The Theory of Blackjack

[davethebuilder]

I'm looking to expand my Blackjack library and came across The Theory of Blackjack by Peter Griffin. I understand that the author was an American mathematics professor who analysed the game decades ago and then wrote about it. Would someone please provide a summary of the contents and the best place to purchase it. Also, how relevant is it to today's games and which is the best edition to buy if there was more than one. Thanks in advance.

[aceside]

Isn’t that almost all books are downloadable today? Knowledge belongs to all mankind. It’s the most cost efficient and time saving way to get a copy.

[aceside]

I'm looking to expand my Blackjack library and came across The Theory of Blackjack by Peter Griffin. I understand that the author was an American mathematics professor who analysed the game decades ago and then wrote about it. Would someone please provide a summary of the contents and the best place to purchase it. Also, how relevant is it to today's games and which is the best edition to buy if there was more than one. Thanks in advance.

I have a specific question about American Spanish 21 stand-17 for you because I believe you know this well. I recently read into Kat Walker’s book about her HiLo indices, and found the split/hit index for the 2,2 vs 8 hand to be -4. I have a hard time using this index because I do not use a starting running count of -32 when I count an 8-deck Spanish shoe. I always count my HiLo running count starting from zero. If I convert Kat’s true count TC_k to my true count TC, there is a huge problem:

When TC_k =-4 and the remaining deck number is 8, my TC=+0;
When TC_k=-4 and the remaining deck number is 4, my TC=+4;
When TC_k=-4 and the remaining deck number is 2, my TC=+12.

This means I do not have a fixed TC index to play the hand of 2,2 vs 8 in a Spanish game. Can you help solve this problem?

[BJGenius007]

I'm looking to expand my Blackjack library and came across The Theory of Blackjack by Peter Griffin. I understand that the author was an American mathematics professor who analysed the game decades ago and then wrote about it. Would someone please provide a summary of the contents and the best place to purchase it. Also, how relevant is it to today's games and which is the best edition to buy if there was more than one. Thanks in advance.

It is very hard to read. It is my least favorite Blackjack book. Norm's book is better and it is free.

[DSchles]

I'm looking to expand my Blackjack library and came across The Theory of Blackjack by Peter Griffin. I understand that the author was an American mathematics professor who analysed the game decades ago and then wrote about it. Would someone please provide a summary of the contents and the best place to purchase it. Also, how relevant is it to today's games and which is the best edition to buy if there was more than one. Thanks in advance.

It's quite amazing to me that you would just "come across" today, the single most important book on the mathematics of blackjack ever written. The first edition was written 43 years ago!! In any event, now in its sixth and final edition, you can find it for $11.00 here: https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/shop...-of-blackjack/

Don

[Dog Hand]

I have a specific question about American Spanish 21 stand-17 for you because I believe you know this well. I recently read into Kat Walker’s book about her HiLo indices, and found the split/hit index for the 2,2 vs 8 hand to be -4. I have a hard time using this index because I do not use a starting running count of -32 when I count an 8-deck Spanish shoe. I always count my HiLo running count starting from zero. If I convert Kat’s true count TC_k to my true count TC, there is a huge problem:

When TC_k =-4 and the remaining deck number is 8, my TC=+0;
When TC_k=-4 and the remaining deck number is 4, my TC=+4;
When TC_k=-4 and the remaining deck number is 2, my TC=+12.

This means I do not have a fixed TC index to play the hand of 2,2 vs 8 in a Spanish game. Can you help solve this problem?

aceside,

I am not davethebuilder, but I believe I can solve your dilemma. Here are two suggestions:

1. Use an IRC of -32.

2. Use CVData to generate indexes using your IRC of 0.

You're welcome.

Dog Hand

[iCountNTrack]

Isn’t that almost all books are downloadable today? Knowledge belongs to all mankind. It’s the most cost efficient and time saving way to get a copy.

Promoting piracy is not accepted on this site.

[Norm]

Isn’t that almost all books are downloadable today? Knowledge belongs to all mankind. It’s the most cost efficient and time saving way to get a copy.

Well yes, thievery can be quicker. The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:

Article 27.2: Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

[davethebuilder]

It's quite amazing to me that you would just "come across" today, the single most important book on the mathematics of blackjack ever written. The first edition was written 43 years ago!! In any event, now in its sixth and final edition, you can find it for $11.00 here: https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/shop...-of-blackjack/

Don

Don,

I have been well aware of this book and its author for decades but I've never read it because these types of books are not readily available in Australia. What I meant is that I came across an advertisement selling it for a very cheap price which made me think it may have been an old edition so I was seeking clarification which you have provided. It also makes me think that despite the amount of work that go into these types of technical texts the authors are not very well compensated, at least as far as royalties are concerned.

[davethebuilder]

I have a specific question about American Spanish 21 stand-17 for you because I believe you know this well. I recently read into Kat Walker’s book about her HiLo indices, and found the split/hit index for the 2,2 vs 8 hand to be -4. I have a hard time using this index because I do not use a starting running count of -32 when I count an 8-deck Spanish shoe. I always count my HiLo running count starting from zero. If I convert Kat’s true count TC_k to my true count TC, there is a huge problem:

When TC_k =-4 and the remaining deck number is 8, my TC=+0;
When TC_k=-4 and the remaining deck number is 4, my TC=+4;
When TC_k=-4 and the remaining deck number is 2, my TC=+12.

This means I do not have a fixed TC index to play the hand of 2,2 vs 8 in a Spanish game. Can you help solve this problem?

Aceside,

Please don’t introduce a completely different topic into this thread because it becomes confusing.

I suggest you follow Dog Hand’s advice as simulation is required to provide an answer to your question.

In general, if you use the Hi-Lo counting system for Spanish 21 then your initial running count is -32 for 8 decks, due to the missing tens. This means that -32/8 = -4 is your Hi-Lo neutral count. You cannot start from zero unless you customise a balanced counting system where the net running count per deck is zero. Otherwise, I suggest that you just get used to counting in negative numbers.

[DSchles]

It also makes me think that despite the amount of work that goes into these types of technical texts the authors are not very well compensated, at least as far as royalties are concerned.

Of course, there are exceptions. Take me, for example. Last year, I raked in the magnificent sum of $1,287 in royalties! In good times or bad, year in and year out, I sell four books every five days. (And, at least once a year, if not more, someone accuses me of trying to promote my book to jack up the royalties, by quoting page numbers in my answers, instead of taking a half hour to write out the whole explanation. )

Don

[davethebuilder]

Of course, there are exceptions. Take me, for example. Last year, I raked in the magnificent sum of $1,287 in royalties! In good times or bad, year in and year out, I sell four books every five days. (And, at least once a year, if not more, someone accuses me of trying to promote my book to jack up the royalties, by quoting page numbers in my answers, instead of taking a half hour to write out the whole explanation. )

Don

I rest my case.

I will order the book from LVA. Unfortunately, for me, after the exchange rate kicks in and the US Postal Service takes a bite the cost is around A$50.00. Still, I'm sure it's worth it so I think that I had better brush up on my mathematics in order to fully understand the contents.

[Mr. Ed]

$1287? Yikes! I make more from being a ski instructor on weekends! Don’t quit your day job, Don!