Blackjack: Professional bj vs. Blackjack Secrets

[csuf_gambl0o0r]

Hi, this past weekend i was in Vegas and the poker action was kinda dry so i decided to gamb00l it up playing blackjack using straight basic strategy. And damn, i never realized blackjack was such a sick sick game, just like poker. Up a couple of bills and then the next minute, down a couple hundred, sick. So after losing a couple hundred for the trip, i am now determined to beat the game. I firmly believe that this game can be beat with the right knowledge and skillset or maybe im just a degen gambler.

I did some research and decided im going to buy the following books:
1. Blackbelt Blackjack
2. Blackjack Bluebook 2
3. Knockout Blackjack
4. Andy Bloch's Beating Blackjack DVD

I also want to get a Stanford Wong book but i can't decide which one. What's the difference between "Professional Blackjack" and "Blackjack Secrets"?

[PJS]

I'm not a Blackjack player myself, but in the back of Gambling Theory and Other Topics, Mason provides many book reviews on both Poker and Blackjack. If you are serious, I'd suggest having a look.

PJS

[ReidDeCardes]

[ QUOTE ]
Hi, this past weekend i was in Vegas and the poker action was kinda dry so i decided to gamb00l it up playing blackjack using straight basic strategy. And damn, i never realized blackjack was such a sick sick game, just like poker. Up a couple of bills and then the next minute, down a couple hundred, sick. So after losing a couple hundred for the trip, i am now determined to beat the game. I firmly believe that this game can be beat with the right knowledge and skillset or maybe im just a degen gambler.

I did some research and decided im going to buy the following books:
1. Blackbelt Blackjack
2. Blackjack Bluebook 2
3. Knockout Blackjack
4. Andy Bloch's Beating Blackjack DVD

I also want to get a Stanford Wong book but i can't decide which one. What's the difference between "Professional Blackjack" and "Blackjack Secrets"?

[/ QUOTE ]

Get any one of the first 3 to start. I never saw the DVD but the 3 books are all good.

Professional Blackjack is good if you want to read lots of tables. Blackjack Secrets, if I remember correctly, is a more basic book. It's also good, but I say go with #2 or #3.

[charlie_t_jr]

[ QUOTE ]
I also want to get a Stanford Wong book but i can't decide which one. What's the difference between "Professional Blackjack" and "Blackjack Secrets"?

[/ QUOTE ]

It's been quite a while since I looked at BJ Secrets. If memory serves, it's more of a players strategy book...heat, cover betting, etc.

Professional BJ is pretty much "nuts & bolts" of BJ and counting using Hi/Lo.

[bernie]

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I also want to get a Stanford Wong book but i can't decide which one. What's the difference between "Professional Blackjack" and "Blackjack Secrets"?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd get both plus his Basic BJ book. Along with some Snyder books.

Once you get versed well in the game, try Ian Andersons 'burning the tables'. Some great adjustments in there.

b

[dragon14]

Blackbelt in Blackjack is a marvelous book. It's a very interesting read and also covers the basics very well. Blackjack Secrets is good reading. It is largely composed of letters to Wong from subscribers of his newsletter on tricks they use to improve their earn at the blackjack tables.

Blackjack Bluebook and Knockout Blackjack I would not recommend. As nearly every book concentrates on the Hi/Lo count, Knockout Blackjack will just add to the confusion by offering up another count. Blackjack Bluebook should be skipped as well. Snyder and Wong's books both cover the same stuff and much more as well.

DVD's tend to have both less information and be more expensive. I wouldn't bother buying any.

I would recommend buying Blackbelt in Blackjack and Blackjack Secrets. Professional Blackjack is largely composed of page after page of tables of basic strategy and win expectation and is not worth buying once you have the other two.

I've used my library to check out quite a few Blackjack books. Both of Ian Andersen's are rather amusing as well as informative. Mason Malmuth's Blackjack Essays is well written as well. A lot of the other books are redundant or outdated.

The best thing to do is get those two books, get a blackjack simulation software program and practice counting. Then get out and play once you're speed is sufficient. Stanford Wong publishes a monthly newsletter with the best table conditions for casinos in Las Vegas. You should purchase it once at least.

[bernie]

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Stanford Wong publishes a monthly newsletter with the best table conditions for casinos in Las Vegas.

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Actually, best table conditions in the nation. Also includes out of country places. Most times, the best BJ games aren't in Vegas but in Reno or Laughlin. This newsletter pays for itself easily.

Andersons books are great. His first one is out of print and a collectors item. The 2nd one I think is much more useful.

Though I can't stand Patterson, he has some good speed drills in one of his books. You should be able to count down a deck in around :20 seconds regularly.

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Professional Blackjack is largely composed of page after page of tables of basic strategy and win expectation and is not worth buying once you have the other two.


[/ QUOTE ]

I think this is easily worth buying. It covers alot of rules in the game that you may run into that the other books don't. If you're serious about the game, this book should be there. You can't go wrong with Wongs books.

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get a blackjack simulation software program

[/ QUOTE ]

I've found some little hand held cheapies actually do pretty well. As long as it has a shuffle point and you can vary your bets. I got one in Reno a long time ago and it was good for a workout.

Once you get to a certain point, the game plays itself. There are no 'feel' plays. The main factor is longevity.

I bought Andersons 2nd book just last year for the hell of it as I don't play BJ anymore. But I was very impressed with his new way of camoflauging his play. After reading what he came up with, it was so friggin' simple and obvious I couldn't believe it. Wish I'd have realized it when I was playing.

b

[JJay1231]

[ QUOTE ]
Hi, this past weekend i was in Vegas and the poker action was kinda dry so i decided to gamb00l it up playing blackjack using straight basic strategy. And damn, i never realized blackjack was such a sick sick game, just like poker. Up a couple of bills and then the next minute, down a couple hundred, sick. So after losing a couple hundred for the trip, i am now determined to beat the game. I firmly believe that this game can be beat with the right knowledge and skillset or maybe im just a degen gambler.

I did some research and decided im going to buy the following books:
1. Blackbelt Blackjack
2. Blackjack Bluebook 2
3. Knockout Blackjack
4. Andy Bloch's Beating Blackjack DVD

I also want to get a Stanford Wong book but i can't decide which one. What's the difference between "Professional Blackjack" and "Blackjack Secrets"?

[/ QUOTE ]

Im a semi retired Pro BJ player (yes Poker has taken over) but IMO the best BJ books you can buy are "Professional Blackjack" by Stanford Wong, "Blackjack for Blood" by Bryce Carlson and "Burning the tables in Las Vegas" by Ian Anderson...(dont have BJ secrets). BFB is definately more advanced and can take months of practice to perfect, but PB should be your starting point as it covers the most common and basic card counting system (hi lo) and just this book alone should make you a winning player. Burning the tables......is a real gem! and a must for anyone who is serious about doing this, it covers mainly "camoflage" techniques to avoid detection by surveillance and casino staff.

But dont think for 1 second that its going to be nice and easy, it can be a tedious and frustrating career (believe me!). You can go through HUGE swings in your bankroll and its possible to go through long periods of not making any money (even months!) not to mention the "heat" you WILL cop by casino staff.

There are numerous simulations and software also for practice (check out Conjelco site.)

Anyway best of luck.

[csuf_gambl0o0r]

Thanks everyone for the good advice.

In my haste to start studying BJ, yesterday i went to my local barnes and nobles to see what BJ books they had. Sadly they did not have any of the stanford wongs books or Blackbelt Blackjack. But they did have Blackjack Bluebook and KO BJ, i bought both. I started read bluebook and im almost done with it. Just finished the section about the stage 1 KISS count which makes alot of sense. Been practicing counting down a single deck using this method, im getting the hang of it. Should i move onto stage 2?

However, the previous chapter about the Ace/10 Front count, that im not so sure about. It seems way too improbable to accurately gauge 2 decks just by simply eyeing the discard tray. Also seems too tedious to jump from shoe to shoe looking for the perfect first 2 decks.

Ima go look for the Wong books and Blackbelt BJ later today.

[charlie_t_jr]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks everyone for the good advice.

In my haste to start studying BJ, yesterday i went to my local barnes and nobles to see what BJ books they had. Sadly they did not have any of the stanford wongs books or Blackbelt Blackjack. But they did have Blackjack Bluebook and KO BJ, i bought both. I started read bluebook and im almost done with it. Just finished the section about the stage 1 KISS count which makes alot of sense. Been practicing counting down a single deck using this method, im getting the hang of it. Should i move onto stage 2?

However, the previous chapter about the Ace/10 Front count, that im not so sure about. It seems way too improbable to accurately gauge 2 decks just by simply eyeing the discard tray. Also seems too tedious to jump from shoe to shoe looking for the perfect first 2 decks.

Ima go look for the Wong books and Blackbelt BJ later today.

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It's good to read as much info as you can. What you really need to do is pick a count system and learn to do it in your sleep. Whether you pick KISS, KO, Hi/Lo, Red-7, etc. doesn't really matter much, they'll get the money. Find one you're comfortable with and master it.

I personally use KO. It compares well with Hi/Lo without the extra step of division at the table.

Checkout this website:

http://www.gamemasteronline.com/inde...icsIndex.shtml

It has a comparisons of various counting systems and other great info.