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Thread: 98%: Any Good Books?

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  1. #1
    98%
    Guest

    98%: Any Good Books?

    Have there been any good books written about international blackjack play for the American player? I have thought about going abroad to do some "business", but I can never bring myself to do it because I know there must be hundreds of potential pitfalls for someone gambling in a casino on foreign soil, even in other first-world nations.

  2. #2
    Pro21
    Guest

    Pro21: Re: Any Good Books?

    There used to be The International Casino Guide, which came out every year. Unfortunately they stopped printing it in 1997. The 97 guide is still probably worth having if you travel.

    The most important thing is finding out is if you know someone who knows someone that is in the country you are going. Often there is some resident BJ player known to the community that will be an invaluable contact. Sometimes it is an expat American.

    In many foreign countries you have to be very cautious in a very small casino. I have run into short shoes in half a dozen countries.

    One of the biggest problems is money but there are ways to handle that legally. I guess my biggest tip would be, if you are planning a trip, start asking around about who knows the country you are going to.

  3. #3
    Fox
    Guest

    Fox: Re: short shoe?

    > In many foreign countries you have to be
    > very cautious in a very small casino. I have
    > run into short shoes in half a dozen
    > countries.

    short shoe? do you mean cards missing? eg aces?

  4. #4
    Don Schlesinger
    Guest

    Don Schlesinger: Re: short shoe?

    > short shoe? do you mean cards missing? eg
    > aces?

    Yes, exactly.

    Don

  5. #5
    Fox
    Guest

    Fox: Re: short shoe?

    > Yes, exactly.

    > Don

    Which countries? he says half a dozen. does this include london, england?

  6. #6
    BJaT
    Guest

    BJaT: Re: short shoe?

    > Which countries? he says half a dozen. does
    > this include london, england?
    I came across one at Korea. The name is Sorak Park.

  7. #7
    Gringo
    Guest

    Gringo: Re: short shoe?

    > Sorak Park.

    I am quite surprised that you mentioned Sorak Park has short shoe. They use to cheat by dealing seconds as they used a transparent shoe box that has a relecting mirror at the bottom of the box, angled in such a way that could not be seen by the player but by the dealer. When were you there ?

    Another place to avoid - Songnisan !

  8. #8
    Bjat
    Guest

    Bjat: Re: short shoe?

    > I am quite surprised that you mentioned
    > Sorak Park has short shoe. They use to cheat
    > by dealing seconds as they used a
    > transparent shoe box that has a relecting
    > mirror at the bottom of the box, angled in
    > such a way that could not be seen by the
    > player but by the dealer. When were you
    > there ?

    Another place to avoid - Songnisan !
    I was there 6 years ago, it used the transparent shoe box on me too, and changing exposed card and card picking...

  9. #9
    T-Hopper
    Guest

    T-Hopper: Re: Any Good Books?

    The Gambler's Guide to the World by Jesse May. Just came out last year.

  10. #10
    Orson
    Guest

    Orson: Re: Any Good Books?

    Gambler's Guide to the World is certainly a GAMBLER'S guide. It contains very little useful info for advantage players. It may have some use for more exotic countries in general, but casino information is out of date anyway. Author seems to be more like a gambler rather than AP.

    Orson

  11. #11
    gpap
    Guest

    gpap: Re: Any Good Books?

    Another alternative, if you speak other languages, is to look on the internet. Some countries for whatever reason force the casinos to post their exact rules on the internet eg. France, Germany, Italy for all casino games.

    Hope it helps.

  12. #12
    Mr.X
    Guest

    Mr.X: Foreign BJ book trivia

    The most famous book about non-USA BJ is "Blackjack in Asia" by Stanford Wong. Most people here probably know the story, and I'm probably off on some details, but back in the 70's, Wong wrote an extremely exclusive and expensive book about hugely exploitable games in Asia. I believe mostly in Japan, Korea and Macao. The book had a huge price tag, something like $2,000 (!), and you had to have connections to buy it. Two of the main advantage plays was penetration and rules. Wong correctly assumed widespread knowledge of these games by the AP community would kill it, hence the small # of books sold (it was tiny) and the huge price.
    I share 98%'s reluctance to play overseas, I agree there are too many potential pitfalls. IMO, Pro21's response is right on target.
    My limited knowledge on this topic is the biggest drawback for most people on this board is foreign casinos, especially the most exploitable ones, are EXTREMELY wary of Americans, especially relatively young, white, male Americans.EXTREMELY wary.

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