Prior to August 2012, the term edge sorting was largely unknown to the public. It became a topic of widespread discussion when renowned poker player Phil Ivey reportedly raked in £7.3 million (approximately $11 million) during a game of Punto Banco at Crockfords Casino in London.
Did he experience an extraordinary stroke of luck at the tables?
Had it just been a huge swing of luck?
It turns out that it wasn't merely a lucky evening, as officials at Crockfords raised concerns regarding a method they believed Ivey utilized, alleging it had allowed him to walk away with a staggering sum. The casino even decided to withhold more than the original £1 million that he invested at the onset of his gambling session. They accused Ivey of using edge sorting, which granted him an unfair advantage that other players lacked.
The massive payout and the allegations surrounding edge sorting attracted global media attention. What exactly is this obscure technique that enabled Ivey to achieve such an impressive win?
Table of Contents
The Edge Sorting Technique
Edge sorting refers to a strategy that helps skilled gamblers anticipate the values of face-down cards, thereby giving them a competitive advantage in particular casino games. Although mastering this method is challenging and demands significant practice and meticulousness, it can empower players to effectively 'read' cards that are otherwise hidden. By noticing subtle variances on the backs of the playing cards, a gambler can infer whether a card will rank high or low in value.
By analyzing minor irregularities present on the cards' backs, a player can establish a long-term statistical edge over the casino. According to sources, these irregularities arise 'as a consequence of the manufacturing processes, being trimmed unevenly on the top and bottom, which results in margins that are just 1/32 of an inch or less.'New York Times This knowledge can prove immensely beneficial for a clever bettor, resulting in significant profits for those who can skillfully apply the method.
Most casinos view this technique, which often involves having dealers rotate the cards to better expose the edges, as a form of cheating.
Many players, however, regard edge sorting as a legitimate 'advantage play,' akin to card counting in blackjack and analyzing odds in various games.
Edge sorting commonly finds its application in the casino game of Baccarat, including a variant known as Punto Banco. In Baccarat, players have the option to place bets on the player, banker, or tie. The dealer then distributes hands for both the player and the banker, with the objective being to achieve a total score as close to 9 as possible. poker .
Edge Sorting Game Types
Each card is assigned a numerical value, with face cards (Kings, Queens, Jacks, and Tens) representing zero. Aces hold a value of one. For instance, if a player has a 10 and a 9, their total score is considered a Natural 9 because the 10 holds no value, and the 9 achieves the ideal score.
Hands cannot exceed a total of 9, and any numbers above that are reduced by 10. For example, if a player is dealt two 7s totaling 14, that hand is adjusted to a value of 4.
Once both hands are dealt, in the absence of a 9, the next highest hand is an 8, determining the winner. If neither hand totals 8 or 9, a third card may be drawn.
Understanding this, a strategic edge sorter can leverage their knowledge of the forthcoming cards to tilt the odds in their favor.
After the incident at Crockfords, Ivey sought legal recourse to reclaim the funds he felt were rightfully his. The casino maintained that Ivey conspired with an accomplice and that his edge sorting tactics constituted cheating.
The Phil Ivey Case
"The fact that I've initiated a lawsuit in response to their allegations speaks volumes about my confidence in my actions and the legitimacy of my winnings,\" he declared through his attorney. \"I categorically deny any accusations of impropriety made by Crockfords.\"
In April 2014, the Borgata Casino in Atlantic City launched its own legal action against Ivey, claiming he employed similar methods to score $9.6 million during four separate visits.
During his winning runs at the casinos, Ivey collaborated with Cheung Yin Sun, known as Kelly, who was the daughter of a Hong Kong factory owner and had previously earned over $20 million through edge sorting tactics in various casinos worldwide. She is considered a specialist in this area.
A publication described Kelly as the mastermind behind their operation and highlighted her consistent success in overcoming the house. It noted that she used social engineering strategies to persuade Chinese-speaking dealers to turn specific cards 'for luck,' allowing her to set the game in such a way that she could identify the crucial key cards: the sixes, sevens, eights, and nines.
The February 2017 issue ofCigar Aficionado Winning millions becomes an almost guaranteed outcome when following Kelly's strategies.
Although Ivey believed he had won his millions fairly, the courts disagreed. While he did not initially receive his winnings from Crockfords, the funds from the Borgata were secure in his account.
The Court Case Results Are In
After contesting the English casino's decision, a judge ruled in October 2014 that Ivey had breached his player contract, confirming that his use of edge sorting constituted cheating.
Consequently, the court denied him his winnings, and an appeal upheld that ruling. Ivey even sought judgment from the U.K. Supreme Court, which unanimously sided with the casino in October 2017, ensuring that the money would remain with Crockfords.
While Ivey had managed to keep his earnings from Borgata, that casino also took legal action against him, alleging he exploited defects in the playing cards. In November 2016, a federal judge ruled in favor of the casino, mandating Ivey to return his winnings.
However, the judge dismissed Borgata's claims that Ivey had engaged in fraudulent activities or violated RICO statutes.
Borgata also attempted to reclaim $250,000 worth of complimentary offers granted to Ivey and his accomplice during their edge sorting excursions, but the judge rejected this request, stating: 'The comps were not contingent upon Ivey winning or losing or any specific activity aside from visiting Borgata, thus Borgata is not entitled to recover the value of those comps as part of its breach of contract claim.'
Both casinos utilized identical Gemaco playing cards during Ivey's gambling encounters and subsequently pursued legal action against the card manufacturer. Recently, Ivey has challenged the legal actions taken against him and resisted attempts to secure funds in a bond while the appeal is ongoing.
His legal team contends that complying with such a request could impede his capacity to generate income as a poker player, a sentiment that Borgata’s legal team has vehemently opposed. case While legal authorities and casino management might equate edge sorting to cheating, the response from the gambling community has been notably different. Iconic poker figures like Daniel Negreanu and Doyle Brunson have publicly supported Ivey.
"I respect anyone clever enough to find an advantage against a major casino,\" Negreanu remarked in a tweet. \"It's just downright impressive, and I feel no sympathy for the big players.\"
The Poker World Reaction
Numerous gamblers believe that Ivey, who boasts $26.3 million in live tournament winnings in addition to millions from cash games, outsmarted the casino and rightfully earned his winnings regardless of the edge sorting issue.
The edge sorting controversy has even inspired an innovative student at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. As part of her coursework in gambling innovation, Brittney Martino created a novel dealing shoe designed to eliminate the possibility of edge sorting, successfully obtaining a patent for her invention.
Ivey's appeal regarding the Borgata case will advance in the forthcoming months; however, the casino appears to currently hold the upper hand, and the likelihood of a reversal in his favor seems low. It seems that a resolution similar to that of the Crockfords situation might be forthcoming.
Unquestionably, other gamblers will likely experiment with edge sorting in the years ahead, aspiring to outsmart the house while successfully bringing home their winnings and dodging any potential legal repercussions.
Sean Chaffin, a full-time freelance writer residing in Ruidoso, New Mexico, specializes in topics related to poker, gambling, the casino industry, and much more. You can follow him on Twitter at @PokerTraditions or reach out via email at seanchaffin@sbcglobal.net.
888poker-EGR-logo-Mobile-Header-2021-white