Students at the University of Nevada Las Vegas were given a treat this week. They were allowed an inside peek into the mind and dealings of poker pro Andy Bloch as he spoke to them about poker and what it was like being part of the now infamous MIT Blackjack Team that got his name and face on the black list of casinos around the world. 
For those of you who have been living in a hut in Bulgaria these past thirty years or so, the MIT Blackjack Team took Vegas for millions and inspired a Hollywood movie, 21, that was loosely based on the adventure of Bloch and his compatriots.
While discussing the origins of the team getting together, Block shared with the students the inaccuracies that popped up during the film. For instance, he was never approached while at school, as the film would lead you to believe. That would have been far too risky and out in the open. The group was way to secretive for that. In fact, it was during a home poker game at a friend's house that he was approached by a team member. Also, he noted that the signals that appear to have been used in the film by team members to alert the "high roller" of a hot table, were not what they used while operating the ring.
Bloch told the students that there were definitely moments in the movie that he could relate to. Specifically, he liked the depictions of team members grabbing up freebies from wherever they could as he recalled team members often stealing things from the casinos to bring back to the dorm. He also claimed that it was standard for the high roller members of the team to adopt fake names and identities because back when they were operating, it wasn't uncommon to be able to check into a hotel with or no identification at all.
Bloch of course also talked to the students about his present career as a professional poker player and the effects his experience has had on his play currently. He spoke about his family and how they supported him and how everyone now follows his career closely. He also mentioned what it is like to go from operating in secret counting cards to being internationally recognized as a professional poker player. Undoubtedly, he may have altered the destinies of a few young minds.
For those of you who have been living in a hut in Bulgaria these past thirty years or so, the MIT Blackjack Team took Vegas for millions and inspired a Hollywood movie, 21, that was loosely based on the adventure of Bloch and his compatriots.
While discussing the origins of the team getting together, Block shared with the students the inaccuracies that popped up during the film. For instance, he was never approached while at school, as the film would lead you to believe. That would have been far too risky and out in the open. The group was way to secretive for that. In fact, it was during a home poker game at a friend's house that he was approached by a team member. Also, he noted that the signals that appear to have been used in the film by team members to alert the "high roller" of a hot table, were not what they used while operating the ring.
Bloch told the students that there were definitely moments in the movie that he could relate to. Specifically, he liked the depictions of team members grabbing up freebies from wherever they could as he recalled team members often stealing things from the casinos to bring back to the dorm. He also claimed that it was standard for the high roller members of the team to adopt fake names and identities because back when they were operating, it wasn't uncommon to be able to check into a hotel with or no identification at all.
Bloch of course also talked to the students about his present career as a professional poker player and the effects his experience has had on his play currently. He spoke about his family and how they supported him and how everyone now follows his career closely. He also mentioned what it is like to go from operating in secret counting cards to being internationally recognized as a professional poker player. Undoubtedly, he may have altered the destinies of a few young minds.
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