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Zach: Books
What would you guys say are the top 3-5 books for beginers to start their library?
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Parker: Read the FAQ's
> What would you guys say are the top 3-5 books for
> beginers to start their library?
In the left frame, under The Blackjack Library, you will find a link to Frequently Asked Questions. See #4 in the general section, or simply use the direct link I have conveniently provided below
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ES: Re: Books
> What would you guys say are the top 3-5 books for
> beginers to start their library?
1. Black Belt in Blackjack 3rd Edition by Arnold Snyder
2. Bootlegger's 200 Proof Blackjack by Mike "Bootlegger" Turner
3. Basic Blackjack by Stanford Wong
4. Professional Blackjack by Stanford Wong
Also get Don's Basic Strategy Cards and either QFIT's Casino Verite Lite or AXO Blackjack.
AVOID:
1. Books by John Patrick
2. Books by Jerry Patterson
3. Books by John Scarne
4. Any book or system with incorrect basic strategy or purporting to be able to get an advantage through a progressive or pyramid betting system or through any unproven or unprovable method
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ES: (1) Another Good Inexpensive Program and (2) Beyond basic Books
Blackjack 6-7-8 is a good inexpensive program. It has basic strategy and counting drills, a blackjack game and a simulator. It does not have as much as Casino Verite Blackjack, CVData and CVCX combined, but it is inexpensive.
Don's Blackjack Attack, Peter Griffin's The Theory of Blackjack and James Grosjean's Beyond Counting have a wealth of advanced material. You do not have to understand everything in any of these books to benefit from it.
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MJ: Blackjack Zone
For anyone who read this book by Eliot Jacobsen, can you please share your opinion? Thanks.
-MJ
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Bettie: Good advice. Also, Renzey's BJ Bluebook II *NM*
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ES: Another Recent Book
Play Blackjack Like tht Pros by Kevin Blackwood
This book gives I18 High-Low indices, some of which differ from Wong's and Braun's, notably +1, rather than 0 for 16 v. 10. Every other book I have seen gives 0. Which is right??
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ES: Re:P.S. to Another Recent Book
Kevin Blackwood attributes his Hi-Low I18 indices to Dr. Eliot Jacobson.
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Praying Mantis: I think it Depends...
> What would you guys say are the top 3-5 books for
> beginers to start their library?
For instance, if you just want to LEARN blackjack and card-counting, I'd recommend (and not in this particular order):
1. Knockout Blackjack (Fuchs) (Simplest system to learn)
2. Blackbelt in Blackjact(Snyder) (Red 7...equally as simple)
3. Blackjack Attack (Schlesinger)(To know how to determine which games to play once you learn to count)
To get a feel for the game BEFORE you get serious and want to learn to count...
1. Basic Blackjack (Wong)
2. Comp City (Rubin)
3. Play Blackjack like the Pros (Blackwood)
Again, not in that particular order. I'd say Blackwood's book is a good beginning book to get an overall understanding of the game and what card-counters go through...
Now, in addition to the above, I feel there is ONE book that is absolutely ESSENTIAL to your library. It won't teach you anything about playing your hand, but it WILL help you understand the environment you are getting ready to enter...that book...
"The Card Counter's Guide to Casino Surveillance" by Cellini
Just my 2-cents!
Regards,
PM
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Praying Mantis: Not bad...but I'd Recommend
> For anyone who read this book by Eliot Jacobsen, can
> you please share your opinion? Thanks.
> -MJ
Kevin Blackwood's "Play BJ Like the Pros" first. Only because I feel Kevin says basically the same thing with a little less of a technical aspect to it which makes it easier to read. For instance, he has one page that once the reader memorizes it, he has basic strategy down pat...concise and simple.
Both books are good in that they deal with a more MODERN game than can be found in Wong's book, or even BBIBJ.
I think Eliot's book is better read by those with a little more experience with the game.
Now, having said that...I suggest you get them BOTH! If you're serious about this game, you shouldn't be too concerned about reviews...instead, you need to make an "investment" and get ALL the books by reputable authors. I doubt you can find a reputable BJ author that I DON'T have their book(s). I even have those "cult" classics "Beyond Counting by Grosjean" and "Casino Game Protection by Forte"...both came at a HEFTY price tag.
My point is this. You have to look at the expenditures for your library as nothing more than a "business" expense. Many of the books in my library say the same thing, but each author says it a little differently. You may only get ONE morsel from a book that you can take with you to help you with your game, but how much in income will that one morsel add to total blackjack winnings over your blackjack lifetime!
The Bish says that what makes Professional players different from the "wannabees" is nothing more than their "focusing on being the BEST at the game" They have the drive to excel and refuses to lose. They have a love for the game that is nothing short of "obsession".
So, if you WANNABEE a Professional, you'd better get an "obsession" and buy all the books you can and READ them...in other words, take the game seriously...I do.
Again, just my 2-cents.
Regards,
PM
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Parker: Regarding books
> Now, having said that...I suggest you get them BOTH!
> If you're serious about this game, you shouldn't be
> too concerned about reviews...instead, you need to
> make an "investment" and get ALL the books
> by reputable authors. I doubt you can find a reputable
> BJ author that I DON'T have their book(s). I even have
> those "cult" classics "Beyond Counting
> by Grosjean" and "Casino Game Protection by
> Forte"...both came at a HEFTY price tag.
> My point is this. You have to look at the expenditures
> for your library as nothing more than a
> "business" expense. Many of the books in my
> library say the same thing, but each author says it a
> little differently. You may only get ONE morsel from a
> book that you can take with you to help you with your
> game, but how much in income will that one morsel add
> to total blackjack winnings over your blackjack
> lifetime!
My feelings exactly. Even if I glean only one bit of useful information, or a single insight to improve my game, the book will pay for itself many times over. I've never heard of anyone losing as a result of knowing too much.
Having too many books on blackjack is sort of like having too big a bankroll.
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MJ: My opinion of various BJ books
I agree with most of what you said. Knowledge is power. The only reason I asked is because sometimes a book can be really dry and make for a difficult read. For example, Peter Griffin's Theory of BJ(although brilliant) is way too technical and mathematical for my taste. I doubt I will ever read it. Another book which falls in the same category
is SW PBJ. I never read it but hear it is quite dry (although informative). I guess I prefer a book which is informative as well as entertaining. This way it is not a chore to read.
Having said that, I enjoyed KO Blackjack and Blackjack Bluebook II. I also liked The Counter by KB, BDTH by BM, and Barfarkel's book You've Got Heat(amongst others). I learned a lot by reading all the books mentioned above. I hear good things about Blackjack Zone and Kevin Blackwood's book so I will definitely buy them. Right now I am reading Million Dollar BJ. It is alright...I liked his other work better.
In some respects reviews are important. For example, I read
John May's Getting the Edge at BJ. I'm still not certain whether I should trust the advice as some people have been quite critical of the work. Is John May a respected BJ author? How about Frank Scoblete? His book Best Blackjack recieved superb reviews on amazon.com(yet he recieves no mention on the BJ boards) so he must be doing something right.
-MJ
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Shaggy18VW: Re: My opinion of various BJ books
MJ,
You would probably like Blackjack Autumn by Barry Meadows. There are things that can be learned from it and it is a great read.
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