to do in life. Keep an open mind and know the opportunities that arise. Live your life consciously. Establish goals and decide a plan of action. The change is part of life, so be ready to adapt. “

And the author of this article which is also passionate about blackjack, he gave sound advice about the game: “Never take insurance, these will adversely affect the long term. And remember to always split aces and the 8 Good luck in your career as a card counter. “These are wise words from a great man of blackjack!

About The Author

Erik Allaire is a master poker player who has won many professional poker events, wishes to represent his country at the world level.

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