May be the most fascinating book written on blackjack counting teams since the days of Ken Uston (who died in 1987). Written by Ben Mezrich, who gained the trust of a half-dozen MIT students (occupation: blackjack counters), this work covers a four-year period when the 'team' was in its heyday (1994 to 1998), winning big and escaping the clutches of casino management with minimum damage to self and bankrolls. Mezrich must have truly blended in with this group of near-geniuses and sharpies who often communicated in code right at the tables, signaling verbally and non-verbally. But the strength of the book is in his astute observations of how Las Vegas compares to Atlantic City; what the casino mentality is with regard to attracting players and high rollers, including the all-powerful 'whales' (the highest of high rollers), in how surveillance systems are designed to operate, how counters can be threatened, roughed up and warned never to return again.

A legendary figure at the '21' tables in Nevada and Atlantic City casinos, Ken Uston and his 'team' won more than $5,000,000. He had the distinction of being barred from a number of casinos and used facial disguises to get into action. This book divulges Uston's priceless playing secrets.