Product Description
Professional Blackjack explains card counting and other ways to beat blackjack, and has strategies for various rule variations. Lots of tables.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
After losing hundreds of pounds in the casino, and watching Rainman, I was extremely interested in learning the skill of card counting. I did a lot of research, and it appears that this book is generally considered to be THE definitive text for professional card counting. Wong first describes Basic Generic Strategy which allows the reader to maximise his winnings without actually counting cards, he then goes on to describe the Hi-Lo system of card counting (which appears to be one of the most widely used systems). The great thing about this book is that it provides betting strategies for pretty much every variation of casino blackjack, along with statistical analyses of average profit and variation per 100 hands played. One flaw with the book is that there is a lot of waffle that isn't really essential. All you really need to learn is the card counting system, and the betting table of the most common BJ variation. Card counting itself is not too difficult with practice. It is the memorisation of the tables that is the most important thing. This is why, I use this book for playing in online casinos where I can take my time and use it as a reference. I made £160 yesterday.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
BUY THIS BOOK. I spent 25 years on Blackjack in a main London Casino. When I retired, some 15 years ago, I was the No 1 Pit Boss. I spent hours every night counting cards resulting in being able to do so almost with my eyes shut. Want to be a serious counter? Make sure you know the Basic Strategy without having to think about it- or you're beaten before you start. Then practice. The good news: About 99% of casino staff can't count cards. Give them an Ace, 5, 8 and they wouldn't have a clue. You don't need any other books, but you should buy them anyway, in particular Beat The Dealer (Thorpe) just for the history and all round understanding of the whole game. There are a few others: Million Dollar Blackjack (Uston). The World's Greatest Blackjack Book (Humble & Cooper). The Theory of Blackjack (Griffin). Playing Blackjack as a Business (Revere). A couple of them will do your head in, but they're worth a read though mostly out of date for current games. Learn to count multiple cards in one go, and you'll soon be able to look at all the hands on a table and know the count almost instantly. Make up a little card with the Basic Strategy on it (I suggest you use colours). Then add a few count decisions from this book. A good start is- Split 3,3 against a 2. Double 9 against a 3. Stand 16 against a 10, 13 against a 2, 12 against a 4 or 6, A7 against an Ace. And as you get more proficient, add a few more numbers. It's hard work and you're not going to make a fortune. But then you're not going to lose one either- regardless of how much money you've got. And a specific instance when I was working to make the point: One of the regular punters was a well known millionaire and thought he was the best Blackjack player in the world, and then one day within 2 hours lost £10 million- and that's true! And finally to the gentleman who plays online and won £160. He was lucky. Online they shuffle after every hand.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
26 reviews
57 of 62 people found the following review helpful
Useful but dated
15 May 1998
Format:Paperback
This book is primarily useful as a reference work. Anyone who is serious about using either of the systems presented in it (Hi-Lo and Halves) will need it, but it is definitely not for beginners.
Playing conditions have deteriorated nationwide since this book was first published (and since its update) as the casinos have engaged in an "arms race" with counters, and so the outlook it presents is (to say the least) highly optimistic. Casinos have wised up about how to catch skilled players, and are much more careful about the options and promotions that they offer. Blackjack is no longer the easy road to riches.
The discussion parts of the book do not sufficiently emphasize the importance of the depth-of-deal (penetration) to the player. This, more than which system or which tables are memorized, is the key to winning.
34 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Outstanding Guide to Card Counting
28 May 2002
Format:Paperback
To win at Blackjack, you need to do four things:
(1) make the appropriate playing decision (e.g. hit / stand);
(2) bet more when odds favor that you will win;
(3) have a sufficient bankroll available; and
(4) play enough rounds
This book covers all four points.
Making the appropriate decision (playing strategy) can be achieved by learning basic strategy. Playing strategy -- and hence your win rate -- can be improved by memorizing index numbers, but basic strategy is actually sufficient for winning at blackjack. Basic strategy, as well as index strategies for two card counting systems, are presented thoroughly.
Making the appropriate betting decision is necessary for winning at blackjack. In the long term, it is statistically impossible to win at blackjack without varying your bet appropriately. Selecting an appropriate bet is covered thoroughly in this book.
Having a sufficient bankroll is essential. While the minimum bankroll size (say $2500 for playing on the Strip) may be more than you like, the details of calculating the bankroll you need is provided.
Playing enough rounds is essential. The details are provided for you to calculate your expected win rates, and their standard deviations, so you know what to expect. You may need to play more than you want (say 100 - 1000) hours to have a reasonable chance of doubling your bankroll, but again, you can calculate it.
This book does have math. No calculus, but basic statistics. Everything is explained -- and you will want it explained.
The material in the book is not heavily dated (cf _Million Dollar Blackjack_ by Ken Uston). Some readers have expressed concern, but as of the date of this review, it's easy to find games in Las Vegas with odds better than the benchmark rules.
I am tempted to add a fifth necessary condition for winning at blackjack -- finding a table with sufficient penetration. This means a table where enough of the deck is used that you will see variations the card counter can take care of. A dealer that shuffles after one or two hands, or the increasingly-present continuous shuffling machines, significantly reduces a counter's advantage by reducing the opportunities to count! I agree with other readers that say penetration deserves better coverage in this book.
Good luck! You can win! But first learn basic strategy, calculate your bet sizes, accumulate your bankroll. Then play as many hands as you can.
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Card counters bible
18 Mar 2000
Format:Paperback
This is one of the best if not the very best book on blackjack out on the market today. This book does not have colorful stories but has all the information you will need to get an edge at blackjack and win money from the casinos consistently. The rest is up to you(proper bankroll, camoflage, patience, and discipline). This book will give you basic stategy for six decks. It will teach you the hi-lo and also the halves count(a 2 level count). The book will tell you how much per hour you are expected to win due to differing rules when a specified hi lo bet scheme is used. There are also chapters dealing with double exposure and the over under side bet. There are also charts for taking advantage of special rules like 7-7-7 , 6-7-8 , or 5 or 6 card 21's paying a bonus.Wong also discusses risk and includes many charts including expected values for hands and strategy changes for counts using the hi lo and for using the halves count. This book has no fluff it is packed with information. If you want stories buy another book but if you want to win money buy this one. This book has everything I mentioned and more.A five star book definitely worth more than the price.
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