Blackjack

Can anyone suggest a good introductory book on Blackjack? I'm talking complete beginner here.

Blackjack is actually pretty simple. Instead of a book, I'd suggest getting software that will teach "basic strategy" such as Hoyle's or Cardoza Entertainment's casino simulators.


These sims will teach you how to make the best bets at any major casino game, and perhaps more importantly - avoid the sucker bets. I prefer the Cardoza package which not only has strategy but also explainations of why you make certain plays. Bear in mind that the only decent poker software out there is Wilson's - don't trust the other stuff to be realistic. Ace Spades poker comes in second, all others are simply for entertainment.


Cardoza's software will also teach correct bets for roulette (simple: avoid the quint, all other bets are equal), craps (basically bet pass/don't pass or come/don't come and lay all the free odds you can) and video poker (actually fairly difficult to play optimally, and each video poker game is different). Cardoza also includes basic count systems and training for BJ.


Hoyle's has better graphics and adds Caribean Stud and Let it Ride, however the strategy for video poker is suspect there so the other games may likewise have failings.


Parting thought: unless you count cards and play single-deck BJ with favorable rules (early surrender, split any pair, dealer stands on soft 17, etc) ... and you don't get caught manupulating bets to take advantage of favorable decks ... the only game you can expect to beat over the long run is poker and that takes a lot of work. Learning other casino games is fun, but you'll lose money at them if you play long enough. Proper strategy will simply extend your playing time. Casinos can't be beaten, but people can.


Caveat: you can beat casinos, but only with favorable progressive jackpots or payout schedules at video poker. You won't find such machines very often, and playing BJ professionally is a good way to get barred from a casino or worse yet roughed up.

Professional Blackjack- Stanford Wong

I agree with the software suggestion. After that, get BlackBelt in Blackjack by Arnold Snyder. Just for the record, most BJ pro's play against shoes, so these games are beatable.

Wow, had no idea pros play shoes. I wonder how much you can vary your bets before you're likely to get shown the door? Gotta look bad if you constantly start a shoe out for the minimum and start increasing sometimes, and other times you watch a table then jump in mid-shoe for big bets.


OTOH, I suppose it's not too different from poker...

Usually, you will be allowed a larger spread against a shoe. I sometimes spread 50-500.


Casinos are very protective of single deck games, and very few of them deal out more than half the deck.

Last time I was at Binions (about 2 years ago), I played $5 min BJ. If I recall correctly, the game was single deck (not 2 deck) and the dealer was dealing two rounds before shuffling.


We had a full table (is that 6? 7 w/dealer?), so that would be average about 2*7*2.5 = 35 cards where each player gets an average of 2.5 cards per round. Obviously, sometimes she went much deeper into the deck. I was at 3rd base and counting and did very well that night.


Am I remembering the details correctly? Is this the game Binion's spreads?

stanford wongs basic blackjack....youll be confused with professional BJ...


cooper and humble worlds greatest BJ book...


snyders good


for inspiration read ian anderson


many pros DONT play on full tables either, even on single deck. the EV drops too low...no more than 2 other people when you sit down. but try never to play just alone...too easy for them to watch if your the only one there.


there are actually cheap hand held single deck games that are good to practice on. dont worry about graphics, your just going for the practice.

i got one in reno way back, and it kicked ass. cost a whole $15.


the most spread youll ever really be able to get on a single deck is about 1-3. some players use 1-2, but they also deviate more from basic strategy when called for.


just some ideas...


b

The following site has a great blackjack simulator. It will tell you exactly how you should be playing for a huge variety of conditions -- single deck, multiple decks, dealers hits soft 17, etc.


http://www.blackjackinfo.com/bjgame/playbj.htm


Now, with that being said, learn to play poker well instead.


I don't have anything to back it up other than my own intuition, but I think professional blackjack players are just suckers.


Can someone make money writing books about blackjack? Sure. But can they play Blackjack for a living? I doubt it.

Read Sklansky talks Blackjack, a must for you. Then Blackjack for Blood by Bryce Carlson. These two are all you need to become an expert counter.

is a great book, but a difficult count system.

the omega...i believe that was a 4 level count.

if ya can handle it, more power to ya.


but the more difficult the system, the more mistakes will cost you.


as ian anderson stated, any count system will eventually work, its minimizing the mistakes that will help the best.


i used the braun +/-, which was very easy to switch to wongs since it was basically the same. use that with some deviations with the illustriuos 18 , and your ready.


let the cat n mouse begin!


b

Although "Blackbelt in Blackjack" and "Professional Blackjack" are excellent books, they're not that good for a total newbie. I'd recommend Ken Uston's opus, "Million Dollar Blackjack", because it goes through the learning curve from the beginning, starting with basic strategy, effects of rules variations and house advantage. It then proceeds through various count systems of increasing complexity (depending on how far you want to go). I personally use the Uston advanced plus-minus system, and it's been a long term winner for me. An alternative to Uston would be "Knockout Blackjack" by Fuchs and Vancura, which also assumes no prior blackjack knowledge or experience. The count system it uses is simple and effective. Finally, if you are at all serious about learning the game, fork over the $90 or so for "Casino Verite" software...it's by far the most useful for learning a count system (it can be found on the www.bj21.com (http://www.bj21.com) site under "books", and that site is an excellent resource as well...see link below).


Happy Hunting!

When I looked again, Casino Verite was not offerred on the "BJ21.com" website. It can be found here: