I didn't need your cynical lecture on the merits of "counting cards"...I was only requesting information on BJ basic strategy. Also, I might mention that I have Walter Thomas' book and I cant find where he doesn't split 8's.
I didn't see where you asked about basic strategy. I think SOTSOG was responding to your question: "Does anyone know who this author is and the name of his book?" To summarize his answer, it's impossible to know without more information! Hence the query about the book's cover. Many dozens, probably hundreds, of books have been written about blackjack, and I've seen several giving the advise you mention. (Mike Goodman comes to mind.) Flat-out-bad blackjack books outnumber the useful ones by a considerable margin.
ETF
He means well, but is often misinformed. In my book, "Blackjack for the Clueless", my basic strategy chart on page 28 clearly states that the player should always split eights. In my book, "Twenty-first Century Blackjack" the basic strategy chart on page 16 clearly states that the player should always split eights. It's also interesting to note that although he has attempted to discredit me for years, he still hasn't learned how to properly spell my name.
Poor SOTSOG...
To answer your original question, I've run across several books that publish incorrect Basic Strategy guidelines, in most cases written by writers who stole their charts from other uninformed writers... Be skeptical of these authors.
'In my book, "Twenty-first Century Blackjack" the basic strategy chart on page 16 clearly states that the player should always split eights.'
2D, H17, DOA, NDAS.
Basic strategy would be to surrender 8,8 vs A.
"Twenty-First Century Blackjack", Page 14. "Rules of Play", "The 'surrender' option is not available."
So I guess readers of your book would just avoid games with the surrender option.
Of course, surrender on a hand would mess up that magical win/loss formula you use to determine when to bet 2,3,4 or 5 units, Right?
Surrender decisions aren't dependent upon amount wagered, but you know this of course.
You said, "He also isn't too sharp on the basic strategy, he won't split 8, 8 vs T...". I've shown that this statement was either a mistake or a fabrication on your part. You've attempted to divert attention from your misstatement. Why not just admit that you were wrong, and move on?
Oops! I forgot who I was talking to... Mr. Perfect!
I just remember you trying to give a newbie advice on basic strategy and telling them to surrender 8,8 vs T as correct basic strategy.
Don Schlesinger jumped on you about it, trying to embarass you about being an author of blackjack books and not even being able to give correct BS advice.
Then when the math of splitting vs surrender was explained, you made a classic Walter statement, of "I don't care, I surrender it anyways".
Actually surrender can be dependent on the amount wagered, its a little thing called Risk Aversion and Reduction of Variance.
The information you provided has been written in hundreds of BJ books. Without further information on the books contents or possibly appearance, it is impossible to determine the author/title.
There are several valid reasons for standing with a 15 or 16 v 10, including card counting play indexes, composition dependant basic strategy, counters basic strategy, cover plays, possible tournament end play strategy, taking advantage of a special promotion of some sort, etc. Unfortunately, there are also numerous completely incorrect reasons for making this specific suggestion (see the recent writings of Jerry Patterson, among others).
Since you know this specific piece of advice was contained in the book, it would really help to narrow down the possible choices if you could also remember the reason that the author gave for his advice.
Based upon what you think you remembered, you stated what I said in my books...
Weak.
I'm done with this.
I've had run-ins with this character in the past.
He will NEVER admit it when he's wrong.
He will change the subject, misquote you, attribute statements to you that you never made, and outright lie to avoid admitting a mistake.
Forget him, or any chance of a reasonable, rational conversation with the S.O.B.
What he said: "he won't split 8,8 vs T, but he is operating under a handicap"
SOTSOG FOR PRESIDENT!
ETF
Thank you for the wise advice!
