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Professional Blackjack

Professional Blackjack

List Price: $19.95
Your Price: $13.57
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Best Blackjack Book Ever
Review: "Professional Blackjack" is just as the title represents: a book for people who have aspirations to play blackjack for a living. It is a no-nonsense, well-written, serious, blackjack book that tells you more than you ever really wanted to know about how to play blackjack. Its only drawback, if it has one, is that it expects the reader to enjoy the mathematics and numbers involved in blackjack as much as the author does. For those who are not serious "number people", this book can be tough sledding. For those who are, this is undoubtedly the best blackjack book, ever.

Other really first-rate blackjack books are: "The Theory of Blackjack" by Peter Griffin, who has a sense of humor, in addition to being a real mathematician, and "Beat the Dealer" by Edward Thorp, which is really the foundation book of card counting. For fun, and a good overview, you should also read Ford's "How to Gamble at the Casinos Without Getting Plucked Like a Chicken". Although it not as detailed as the others, it provides some important perspective that can keep you from getting lost in the woods.

Every good gambling library should contain these books, in addition to "Professional Blackjack". Even at the minimum of $5 a hand in most casinos, a few hours of play can add up to some serious money. The time and expense involved in buying and reading a few good books is quite small compared to the time and expense put at risk when you play blackjack for money. It always helps to know what you are doing.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: An Excellent Book for the Halves Card Counting Method
Review: After reading several reviews, I realized that the reviewers actually tell you nothing about the book and methods, and I would go so far as to say that some really didn't read this book. I am a Level 3 Card Counter. I use the method described in this book known as the "halves counting method". It is the BEST and Most Accurate way to determine when to increase your bet. REALISTICALLY, MOST PEOPLE will NOT have the time and patience to learn it, so they will settle for the Hi-Lo method (also in the book), which will place them at a distinct disadvantage from someone using the "Halves Method". Is there a Better method than the "Halves" - yes, but it requires a "side count of Aces, and this is difficult to do while carrying on conversations and trying to survive at a Blackjack table. Remember this, although there are tips in this book about betting and other things, you have to read more books and play a "ton" of Blackjack to learn how to bet properly, how much to raise, how to read when a high True Count is "running away", and many more savvy bits of information. If you're looking to read ONE book and kill the Casino, it won't happen - if you're thinking you'll win every time out, it won't happen, even with the Halves Count - but this is the BEST of the books for a diligent Card-Counter who would learn the "Halves Method". Remember, I am recommending this Book for the Halves Method and excellent, accurate tables in the book. I'd give it 5 Stars, but there's a few mistakes (some typographical), and an asumption about "greater than the count" that leads to a minor error that is not earth shattering. Good Luck to you!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent but non-colorful and very detailed.
Review: If you want to use the hi/lo (or halves) system, this book is the first, last and only book you'll ever need. I think the hi/lo system is one of the easiest professional system. Ken Uston is definitely more colorful. Perhaps the book's biggest problem is black jack has become a brutal game. Few casinos offer profitable conditions unless one plays in teams and risks getting banned.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: a true bible
Review: if you'll read only one book in blackjack this is the one!
the book is very orginized and consice. it gets right to the point of each subject.
I simply love this book. I take it with me to every trip (just in case) and read it just for fun. I think I reread it 10 times.
I read so many other books in blackjack. (no one is close).
If you intend to be a good blackjack player you must have this book. period

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Still the best book for winners: Shut up, and deal!!
Review: Look, the casino is a business, not a charitable institution. Uston and his mouth have ruined it for most people by making the casinos aggressive. If you use Wong's approach, (hi-lo), you will attract a lot less attention, and make as much money as you did before. I know, I do it.

What most people forget, and what Wong does not, is that blackjack is an exercise in pitting mathematics against random chance/odds that alter in your favor as the cards fall, if you are observant. Wong shows why most people lose is that they get piggy. He has a short section on desireable behavior. If you follow this, you don't need to know more.

Uston and genre may be great raconteurs, but if you want to win quietly (win), my money is on Wong. Think about it this way: Whoever "Stanford Wong" is, he uses an alias, which means he wants to keep playing. Uston runs his mouth, sells games, writes books, and brings lawsuits. Every casino knows Uston by face. Well, which one do you want to be? I want to play, so I follow Wong's time-tested methods, as set out in the book.

If you needed to read a book to know that deck penetration is an important factor, for example, you shouldn't be playing the game in the first place. That's why Wong didn't play with such nonsense in his book. Read the whole book, then go think about it and learn how to be unobtrusive. Then go win.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Oldie but goodie -- recommended
Review: Professional Blackjack by Stanford Wong is a classic book on card counting. It was originally written and published in the late 1970's, and is little changed in the current edition. As many reviewers have noted over the years, Wong's writing style is brittle and lacks punch, but the information is solid (though a little dated) and this book contains most of what you need to become a winning Blackjack player....

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: THE Essential Blackjack Reference.
Review: Stanford Wong's "Professional Blackjack" is THE essential reference on the game of Blackjack. That is probably why it is one of the few books recommended by Dr. Ford in his book: "How to Gamble at the Casinos Without Getting Plucked Like a Chicken".

If you are going to get serious about Blackjack, you must have this book. It covers all the important details with unsurpassed accuracy. While all of Wong's books are known for accuracy and attention to detail, "Professional Blackjack" is virtually "The Bible". Anytime you find yourself in doubt about a what might be the best possible play, simply consult this book. It contains the right answers.

Wong's writing style is clear, simple, direct and a bit understated. His style has the quiet confidence of an author who really does know what he is talking about. He chooses his words carefully and accurately. When Wong speaks, you should listen.

The complexity of the book is due to the subject being more complicated than it appears. Blackjack looks like a simple game, to the uniformed. Wong unravels the complexities with unsurpassed clarity. You simply will not find a better book on the details of Blackjack.


Rating: 4 stars
Summary: An excellent reference
Review: The first sentence of Chapter One says "The purpose of this book is to serve as a handy reference to card counters." The implication here is that you already know how to count cards. If you don't and you want to learn this book isn't for you - yet. (Stanford Wong's web site BJ21.com has a link to an excellent online "Blackjack School" that is free!) If you know how to count cards this book has a wealth of information on how to optimize your game for a dizzying array of rule variations. My quibble with it is the lack of 2 deck charts - it contains single deck and multi-deck (4 or more) charts. Supposedly one can use the multi-deck charts with a 2 deck game with little loss.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: An excellent reference
Review: The first sentence of Chapter One says "The purpose of this book is to serve as a handy reference to card counters." The implication here is that you already know how to count cards. If you don't and you want to learn this book isn't for you - yet. (Stanford Wong's web site BJ21.com has a link to an excellent online "Blackjack School" that is free!) If you know how to count cards this book has a wealth of information on how to optimize your game for a dizzying array of rule variations. My quibble with it is the lack of 2 deck charts - it contains single deck and multi-deck (4 or more) charts. Supposedly one can use the multi-deck charts with a 2 deck game with little loss.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Best Blackjack and Professional Blackjack Are Two Best
Review: The two best blackjack books I've read since getting interested in this game about six months ago are Wong's "Professional Blackjack" and Scoblete's "Best Blackjack." Wong's book is really for math types but it is the best reference book for all types of games and rules. However, Scoblete's book is the more enjoyable and, for novice and intermediate players with some experience, the book that helps you learn the most. These two are both outstanding and if you want to be a good blackjack player they are must reading.


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