BJ Books

I'm looking to purchase a book on Blackjack and have scanned the various ones available on the Internet. Three stand out as far as I can distinguish and I am asking for recommendations on the three books. They are: Professional Blackjack by Wong, Basic BJ by Wong. and BJ Attack by Don S. Recommendations on additional BJ books are welcome. I play BJ once a week and am no novice. I am not a card counter but play a positive progression. I play Basic Strategy flawlessly but want to learn any other points or systems that may refine my play (including card counting). Thanks for any input.

How can you win with this? But as for your books, I highly recommend Pro BJ by Wong (I own it) and although I don't yet own BJ Attack, I've looked through it at a bookstore and will likely be investing in it shortly. Don't own/haven't looked through Basic BJ, but heard it's not as advanced as Pro BJ (therefore I don't plan on getting it).

JC

Basic BJ by Wong is probably old hat to you given your experience level, but you might pick up some good pointers from it and rid yourself of some false notions you have about the game.

Professional Blackjack by Wong tells all about the HiLo and Halves count systems, gives some tips on counting, and lets you know about the swings you can expect using the systems.

Blackjack Attack by Don S. is the definite answer to the following counting questions: How much money do I need? How much money should I bet? How much money can I make? Plus about 100 other counting tips and techniques to insure your results jive with the answers to the former three questions.

The progression is a loser, but you will learn about that in the books.

I have always felt that Wong's books are misnamed. Basic Blackjack is not basic, and Professional Blackjack is not just for professionals.

Basic Blackjack actually contains strategies for a variety of rule variations, many of which you will never see, along with info on reading warps and dealer tells, which is of limited use with today's widespread use of "peeking" devices. There is nothing in it about card counting, which is where the "basic" comes in (I guess).

Professional Blackjack is the benchmark text on the Hi-lo counting system, along with with much other info on all aspects of the game. It would be an excellent place to start, as you will probably want it sooner or later, even if you start with another book.

Don Schlesinger's Blackjack Attack is an outstanding book, but it is geared more toward the advanced player. It is written on the premise that one already knows how to count cards. It is a vital part of any blackjack library, but you might want to hold off until you learn how to count.

Other good books:

Blackbelt in Blackjack by Arnold Snyder. This covers all the basics of the game, and teaches the Red 7, Hi-lo lite, and Zen counting systems. This was the first book to really discuss the importance of penetration to the card counter. Well written and easy to understand.

Knockout Blackjack by Ken Fuchs and Olaf Vancura. This covers the Knockout (KO) counting system. If you want the easiest counting system this is it; yet it is as powerful as many more complex systems. It also covers all the basics of the game - rules, basic strategy, optimal betting, etc.

Blackjack for Blood by Bryce Carlson. Another excellent look at the game, although Carlson's Omega counting systems are more complex than most. However, his Advanced Omega II is generally recognized as one of the most powerful counts around.

Or better yet, buy them all. If you are serious about the game, you probably will eventually own all of them (I do, along with many more). It is impossible to know too much about this game.

I was in the same boat as you a couple of months ago, playing perfect BS and experimenting with progressions that were ultimately losers. Then I tried Fred Renzey's Key Card Count, which only involves tracking 4's, 5's, 10's, and black aces; I thought it would be easier than KO, which involves tracking all cards except 8's and 9's, but I was wrong. Once I bought the book, I couldn't believe how fast I was able to learn the complete KO system; it only involves keeping a running count (no true count conversion is necessary as it is with Hi-Lo). As Parker said, it is a simple yet powerful system, just as powerful as the more complex Hi-Lo system. A definite must-buy.

Take a few moments and register your "handle." Just go back to the index page, and select Submit Your Profile from the menu at the top.

Then all you need to do is enter your "handle," a password, and an e-mail address if desired. It is not necessary to divulge any personal information.

This will do a couple of things. No one will then able to "impersonate" you, that is, post using your handle.

You will also have a password which you may use to delete any posts you make that you wish to remove (like the above). The software remembers your password - it is not necessary to re-enter it every time you make a post.

... is, by far, the best book ever written on the game. Period. Buy it -- you won't be sorry.

fuzzbuster

John Patrick's card counting book is a must.

Blackjack Attack is an excellent book, but it is not for beginners. Start with something like Professional Blackjack to learn a counting system, then use Blackjack Attack to refine it for the games you actually play.

F. Bar

Patrick's books have incorrect basic strategies. Ditto for books by John Scarne; avoid them. Also avoid books by Jerry Patterson; his books tout clumping methods, which cannot give the player an edge. Finally forget about any book that recommends a progressive betting system. You must bet according to the count, not according to whether you won or lost the prior hand(s) in order to gain an edge.

There is a flaw in "The Basic Strategy" that makes John's more
accurate than the others-once again experience is the best teacher.
John does not have a single degree-just more experience than any
of the ivory tower bunch. The flaw is insidious.

John Patrick has more experience with flawed basic strategy than anyone else I know.

XX

Avoid like the plague any BJ advice you ever see offered by Frank Stanton on this or other pages. Virtually 100% of what he writes (such as the utter nonsense above) is incorrect.

Don

John Patrick is the best among any card counting authors. He's been there and done that. I doubt any of you are winning on here. You continue to get killed on high counts and then have the audacity to come on here and say how great it is. Play for 500 years and MAYBE show a profit ???? That's great ! Good Luck to you all. Gimp-Boy