Ian Andersen is an entertaining writer as well as a longtime high-stakes professional blackjack player. With his latest offering, "Burning the Tables in Las Vegas," Andersen has attempted to update his classic from the '70s, "Turning the Tables on Las Vegas," and make it relevant to today's game. The results are mixed. "Burning" is a good read for sure, with many fascinating vignettes about life in the high-roller fast lane, as well as quite a bit of useful information for pros on how to survive and prosper in an age of high-tech casino surveillance. But, all that aside, it still left me wanting. Andersen may write about blackjack with the entertaining talent of, say, a Bryce Carlson, but he lacks the solid mathematical knowledge of a Carlson, or a Wong, or a Schlesinger to back it up. For example, with his so-called "Ultimate Gambit," he is all too happy in the name of camouflage to reduce his edge to not much more than half a percent, and then throw even more ev out the window with fairly large bets at craps and other negative-expectation games. His whole approach smacks of a certain lack of appreciation for the harsh realities of variance and standard deviation. Don't get me wrong, "Burning" is a very good book, and I think serious bj players will find it enjoyable and useful, but in the real world of professional play--high stakes or otherwise--it laces in a little too much fantasy with the facts to rate five stars.

Absolutely awesome. Anderson understands the casino game very well. Just buy this book. That is all I can say.

Contains excellent discussions of cover plays, psychology, high rollers and other keys to be a pro.

Absolutley must reading.

This is a fabulous book both for the casual player like myself or the expert. Ian Andersen writes well and is able to bring to life true gambling vignettes that are not only mesmerizing, but also really give the reader the flavor of what it's like to be a high stakes game player. Yet he only plays when he has an edge. This concept of "advantage play" is far different from the ideas I had about gambling. The skills he uses can be applied to many areas of life. The section on communication skills and optimistic thinking are current state-of-the-art stuff. Very useful! In fact, those are the best words to describe this book --very useful, in gambling and in life. A brilliant read!

This is by far the best book I have ever read on the Vietnam War. Once the fighting starts it is difficult to put down as you have to know what happens to the team and to the individual players. If any book should be made into a film then it should be this one.

I just got done reading Blackjack-34 and could NEVER put it down! I read it in 3 days! Mr. Donaue really brings the war into your head and doesn't add all of the REMF bullcrap. Just dirty, bloody, and sweaty soldiers fighting, and dying for our great counrty. He lets you HEAR the bullets crack, the shrieks of friends, the whack of lead hitting flesh and bone. Best book on Vietnam that I have ever read! I can't wait to be a Special Forces soldier too someday.

Greater Love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

Very True, like many other readers of this book im am still a highschool student but i found the book to be thrilling and knowledable. I am currently doing an English report on it. Thank you Donahue.

The positives:
-Very original idea
-I like the set-up of the book, especially how it read just like a diary - as the name implies
-While someone mentioned that it read like a financial report, I feel that this was a very important aspect of the book. Kudos to Perry for including and tracking every cent
-This is a quick, light read - a perfect choice, especially for this subject
-He knows the book's subject - and he knows it well
-It's not like other gambling-related books - he doesn't try to sugarcoat anything or brag about wins. He's very honest and sincere
-Simply, it's interesting

The negatives:
-Perry's writing just isn't that compelling
-His random opinions on the NBA and sports betting read like "filler" and, to me, served no real purpose
-I noticed quite a few grammatical errors and printing errors
-Even though it's nonfiction, I expected a more dramatic ending. The books seems to just suddenly end.

All in all, it's a pretty good read. If you're into blackjack (or just Vegas in general), you'll really take a liking to it.

This is a great book. You really are at the table with the author, and wonder what he has been doing since. The anticipation and preperation for the trip even made me feel a little nervous when he went to the Golden Nugget for his first session.
I personally liked the asides. He does a good job of conveying the isolation he feels at times. It makes me want to try the Golden Nugget buffet next time I'm in Vegas...and stay away from the Barbary Coast or Plaza casinos. You would have to be interested in blackjack to like all the book, but someone who has never gambled in thier life would enjoy most of it.

You've read Stanford Wong, Arnold Snyder, Don Schlesinger, and all the other great stuff about how to beat the game and you have learnt how to count cards, maybe you can count down a deck to less than 30 seconds. You have gone to the casinos and put your knowledge to work, to practice and at the same time hope to make a few bucks at the end of you trips. And you know what, you got burnt many times, especially during the positive counts.
That is what happened to me. At first, I wonder if I did something wrong until I read Stuart's diary. This book is must have addition to your BJ library, Stuart's real life experience, and especially his honesty put our BJ theory to practice. A 4 stars for his writings and 5 stars for practical side of BJ.

this book was entertaining, cool storys of kens adventures.
the info on blackjack is a little out dated. (but there will always be 52 cards in a deck, so counting systems should still be useful in todays games.) even though casino rules have changed, it is very possible to change basic strategy to suite the game. then choose a count system to advance your self to a better player.

Although the book is designed more for the card counting player, there is still plenty of information for the beginning or casual player. On the other extreme: for those who are more ambitious the book details The Uston Advanced Point Count. The APC is considered one of the most powerful (and complicated) count systems ever. It is still every bit as applicable today as it was in the 70's when it was developed. Several other simpler count systems that Uston devised are also covered in great detail. Stories of how they won millions of dollars from the casinos are inspiring and enjoyable to read. If you're in it for the stories, pick up one of his other books: Ken Uston on Blackjack. It contains NO 21 strategy advice, but is chock full of their clandestine 21 activities around the casinos. Very fun and quick to read.

Buying this book used turned out to be quite a bit pricy ...but it proved worth the investment. The book was informative, entertaining, inspiring, and will serve as a useful reference down the road as well. Uston will teach you precise basic strategy, open your eyes to the wonderful world of card counting, provide you with many interesting insights into the game, and has plenty of thrilling gambling tales to make this work the most comprehensive blackjack resource I've ever owned. Whether you're looking for an introductory read, or an advanced analysis, this book has it all.

This book is a good read - especially if you play backjack yourself, ever tried learning to count cards, and have ever thought of trying to make a big score doing it. I thought the plot, characters and the moral and ethical themes were interesting. My only issue was that I wish it was better written. It isn't trash but it really does feel like a first time author. Much of the dialog - especially when dealing with the morality or "lesson learning" is very unnatural and a little too neat and clean. The chapters that don't deal directly with blackjack weren't that interesting. The book is also quite predictable which isn't necessarily a bad thing but I like the predictability in a book to be more subtle. Luckily, the subject matter interests me and the twists and turns in the main blackjack story line were compelling enough to keep me reading through to the end.

I enjoyed reading my first novel ever where the main character, Raven, is a card counter and card counting itself is central to the story line. Mr. Blackwood is or was a professional BlackJack player, his understanding and knowledge about big time blackjack play is quite evident in the realistic portrayal of his book's characters. As a serious card counter myself, I found Raven's thought process quite similar to how my own thought pattern works in similar situations. While the good vs. evil conflict in "The Counter" is timeless, for me, having it play out in the world of blackjack made for an even more pleasurable read.

Speaking as one who has read hundreds of bestsellers, I found THE COUNTER kept me flipping pages until its exciting finish.

I had just recently returned from Las Vegas when I read this book and the descriptions were right on the money. I only wish I had read this book first, or better still, taken it with me. I am not a gambler, but after reading THE COUNTER, I feel I have some insight into the mind of a professional blackjack player.

Don't get me wrong; this novel is not just about the fast paced world of casinos. If it were, I would've been lost immediately. No, the story touches on many universal themes such as relationships, redemption, and regrets. I've read everything from romance to horror and I highly recommend you buy this book.

Humble and Cooper's treatise on blackjack is far and away the best blackjack book on the market. Anyone interested in learning the game of blackjack or mastering advanced blackjack skills (e.g., card counting and betting strategies) needs to pick up this book. Although it is very lengthy and contains some fluff that could have been omitted, the book presents all aspects of the game in an easy to read format. Best of all, it contains percentages and mathematical information for those inclined to learn the game in a more academic manner, and also contains easy to read charts and more basic explanations of concepts for the more practical reader. The book is entertaining and informative, but most importantly, the information is accurate and reliable. I haven't found another book that tops this one - it makes a great reference to hang onto before trips to Vegas or the riverboats. Even though it is extremely long, the one chapter on basic strategy can be read in about twenty minutes (it's what makes the book worth the money). All in all, you simply can't go wrong with this Bible of Blackjack! Good luck!

This is the first book I read on blackjack and it is what made me so enthusiastic about the game. It is recommended read for most all blackjack players. The only gripe I have is that the HI-OPT I system has indices that only spread to +6/-6. When you are playing blackjack the count will somtimes go well out of that range. The counting system is a great start for the novice player but needs some adjustments to satisfy the skilled. As your skill improves you can increase the power of the system by using side counts for A's and running simulations to extend the indices.

HiOpt 1 is the card counting method of this book it is not quite as easy or powerfull as the simple hi lo method however it is better because it is more accurate when used to modify basic strat tables. No one can use card counting to its full potential withought geeting caught so the money variations are made smaller...that is were this book comes in: it presents another way to count cards and make money without large fluctuations in the amount of money being bet per hand...modified stratagie based off of increased knoledge through counting. If you already know the simple Hi-Lo card method and dont want to learn HiOpt 1 try reading books by Stanford Wong. I learned Hi-Lo first.

This book was recommended to my by an owner of a gambling supply store. Mr. Renzey covers it all with advice for skill levels from novice to expert. He backs-up his system with millions of computer-simulated hands of blackjack that he did, rather than soley relying on the works of others. I have gotten rid of several other blackjack books, and kept "Blackjack Bluebook" as my guide.

I've read Renzey in various magazine and internet articles on blackjack and liked his clear style and logical approach. His book is in the same vein. I've played, studied and read blackjack for fifteen years. This manual is direct, honest and expressive. It can take the place of six other blackjack books as far as I'm concerned. Does a convincing job explaining why bad players have no detrimental effect on others, why No-Mid-Shoe Entry signs are pure nonsense, why betting progressions end up being useless and why high cards are so valuable to the player. Gets you to concentrate on the stuff that matters which is playing your hands and making your bets according to your odds. To make it easier to remember sticky points, Renzey coins catchy terms such as "the Rule of 9" for doubling down with soft hands, etc. His explanation of how and why you should adjust your play with certain borderline hands is something I haven't seen anywhere else, yet is very thorough and convincing. The book contains a true beginner's card counting system that follows only select key cards and lets you upgrade it from there. His high level Mentor Count in the last chapter is a bit strong for me, but after three complete reads, I like this book a lot.

I've read a dozen books on blackjack and never got past the basic strategy chart. This book explains things beyond basic strategy in such a logical manner that my mind opened up to the game. Now I understand what all the gibberish is about in other technical books on advanced blackjack strategy. Fred Renzey has a way with words. Darn good book!

This book is for advanced players who are computer literate. It's main purpose is to help program a BJ computer for actual play. Additionally, one can program a BJ simulator to evaluate all the other counting methods on the market to rate their effectiveness.

This is not a good read for beginning or advanced BJ card counters. It is for those "experts" who try the fringes. Furthermore, having a BJ computer in a casino is now illegal in NV.

THIS IS A GREAT BOOK FOR THE CASINO PROFESSIONAL.

I ran across this book many years ago in a used bookstore (mine was the 2nd edition). I must say this book changed my opinion of books about gambling books. Up to that point, all the gambling books I've come across were laughable. But this book was startlingly different. It thoroughly explains the mathematics behind basic strategy and card counting techniques in a way that really made sense.

This may sound too advanced for many folks, but frankly the math is fairly easy to understand (it mostly uses basic statistics that you probably learned and forgot in high school).

If you are serious about card counting, the information in this book will help you evaluate BJ counting systems (or even systems you invent). It will also help you subtly modify your play for changes in rules at different casinos.

Do you need to be a computer programmer to use this book? No, but it wouldn't hurt. Is this book useful for writing BJ simulators? Yes, but it's also great for really understanding what it takes to be a really good card counter.

Personally, this book convinced me that I don't have the patience (or time) to become a good card counter. But at least now I know why.

Playing Blackjack As a Business is one of the best books ever written on card counting. It is very comprehensive listing basic to advanced card counting strategies. Perhaps the greatest benefit is the author's decades of personal experience in playing and winning using the strategies presented in the book. The book is, I believe largely if not wholly accurate. (The basic strategy charts are amongst the most accurate in existence!) Lawrence Revere stresses the importance of discipline and practice and that, regardless of one's skill, there will always be occasions when you lose sessions of play. The book is useful for an intermediate card counter and an excellent place to start if you're a newcomer.

This book is well written and covers basic through advanced play in a way that should be easy for any level of player to follow. Especially insightful and useful are the charts on strategy. Some people argue some of the concepts in this book are out of date; however, if studied and mastered you should find they still hold true depending on the rules of the particular casino your are playing. It is a worthy complement to other books on the subject written more recently. The more you know and the more you have mastered different stategies the better you play will be. This is a great resource.

I've used this book for years as a reference before going anywhere I play Blackjack. Mr. Revere provided color coded, easily understood charts and tables for single and mulitple deck games. He gives basic strategy for each as well as several simple to advanced counting strategies. His rules regarding bet size, betting and playing time are rules to survival at the tables. I may not be getting kicked out of casinos, but I leave with their money 4 out of 5 times and the losses are pocket change compared to the winnings. Mr. Revere has since died, but his knowledge of blackjack is as true today as it was over 20 years ago.

I just finished putting into practice the four step method that Walter Thomason explains in this book. I had great success with it. The book is very good. It is well written and explains in detail exactly what basic strategy players should do to get a better edge at the game. I think that real world blackjack is different from the computer world. The dealers I played with never thoroughly shuffled the cards and there were wild streaks on all shoes. When the streaks were going against me, I was usually at my lowest bet but when the streaks were going with me I had maximum money out. Thomason's system made a lot of sense when I saw it in action in a real casino.

The only way to get a mathematical edge at blackjack is to count cards. However, not everyone can do that. For those players who can't or don't want to count cards, Walter Thomason's book is the best on the market. It has a progressive betting system tht has been tested in real-world conditions, computer simulations and field tests. It will save you money and will give you a great chance to beat the casinos. This book is very well-written and it includes an introduction by Frank Scoblete, a very famous author who explains what makes Thomason's book so unique.

I have been reading Walter Thomason's articles in the great gambling magazine The New Chance and Circumstance and I have always enjoyed what he has to say. I have always been cynical of progressive betting systems in general but this book had gotten such good publicity that I decided to read it. I'm glad I did. I have been playing basic strategy at blackjack for 20 years but I could never count cards as it gave me a headache. This four step progression of Mr. Thomason (used with his quit point strategy) has worked for me in my last 15 trips to Las Vegas. It is a much better way to play than just flat betting or increasing ones bet on a whim.