My love for blackjack started several years ago when I spent a night at the casino with friends. It was the first time I had played blackjack and I was astounded at how thrilling and enthralling the experience was. Yet it quickly became clear to me that I didn’t really know what I was doing. There were some players who won time and again, and it made me wonder what their secret was. Were they secretly counting the cards, or was lady luck simply on their side that night? As a self-professed book worm, I decided to research the game and try to brush up on my skills. I was amazed at the sheer volume of books I found on Amazon related to blackjack. Never one to turn away from a challenge, I set to dedicating a lot of time reading these books to find out if any could help newbies like me, and if there were any that could genuinely help to swing the odds of winning in my favour.
If we’re talking about the best blackjack books, then we have to go back to grass roots and mention the book that started it all. Edward O. Thorp’s revolutionary book Beat the Dealer was a game changer. It provided a winning strategy for the game of 21, and was the first book to mathematically prove that card counting and a basic strategy could be used to overcome the house edge in blackjack. The book was a huge hit and earned a place on the coveted New York Times bestseller list. Thorp’s theories and principles have influenced countless players and authors when it comes to the practice of card counting. Despite being released back in the 60’s, the principles and strategies presented within the book are just as relevant today as they were over 50 years ago. This is a must read for all blackjack players, whether you are a beginner or an experienced player.
They say you should never judge a book by its cover, but when you see the title The World’s Greatest Blackjack Book emblazed across the cover of Lance Humble and Carl Cooper’s book, you can’t help but have high expectations of this one. It is a great choice for beginners, as it presents a simple and straightforward explanation of all the basic rules and strategies. Yet it is also suitable for those who want to become serious players, with a clear and precise teaching of the Hi-Opt I counting system. What I found most endearing about the book is the interesting stories the authors share about their own experiences. This makes it a fun and enjoyable read, as well as an informative and educative one.
When it comes to finding a reliable and effective guide to playing blackjack professionally, you can’t go far wrong with a book written by a pro. That’s what you get in Kevin Blackwood’s Play Blackjack Like the Pros. Blackwood has a wealth of experience when it comes to playing blackjack and is considered by many to be one of the world’s top card counters. He has won over a million playing the card game and in his book, he shares his big money winning strategies. All the essentials are covered in a clear, logical and easy to understand manner. As well as the basic rules of play, Blackwood also teaches his own proven card counting system, which is presented in three levels to suit different types of players. Whether you are a new player, just playing for fun or if you consider yourself a professional, you will find specific teachings tailor made for your needs. The book also covers a wide range of blackjack related topics, including money management, team play and internet blackjack.
In addition to these books, I also found plenty of resources online which can help to improve your understanding of blackjack and to increase your success. Sites such as realmoney-blackjack.com provide a complete guide to playing the popular card game, including tips and tricks for reducing the house edge in order to optimise your chances of winning big. Whichever route you decide to take, in my opinion, the more research you do, the better chance you have of beating the house. So happy reading, and happy playing!