My comic book days are about over, but I remember them fondly. I remember some of my enduring favorites. The Spirit; The Green Lantern; The Blackhawks, to name a few. Now, my friend Alex has brought forth one who fills a deep void in the pantheon of world class heroes pitted against an evil force. BlackJack is one on a par with The Blackhawks, full of daring adventure in exotic places in the world. Bravo!

--- Morgan Freeman, actor and film star ---

Someone please make this into a film right now!

Alex Simmons's "Blackjack: Blood and Honor" is fresh and exciting, thoughtful and informative, and incredibly well-written. Yes, this is a graphic novel, and you are thinking, "I'm only into real books, man." Here's the bottom line, pal: This is a real book, just done in a fresh, thrilling way.

Blackjack is an adventurer-for-hire, who takes a contract to protect a Japanese official opposed to the pre-World War II build up in Japan, circa 1938. I never even knew any leading Japanese were opposed the war! I found it great to learn something new while reading a strong action tale.

Simmons writes more words than usually show up in graphic novels, and does it in such a way that this is, indeed, a very good thing. I forwarded my copy to a friend who commented that he didn't need the visuals to follow this tale; that is how clearly Simmons spins his yarns.

But the art is wonderful to behold as well. From the intense cover painting to the frequent action sequences, the illustrations deliver the back up punch to the intelligent, intriguing prose. And additional pages such as "Shades of History" serve as exquisite desert to this hefty reading meal.

So pick order it, sit on down, enjoy, and bon apetite!

Then Amazon is offering you the best bargain you can get. I just finished reading both of Scoblete's books, BOLD CARD PLAY and THE ARMADA STRATEGIES and they were incredible. They give the best strategies for these often casino-friendly games. Scoblete shows you how to reduce the house edge and to take advantage of the casino comping system. This is a great tandem of books for gamblers interested in reading about the "other" casino games.

This book contains the basic strategy for this new game and a method for counting cards. It is a very good book and I recommend it to anyone who wants to play this new casino game. The writer is very good.

Spanish 21 is a lot more fun than regular 21 once you learn the Armada Strategies. I have been getting a monetary edge (Scoblete's term) ever since I read this book! It's wonderful to win and get no heat from the pits bosses. Thank you kindly Mr. Scoblete for writing this book.

Jim Donahue's ability to convey the sights, sounds and smells of war in a foreign land are awesome. I was never involved in anything so courageous as the MGF but I can vouch for the authenticity of what is portrayed in this book. These men undertook some of the most daring and heroic operations conducted with scant regard for their own well-being. I tip my hat and render a salute to all members of Blackjack-33. Well Done to all of you. As a former member of USSF Team B-34, Song Be, you've all earned my respect and admiration.

I just found out why I contiue to read war books by the hundreds. It's a form of regression back to when I was 10 years old and read all the Sergeant Rock Comics I could get my hands on. That's how I learned to read. BlackJack 33 brought me back with the BLAMS and CRACKS, and TATATATAT's. Awsome! The book was a constant adrenaline rush. It never let up! I shall keep this book and read it over and over. The ending left me with a tight chest and a feeling of intense sadness. I only wish is that this book goes on to be made a movie. I have the sincerest respect for the author and his fellow sodiers. Thank you, from one American.

Excellent, edge of your seat book. Always wondering what they could run into next.

I was preparing to camp out at the barn where I board my pregnant Morgan mare so I could keep an eye on her if she went into labor. Normally I would be fighting to stay awake, but I had brought this book along. Once I picked it up, I didn't put it down until it was finished. I absolutely loved it! The way it's written, it allows you to take the place of the teenager and feel everything she's feeling. You get mad, anxious, sad, and ecstatic! My mother started reading it after she heard me talking about it. I can't wait for more from this author!

Ellen Feld's captivating novel about a young girl and her passion for horses. This book has it all - the excitement of fulfilling one's dreams, and the reality of running into obstacles along the path to achievement. The author depicts an accurate account of the Morgan horse arena, while entertaining a wide audience with the story of a young girl's touching bond with a special horse. Recommended for young readers and adults, and is suitable for all levels and disciplines of horsemanship. A must-read novel for anyone with a passion for horses!

I bought this book for my daughter (age 12) and she really enjoyed it. In fact, she liked it so much that she asked me to read it. I admit that I put it off for a bit because I wasn't excited about reading a kid's book but I have to say that I really enjoyed it too. We have horses and both of us found ourselves saying "oh, that's just like our horse". A good book to learn about Morgan Horses, showing and riding.

Gem says it all!
It took 30 years, but somebody has finally taken all the hi-tech blackjack strategy that you need to actually beat the game and reduced it into clear layman's terms. This book turns basic strategy into an artform with 7 hands that should be played "against the book" if the right cards are on the board. It also touches on a provocative angle that I've never seen dealt with before, "Hand Interaction" (completing other players' doubles for less, taking part of their advantageous splits, pawning off one of your own disadvantaged split cards, etc.)
The author, an obviously accomplished card counter presents some laughingly simple ways for a basic strategy player to identify a shoe that has become heavy in Tens and Aces, then shows exactly how to bet and play that shoe through to the end.
The book is littered throughout with graphic card hand illustrations which really drive home its salient points. It also contains the new unbalanced KISS Count which makes basic card counting about as easy as it can get. Later in the book, the reader is shown how to refine the basic Kiss Count into a full scale performer.
The chapter on advanced skills and techniques contains useful gems, particularly a list of 15 "camouflage" plays that a journeyman counter can use to hide his proficiency. I wish this book was around 15 years ago when I was struggling with all the more tedious handbooks on advantage play. This one's a real smooth read, and provides some new insights besides.

For anyone new to blackjack or thinking about taking the next step up to card counting, I don't think you can do better than Fred Renzey's book. For the newcomer, his chapter on basic strategy is the best I've ever seen. For someone that wants some added skill plays without counting cards, his info on deviating from basic strategy based on which cards are face up on the board at the moment is something I haven't seen elsewhere. And, he offers something a lot of authors don't in regards to card counting....making it as easy or as complex as you want. You could probably learn the Ace/10 count on the plane as your flying to Vegas. The unbalanced KISS counts (I,II, or II) progress in complexity...and in your expected return. (For the more savy out there, the Stage III Kiss is
similar to the KO system, but is perhaps a shade easier to use and has a net edge of .70% over the house vs KO's .68%.) And then if you're hard core, the Mentor Count is as good of a Level II system you'll find. This book will take you from an introduction to the game to advanced counting as you pick your own level of comfort, so to speak. And anyone considering Knockout Blackjack should start here.

Great book, I found it very informative for the player who wants to play without serious counting. Renzey gives soild infromation on not only how to get to the next level, but gives super examples. His strategies are very convincing, and will give the intermediate players ways to think out of the box. The ace/10 count is so easy I can't wait to try it in June. Great reading Mr. Renzey. A must read even for the counters, several differant KISS methods covered. He is very funny as well, it is a great book.

I might repeat some of the points already made in the previous review, but my main goal in this review is to let you know what to expect before you buy this book. I first want to say that it is a wonderful book and it is extremely successful at what it tries to accomplish, but I must qualify that by saying that this is not really a book that you will "learn" from. I bought this book expecting something that I can read from front to back, and I thought I might learn new tips and strategies -- I think "Blackjack Secrets", one of Wong's other books, is better for that, though I haven't read it yet. It definitely seems more "readable". "Basic Blackjack" is more of a reference than a learning manual, and you may not need this book at all. Here is what I mean:

The book is organized like this:

Chapter 1 - Introduction (nothing special, just a usual intro)

Chapter 2 - Basic Strategy (this may be all you need from this book; it discusses and gives the chart for Basic Strategy under the most common rules; this information can also be gotten in other books or online -- try http://www.blackjackinfo.com for their Basic Strategy engine)

Chapters 3-15 - variations of Basic Strategy (this is the majority of the book; it gives charts for changes that need to be made in B.S. depending on odd rules you may find in casinos, such as doubling down on any number of cards or decks that include jokers)

Chapters 16-18 - other tricks that you can use (contains some interesting information on tells and warps, but it is really only valuable in certain situations)

My point in outlining the book is to show you that the bulk of its contents is simply variations of B.S. depending on strange rules you may encounter. Don't get me wrong, it's interesting just to read about all the weird rules and side bets you might find in some casinos, but for most people I doubt they will need to learn any of this strategy. Even the information on tells and warps, though fascinating, isn't always applicable; it requires that the dealer check the hole card under a 10. The casino where I play uses an electronic device to check the card, so the dealer never sees it -- pretty much voiding the use of tells and warps.

I'm not trying to discourage anyone from buying this book, because it is very interesting, if not always relevant for your particular situation. I just want you to know what to expect before you purchase it.

OK Mr. Counting Pro, you're on vacation where you know there are casinos. You figure you'll stop in and mabey make some money. But when you sit down at a table, you discover that the rules are not what you're used to. BJ pays 2:1, dealer wins ties, and 21 after splitting tens pays 3:2!? What to do now? Well, you could lose your shirt, or you could get Basic Blackjack.

Wong's impressive text contains proper basic strategy for just about every rule variation and "bonus" (side bet, coupon, etc) that has ever been offered. It also tells you how to estimate the value of each of these variations. As a bonus, there is a good discussion of non-counting strategies such as warps, tells, and the like. At 256 pages, the amount of material covered is amazing.

If you only play Las Vegas or Atlantic City, and already know the stategy for the rules there, you probably don't need this book. But if you like to travel (Europe?) or take advantage of coupon books and other special offers and side bets, it is a must-have.

Wong's writing stye is clear and easy to read, although this book is valuable mostly as a reference guide. I found it very interesting to read about all of the rule variations, side bets, and bonuses that the casinos have thought up, even though I will never encounter the majority of them.

The one thing that I would have liked to have seen in a text on basic strategy is the expected cost of making the "wrong" play. i.e. How much does one give up by not splitting 33vs5? Obviously it would be impractical to include this information for all of the strategies presented, but it would have been nice to have it for common sets of rules. (This information can be found in Wong's Professional Blackjack.)

Overall, a very impressive work.

Good Luck, and Good Cards,

- Jacob W.

I picked up this book in the Las Vegas airport as I was leaving Las Vegas. I wish I had got it at the beginning of my trip. Here's my story: my brother and I both went to Vegas for the first time. We played quite a bit of blackjack. Our last night there, I got wiped out early and retreated to the nickel slots. Shortly after I left the blackjack table, a Japanese guy came and sat down next to my brother. He started coaching my brother and teaching him some basic strategy, and sure enough my brother started really doing well. My brother shared the strategy with me, and it turns out it's the same strategy that's in this book.
The basic strategy is this: obviously if you have a hand of 17 or higher, you should stand. And obviously if you have a hand of 11 or less, you should hit (since you can't bust no matter what card you get). So the only question becomes, what do you do in that "gray zone" where your hand is between 12 and 16? The answer is this: if the dealer has a high card (7 or higher), then HIT. If the dealer has a low card (6 or less), then STAND. The only other thing you need to know about is money management, and basically it sums up to this: if you are ahead, especially if you've doubled your money, then WALK AWAY. Don't stay and get greedy or you'll give your winnings back; your average blackjack session shouldn't last more than an hour, usually. There are also a few other rules in the book for how to handle splitting and doubling down when you're playing multi-deck (which is pretty much everywhere), so get the book and check it out. It's a thin little book that reads quickly and is well worth checking out during your flight into Vegas. Good luck!

A quick easy read. NO CARD COUNTING. Simple tips and strategies make the game fun for the amature, and almost completely remove the house advantage in Blackjack. You gain confidence and can relax and enjoy the game because you know you are doing it right. Using the easy techniques taught in this book, you can even the odds. Don't lose another winning hand because you are too lazy to read a few pages. A must-read for anyone who intends to visit a blackjack game, especially first-timers.

By using george's philosophy,I not only have made a lot of extra money for myself,but I am amazed by what I can get out of the casino for free.Most times they come to me and ask me if I need anything.I get free cigarettes,drinks,rooms,shows,money to spend in gift shop,etc.The system is wonderful,everyone should try it,it works.

Ever since I first stepped into a casino, I always thought it would be useful to find a book or a guide that would provide an inside peek into the hidden and understated apsects of the casino world. George Pappadopoulos has written such a book. And in one pleasant read, anyone interested in really playing the casino game will find themselves winning - at all levels- very quickly.

Mr. Pappadopoulos' first book allowed me to enjoy Black Jack as a table experience. It gave me the confidence I needed and some extra spending money.

This book broadens the experience to include the whole casino and take advantage of its perks ("comps" in casino jargon).

Definitely worth much, much more than the cost of the book.

His easy writing style make his insights and experiences easy to grasp and internalize.

Frank Scoblete has written a complete and comprehensive book that will appeal to all levels of blackjack players from beginner to skilled. He has the basic strategy, the card counting advice that you would expect to find, but he also has great sections that compare the various counting sustems being sold in other books. He explains how to read a dealer in those games where the dealers peek at their hole card. What also sets this book apart are the sections that deal with his own personal experiences in the casinos. These are funny, insightful and smack of the truth. I think if you want to enjoy and learn simultaneously then BEST BLACKJACK is a must read. I intend to give it as a gift to my friends who like blackjack.

I picked up five blackjack books recently, "Professional Blackjack" by Wong, "KO Blackjack" by Fuchs and Vancura, "Blackjack Take the Money and Run" by Tamburin, "Blackjack for Blood" by Carlson, and "Best Blackjack" by Frank Scoblete. While I have played blackjack before, using a basic strategy card I bought in a casino gift shop, I never really delved into the game. However, as my losses mounted I decided I better get better or quit playing, one or the other. Of the five books I bought, "Best Blackjack" was the best in terms of the author's ability to instruct in a clear and precise way. It was never dull. Scoblete was able to sift what you truly needed to know to beat the game and made it clear which games to avoid. The other authors attempted to do this too but sometimes they got so bogged down that it became laborsome to read.

Scoblete's approach to card counting made learning it a very simple matter. Also, the book was a lot of fun to read. Scoblete interspersed learning with his adventures and the stories about who and what he met at the tables are just hilarious. This was the best of the five books and I recommend it as the best book for anyone interested in blackjack.

I already knew basic strategy and I use the KO count system developed by Fuchs and Vancura. However, Scoblete has written so many good books on gambling that I thought I'd give his "Best Blackjack" a try. It was excellent. The man can write. I particularly enjoyed his chapters on team play, ploppies, the million dollar bum. The most wonderful part of the book was his Las Vegas diary section. As a player I can tell you that he has captured the madness!

The book contains excellent information for beginners and intermediat players as well. It is well researched and Scoblete recommends further reading that will also be helpful. This is one of the six best blackjack books ever written in my estimation, although I have only read thirty three blackjack books to date!

I agree with just about everything Mr. Parker says in his review, except the stuff about the Foreword by Frank Scoblete. When I finished this book I was completely in agreement with the opinion that this is a blackjack nuclear bomb. May's easy style and his ability to describe difficult concepts in ways that an average reader could comprehend makes this one of the few BJ books dealing in advanced concepts that is actually accessible to a person such as myself. I have been counting cards for years and now I think I can add a few new tools to my casino-beating toolbox thanks to John May.

Very few blackjack books can live up to their hype. This book has been heavily promoted by Frank Scoblete who is a very popular gaming writer. I bought it because I tend to buy everything about blackjack in the hope, rare, that I will learn something new from it. Most times the blackjack book doesn't really offer me anything to write home about...or even write a review about. But I must say that not only does Mr. John May's book live up to the hype, it surpasses it. I learned several new and devastating advantage-play techniques that are just wonderful. I would recommend you get this book fast before the casinos discover what Mr. May is writing about and start watching the games even more closely than they currently do. This book will have a strong appeal to experienced blackjack players and they will learn new techniques from it just as I have. I put this on a par with the two or three best blackjack books ever written!

John May is an elite blackjack player and this book gives you information that I have not read anywhere else. While it does discuss and explain the theory of card counting, the revolutionary stuff that is advertised on the cover concerns methods of play such as glim, stacker, ace tracking and the like. Some of these are "do-able" by mere mortals like myself and some seem extremely hard to pull off.

I think the book is very well written and organized and May's writing flows. He explains very difficult concepts in a way that is understandable. I believe this is one of the top books ever written on blackjack and is definitely worth buying.