Novice Blackjack Player Looking for Direction

**A.P.** · 08-23-2012, 09:03 AM

Hello Everyone,

I am new to the forum and wanted to introduce myself, as I recently decided to take more interest in blackjack. I have played numerous times before, but only for entertainment when I was in Vegas with friends - feel free to scold me. However, I now want to take the next step into advantage play.

I understand that the best thing I can do to get started is learn and perfect basic strategy. That being said, I have been searching for other resources that can help me understand the game better. Whether it be books, websites, etc., there seems to be a ton of information out there. I really do not want to waste my time with poor information. Instead, what resources do you believe provide the best learning value for a beginner? What books should I be reading and should I read certain books before others? Any other resources I should look into?

I am just looking for a little direction, and figured this may be the best place to get it. Thanks for the help!

AP

KJ · 08-23-2012, 09:49 AM

I would start with Modern Blackjack, authored by the host of this site Norm Wattenberger. Norm has made this a free resource and you can find it under the resources tab. There are a number of decent books, which cover the basics, a few of them outdated, but the info is still valid in most cases, it is just the games and conditions that have changed. As the title indicates, Norm's Book deal more with current conditions and games and is easy to understand and follow along, as Norm goes heavy on charts and graphs to explain different concept.

**MARILLION** · 08-23-2012, 10:00 AM

And as soon as you master card counting and all related to cc things, start looking for stronger techniques. I would suggest to read the advice Richard W Munchkin gave to new players here: http://www.richardmunchkin.com/2012/...e-players.html

**zengrifter** · 08-23-2012, 11:55 AM

User is banned, content deleted.

**Zach Black** · 08-23-2012, 01:17 PM

Norm's book's are excellent. I would also recommend Blackbelt in Blackjack by Arnold Snyder and Projessional Blackjack by Stanford Wong for the beginner. After a few months of practice get Blackjack Attack by Don Schlesinger

This website as well as blackjackinfo.com. and bj21.com are excellent references. If you search these forums you can find any question you have with answers from the noted experts.

Check the casinos in you area and learn the baisc strategy you're most likely use when you start playing. There are variation in basic strategy for H17 versus S17 , for the # decks, and some casinos offer surrender. So you will eventually want to know what changes in BS for each set of rules you encounter.

**A.P.** · 08-23-2012, 08:12 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll take a look at Norm's book, as well as Blackbelt and Professional Blackjack. I had the latter two on my radar already, but was unsure whether to pull the trigger or not. Thanks!

**stopgambling** · 08-23-2012, 08:20 PM

Under 20$ each !!! pay for itself in 1 session

**Coyote** · 08-24-2012, 06:30 AM

A.P. you have received some very good advice here. I would only add that there are no shortcuts to success. Practice a lot!

Good luck on your journey.

**Zach Black** · 08-24-2012, 07:59 AM

I just finished Nathaniel Tilton's book "The Blackjack Life".

I recommend this to any new advantage blackjack player as it details the real life story of a successful player and team.

I was impressed by the amount of practice prior to playing, which was one of the keys to their success. I look forward to the guest chat next week.

**BigHow** · 08-24-2012, 08:21 AM

I do not think it has been mentioned here but buy Casino Verite and use it to practice with. It is software (developed by Norm's enterprise) and is worth every penny. Use it for 10's of 1000's of rounds so you can understand how much the game's variance swings.

**greg16394** · 08-24-2012, 08:43 AM

Originally Posted by BigHow

I do not think it has been mentioned here but buy Casino Verite and use it to practice with. It is software (developed by Norm's enterprise) and is worth every penny. Use it for 10's of 1000's of rounds so you can understand how much the game's variance swings.

I started by Modern BlackJack & ordered CV BJ. It was great help to my career.

**seriousplayer** · 08-24-2012, 03:55 PM

A.P.

I have two suggestions for you as a beginner. I recommended you do this in order.

1. Learn and master basic strategy. It is a required and foundation to beat the game. I recommend this first before anything else. I don't care if you are the best card counting in the planet. If you don't master basic strategy no card counting strategy is powerful enough to give you an advantage. Without using basic strategy the house edge is too big for you to overcome.

2. Master a professional level card counting system. I would recommend card counting books like Modern Blackjack I, II and Blackbelt in Blackjack.

**A.P.** · 08-25-2012, 07:29 AM

Originally Posted by seriousplayer

1. Learn and master basic strategy. It is a required and foundation to beat the game. I recommend this first before anything else.

I am attacking this hard right now. Everything I have read about learning the game starts with this. Thanks for the reinforcement. I know learning a counting system is the next step, so I picked up Blackbelt. But I want to do this right, so I won't be spending any time reading it until I have basic strategy down.