Author BEN MEZRICH wrote about the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s crackerjack card-counting team for his book Bringing Down the House, which was made into the hit film 21. While researching the book, he experienced the thrill of the game—and the chase—firsthand. Mezrich’s most recent book is Once Upon a Time in Russia.  

“Vegas. Wynn Casino. Tuesday night, a little after 3 am, and I was running for my life. Racing past a bank of slot machines at full speed, I glanced back for the bri…