What books would you consider the best/worst?
- Thread starter bjcounter
- Start date
callipygian
Well-Known Member
Books I've read/skimmed and are great (the information is accurate and up to date) :
Professional Blackjack
Blackbelt in Blackjack
Big Book of Blackjack
Knock-out Blackjack
Play Blackjack like the Pros (see below)
Books I've read/skimmed and are okay (the information is accurate but out of date or teaches fundamental gambling concepts with not enough detail to realistically win) :
Beat Multiple Deck Blackjack (I can't quite remember whether this was okay or sh*t, but it certainly wasn't good)
Mensa Guide to Blackjack
Sklansky on Blackjack
The World's Greatest Blackjack Book
The Everything Blackjack Strategy Book
Casino Gambling for Dummies
Casino Gambling for Complete Idiots
Casino Holiday
Books I've read/skimmed and are sh*t (if you implement the strategies in this book you will probably lose more than if you never read it) :
Winning Casino BlackJack For The Non-Counter
Winning Blackjack for the Serious Player
Blackjack: Play like the Pros (see above)
Progression Blackjack: Exposing the Card Counting Myth
Bringing Down the House
Busting Vegas
Professional Blackjack
Blackbelt in Blackjack
Big Book of Blackjack
Knock-out Blackjack
Play Blackjack like the Pros (see below)
Books I've read/skimmed and are okay (the information is accurate but out of date or teaches fundamental gambling concepts with not enough detail to realistically win) :
Beat Multiple Deck Blackjack (I can't quite remember whether this was okay or sh*t, but it certainly wasn't good)
Mensa Guide to Blackjack
Sklansky on Blackjack
The World's Greatest Blackjack Book
The Everything Blackjack Strategy Book
Casino Gambling for Dummies
Casino Gambling for Complete Idiots
Casino Holiday
Books I've read/skimmed and are sh*t (if you implement the strategies in this book you will probably lose more than if you never read it) :
Winning Casino BlackJack For The Non-Counter
Winning Blackjack for the Serious Player
Blackjack: Play like the Pros (see above)
Progression Blackjack: Exposing the Card Counting Myth
Bringing Down the House
Busting Vegas
callipygian
Well-Known Member
Incidentally, I read that "Casino Holiday" may be a collector's item. If anyone is interested, as of Saturday May 2nd, there was a copy at Half Price Books in Fremont, CA for sale for $5.
MoneyPlays
Well-Known Member
Books to learn from:
Professional Blackjack
Blackbelt in Blackjack
Blackjack for Blood
Blackjack Attack
Comp City
Theory of Blackjack
Books you might enjoy:
Blackjack Autumn
Bringing Down the House
Million Dollar Blackjack
Books to stay away from:
Anything with "Quick/Easy", "Progression", "Non-Counting" or strangely enough, "Win/Winner/Winning" in the title.
Professional Blackjack
Blackbelt in Blackjack
Blackjack for Blood
Blackjack Attack
Comp City
Theory of Blackjack
Books you might enjoy:
Blackjack Autumn
Bringing Down the House
Million Dollar Blackjack
Books to stay away from:
Anything with "Quick/Easy", "Progression", "Non-Counting" or strangely enough, "Win/Winner/Winning" in the title.
Pro21
Well-Known Member
If you are a red chip recreational player then it may be too expensive.
If you bet green chips and don't own it you are costing yourself money.
If you are a professional advantage player you already own it.
RingyDingy
Well-Known Member
comp city
I've been searching high and low for Max Rubins work its now out of print too.
When i was in Vegas i checked the gamblers general store and the gamblers book store on E charleston, neither had them, the really friendly folks at the gamblers book store rang up the publishers for me while i was there and they were out of stock as well.
From my perspective i got the most out of professional blackjack and blackbelt in blackjack.
CAA looks like a great resource and one which i will hopefully pick up soon.
cheers
Ringy
I've been searching high and low for Max Rubins work its now out of print too.
When i was in Vegas i checked the gamblers general store and the gamblers book store on E charleston, neither had them, the really friendly folks at the gamblers book store rang up the publishers for me while i was there and they were out of stock as well.
From my perspective i got the most out of professional blackjack and blackbelt in blackjack.
CAA looks like a great resource and one which i will hopefully pick up soon.
cheers
Ringy
Automatic Monkey
Banned
CAA: a straight review
I've got it.
To be perfectly frank, CAA is a holecarding manual. If you're a Midwestern guy who sees a lot of strange games being dealt in a strange way, it's possibly worth it. If you don't already see holecards a lot, it's not worth it. It does not teach you how to holecard.
A few games and moves are conspicuous by their absence from the book. Some very powerful plays are omitted, presumably because some high-level people are out there using them. For $250 the purchaser should get the whole megillah.
Excellent chapter on coupon and promotion play, but if you are already into that you probably already know the math associated with it.
No information on BJ derivatives and very little on BJ sidebets.
The printing and binding are excellent, and the writing quality very good, except for a few stream-of-consciousness moments. There is a screed against the Illustrious 18 in the middle of a chapter on... Mississippi Stud? OK, whatever works.
Overall opinion: worth it for most players, but mostly because you're going to be able to sell your copy after you're done with it. The most valuable information I personally got from the book was on page 25. What was it? You're going to have to read it and find out!
I've got it.
To be perfectly frank, CAA is a holecarding manual. If you're a Midwestern guy who sees a lot of strange games being dealt in a strange way, it's possibly worth it. If you don't already see holecards a lot, it's not worth it. It does not teach you how to holecard.
A few games and moves are conspicuous by their absence from the book. Some very powerful plays are omitted, presumably because some high-level people are out there using them. For $250 the purchaser should get the whole megillah.
Excellent chapter on coupon and promotion play, but if you are already into that you probably already know the math associated with it.
No information on BJ derivatives and very little on BJ sidebets.
The printing and binding are excellent, and the writing quality very good, except for a few stream-of-consciousness moments. There is a screed against the Illustrious 18 in the middle of a chapter on... Mississippi Stud? OK, whatever works.
Overall opinion: worth it for most players, but mostly because you're going to be able to sell your copy after you're done with it. The most valuable information I personally got from the book was on page 25. What was it? You're going to have to read it and find out!
MoneyPlays
Well-Known Member
Half.com
Also saw a couple on ebay from $6.95.
These are used and the 2nd edition (2002) The original was published in 1994.
You can find Comp City on half.com for as low as $5.95.
Also saw a couple on ebay from $6.95.
These are used and the 2nd edition (2002) The original was published in 1994.
moo321
Well-Known Member
Comp City is excellent. That book has probably been worth thousands of dollars in savings on my trips.
Beat the Dealer is certainly interesting to read for historical purposes.
Million Dollar Blackjack is good, and has a fine section on holecarding.
Blackjack Attack will tell you anything you ever wanted to know about the math and statistics of straight counting. Really helped me figure out how to bet and play optimally, and how aggressive to be with certain games.
Beat the Dealer is certainly interesting to read for historical purposes.
Million Dollar Blackjack is good, and has a fine section on holecarding.
Blackjack Attack will tell you anything you ever wanted to know about the math and statistics of straight counting. Really helped me figure out how to bet and play optimally, and how aggressive to be with certain games.
JSTAT
Banned
"Casino Holiday(1968)" by Jacques Noir is a classic. The Ten Count with aces included as low cards is the featured count. The pictures and charts are better than most books. Why didn't you buy that book if it is a good investment?
JSTAT
Nick_Escalantes
Member
I'm looking to purchase my 1st book on blackjack. Any suggestions for a beginner to counting? Thinking about Blackbelt in blackjack or Big Book by Arnold Snyder. thanks and great forum. Happy to join.
FLASH1296
Well-Known Member
Theory of Blackjack, 6th ed. by Peter Griffin
http://product.half.ebay.com/The-Theory-of-Blackjack_W0QQprZ1117262QQtgZinfo
http://product.half.ebay.com/The-Theory-of-Blackjack_W0QQprZ1117262QQtgZinfo
Your best selection is right here at this wedsite, simply click on books and software on the main page, and go through all the books available, and read their reviews, to make your choice.
picasso
Banned
Back in 1996 at the time landed casino's where opening here in Québec, Canada, a 'bad' book on blackjack was published:
'Comment gagner au Blackjack' ('How to win at Blackjack') by P. Marcoux
(a non counters book)
This guy said a whole bunch of nonsense concerning the game, for example:
-double 9 vs 8-9
-double 8 vs 7-4-3-2
-never double if they are too many small cards on the table
-your results depends on how others play at the table
-always cut the deck in the middle or close to the end to mix up the cards
etc, etc
It was one of the first book I ever read on the subject, fortunately, it wasn't the last. Be forewarned, there is a lot of crap books out there; a bunch of money grabbers.
'Comment gagner au Blackjack' ('How to win at Blackjack') by P. Marcoux
(a non counters book)
This guy said a whole bunch of nonsense concerning the game, for example:
-double 9 vs 8-9
-double 8 vs 7-4-3-2
-never double if they are too many small cards on the table
-your results depends on how others play at the table
-always cut the deck in the middle or close to the end to mix up the cards
etc, etc
It was one of the first book I ever read on the subject, fortunately, it wasn't the last. Be forewarned, there is a lot of crap books out there; a bunch of money grabbers.
Lonesome Gambler
Well-Known Member
Books that I feel have been the most valuable in my education:
Blackbelt in Blackjack by Arnold Snyder: I think this is the best introductory book on the subject. It gives a very realistic depiction of what being an AP is actually like and delves into more advanced topics than most books, without being incomprehensible to the beginner. The Red 7 and Zen counts are also great contributions.
Exhibit CAA by James Grosjean: Yes, it's mostly valuable if you find a "special" game and need the numbers/strategy for it, but it's also filled with practical information for advantage players, even *gasp* card counters! It's also hilarious.
Blackjack Essays by Mason Malmuth: I've never seen anyone talk about this book, which is odd because his essays on "card domination" (cutoff tracking) and front-loading are excellent. He also has reasonable advice on casino comportment.
Blackjack Secrets by Stanford Wong: Another great study on casino comportment, and discussions of some of the finer points of the game. The section on "top money-making opportunities" is very valuable, as it illustrates the need to be on the lookout for non-traditional opportunities (eg. AP Keno!).
Million Dollar Blackjack by Ken Uston: Obviously outdated, but filled with great information and very well-written. There is a lot to be learned here, including some advanced techniques (although Grosjean takes some issue with his front-loading strategies).
Comp City by Max Rubin: An invaluable resource for the comp game. This one's also a laugh riot. This is the one book that could probably pay itself off many times over in just a few hours of playing, even for complete beginners.
Blackbelt in Blackjack by Arnold Snyder: I think this is the best introductory book on the subject. It gives a very realistic depiction of what being an AP is actually like and delves into more advanced topics than most books, without being incomprehensible to the beginner. The Red 7 and Zen counts are also great contributions.
Exhibit CAA by James Grosjean: Yes, it's mostly valuable if you find a "special" game and need the numbers/strategy for it, but it's also filled with practical information for advantage players, even *gasp* card counters! It's also hilarious.
Blackjack Essays by Mason Malmuth: I've never seen anyone talk about this book, which is odd because his essays on "card domination" (cutoff tracking) and front-loading are excellent. He also has reasonable advice on casino comportment.
Blackjack Secrets by Stanford Wong: Another great study on casino comportment, and discussions of some of the finer points of the game. The section on "top money-making opportunities" is very valuable, as it illustrates the need to be on the lookout for non-traditional opportunities (eg. AP Keno!).
Million Dollar Blackjack by Ken Uston: Obviously outdated, but filled with great information and very well-written. There is a lot to be learned here, including some advanced techniques (although Grosjean takes some issue with his front-loading strategies).
Comp City by Max Rubin: An invaluable resource for the comp game. This one's also a laugh riot. This is the one book that could probably pay itself off many times over in just a few hours of playing, even for complete beginners.
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jessecraig612
New Member
The best gambling books according to me are “A Winner's Guide to Blackjack” by Jerry Patterson, and “Gambling Theory and Other Topics” by Mason Malmuth.