Mastery at blackjack for just a buck

Eight years ago when replying to a "Wild" Bill Hickok Dead Man's Hand question, I identified the kicker (fifth card) as a queen of hearts. However, further research over the years has me altering that answer. Since the complete hand no longer exists, the composition of the hand can never be proven with total certainty, but, Marcus, I have found a few new nominees.

The five of diamonds: The town of Deadwood has this card on display, claiming it to be the actual card.

The nine of diamonds: According to supposed eyewitness accounts at the time.

The jack of diamonds: According to the transcripts of McCall's trial, a witness claims that this was the card.

The queen of clubs: Ripley's Believe It Or Not has this card on display.

Then there are the documentaries, movies and plays that depict it as the jack, queen or king of spades.

Although we will never know exactly what cards "Wild" Bill Hickok had when he was shot, when dealt black aces and black eights, be assured you're holding a Dead Man's Hand.

Dear Mark,
I have probably bought 10 different blackjack cards over the past five years, some costing as high as $6 each. In both quality of information and manufacture, nothing comes close to yours. Of all the money I have spent to improve my gaming, nothing touches your $1 cards, and I mean it brother. John H.

For disclosure purposes, John is neither my brother, nor brother-in-law. But, he does bring up an interesting point: Can $1 really improve your blackjack game? Absolutely, that is, if you want to drop the casino edge to less than 1%.

How so, you ask? Well, I have found that in my 18 years working the Green Felt Jungle, even players who believe they are experts at basic strategy misplay about 15% of their hands. My laminated basic strategy chart, a crib card matrix of 270 hand situations, is designed to give you a concise and definitive play for every starting hand you will be dealt. And as long as you do not bring a blackjack game to a dead halt, most casinos will allow you to use your strategy card right at the table. You definitely want to use it, or lose it ($$$) when referring to the tough decisions, like, what you should do with a 12 against a three? How about an ace/three facing a five? Should you split a pair of sevens eyeing a seven? Your replies should be "hit, double and yes."

Obviously, $1 didn't seem like much to John, and trust me folks, when you see the new laminating process I'm using to improve the quality of these cards even more, you won't either. Like others who produce strategy cards, I could charge 5x more for them, but a dollar is approximately what they cost to produce them, and let's just say I get my giggles when I get mail from the likes of John (he's not my cousin either). The only profit to be made is by YOU at the blackjack tables. So, my friends, if you're interested in one of these laminated cheat sheets, send a buck and a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Winners Publishing, ATTN: Blackjack Strategy Card, PO Box 1234, Traverse City, MI 49685.

Gambling quote of the week: "More skullduggery goes on in a pool room than anywhere. It's the greatest place in the world to learn what life is all about." —Billy Walters