Stanford Wong
Encyclopedia
Stanford Wong is the pen name
of John Ferguson, a gambling
author who is best known for his book Professional Blackjack, which was first published in 1975 and is still in print. Wong's computer program "Blackjack Analyzer", initially created for personal use, was one of the first pieces of commercially available blackjack
odds analyzing software. Wong has appeared on TV multiple times as a blackjack tournament contestant or as a gambling expert. He has his own publishing house, Pi Yee Press, which has published books by other gambling authors including King Yao
.
in 1964 while teaching finance courses at San Francisco State University
and getting his Ph.D in Finance from Stanford University
in California
. Not content with the teaching life, Wong agreed to be paid a salary of $1 for his last term of teaching at the school in order to not attend faculty meetings and to pursue his gambling career.
The term "wong" (v.) or "wonging" has come to mean a specific advantage
technique in blackjack, which Wong made popular in the 1980s. It involves watching the play of cards in a game without actually wagering your own money, until the count becomes advantageous, and then stepping in and playing only while the count remains in the player's favor, and then stepping out again. "Wonging" is the reason that some casinos have signs on some blackjack tables saying, "No Mid-Shoe Entry," meaning that a new player must wait until exactly the first hand after a shuffle to begin playing.
He has reviewed or acted as a consultant for blackjack writers and researchers, including Don Schlesinger
and Ian Andersen.
Wong is a member of the Blackjack Hall of Fame
.
's Blackjack Forum
. As of 2007, Wong's newsletter is published via Wong's official website.
The journal contains information about rules and conditions of blackjack games in casinos in the United States and some other countries.
The record holder for most Post of the Month awards won is the blackjack expert known as MathProf, with a total of 16 wins.",
craps
can be beaten through controlled dice throwing
. Many blackjack experts are skeptical of Wong's craps claims, and this is a hotly disputed issue -- unlike card counting in blackjack, which can be mathematically proven. Wong himself was initially skeptical of the proposition that dice can be controlled in craps.
Wong resides in La Jolla, California with his wife. They have two grown children who are both college graduates and married. Wong's company Pi Yee Press is now based in Las Vegas.
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
of John Ferguson, a gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
author who is best known for his book Professional Blackjack, which was first published in 1975 and is still in print. Wong's computer program "Blackjack Analyzer", initially created for personal use, was one of the first pieces of commercially available blackjack
Blackjack
Blackjack, also known as Twenty-one or Vingt-et-un , is the most widely played casino banking game in the world...
odds analyzing software. Wong has appeared on TV multiple times as a blackjack tournament contestant or as a gambling expert. He has his own publishing house, Pi Yee Press, which has published books by other gambling authors including King Yao
King Yao
King Yao is the author of analytical gambling books. He keeps a Weighing the Odds blog and is a regular poster on Internet forums for sports bettors. He also writes a monthly sports betting article for the Two Plus Two Internet Magazine. Yao's books are published by Pi Yee Press, run by...
.
Blackjack
Wong began playing blackjackBlackjack
Blackjack, also known as Twenty-one or Vingt-et-un , is the most widely played casino banking game in the world...
in 1964 while teaching finance courses at San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers over 100 areas of study from nine academic colleges...
and getting his Ph.D in Finance from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Not content with the teaching life, Wong agreed to be paid a salary of $1 for his last term of teaching at the school in order to not attend faculty meetings and to pursue his gambling career.
The term "wong" (v.) or "wonging" has come to mean a specific advantage
Advantage gambling
Advantage gambling, or advantage play, refers to a practice of using legal ways to gain a mathematical advantage while gambling. The term usually refers to house-banked games, but can also refer to games played against other players, such as poker...
technique in blackjack, which Wong made popular in the 1980s. It involves watching the play of cards in a game without actually wagering your own money, until the count becomes advantageous, and then stepping in and playing only while the count remains in the player's favor, and then stepping out again. "Wonging" is the reason that some casinos have signs on some blackjack tables saying, "No Mid-Shoe Entry," meaning that a new player must wait until exactly the first hand after a shuffle to begin playing.
He has reviewed or acted as a consultant for blackjack writers and researchers, including Don Schlesinger
Don Schlesinger
Donald "Don" Schlesinger is a gaming mathematician, author, lecturer, and player who specializes in the casino game of blackjack. His work in the field has spanned almost three decades...
and Ian Andersen.
Wong is a member of the Blackjack Hall of Fame
Blackjack Hall of Fame
The Blackjack Hall of Fame honors the greatest blackjack experts, authors, and professional players in history. It was launched in 2002, and its physical premises are in San Diego, California.-History:...
.
Current Blackjack News
In 1979, Wong began publishing monthly newsletters on the subject of blackjack. These grew into one of the major journals for professional blackjack players, Wong's Current Blackjack News, ranking with Arnold SnyderArnold Snyder
Arnold Snyder is a professional gambler and gambling author. He was elected by professional blackjack players as one of the seven original inductees into the Blackjack Hall of Fame for his record as a blackjack player and his innovations in professional gambling techniques...
's Blackjack Forum
Blackjack Forum
Blackjack Forum was a trade journal for professional blackjack players, founded in 1981 and published by noted blackjack author Arnold Snyder. Originally a 100-page quarterly journal, it expanded into an online forum which is frequented by professional gamblers, attorneys, industry people,...
. As of 2007, Wong's newsletter is published via Wong's official website.
The journal contains information about rules and conditions of blackjack games in casinos in the United States and some other countries.
Website
Stanford Wong's BJ21 has been online since 1997. It contains a free area and a restricted, subscribers-only area, called Green Chip. Every month, one message from the restricted area is selected by Wong as Post of the Month and its author wins a prize of $100.The record holder for most Post of the Month awards won is the blackjack expert known as MathProf, with a total of 16 wins.",
Craps
Wong wrote Wong on Dice which purports to show how the game of casinoCasino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
craps
Craps
Craps is a dice game in which players place wagers on the outcome of the roll, or a series of rolls, of a pair of dice. Players may wager money against each other or a bank...
can be beaten through controlled dice throwing
Dice control
Dice control in casino craps is a controversial theory where proponents claim that individuals can learn to carefully toss the dice so as to influence the outcome. A small but dedicated community of dice shooters claim proof of dice influencing in casino conditions...
. Many blackjack experts are skeptical of Wong's craps claims, and this is a hotly disputed issue -- unlike card counting in blackjack, which can be mathematically proven. Wong himself was initially skeptical of the proposition that dice can be controlled in craps.
Personal life
The name "Stanford Wong" is a pseudonym; the author's real name is John Ferguson. His first choice for a pen name was "Nevada Smith," but that name had been taken. "Stanford Wong" was selected by a friend in the PhD program by taking his alma mater as his first name and an Asian last name to provide the "mystique of the Orient".Wong resides in La Jolla, California with his wife. They have two grown children who are both college graduates and married. Wong's company Pi Yee Press is now based in Las Vegas.
Books
- Professional Blackjack (1975)
- Professional Video Poker
- Wong on Dice (2006). Pi Yee Press (pdf). ISBN 0-935926-26-7
- Blackjack Secrets
- Basic Blackjack (1992). Pi Yee Press, ISBN 0-935926-19-4
- Tournament Blackjack
- Tournament Craps
- Complete Idiot's Guide to Managing your T
- Optimal Strategy for Pai Gow Poker
- Vegas Downtown Blackjack
- Sharp Sports Betting
- Casino Tournament Strategy
- Betting Cheap Claimers
- Winning Without Counting
- Complete Idiot's Guide to Gambling Like a Pro
External links
- Official site
- Stanford Wong's Sharp Sports Betting
- Blackjack Hero profile
- Cardcounting article from the Las Vegas MercuryLas Vegas MercuryLas Vegas Mercury was an alternative newspaper published in Las Vegas, Nevada from January 2, 2003 to March 15, 2005. The paper folded when Stephens Media purchased Las Vegas CityLife and combined the two newspapers.- Columnists :* James Barrier...
- American Casino Guide profile