At the end of STRIP RULES, Martin Limón has provided a brief caveat: “Do not use this book as a primer on how to play blackjack.” The warning concludes with the explanation that if you are going to participate in the game, be sure to familiarize yourself with the rules governing play. In the blackjack world, there is only one firm rule: The house always has the advantage. 

Limón is best known for his series featuring Sergeants George Sueño and Ernie Bascom as they solve crimes involving American soldiers and civilians in 1970s South Korea. He served in the military for 20 years and attempted to earn some extra money by playing blackjack and engaging in the practice of card counting. That strategy is used by players to keep track of high- and low-valued cards in the deck. Theoretically, knowing this number reduces the house advantage. While there are no laws that prohibit card counting, many casinos strongly frown upon it. When card counters are observed, they are escorted off the premises.

"Martin Limón is an entertaining storyteller. Anyone who has ever visited Las Vegas or sat at a blackjack table will find STRIP RULES to be a fine reading experience."

In the opening chapters of STRIP RULES, readers are introduced to Ronnie “the Technician” Redfield, a Vietnam War veteran who now resides in Las Vegas. He has a well-earned reputation as one of the most feared and recognized card counters in Vegas. After one evening of successful gambling, he is accosted by casino authorities who convince the local legal system to charge him with criminal activity related to his blackjack playing. After lengthy court proceedings, Ronnie is found not guilty. It is a pyrrhic victory, though, as the legal fees and notoriety have destroyed his life, and he becomes estranged from his daughter. Ronnie is a beaten man, resorting to picking up lost chips in casinos and on the street.

As with any good hero, though, Ronnie recovers. Bill Grimsley, a friend from his past who deals with high rollers at local casinos, approaches him with a proposal to take revenge on Rodrigo Gwynne, a despicable casino owner on the Vegas strip. But this will not be accomplished by an Ocean’s Eleven technological campaign. Instead, Ronnie is asked to recruit a professional team of blackjack players who will use their talents to win money from Gwynne’s casinos. To make the plan even more enticing to Ronnie and his players, they will be bankrolled and share in any of the enterprise’s profits. It’s a win-win situation for them.

The team is assembled and introduced to readers. There is a great deal of discussion about blackjack strategy, which only serves to reinforce the notion that you will not find me at a gambling table anytime soon. The plot is fascinating because it involves guile rather than guns, and no member of Ronnie’s crew resorts to violence to achieve their goals. Along the way, we learn that Ronnie has some ulterior motives in his quest to regain financial security in his life. 

Martin Limón is an entertaining storyteller. Anyone who has ever visited Las Vegas or sat at a blackjack table will find STRIP RULES to be a fine reading experience. And you won’t need to follow any strategy other than turning pages.