Comments on: Card counting in casinos

By: Hugo S. Cunningham

Hugo S. Cunningham — Wed, 08 May 2013 04:04:41 +0000

wfjag–
I still treasure a cartoon from the 1972 Fischer-Spassky championship matck, showing the temperamental Fischer, with an evil grin, releasing a slingshot:
“My move? Bishop to Spassky’s head!”

By: wfjag

wfjag — Tue, 07 May 2013 22:54:48 +0000

Hugo, that’s because chess is regarded as a nerds’ game. Never, in any TV, movie or pulp fiction Western did Brazos Bill say:
“Rook to Queen’s 6; Check.”
To which Pecos Pete, responded:
“Them’s fighten words, Mister.”

By: Hugo S. Cunningham

Hugo S. Cunningham — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:33:08 +0000

More on chess:
Some advocates of poker have claimed it should not be banned under gambling laws because it is a game of skill like chess, at least over the long term. Prizes at chess tournaments have never been banned under gambling laws.

By: Hugo S. Cunningham

Hugo S. Cunningham — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:18:36 +0000

Captnhal’s analogy to cheating at chess is a good one.

How much the criminal law should be involved may still be subject to debate, however. I am put in mind of laws about ticket scalping. Many libertarians opposed laws against scalping, which even if morally dubious was a transaction between two consenting adults. But new technology has converted libertarians’ former allies in the scalper community into big-government enthusiasts. Pro-scalper state legislators have sought to ban electronic ticketing, which destroys the scalper business model by retricting admission to the person who originally bought the ticket.

By: captnhal

captnhal — Mon, 06 May 2013 15:05:27 +0000

It is absolutely a defensible distinction. Compare cards to chess and see if it’s even a close call.

http://www.chess.com/article/view/computers-in-chess-cheaters-paradise