The Art Of Gambling...

Let me set things straight: I do NOT condone gambling in any way!! The gambling that I'm referring to are the Chinese New Year ones where family and friends play for fun, with money involved of course.. What!? I never said one shouldn't bet money! All I said was I do not want YOU to splurge your money on casinoes and those prowling AH LONGs out there. I never said you shouldn't let people you know take your money away.. Just think of it as Sharing Among Kinsmen.
Anyways, the purpose of this entry is to impart my knowledge on maximising your chances of wining money during CNY gambling sessions. However, I only can help out with Blackjack. Mahjong is definately a game which I have nil knowledge about. I'll leave that game to ol' aunties, uncles and lil' children (they don't exactly play the game. They just stack the mahjong tiles up to form forts and structures for subsequent destruction)

Blackjack
I think the general population would be acquainted with this card game. For those who don't, my condolences. Anyways, here are a couple of things you can do to help you win some money.

1. Do something to increase your luck. For me personally, I resort to red underwear =P Bring your lucky pendent, lucky pet, lucky girlfriend. Heck! You can even wear that lucky underwear that you didn't wash for the past 2 weeks. Just make sure you put on enough perfume or cologne to cover up the stench..
2. You have to 'meta' the cards that you want into your hands. *Meta stands for metaphysics- as in the field that deals with things mysterious and unknown. It mysterious in a sense that it WORKS, most of the times anyway.*It's a trick that my foosball playing friend thought of. You have to sweep your hands ever so tenderly towards your direction, to invite the required card into your hands.. I added a personal touch to it. I swept it 3/8 times, for increased luck. Hey, I Cina what! Lucky mah the number..
3. Adopt the expressionless face. Gives you a whole different edge! The banker would not have any idea what is in your hands, so the only way he can bust you is from your facial expression. If you got something nice, don't show that you're happy. If your cards 'paw cha' or exceed 21, don't look disappointed. Just be neutral.. Pour out all your feelings if you want, ONLY after the banker open your cards. DON'T think that reverse psychology works in this case! If you have 4 cards and your number obviously went KABOOM, don't pretend to look happy and on cloud nine. The banker can SO see past that!
4. Do remember that you won't win or lose your money unless the banker open your cards. So just in case your first two cards are 16 or 17, don't go for anymore.. The is a chance you can win even though you only have that much. Just don't let your face betray your feelings. The banker would think you have 20 or 21, so when he takes more and his cards pecah, you WIN!
5. Just in case you have a rowdy British uncle who insist on his ways, DON'T play with him!! I know, cause' I have one! This uncle of mine is quite the rough type.. He insist that we younglings play according the PROPER way, kononnya! Proper as in casino types!! Oii, we're in Malaysia la, playing like normal lo! Not even sure whether whatever you told us real or not... Oh ya, in the end, he took our money away, just like a crook stealing candy from innocent Malaysian babies...
   
6. Oh.. If you find yourself lacking moral fibres or is just oblivious to fair play, you can resort to a lil' pakating... Just pakat with the fella next to you to outsmart the banker... Change cards if you find you're in a vulnurable position. *This didn't come from me*

Here ends my guide to maximising your chances in gambling... So, when the next CNY is round the corner, be prepared to fork out some angpow money for some fun ol' gambling... Just make sure you don't borrow from any loan sharks...
(PS. Malcolm just made a Vs. 2 of this entry. So go check it out. His link is under the name Malcolm-like duh!)