The sunlight hitting his eyes woke Michael up at 7:30 in the morning. Despite only getting a few hours of sleep after a long night of writing academic papers, he felt a sense of accomplishment. Pushing off the fatigue, he got out of bed and headed to the kitchen.
His mother, Myra, had already prepared breakfast. "Good morning, Michael. I bought pandesal and eggs," she said, placing the food on the table.
"Thanks, Ma," Michael replied, pouring himself a cup of coffee and sitting down to eat. The pandesal was warm, and the eggs were well-cooked - a simple but satisfying breakfast.
"What are your plans today?" Myra asked.
"I'm going to do some stock trading and then head out," Michael answered.
"Where to?"
"To Newport Manila," Michael replied.
Newport Manila is a luxurious hotel situated in Pasay City. It's known for its upscale facilities, including a casino that attracts a lot of visitors.
"Are you going there for trading?" Myra asked, a hint of concern in her voice.
"No ma…I'm going to raise funds for my business I'm planning to start," Michael clarified.
"Business? What kind of business?"
"Hmm…it's a secret, for now, ma. I will tell you once I have gathered the funds," Michael said as he took a bite of another pandesal. Moments later, he stood up.
"Thanks for the breakfast ma, have a safe trip on your way to work," Michael nodded to his mother as he finished his meal.
"Just be careful, Michael. You know how I worry," Myra replied, her tone laced with motherly concern.
"I will, Ma. Don't worry. I'll be fine," Michael reassured her, rinsing his cup and placing it in the sink.
After that, Michael retreated to his room and closed the door before him. He flipped his laptop open and logged in to his brokerage account. Cracking his knuckles, Michael began to work, buying and selling stocks with a simple click of the mouse. The neuro enhancer pill is still in effect, aiding him to make informed and calculated decisions to the point that in just three hours, he earned about 40,000 pesos. He transferred those funds to his bank account where he planned to withdraw it later.
He switched tabs and searched for common games in the casino with significant high-yield returns and began researching strategies. Michael knew the risks involved with gambling, but he also recognized the potential for high returns if done wisely. He focused on games like poker and blackjack, where skill and strategy could significantly influence the outcome, rather than purely luck-based games.
After completing his research, Michael checked the time. It was almost 11 AM, the perfect time to head to Newport Manila. He packed his laptop, grabbed his wallet, and ensured he had his bank card to withdraw the funds he had just transferred.
Leaving the house, Michael hailed a Grab car to Newport Manila. During the ride, he reviewed his strategies and mentally prepared for the casino environment. He knew that keeping a clear head and not getting swayed by the highs and lows was crucial.
Upon arriving at the luxurious Newport Manila, Michael marveled at the grandeur of the hotel. He made his way to the casino, blending in with the crowd of tourists and locals.
Inside the casino, the vibrant sounds of slot machines, the rhythmic shuffling of cards, and the general buzz of activity enveloped Michael. He made his way to a nearby ATM and withdrew the funds he had recently earned from stock trading. With the cash in hand, he proceeded to the cashier's desk to convert his money into casino chips.
At the cashier's desk, Michael exchanged his money for a variety of chip denominations. He received a mix of 500-peso, 100-peso, 50-peso, and 25-peso chips, giving him flexibility for different betting strategies.
Armed with his chips, Michael carefully navigated through the lively casino floor. He decided to start with blackjack, a game that balanced skill and luck, and where strategic play could yield favorable results. He found a table with stakes that matched his planned budget and took a seat, mentally preparing himself for the game ahead.
He decided to employ a technique known as card counting, a method that, while legal, is frowned upon by casinos due to its effectiveness.
Card counting involves keeping track of the high and low cards that have been dealt to gain an advantage over the house. It's based on the principle that high cards (10s, face cards, and aces) are beneficial to the player, while low cards (2-6) are beneficial to the dealer. By keeping a running count of these cards, a player can judge when the deck is rich in high cards, thus making larger bets more advantageous.
To implement this strategy, Michael assigned a value to each card: +1 for low cards (2-6), 0 for neutral cards (7-9), and -1 for high cards (10s, face cards, and aces). As each card was dealt, he silently added or subtracted from his running count.
For example, if the first hand dealt was a 2, 5, Jack, and 9, Michael's count would be +1 (+1 for 2, +1 for 5, -1 for Jack, 0 for 9). This count helped him gauge the composition of the remaining cards in the deck.
Michael started with smaller bets, watching the flow of the cards and adjusting his count. As the game progressed, and he sensed that the deck was rich in high cards (a positive count), he increased his bets. When the count was low (indicating a deck rich in low cards), he reduced his bet size or chose not to bet at all.
By using card counting, Michael could make more informed decisions on whether to hit, stand, double down, or split. This strategy significantly reduced the house's edge and increased his chances of winning.
As he played, Michael won several hands in a row, his stack of chips growing steadily. His careful observation and calculated betting did not go unnoticed by the other players, who looked at him with a mix of curiosity and respect. Michael remained focused, aware that the casino staff might be observing his play. He continued to employ his card-counting technique, but he did so subtly, avoiding drawing too much attention.
Once Michael felt that his winnings were substantial, he discreetly left the blackjack table and made his way across the casino floor to another blackjack area. This move was strategic; it minimized the chances of drawing too much attention from the casino staff and players who might have started to notice his consistent wins.
At the new table, Michael continued his card counting strategy, but he was careful to vary his betting patterns. He didn't want to make it obvious that he was counting cards, as this could lead to him being asked to leave or being banned from the casino.
Michael's technique at the new table involved a mix of conservative and slightly more aggressive betting, depending on the count. He also engaged in casual conversation with other players and the dealer to blend in and appear like a regular player enjoying the game.
Despite his fatigue from the lack of sleep and the mental effort required for card counting, Michael's focus remained sharp. The neuroenhancer pill he had taken yesterday played a crucial role in maintaining his cognitive performance.
As he played, Michael's chip stack continued to grow. He experienced some losses, but they were offset by larger wins when the deck was in his favor.
After a few more hours at the tables, Michael decided it was time for a high-stakes game. Currently, he has decoupled his initial investment, from 40,000 to 400,000 pesos. And there is only one game where he could make that earning into a million. That is poker!
There is a VIP section in the casino, but the minimum is 500,000 pesos. He's one hundred thousand pesos short.
"It can't be helped then, I will play another round of blackjack."