Playing Blackjack As a Business

Rating:
Summary: You can't do better than this blackjack book.
Review: It has been several years since I played blackjack at the Las Vegas hotels. A quick review of Lawrence Revere's book, "Playng Blackjack as a Business," quickly put me in the right frame of mind, not just to play, but to know I could win if I followed instructions. Years ago I decided that this would be the book I would use as a blackjack reference. I have never been sorry. I did not play well enough (my fault, not Revere's) to get rich. I did, however, play well enough to get shut down at two tables- one at the Stardust and again at the Thunderbird. Those that remember the "bird" know how long ago that has been. Revere, whose real name I believe is Parsons, helped me have a lot of fun at blackjack and, I am sure, kept me from losing more than I should have. If you want to enjoy blackjack, find this book!

Rating:
Summary: Good but out of date
Review: It is a pretty good book but it is out of date. It was first published in 1969! Since then, there have been lots of advancements in the game of blacjack. Overall, I do not feel it is must reading for todays player given that the player has read the other great books that are probably better.

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Summary: Sexist, thief, egomaniac?
Review: Not being "of age," and therefore not playing in a casino, I cannot say how much money one could make with these strategies. His Basic Strategy does seem to work though (in home games, etc.), it gets about a 49% win rate. This man is a sexist egomaniac who truly believes that everyone but him is a moron, and he is the ONLY man alive that should be listened to when trying to learn Blackjack. It's kind of amusing when he implies several times that most women are too stupid to learn his strategies, that they are unable to concentrate or devote any time to it, but that if a woman were to learn one of them she could make millions based on the fact that she is a woman and pit bosses won't be watching her. Pretty funny stuff. However, his "Revere Plus-Minus Strategy" is stolen from Beat the Dealer, it's a basic hi-lo, nothing more. Also, he devotes a chapter to the Revere Ten Count, only to say much later that all ten count systems are worthless. So what can I say, I think that reading it will improve your game, but not nearly as much as this man seems to think it will.

Rating:
Summary: Beat the house!
Review: Of all the games in a casino, there is only one that offers the player an opportunity to gain an advantage over the house. That is blackjack. This book will show how to do it. Several years ago I was booked on a family trip with a cruise liner. In anticipation, I bought the book off the shelf after reading the back cover. I took it home and followed L.R.'s instructions about practice & strategy to the letter(I had a couple of months before the cruise). On the cruise I used the strategy and it worked. It worked so well that the pit boss decided to replace the dealer late into the last night of the cruise, just so he could try to trip me up with fast dealing and incessant talking. It was just like an old time movie. I smoked the guy! I only go gambling once avery few months, just because I don't want to get addicted, but I always study my charts and practice before I go. The cost of the book? Less than 1 bet if you are serious!

Rating:
Summary: Blackjack as a Business Review
Review: Other than the Hi-Opt Ken Uston method, this is one of the best blackjack systems available. Definitely for the serious player. The book starts with simple counting and progresses through several systems each more powerful, which is the great thing about the book, because a player learns in stages, which makes it easier. The greatest thing about the book, it not only teaches you counting and betting strategies, but also how to apply them to different hands. In case you are not aware, after reading the book and perfecting the point-count system, there are 2 additional systems you must learn to truly master the Revere method. These are available at the website. I recommend this for the serious player only, as much time will be needed to master the complete system. Also, this is geared toward single deck play. For the more common multiple deck games, you should read the book, then learn the 2 multiple deck systems from the website (Oh, these systems are very expensive!). The book also stresses that you must play perfectly to win, and that when you do play perfectly, you will not always win. This is a must for any gambling book. Any book that promises quick winnings or riches is not worth reading.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Blackack Book
Review: Playing Blackjack As a Business is one of the best books ever written on card counting. It is very comprehensive listing basic to advanced card counting strategies. Perhaps the greatest benefit is the author's decades of personal experience in playing and winning using the strategies presented in the book. The book is, I believe largely if not wholly accurate. (The basic strategy charts are amongst the most accurate in existence!) Lawrence Revere stresses the importance of discipline and practice and that, regardless of one's skill, there will always be occasions when you lose sessions of play. The book is useful for an intermediate card counter and an excellent place to start if you're a newcomer.

Rating:
Summary: Very good guide.
Review: Prior to this book I was winning with beginners luck. Now I am actually winning by knowing what I am doing when and why. Although the house is still up, I am a better player from reading this book. This book explains the game and the strategies in a very simple language. The book has charts that explain what you should be doing in all situations. These cheat charts were created from computer simulated odds. I have not been able to read the more advance strategies (counting cards) although the basic strategies has started to sink in an have helped me increase my odds against the house.
Enjoy the game and do not lose too much money.

Rating:
Summary: Not recommended
Review: This book is quite a bit out of date. In its time, I'm sure it was the best, but that is no reason to purchase it today. I give him an extra star for realizing the importance of a computer in coming up with a strategy. The basic strategy is strong, ..., but only for a small number of decks. The book doesn't cover any 6 or 8 deck games or go over any variations of the game other than the "most popular" version. (Unless you count 2 sentences) He also states the same information repeatedly throughout the book which leaves you wondering why he didn't add more tables instead of wasting the space.
Too much of the book was set aside to make fun of the other methods and discredit various authors and too little on things of educational value. With virtually no tips on avoiding heat (other than not changing bets wildly) and suggestions like "never let your eyes leave the table", he leaves no question in my mind as to why he was banned in every casino.
Finally, the one reason to buy the book would be if you were going to use his system. For the most accurate one, he asks you to send him another $200 to get a copy of it. To me, the book seemed like a large advertisement to his real system that is not included. Other systems are now available that are much easier and have similar accuracy, you may want to check into them instead.

Rating:
Summary: The only Blackjack book you'll ever need.
Review: This book is the end-all resource on Blackjack. Not only does the book teach Basic Strategy for single and multiple deck shoes, it teaches 3 different methods of counting. The systems are sound and the book isn't geared toward mathematicians or professional gamblers so that the average person feels stupid after reading it. I have purchased many books on Blackjack and this book is like owning 3 books in 1. It'll teach you the basics, putting these basics to use in a counting situation, and how not to get caught. Well worth the investment.

Rating:
Summary: Playing Blackjack As a Business
Review: This book is well written and covers basic through advanced play in a way that should be easy for any level of player to follow. Especially insightful and useful are the charts on strategy. Some people argue some of the concepts in this book are out of date; however, if studied and mastered you should find they still hold true depending on the rules of the particular casino your are playing. It is a worthy complement to other books on the subject written more recently. The more you know and the more you have mastered different stategies the better you play will be. This is a great resource.