bringingdownthehouse


 * BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE**
 * WEEK 1:**

The author Ben Mezrich started writing this book because "Kevin", a main character in the book, approached him and said that he would take Ben around for a few days and show him what it was //really// like living the life he did as long as Ben promised to write a book about him.

The students attend MIT in Massachusetts.

Main characters:
 * "Kevin"
 * Attends MIT
 * Works in the lab
 * Strict parents
 * His roommates in the summer are Martinez and Fisher
 * He is curious what his roommates do in Las Vegas/Atlantic City every weekend.
 * He goes to Vegas with them and learns some of their tricks of Black Jack and counting cards.
 * He is asked to join the MIT Card-Counting Club
 * Martinez & Fisher
 * Used to attend MIT
 * Martinez dropped out within 3 weeks
 * Fisher's sister was in critical conditions so he dropped out later on
 * Live with "Kevin" over the summer
 * Go to Las Vegas/Atlantic City every weekend
 * Mastered the skill of counting cards
 * Part of the MIT Card-Counting Club
 * Micky Rosa
 * Supervisor/ teacher of the MIT Card-Counting Club
 * Wants to get "Kevin" on the team
 * Professional card-counter
 * Used to be a teacher at MIT

Positions:
 * Spotter
 * Sits at the table waiting for his cue
 * Gorilla
 * Sits at the table counting cards
 * Acts like a foolish/wild player at the table that just throws in money
 * Cues the spotter when the number (using the Hi-Lo technique) is fairly high
 * Big Guy
 * Steps in after the Gorilla leaves the table
 * Makes the money and does the //real// counting

Tactics:
 * Use Hi-Lo technique
 * Dress differently than you normally would
 * Use a fake name/fake I.D.
 * Pretending they don't know each other
 * Pretend you are the person of your I.D. to make it believable
 * Don't let it be obvious that you are counting cards
 * Pretend you are a bad/wild player

Quotes:
 * "Kevin tried to hide his trembling hands. Truth be told, his name wasn't really Kevin. And he wasn't even slightly drunk. The red splotches on his cheeks had been painted on in his hotel room. And though thirty thousand dollars in chips was enough to make his hands shake, it wasn't something that would impress the people who //really// knew him. They'd be much more interested in the ratty duffel bag beneath his chair.


 * BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE**
 * WEEK 2:**

Main characters: Summary:
 * "Kevin"
 * Went to Vegas for the first time with the crew
 * Immediately was bumped up from Spotter to Gorilla and then to Big Player (BP)
 * MIT Card Counting Crew went to Vegas for the first time with Kevin. Kevin was amazed at the difference in life style. On the plane ride there, he was the "donkey" and had to carry the money for the trip. The men had to pretend that they didn't know each other and even had to rent multiple different rooms at multiple different hotels.

Rules They Had to Follow While in Vegas
 * They had to use fake names
 * Had to pretend that they didn't know each other
 * Had to book different rooms in several different hotels
 * Fake I.D.'s and fake credit cards
 * Had to dress differently
 * Had to use fake accents/ act like they weren't themselves

**BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE** **WEEK 3:**

Key Points:
 * page 50: terms
 * recruited new members for the team
 * famous couple: dylan and jill
 * tall MIT sophomore: Andrew Tay
 * they fired Micky and his investors
 * kevin found out there is another MIT card counting group called the AMphobians run by Mickey as well
 * Kevin got kicked out of his first casino
 * He is almost always B.P
 * The large group split up to 3 that way 3 B.P. are on the floor at one time to earn more money
 * Kevin quit his job in Chicago and moved back to Boston and now has a new job
 * Kevin broke up with Felicia and now is seeing a Rams cheerleader Teri Pollack


 * BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE**
 * WEEK 4:**


 * Presentation:**

Welcome to the Morone Casino. To all of you high rollers, I hope you're enjoying the free nights at our 5 star hotel in luxury suites, along with free limo rides, and delicious food, compliments of us. I hope you all enjoy your stay. Start gambling!

Kelsey: Dealer Big Player: Allison Random Player: Emily Spotter: Stacey Pitt Boss: Kyle Eyes in the Sky: -

//Kelsey deals the cards// //Stacey stands up.// //Stacey sits down.// //Kelsey deals more cards.// //Alli starts talking from across the room holding a glass.// //Stacey crosses her arms.// //Alli sits down at the table.// //Kyle is walking around aimlessly and stops in his tracks.// //Stacey stands up.// //Stacey sits down.// //Alli stands up.// //Alli sits down.// //Emily stands up.// //Emily sits down.// //Alli stands up.// //Alli walks to the board where the list is projected.//
 * Stacey:** "Hey, I'm Stacey. At least back at MIT I am. But this weekend, I'm known as Sara Green. That's what my fake I.D. and my fake credit card say. That's what my hotel reservation is under. That's what all of the people here in the casino know me as. Little do they know, back at MIT I'm a total nerd and I'm part of a card counting club. I don't dress like this or act like this on a daily basis, but we're playing blackjack here. I am known as the spotter. As this position, I count the cards to figure out when the deck is up enough to signal in the Big Player to come and make the big bucks."
 * Alli:** "Hi, I'm Lindsay Jones. Just kidding, I'm Alli, but everyone here believes me when I say I'm Lindsay. Just like Stacey, I'm in the MIT card counting group. I also have a fake I.D., a fake credit card, and all of those props Stacey talked about. They love us high rollers around here. Speaking of high rolling, I'm the Big Player. My job is to catch on when Stacey signals to me that the deck is good, make my way to her table, and start gambling, but I better watch out for those Pitt Bosses. They're out to get us. I'm carrying this glass of ginger ale around to fool them."
 * Alli:** "Oh. See how Stacey just crossed her arms? That's my signal to go over to her table. I'll catch ya later."
 * Kyle:** "Hi I'm Kyle. No really, I'm Kyle. I'm not part of the MIT card counting crew. In fact, I'm kind of out to get them. I'm a Pitt Boss at the Morone Casino. My job is to catch all of those cheaters who think they can steal our money with card counting."
 * Stacey:** "Just so you all know, this isn't cheating. But the Pitt Bosses think it is."
 * Alli:** "This is using our math to our advantage, to gain money."
 * Emily:** "I have no idea what's going on. I'm not part of the MIT card counting group, I'm not working for the casino, and I'm not a high roller. I'm Emily and I'm just here to have a good weekend and hopefully bring home some money. I'm at this table and I'm going out of my way to be friends with this girl Lindsay. She's been betting a ton of money and it seems like she's got a lot more where that came from. If I saw her outside this casino as Alli, I wouldn't think twice, but crazy things happen in Vegas."
 * Stacey:** "Wow, I'm burning all of my money from last week's paycheck..."
 * Alli:** "The word paycheck means the deck is at +15. That means I should definitely raise my bet because there's a better chance in me winning."
 * Alli:** "These are the key words that the spotter says to secretly tell the Big Player how the deck is. For example, if I said a casual sentence using the word 'sweet' that would mean the deck was at +16, which makes sense, because Sweet 16.