Any good books on Black Jack?

Question

Before I moved to Europe, I had some books on gambling, but the Post Office lost my box. I doubt I would find any good books written in English here, but I could order them online if I knew some titles.

I also have a question about Black Jack. It seems like the dealer gets an inordinant number of ten-value cards, and aces. There have been times where I've counted, and it seemed statistically impossible. For example, in 20 hands, the dealer got a 10 or Ace as the first card in 17 hands. What is the strategy people use for beating the House? What are the most common mistakes?

When I play Black Jack, this is what typically happens: I start playing with $50. I usually double that or go slightly higher, perhaps to $140. Then, even though I try to continue playing at this steady pace, I begin to lose, even though I'm adhering to the same basic principles. Is this a common mistake? What am I doing wrong?

Answer 1

"Blackbelt in Blackjack" by Arnold Snyder is a really good book, it details basic strategy and some other good counting strategies.

Answer 2

Casinos read the books too so most likely you are doing exactly what they want you to do.

Playing by the book does not work in today's casinos as far as Blackjack is concerned. There are very very few places that have games that are even near even odds. The games that are single deck and pay less than 3 to 2 for blackjack are no good either. The multideck games are horrible. The best games in my opinion are two deck and hand shuffled. Don't trust games with shuffling machines. Also, the two deck game must have liberal rules too. Blackjack is a funny game because it is very very sensitive to how the cards are shuffled. If the cards are not shuffled throughly then if can become a terrible game. Most multi-deck games are not shuffled properly. If you do start winning at the blackjack table you will most likely be watched very carefully not get a good shuffle the next time around.

Also, remember the best blackjack game is basically an even game so don't expect to win much money in the long run. Ever wonder why those guys on tv and the ones that write the books aren't playing and making money? It's because it's a near impossible thing to do.

Answer 3

A few tips. First it matters greatly if you are playing the game with 1 deck 4 decks or 6 decks. With one deck the chance to count cards is greatly enhanced, at 4 or 6 decks it comes down to statistical probability, in other words in any one deck of cars there are 16 ten point cards and 4 aces, so in 4 decks we have 64 tens and 16 aces and 128 count cards, When surveying the table if you have 5 hands and all up cards are count cards than either the dealer has 10's or they are about to be dealt, the reverse of course is true. It is a matter of instinct and common sense to feel the next 10 coming up. You are correct the more you play the greater chance you have of getting beat. The odds are after all with the house, and sooner or later the odds catch you. I would suggest quiting while you are ahead, difficult, but fool proof. The most common mistake I see are people holding 12 or higher and taking a hit while the dealer has a 6 or less up. I assume where you play dealer hits on 16- and stays on 17+, basically those players bust themselves and always end up loosing. Can't help with book titles. When I play I'll walk from a hot dealer, set a goal, cash in when I get to it, and never play while drinking. Also never sit at the table with Japanese tourists, they play for fun never to win and it just frosts me to have them set up the dealer for a win

Answer 4

Here are some books on BJ.

Bringing Down The House by Ben Mezrich - how MIT students beat Las Vegas
Play Blackjack Like the Pros by Kevin Blackwood
The Counter Kevin Blackwood

As for betting in Blackjack, I tend to start at the $25 and progressively increase my bet as I win. I don't double it. I'll just add a little more to my bet and pull some back. I keep doing this until I bust and then start over again. I don't know if you're the impatient type who just likes to win big and then leave. I tend to stay at a table for hours if the hands are decent. If the dealer is hot (showing face cards or aces several hands in a row or just not busting), I'll just get up and go to another table. I do get annoyed by those people who get desperate at the end and try to make up their losses in a few hands and then end up losing even more....but in some cases, you do see a huge swing back to the positive.

A tip to try and "change up" the cards is to either stay out a hand or two (depending on your casino's rules) or playing another hand.

I don't try to win a huge amount of money every time I sit at a table. If I leave with $400-$500 at this table and another few hundred at another table...it adds up to a few thousand.

Always remember...if you're up even a little bit, you're still a winner...even if it's only a few hundred dollars. Save it for your next trip to the casino when your luck will be better.

Bet with your head, not over it. =)