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Thread: Favorite starting blackjack books?

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    Favorite starting blackjack books?

    What are some good ones you would recommend? Main purpose would be strategies, counting, etc. But I'd also like something interesting. Like stories out playing. Maybe that takes multiple books. Any suggestions appreciated!

    Thanks!

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    Blackjack Attack Volume 3.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Saltynuts View Post
    What are some good ones you would recommend? Main purpose would be strategies, counting, etc. But I'd also like something interesting. Like stories out playing. Maybe that takes multiple books. Any suggestions appreciated!

    Thanks!
    For stories, Million dollar blackjack and Blackjack for blood are good.

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    I always recommend Blackjack Life by Nathaniel Tilton as both informative and entertaining. Blackjack Attack III is the encyclopedia of information to be read and then reference time and again.

    Norms, free book on Qfit.com is a very informative read.

    Dynamic Blackjack is an e-book (search the forum to locate) with some very good information.
    Luck is nothing more than probability taken personally!

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    For beginning books blackjack blueprint by Blaine and norms modern blackjack are the best, IMO. Black belt by Snyder was my first book, and although it's good, if you go with the zen count the book seems to steer towards ignore the true edge advice, that set me down the wrong path for a bit.

    Blackjack attack and dynamic blackjack are great books but I wouldn't put them in a starting book recommendation/category personally.

    For the story type books for me I seemed to enjoy the ones I get I could relate to more. Read you've got heat by barfarkel and the blackjack life around the same time and enjoyed them both but you've got heat more because I was playing comparable stakes. Have not yet read it but everyone seems to find blackjack autumn by meadows quite entertaining for the stories.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Saltynuts View Post
    What are some good ones you would recommend? Main purpose would be strategies, counting, etc. But I'd also like something interesting. Like stories out playing. Maybe that takes multiple books. Any suggestions appreciated!

    Thanks!
    You're right. I can't think of any books in my personal library that have both. Actually I can, but they are outdated.

    So if you're a beginner, for the math of the game, start with Professional Blackjack. It's older, but still quite relevant to today's game. When you graduate with that book, it's time to start getting your Ph.D. with Blackjack Attack, 3rd Edition.

    If you want a book with some good stories and strategies and you don't care if it's outdated, Burning the Tables in Las Vegas is a fun read. But be forewarned that much of the strategies contained will give up too much of your edge in today's games (hence why it's outdated).

    If you like entertaining stories of those that have been in the trenches, The Blackjack Life is fun to read, but doesn't contain much in strategies.

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    Theory of Blackjack

    Blackjack Attack

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    Quote Originally Posted by Saltynuts View Post
    What are some good ones you would recommend? Main purpose would be strategies, counting, etc. But I'd also like something interesting. Like stories out playing. Maybe that takes multiple books. Any suggestions appreciated!

    Thanks!
    If you already know something about blackjack, you know there are many different counting systems out there. The Hi-Lo count is the most common. So if you are going to use the Hi-Lo count then buy a book that presents that count. Professional Blackjack presents the Hi-Lo count along with the Halves count. Other books might present Zen count.

    I disagree with Flash that BJA3 and Theory of Blackjack should be a starting book. I have mentioned before that I like Bootlegger's 200 Proof Blackjack. Bootlegger does go into some story telling. He even mentions playing in the out of the way Kewadin casino located deep in the north woods of Upper Michigan. This book also presents the Hi-Low count.

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    Saltynuts
    Firstly, a surplus of salt was something produced by the old Soviet Union, and in addition, is something not desirable from a health perspective. Further, said surplus may make ingestion of salty nuts by others an undesirable pastime. Consider a gradual transformation to unsalted nuts. The benefits of the superior health approach will make its presence known in other pleasurable areas.

    Now, as for books, start with the basics. Lots if good references noted. Welcome to the site.

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    Knockout Blackjack by Olaf Vancura.

    It's a simple but fun and informative read.

    It will teach you how to count and teach you a good bit about the history of blackjack and card counting too.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Scuba View Post
    Knockout Blackjack

    I very stridently disagree. This book will mislead newbies
    into believing that an unbalanced level-one count is worthy.

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    Of course you do. Zenmaster is a purist and I understand his perspective.

    Either Zenmaster does not believe in or care for what is known as the Pareto principle.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareto_principle

    The KO count and its derivatives such as REKO are an example of the Pareto principle applied to card counting systems. The Illustrious 18 / Fab 4 index plays are also an example of this mathematical principle in effect.

    If you want excellence in card counting, if you are going to take this stuff very seriously over the long term, then I agree that the counting system taught in the KO book is probably not for you. If you want excellence, then I think it is important to get acclimated to a balanced count early. Getting good at deck estimation and the real life process of dividing at the tables is essential if you eventually want to learn the very best, most powerful counts. But even then, I think the first chapter of the KO book is good to get a sense of the the history of blackjack and the basic idea of cardcounting.

    But if you are going to do this part time and be more of a recreational counter who only visits casinos occasionally, then I think the KO book is a good book for you.

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    Quote Originally Posted by ZenMaster_Flash View Post

    I very stridently disagree. This book will mislead newbies
    into believing that an unbalanced level-one count is worthy.
    Why not ? What are the mathematical advantages of a balanced count ? Snyder and Bret Harris do not agree with you.

    http://www.blackjackforumonline.com/

    https://www.blackjackreview.com/wp/a...s/brh-systems/

    And p.s.

    The unbalanced count never have error in to deck estimate !
    Last edited by Gramazeka; 11-22-2017 at 02:46 AM.
    "Don't Cast Your Pearls Before Swine" (Jesus)

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