Gregorian Strategy for Multiple Deck Blackjack

Rating:
Summary: Read this review.
Review: This book is the target of a smear campaign by the casinos. Most of the negative reviews on this book are being placed by insiders within the casino gaming industry.
*I have worked for the gaming industry for the past 25 years. Before this book was even published, copies of the manuscript were aquired by several of the casino gaming PR. This "Gregorian Strategy" was repeatedly tried under fire by gaming experts, witnessed personally by myself and others, against other known systems and EVERY time this strategy out-performed not only basic strategy, but basic strategy used in conjunction with the High-opt, the Hi-Lo, and KO BJ counts.
*I am not a gambler, and I do not play BJ or any-other casino game. I know what I know from working behind the "eye in the sky." I have seen everything in my day and I am telling you this from the inside, dont believe everything you read. Especially most of the "one star" reviews on this book.

Rating:
Summary: Get a refund
Review: If you don't wanna count cards but wanna play blackjack, get Basic Blackjack by Stanford Wong, It's the best non counting blackjack book bar none. This book is junk with no mathematical support.

Rating:
Summary: Effective strategy.
Review: Pros: Book has an effective new strategy for the game. At home and in the casino this strategy performs better than old basic strategy hands down.
Cons: Book writing style is somewhat "annoying".
Overall A decent book with a winning system.

Rating:
Summary: Novice player not going to follow this book
Review: I am a recreational blackjack player and I asked for this book at Christmas as a way to help increase my winnings without a lot of mind numbing card counting.

I will not be using the strategy in this book.

First of all, I need to echo previous postings in here that it is very poorly written. Entire chapters that do nothing to promote his theory consume large quantities of a thin book. And way too many times I feel like I am talked down to with trite phrases like "are you paying attention?". Don't talk to me in a condescending voice if you want me to keep reading.

Now as for the small part of the book that actually has some blackjack theory, I'm not buying it. Statements are made and promises are provided but there are no facts to support his conclusions. However, I imagine about a dozen or more times we are told "trust me on this". I can't risk my money on something that is largely supported by "trust me on this".

If the author is open to constructive advice (which he may not be judging by his tone in comments below). I would recommend a second edition of the book. Drop all the filler where you talk about each casino in Vegas and how YOU did and what YOU recall and what YOUR girlfriend did and how YOU got comped. Doesn't interest me at all. Instead, break out some sample hands where your strategy differs from basic strategy. Given an unbiased deck show the probabilites of different outcomes based on your system vs. more traditional methods. Then repeat the sample hand for a 10s-rich shoe and a 10s-poor shoe. Let's see some specifics.

In summary, the book is poorly written and the support is inadequate support for the theories presented.

Rating:
Summary: Banned in Vegas!
Review: Yes. I sat down to play at the Cortez casino, and after only around 1 hour at the tables I was asked to stop playing! I was only up 5 units but they stopped me from playing!
That tells me that the casinos know about this "gregorian strategy' and it must work. Hell, I fully intend to continue using this system as I have in the past.
Secondly. I agree with the author that is is very unfair that the casinos of Las Vegas can stop you from playing.

Rating:
Summary: This strategy is crazy, but it works!
Review: Eye opening experience at the tables. First of all, if you use this strategy many UNINFORMED KNOW IT ALL players will make stupid remarks at you, however, this strategy will make you money no doubt especially if you use the simple counting system.

Rating:
Summary: Is there an editor in the house?
Review: The writing style leaves much to be desired. The author constantly chides at the reader 'Are you still with me?' or 'Now pay attention here'. This is incredibly annoying and distracting. The author also spends a great deal time telling you how wonderful his life is, how hot his ladyfriend is, how much he loves Vegas, etc. He leaves little room to actually put forth his strategy. He tends to make lots of assumptions and puts forth absolutely no evidence to support many of his positions. Example: The author repeats ad-nauseum that the whole purpose for creating this ground-breaking-earth-shattering-pit-boss-scaring-casino-bankrupting strategy is because the basic strategy was devised for single deck games 50 years ago and it no longer applies to multiple deck games. That's nice, would you mind telling me why? I can certainly believe that everyone else might be wrong (it's happened before) and you might be right, but if you want me to believe you I think you had better offer up some sort of argument. Instead the author constantly chides us 'Now trust me on this one'. His writing often veers off on tangents (often nonsensical rants aimed at the casinos where he makes a living) for paragraphs at a time. A professional editor could have done this guy a world of good.

Rating:
Summary: The Jury is out
Review: I had already been playing an altered version of basic strategy for some time when I bought this book. Beleive me, when you play using this strategy in a casino where other seasoned players are sitting, you'll get some strange looks, and even growls.I agree with much of his strategy, however, I can't agree with some things he preaches. I use a progressive betting system, and they do work!! He does provide some good information for those of us now looking for that 1 thing to better our strategy, even though I don't buy into all of it, my winning rate has improved slightly. Worth reading, but don't take any more than you can handle seriously.

Rating:
Summary: Dont Buy This Book!
Review: Dont buy this book. It is solely designed to separate you from your money, just like alot of casino games. This author must be laughing all the way to the bank. All of information in this book can be gotten for free from other sources (and better info at that). The main strategy table even has typos! (what does one do with cards totalling nine and the dealer shows an ace? Yes I can figure this out myself but should I have to after buying this book?) The book consists of mostly filler, and could have been condensed down to about ten pages, if that. The rest is just banter about casinos. I have been to Las Vegas, I dont need someone to describe the casinos to me. The author even talks down to the reader throughout the book always asking if you are paying attention and generally insulting your intelligence. If you want to learn how to win at black jack, go to BJ21.com and try their black jack school. It is free and very accurate! This book is a rip off. You have been warned!

Rating:
Summary: Totally Worth the Investment.
Review: This author has written a slim but valuable work on the most beatable of casino games. His advice is not conventional but I agree with it after many punishing hands when I stood with 12s and 13s. He's right as you should hit and hit them. His strategy requires discipline but I really believe that it is viable, and is particularly necessary if you're like me and have a really tough time counting cards. It's just not something I can pull off so his alterno-tactics are welcome.