Dennis Purdy, author of The Illustrated Guide to Texas Hold'em, left the "working world" and moved to Las Vegas at the age of 35 to undertake a career as a professional gambler. He became an expert card counter at blackjack starting in 1978, eventually forming, teaching and leading several "teams" in Las Vegas, achieving a winning session rate of 86 percent. Although he retired from full-time professional gambling in 1983, he still uses his skills to supplement his income. Mr. Purdy lives in Tacoma, Washington
