After Lin Xinyu dealt the cards for both houses, I immediately started looking at my hand.
Although I had already decided to give up on cheating, for the sake of going through with the act, I still performed the subtle move of pushing the cards inwards, just like in the first round.
Then, with my hands clasped over the cards, I slid them towards my eyes and slowly fanned them out.
In this round, my fanning speed was much slower than the previous one.
This was done with no other purpose than to waste time and further wear down Uncle Qiu's composure.
I knew that Uncle Qiu, standing on the edge of a cliff, had no other choice this round and would definitely resort to cheating.
Moreover, if I guessed correctly, he was preparing to stealthily swap out two cards at once.
As a fellow gambler, I was well aware that the period of waiting for the opponent to reveal their cards was the most agonizing and uncomfortable.
This was because you had no idea whether the opponent had received big cards or small cards, whether they would cheat and swap cards, and whether you would still have a chance to cheat and swap cards after they did…
Therefore, at this moment, I had to do my best to wear down Uncle Qiu's mindset first.
It would be best if he couldn't take it anymore and his mentality completely collapsed, then the task would be basically accomplished!
It's important to remember that the deciding round was a game of showdown.
And showdown was the only card game where victory or defeat did not entirely depend on cheating.
Strictly speaking, showdown was more about a player's courage, intellect, and mental fortitude.
If I could get Uncle Qiu's mindset under control beforehand, the third round would likely be a sure thing.
Of course, if Lin Xinyu could deal me two good cards out of the eight decks, the game could end right there.
However, this was clearly not realistic.
The ability to get good cards repeatedly was definitely not due to mere good luck.
One could occasionally choose to believe in luck, because luck… is related to probability!
The simplest, most direct, and most easily understandable example is scratch-off lottery tickets.
After spending ten yuan on a scratch-off ticket and winning a hundred yuan, don't think that good luck will continue and you'll win more in the future.
The reason you won was because someone else had already hit a dud before you, and it just so happened to be your turn to scratch a winning ticket, and they had given up or run out of money.
The correct thing to do after winning is to stop scratching, redeem your prize, get your money, and leave!
About ten minutes later.
While fanning out the two cards, my subtle movements were almost continuous.
From lighting a cigarette, to scratching my ear, to constantly rubbing my sweaty hands, to my hands instinctively moving under the table…
Several times during this period, not only Uncle Qiu at the card table, but even the onlookers from the crowd of "dark lights" had increasingly grim expressions, almost unable to resist calling a halt to the match and trying to catch me cheating.
It wasn't until I finished fanning the two cards and slammed them on the table in feigned anger that everyone, including Uncle Qiu, saw their expressions change from gloomy to sunny.
There was no other reason than seeing that I had received two mediocre middle cards again.
One diamond 4 and one club 2.
Together, that's 6 points.
If this wasn't Blackjack, 6 points could still be used to try for a "five dragons" hand.
In Baccarat, 6 points is truly one of those hands where if you draw another card, you're likely to bust, and if you don't draw, you lose outright.
Seeing my face filled with resentment and hesitation, Uncle Qiu immediately sneered and said, "Heh! Kid, it's not winning early that counts, it's losing late!"
"If you don't make a move this round, then I won't be polite!"
Uncle Qiu's words were very direct.
Are you going to cheat or not? If you don't, I will!
At first listen, it seemed like he was provoking me to cheat.
In reality… he was indeed provoking me to cheat!
Besides that, he was also betting that I wouldn't dare to call him out for cheating.
How could I possibly fall for such a clumsy provocation?
Ignoring Uncle Qiu's taunts, I directly said to Lin Xinyu, "Hit me!"
Upon hearing this, Lin Xinyu, the temporary dealer, did not hesitate at all. She drew a card from the shuffling machine and sent it to me.
As I was gambling on this face-down card, I was already contemplating my cheating strategy for the third round.
In showdown, there are only two opportunities to cheat.
At other times, you can only play mind games.
These two opportunities are at the beginning and the end.
The first face-down card, the last face-down card.
Whether it's the first or the last, I must choose cautiously.
This face-down card, which is of no consequence, I still fanned out very slowly…
Perhaps some people would ask, with eight decks, you have thirty-two 3s, why not take a gamble?
I want to say, cut the crap, brother!
This is not a probability that can be calculated by dividing 32 by 416.
The probability of getting a 9 with 6 points is already very low, and if you add all thirty-two 3s from the eight decks, the actual probability of getting it is like winning five million in the lottery!
The probability of getting a 9 in Baccarat doesn't increase with more cards and decrease with fewer cards.
It's the exact opposite. The probability is relatively higher with fewer cards and lower with more cards.
Otherwise, how would casinos make money!?
Back to the point.
The starting move before gambling on the card was still a slight inward push, and at the same time, my two hands were firmly pressed onto the face-down card.
About the time it takes to smoke a cigarette passed…
Bang!
With a muffled thud, I heavily slammed the face-down card in my hand onto the table.
King of Spades, 0 points.
In this round of Baccarat, my score was fixed at 6 points.
At the same time, my performance in the first two rounds had certainly been noticed by Uncle Qiu, and he was likely already making corresponding evaluations.
The arrogance on the way here, the feigned profundity before the game, the weakness and incompetence after entering the game, and the emotions that were easily influenced by the size of the cards in my hand, showing my joy and anger on my face…
If nothing unexpected happens, all of this will be labeled by Uncle Qiu and imprinted in his mind.
"Hahahaha! You're finished, kid!"
Seeing that I didn't choose to take risks against the odds, although there was a hint of disappointment in his eyes, there was more of ecstatic joy of surviving a disaster.
My not choosing to cheat in the second round meant I actively gave up the idea of winning, giving him a chance to counterattack from a desperate situation.
After bursting into laughter, Uncle Qiu immediately started gambling on his cards.
Unlike the previous round, this time my eyes were fixed on him.
I wanted to see how Uncle Qiu would complete this cheating…
When gambling on the first card, Uncle Qiu's hands were placed on the cards properly, with no unusual movements.
Judging by this posture, the first card was very good, so good that it didn't require any extra actions.
Then, Uncle Qiu began to gamble on the second card.
As soon as his hand touched the card, Uncle Qiu's subtle movement… appeared!
I saw Uncle Qiu's right index finger, which was pressing on the face-down card, move slightly, and then his wrist flicked inwards.
Although Uncle Qiu's movement was very fast, I still saw it clearly.
Sleeve Sword, a very simple and unpretentious move.