My wife just loves Vegas but I got tired of losing money on every trip we made there. A few years ago we were waiting for a plane to leave and I picked up the first edition of Jerry's book in the airport to read on the way home. I just knew there had to be a better way. Jerry not only changed my thoughts about blackjack but about gambling as a whole.

I've read almost every blackjack book I could get my hands on and most are very technical and filled with statistics that work well for those who enjoy playing theoretical games against a computer but this is the only book that shows you how to beat the real game in real live casinos. When I heard the new edition was coming out, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I wasn't disappointed. I now am able to evaluate any game of blackjack before I sit down in a way that no other author has ever described. This book paid for itself many times over on my first trip back to the casinos.

Thanks Jerry! Las Vegas is much more fun now that I come home a Winner!!

Jerry L. Patterson, with over a quarter century of teaching blackjack, has in one single book provided the most comprenhensive analysis of the game that is currently available. As oppopsed the the majority of blackjack books, which promote mechanical systems, he provides a complete understanding and a thorough analysis of every facet of the game. By following Patterson's teachings any blackjack player will benefit and if after reading the book one cares to further their knowledge there are courses that the author provides.
Jerry Patterson is one very few widely respected experts in the blackjack education business and has an extremely large group of loyal followers, who over the years have prospered from his knowledge and teachings.

I've read just about every worthwhile Blackjack book published, and have even met a few of the authors personally (Uston, Patterson, and... "Wong," who apparently penned the 1-star review below). Around 1980, there must have been a hundred people writing Blackjack books, and the only one of them still standing, and more important, still playing in casinos, 20 years later is Patterson. That kind of longevity in the "Blackjack trenches" is unique.

You get the basics on the game, plus an outline of systems and development of Blackjack strategies from the beginning up to current methods. He includes discussions of shuffle tracking, hole card play, various counting systems, concealed computers, and card clumping (all of which Patterson has himself used over the years). The Basic Strategy and basic count are included, as well as some of Patterson's newer techniques refined from his experiences. He also details excellent money management systems and strategies for betting with count and without count. Plus, Patterson summarizes and reviews quite a few books and newsletters and makes recommendations for further reading and study of the game.

My opinion is, whatever books you get on Blackjack, this is the one to start with. This book is a great start on skillful playing.

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.

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.

Look, the casino is a business, not a charitable institution. Uston and his mouth have ruined it for most people by making the casinos aggressive. If you use Wong's approach, (hi-lo), you will attract a lot less attention, and make as much money as you did before. I know, I do it.

What most people forget, and what Wong does not, is that blackjack is an exercise in pitting mathematics against random chance/odds that alter in your favor as the cards fall, if you are observant. Wong shows why most people lose is that they get piggy. He has a short section on desireable behavior. If you follow this, you don't need to know more.

Uston and genre may be great raconteurs, but if you want to win quietly (win), my money is on Wong. Think about it this way: Whoever "Stanford Wong" is, he uses an alias, which means he wants to keep playing. Uston runs his mouth, sells games, writes books, and brings lawsuits. Every casino knows Uston by face. Well, which one do you want to be? I want to play, so I follow Wong's time-tested methods, as set out in the book.

If you needed to read a book to know that deck penetration is an important factor, for example, you shouldn't be playing the game in the first place. That's why Wong didn't play with such nonsense in his book. Read the whole book, then go think about it and learn how to be unobtrusive. Then go win.

Despite drastic changes in the way the game is dealt in Las Vegas and other areas, very little seems to have been changed in the new edition of this classic introduction to educated blackjack play. There does seem to be more discussion of bankroll requirements, which is nice, but the major change is the addition of a section on shuffle tracking -- an extremely advanced technique which goes far beyond what a beginner would want to learn.

The new edition still includes information on old strategies which simply don't apply in today's environment, such as "depth-charging".

The book is still a good beginner's tutorial, but Snyder does a disservice to the beginner by keeping such outdated impressions and information in the new edition; and the added information on shuffle tracking will only be useful to the advanced player.

The title of this book is misleading. It's a book aimed at beginneres by the time you've finished you certainly won't be a blackbelt at blackjack. The systems offered are not the most powerful available.

The blurb of the book states that the main advantages of the modern player are shuffle tracking and team play. Unfortunately, automatic shuffling machines make shuffle tracking impossible. Furthermore if you're just beginning blackjack there's a good chance that you'll be going solo and won't have the luxury of a team.

A few things I'd like to see included in this book
(a) Risk of ruin - i.e the chances of losing your bankroll given certain playing conditions
(b) Realistic expectations of where you can expect to be monetarily e.g. in the long term 68% of you will be within one standard deviation of the mean, which given xxxxx playing conditions should place you somewhere between -$yyyy and +$zzzzz
(c) More in depth statistics about the power of his playing systems e.g. playing efficiency, betting correlation
(d) More in depth card counting drills

However all in all it's a great book it covers a lot of the basics including betting strategy, counting systems, rudimentary counting drills

Arnold Snyder, well-known blackjack author and expert, updated his 93 classic. An excellent book for those wanting info on balanced and un-balanced counts. His hi-lo lite is a model of simplicity, showing better results than more complicated strategy tables. A great book for anyone just getting into blackjack and in need of some expert advice.

This book works well as in-flight entertainment on the way to a gambling vacation, although Meadow's writing is about as predictable as a cocktail waitress with a 25-cent tip. I'm not sure what that means, but that's a good illustration of Barry Meadow's prose style.

Over and over and over and over he employs that technique, which for lack of a better name I'll call sarcastic simile. Card counters are about as popular with casino personnel as Jerry Falwell at a gay-pride parade. Over the long haul, counters are as likely to lose as Mister Rogers is to be caught in a Watts cocaine bust. Mesquite, Nevada, is growing faster than Warren Buffett's bank account. There are probably 200 more examples. If you can put up with that, it's a decent book. If not, imagine being stuck in an elevator with an unfunny version of Dennis Miller. (There -- are you happy, Barry? Now you've got me doing it!)

With casinos sprouting up everywhere, this funny and smart "road-trip" book with blackjack-playing stops at every casino in Nevada is a great read. Even as a non-gambler, I was fascinated by Meadow's take on the subject, as well as the compelling narrative: Will the author, an accomplished blackjack "counter" who plays at a high enough level that he might OCCASIONALLY have a slight advantage over the house (but don't bet on it, he concedes) lose his $8,000 stake after nine weeks of play at a mind-bending succession of casinos, from dusty roadside joints to the glitzy emporiums of Las Vegas? The guy knows his subject, but more importantly, he knows its culture and thinks it's a riot. Time and again, I laughed out loud while reading this book.

I have read MANY book on Vegas and blackjack. From the dry, strictly strategy themed blackjack books, to humorous stories of Vegas adventures.

This is by far the best. I could not put it down. I came to Amazon searching for Vegas books, and bought many. This one was recommended by a good friend or I would have never read it.

Take my advice, get this book... I more enjoyable read I can not recall.

If you are looking to learn blackjack for the first time or even if you are an intermediate player, I would not recommend this as the book to read. You should read Frank Scoblete's BEST BLACKJACK which teaches a much simpler and easier to learn card counting system. Also, Scoblete's book is a lot more fun. But Thorp is the genius who invented card counting and his book is a must as background.

Everyone who ever THINKS about playing blackjack to win should read this book. Thorp is the one who started it all - the Einstein of gambling theory. Anyone who doubts this should read any of his other books or articles, or simply count the number of references to Thorp in Epstein's Theory of Gambling and Statistical Logic.

The clarity, depth, and scope of this work surpasses any other on the subject - and it started a revolution! The theory, complete with computer printouts from 1961(!), and the methodology are there, yet this is no dry textbook. Thorp includes fascinating historical and motivational material, as well as a spellbinding account of his first successful tests in Las Vegas.

How anyone could aspire to become a winner at blackjack and not read this book is a mystery to me! And some of the reviewers are simply mistaken. Thorp's systems ARE still relevant, and they absolutely still work. Naturally, they have been improved upon over the course of 34 years, and aspiring card counters will have more than one text, one would HOPE. But Thorp is still:

Relevant, Mesmerising, Indispensable.

I totally disagree with the other reviewers who say this book is "no longer relevant". It is the definitive guide to Blackjack's "Basic Strategy" plus provides a fascinating historical perspective on how Thorp ran the computer simulations to develop the Basic Strategy and test it in Nevada casinos back in the early '60's. What the other reviewers say is true, that the methods Thorp used (card counting) to make a lot of money back in the '60's no longer work today, but that doesn't diminish the value of the book. The casinos were changing the rules and "shutting down" the big opportunities before Thorp even finished the book. But that isn't the measure of the value of the book (although it is testimony to how powerful Thorps's insights were when first developed).

Everyone playing Blackjack (one deck or out of a shoe) should be playing "Basic Strategy" at a minimum. If you want to implement some other strategy on top of that (changing bet size, card counting, etc. etc.) have at it. But the starting point should be Basic Strategy.

Furthermore, the average recreational Blackjack player should be playing Basic Strategy, but many (most? -- at the cheaper tables anyway) don't as you can observe by sitting down at any Blackjack table.

This book should be read by anyone who wants to play Blackjack.

I had gotten this book from the library about 6 years ago. After running it through the paces of a computer program, I did find that his systems do work.
The systems are based on what goes up, must come down. Well, in real life, that is not always true, at least in your bankrolls time frame. You must use money management. Also, I have found that you MUST run several progressions at the same time. It helps you ride out the ones that have gone a bit long losing.
I found his talk about poss. rigged casinos a bit dated. This was also written before online gambling, which would have been nice. He mentioned several times about the minimum table limits being too high, but they aren't too high online. Too bad those games were avoided because of this.
His talk of God and other things eternal I thought was well done, and did not go on. Plus, you can skip right over it to the systems. Would like to compare notes with others sep2034athotmail.

The systems really work, that's why I gave it 5 stars, but it's too full of syrup to be a really enjoyable read.

People who love the Lord will like this one very much. Atheists will despise it deeply. On the surface it appears to be a collection of mathematical gambling systems, but in his discussion of the phenomenon of luck, he gets into the role of the Almighty, and turns it into a treatise on the spiritual evolution of the human race. An unusual book, notable for its very great integrity. A fun book to read.

This book introduces a really good winning system that anyone can use.

There are many blackjack books out there. Nearly every one of them advocates using a card counting system. For many years blackjack authors have attempted to create more sophisticated counting systems. The result is that most of these systems are almost impossible to use under real casino conditions.

Advantage Blackjack introduces a highly simplified count, which anyone can use. In addition, the author demonstrates a practical progressive betting system that works very well.

I have been using this strategy for several months with excellent results. I have been winning close to 80% of my sessions, which I could never do with other counting systems.

The Advantage Strategy will not satisfy blackjack theoreticians. But trust me, it really works. Forget the complex counting strategies and try this one. You'll be glad you did!

There is no doubt you can win at blackjack using this strategy. It is just outstanding.

The author uses a much simplified card count system to identify favorable betting situations. This is by far the easiest and most effective count I have ever seen. But the strategy goes much further than simply introducing another card counting system.

The author, Roger Ford, reveals a dynamic betting strategy that will put you way over the top at blackjack. Combined with his simplified card count, it produces the most consistent winnings I have ever seen at blackjack.

I have been using the Advantage Blackjack strategy and racking up win after win. My win rate is just phenomenal and my losses have been very low. If you want to win consistently, even against the monster Atlantic City eight decks, you must use this strategy.

I found this book to be one of most helpful I have ever read on how to really win at blackjack. If you are looking for a book with page after page of charts you are supposed to memorize, then you won't like this book.

The author presents a powerful simplified count strategy that I learned in less than a week. Other systems require months and months of practice.

In addition to the easy-to-learn count, I really appreciated the betting strategy. Most blackjack authors only concern themselves with the spread, i.e. varying your bets from one to four units or even ten units. The author, Roger Ford, explains that counting and using a conventional betting spread will get labeled as a "card counter" allowing the casino to barr you at the worst, or deal you a miserable game at best. The Advantage Betting Strategy is virtually unrecognizable to casino pit personnel and using it will give you the best chance of winning.

If you want lots of theory, read a different book. If you want to learn how to really win, try this one. I strongly urge those who want to gain the upper hand at blackjack tables to read this book.

P.S. On my first trip out trying this system, I won over $500. Not a lot, but I can see the potential.

For the beginning player, this book may not be a bad choice, because it contains charts for different rule variations of the game. Also, basic counting strategies. For the serious player I would recommend Lawrence Revere or Ken Usted. The strategies in this book wouldn't hurt a casual player though, who doesn't have time or desire to invest in learning a professional level system.

If you want to give card counting a try in Atlantic City, you can play well enough to scare the casinos after reading this book (and practicing). Even if you don't want to count, the basic strategy charts make this book worth purchasing. If you play like most people I see in Atlantic City, it will pay for itself in your first 10 minutes at the table. I've never played in Vegas so I can only recommend it for the Atlantic City game.

Ive purchased this book over a year ago and it has done wonders for my play at BlackJack.It's a simple system that makes sense for every logical move and straight to the point.And it works.My last trip out to Atlantic city at the Trump Taj Mahal I started with $200 at the beginning of the shoe.. Was me and the dealer one on one in a multiple deck game since there is a no midshoe entry rule at the Taj.Half hour later at the end of the shoe I walked away with $1,300 for a profit of $1,100.You dont need a complicated "professional" system to be one up on the game and casinos'.Anyone who wants to learn the game and not spend alot of money on "complicated professional systems" that are usualy not proven to be consistent winning strategies and want to learn a winning system should buy this book.I highly recommend buying and reading this book.

An excellent book that goes in depth(and I do mean IN DEPTH!) into cheating methods used by crossroaders in casinos. For the serious player, this is a good read, as it contains some "legal" methods of advantage play as well. For anyone else, its just a very interesting book. If you enjoy gambling and casino life, you will probably enjoy this book as well.

good book looking at bending and breaking the rules of 21 by altering ones cards and/or money. techniques from the basic to the outrageous. worth a read by any serious player if only to see how others take money off the house.

I like this book. I consider it a good book for a beginning counter. The intermediate player may be able to glean a few helpful tips from it as well. But the advanced counter will gain little, if anything, from reading this book. As with Wongs other books, there is some information that is still useful in todays game and there is other information that is totally antiquated. If you can't discern between the two then reading this book can lead you in the wrong direction and wind up costing you a lot more than the cover price. This game is extremely difficult to beat. It takes a lot more than reading a few books and practicing on a computer simulation.