Ultimately, it's because not every con artist is naturally cautious and meticulous.
Especially those who overestimate themselves, always believing they can overcome any obstacle with sheer skill.
These are often the very people the casinos catch!
If someone comes to challenge your turf, and you're part of the casino, would you bother discussing fairness, justice, or transparency with your opponent?
The answer is a definitive no!
If it weren't for concerns about reputation, they wouldn't engage in any exchanges or contests; they'd simply resolve the issue behind closed doors!
Therefore, if you dare to challenge someone's territory, you must be prepared to be ambushed at any moment.
That's why it's still necessary to check the cards!
Because cards that haven't been opened... aren't necessarily new cards!
[PS: This section is inspired by the Asian Gambling King yjy. Those who have read yjy's account should know that at his peak, yjy replaced all the playing cards in every store that sold them on an entire street or even in a whole town with his own marked decks.]
After discussing the advantages and benefits of card checking for the casino, let's briefly touch upon its benefits for a con artist.
Although very limited, it's better than nothing.
First, it's definitely to ensure the cards are in order.
If the casino's cards are problematic, don't even think about cheating; it's like lighting a lamp in a latrine – you're looking for trouble!
Second, card checking is also an excellent opportunity for covert card counting.
However, this second benefit is rendered null and void by many casinos introducing automatic card shuffling machines to replace manual card holders.
This is also why I mentioned earlier that it's better than nothing.
Alright, back to the main topic!
After instructing Lin Xinyu to repeatedly flip through the 52 playing cards according to my instructions and confirm they were all in order, I nodded to signal that we could begin.
Seeing this, Uncle Qiu also gave a slight nod.
Since neither Uncle Qiu nor I could touch the cards, Lin Xinyu proceeded to cut and deal the cards herself after they were shuffled...
Twenty-one, also known as Blackjack, originated in France and has a long history of spreading worldwide.
Today, the card game Twenty-one can be found in casinos all over the world.
This card game is best played by 2 to 6 people and uses a 52-card deck, excluding jokers.
The player's goal is to ensure the sum of the cards in their hand does not exceed twenty-one.
Twenty-one appeared in Asia in 1957 in the casinos of Hong Kong, subsequently spreading rapidly into mainland China and developing.
In less than five years, Twenty-one, along with Pai Gow and Mahjong, became the three most popular card games among Chinese people.
Furthermore, Twenty-one is also one of the con artists' favorite card games.
For no other reason than it's easy to cheat at!
...
In less than a minute, Lin Xinyu had dealt cards to both Uncle Qiu and me.
Uncle Qiu was in front, and I was behind.
The moment I saw the cards, my eyes widened slightly.
A Jack and a 3, totaling 13 points.
An extremely inauspicious number.
As for Uncle Qiu, he had an Ace and a 6.
According to the rules of Twenty-one, an Ace can be counted as 1 or 11.
This means Uncle Qiu's hand could be counted as either 7 points or 17 points.
With a hand like Uncle Qiu's, on a regular gambling table, he would most likely risk hitting for another card.
But now, I bet he wouldn't.
Because this is the first round of a best-of-three match, a crucial opening round where both of us must strive for victory!
If either of us loses our bet with Uncle Qiu... blood will be shed!
Besides, this is also the first exchange and probe.
While 17 points isn't a guaranteed win, it's sufficiently safe compared to my awkward 13 points, so there's no need to risk cheating by hitting for another card.
Therefore, I bet Uncle Qiu wouldn't risk hitting.
As expected, upon seeing his 17 points, Uncle Qiu decisively called "pass."
With Uncle Qiu passing, the pressure instantly shifted to me.
There's no doubt that I would have to risk hitting.
But whether it's a fake hit for a real cheat, or a real hit without cheating, that is the question...
On the way to Tianqi Building, I had already prepared bee cards at the bus station, a hub for all sorts of people and characters.
I knew today would be a tough fight.
Therefore, thorough preparation was essential!
And now, the first opportunity to cheat has appeared – hitting for another card!
Should I... attempt it?
This is a lingering question that troubles me.
To be honest, my hesitation isn't due to worrying about my technique being seen through by the undercover observers or captured by high-definition cameras, but rather about the aftermath.
Of course, when I say this, I'm not intentionally belittling these undercover observers.
It's just that when I was learning and refining my con artistry, I did so under Uncle Tuo's watchful eye.
When Uncle Tuo had nothing more to teach me, you can imagine how proficient I became!
Also, even though the four corners of the room and the gambling table are equipped with high-definition cameras, boasting 360-degree comprehensive surveillance, there are still areas that are not completely covered.
Before waiting for Lin Jiahuan and the others to arrive, I had already done my homework.
The position I'm sitting in now, and the position Cheng Minglang is standing in, were all calculated and agreed upon with Cheng Minglang before Lin Jiahuan and the others entered.
Although the effect is limited, it's still the same principle: better than nothing!
Have you all seen Liu Qian's magic? The high-definition camera zoomed in closely, and it took about 40 or 50 times slow motion to reveal it.
If I were to make a move, I wouldn't say I'm several times faster than Liu Qian, but at least double the speed is definitely certain.
However, con artistry is, after all, not magic.
Magic doesn't require considering the aftermath, but con artistry does!
Just like the hit-or-pass situation I'm considering now, the biggest issue is the aftermath.
After switching cards and winning the round, what should I do if Lin Jiahuan suddenly asks to inspect the cards?
Even if Lin Jiahuan doesn't say anything, it's hard to guarantee that none of the undercover observers will mention it.
I don't have the luxury of gambling on such a "better safe than sorry" probability.
It's important to remember that Lin Jiahuan has already clearly stated the rules: during the course of the game, except for hitting for another card, I cannot touch the cards otherwise.
Once I cheat, switch cards, and reveal them, the subsequent matters will no longer be my responsibility.
Everything will be handled by the dealer, which is Lin Xinyu.
This means that during situations like shuffling, cutting, and dealing, I have no opportunity to touch the cards.
Therefore, whether to cheat and switch cards or purely rely on luck in the first round becomes the first test of this revenge battle...