Boy, is this Patrick guy bad. In fact, he is quite well-known now for his bad blackjack advice. The problem is, he writes in a style that sounds convincing and "common sense".

People, you cannot use "common sense" in blackjack. Some of Patrick's plays are just plain wrong. These plays cannot be judged right or wrong because you happen to win some hands by playing that way. There are HUGE variances in blackjack, and any play or money management system can win in the short term. The only way to know if a play is correct, in terms of probability and long term winning percentage, is by mathematical proof or large computer simulations. Otherwise, you're just wishing it to be true. There's a very good reason casinos make billions of dollars every year. Patrick's book does 2 things
1) makes him money
2) ensures that the casinos stay in business so he can make more money selling more blackjack books.

Is everything in this book wrong? No, most of it is right. But why buy a book like this when there are many more that get it ALL right? Read Wong, or Schlesinger, or Griffin, or Uston, or other proven authors. It really doesn't matter how easy this book is to read if it gives bad plays. And it doesn't matter that you went into the casino and won using Patrick's methods, because in this game your experience is too short to count as valid and meaningful in terms of probability. If you don't understand that, there's no hope for you anyway.

Can you explain why you are more likely to get a blackjack with 1 deck than 6? Do you understand why preferential shuffling can hurt you? Do you understand why you should hit your 16 against the dealer's 7, even though you will probably lose the hand? If you understand all that, then you sure don't need this book. If you don't, then go find another book that explains the REAL fundamentals of blackjack. Anyone can win at blackjack - even total idiots - in the short term. Only a few actually play the game with a mathematical advantage though.

I have read this book and I have implemented his system of money management and basic strategy at the tables. I have won more money consistantly at the tables with his methods. True I did not get those enormous wins but I never made a stupid bet at the tables on emotion. I think his regression system and up and pull chapters are the way to go when gambling at blackjack. I have watched numerous times when someone doubled down against a dealers 10 and they had 11 or a 10 and they get wacked. The logic is why put more money down when hes strong?? Always kick the dealer when he is weak. Those double down opportunities are a lot better when hes showing a weak card. Makes perfect sense to me if ya think about it and listen to what he is trying to tell you.

As far as counting cards go, his system is still the easiest to master.

I have bought numerous books on blackjack and I feel his book is still the best. No matter what anyone else thinks about his book, he has made me a consistant winner and thats the key to gambling

For all the people that gave this book a negative review, they definitely did not get his style of writing. Not once does he ever mention playing hunches which one reader wrote. Also, he never mentions "playing with the casinos money" as someone else wrote. Once you win that money it's your money. The casino doesn't say they're playing with your money when they win.

I have been winning consistently for many years using John Patrick's methods. I have become an emotionless robot when I play. Every move I make is pre-determined (no hunches) and every bet I make is pre-determined. It may not be as much fun playing the game, but the three hour ride home is great knowing how much more money is in my pocket.

He is the only author to say you don't always have to split Aces and Eights. I have read the other reviewers talking about computers and statistics. My degree in finance has me familiar with both, but it was only John Patrick's common sense explanations that stopped me from getting burnt anymore playing those hands. How many times have you split these hands only to get killed? But, it was the thing that you were "supposed to do". He makes you look at why you should be making moves in a logical sense, not because the computer said that you should and that's the way it has been handed down.

In conclusion, I can only say that this book has totally changed the way I look at blackjack and has definitely made me a winner, sometimes in less than twenty minutes. If you are open to new methods and want to win consistently, then read this book. If you are closed minded, need computer print-outs and statistics, or just don't feel that you will ever have the dicipline to be a winner, then don't read this book.

I have gambled in Vegas for 30 years, and read many a book from alleged experts. Save your money on this book. About the only advice this book gives that is worth anything is to bet more when winning. Otherwise, only very green beginners will find anything of worth in this book. I gave it one star because it has a great title. But, that's about all it has.

The first thing I need to say about this book is that it is an update of Gollehon's " Pay the Line". This information doesn't appear in the blurbs for either book on Amazon. Having pointed that out I can say that this is an excellent book for serious gamblers. The advice is difficult to put into practice, particularly for newer players. Does anyone really think that parking your butt at a craps table for eight straight hours is a formula for success? People do it all the time. Does anyone really think that the casinos beg you to take comps and insist on giving you rfb because its to your best interest? Everyone takes comps. So its difficult to be disciplined when it comes to gambling and visiting Vegas, but if you want to have a chance of winning you must practice what Gollehon preaches.

I browsed through this book at the local bookstore. All I can say is don't take any pointers from this guy. He says before placing bets on "any craps", you should wait until the die hasn't produced craps for atleast 18 rolls???? He says after this the probability of any craps showing is 88 %. What is this all about? The truth is the odds of rolling craps is the same (11 %) regardless of how many times it's been rolled in the past. If you already own this book, I suggest you take your loss and throw it away.

This is the first review I have written on Amazon. I felt compelled to write this to keep unsuspecting people from purchasing this book. I do not know the author, I am not an author, and I have no interests in whether this book does well or not. I am simply giving my opinion.

Simply put, my problem with this book is that it is full of incorrect statements and poor advice which completely ignores probability theory. For example, on roulette, Mr. Svoboda actually says, "The house will always have a 5.26% edge, but you can increase your winning probabilities by playing it smart." What?!? When I read that, I knew he had a very weak grasp of probability theory. It is impossible to change the odds in roulette; they are fixed. You are always at a 5.26% disadvantage, no matter what your betting strategy is. Period. I suggest you run away from any book that asserts otherwise.

The surprising thing is that in several parts of the book, Mr. Svoboda agrees that the casino has an advantage over the player in the long run. However, to overcome this, he recommends that players play in the short run! I couldn't believe that an engineer, and someone who supposedly understands mathematics and probability, would actually write such completely incorrect information. True, in the short run you may win, but odds are that you will lose. The percentage disadvantage you face does not change.

Over and over, Mr. Svoboda asserts that his strategies increase your chances of winning. How can you increase your chances of winning if the odds against you are fixed? For example, after several pages of detailed and complex tables and charts, Mr. Svoboda admits that his craps betting strategy gives the house a 2% advantage. Yet he still advocates following his strategy, saying that you just need to know when to walk away when ahead. What he fails to mention is that you will be behind more often than you will be ahead.

In games of chance and independent trials (such as craps, roulette and keno, to name a few), the house has a fixed percentage advantage over the player. This is a proven mathematical fact. There are no betting systems or strategies whish can change this percentage advantage. The only thing a player may do is bet slowly and bet the minimums in order to decrease the rate at which he loses. Gambling at these types of games should be viewed as paying for entertainment, not investing, as Mr. Svoboda suggests.

Casinos love people with systems. Why do you think companies choose to spend $1 billion to build a new casino? Because they know that system betters will come in and lose more than that. Casinos exist because they make money for their owners. I had thought that with the advanced level of gaming theory available today, that books which advocated incorrect probability theory would become a thing of the past. Then I read Mr. Svoboda's book and realized I was wrong.

On the plus side, the book does clearly state the rules of the games and the odds of winning. It has very pretty and colorful charts and tables. As a rule book, it is very good. However, as a strategy guide, you are much better off ignoring this book. Mr. Svoboda's assertion that "this book will help you learn how to level the playing field...and gain a return on your investment" is false. This book does not tell you how to even the odds against the house. The only return on investment you will get by following the advice in this book is negative.

Beating The Casinos At Their Own Game is a book you should consider if you'd like some help playing at the casinos. It's a well, written and nicely illustrated 278-page gambling guide with instructions for most of the games you'll find at any casino. The author, Peter Svoboda, knows his math because he has the credentials: a degree in both mechanical and civil engineering.

You'll find casino basics in chapters 1 and 2 including some history, odds of winning and losing, what the casinos do to get you there, the house advantage, advice on managing your money and when to quit. And if you have a gambling problem, Peter will direct you to the right place. Chapters 3 through 13 list rules of the ten most popular casino games, with playing strategies and some betting systems you can try. The illustrations will help you learn the games and the math listed will explain the odds and probabilities of winning.

Peter includes some known strategies for Craps, Roulette and Baccarat. So, if you're inexperienced at any of these games, you can take an expert with you to the casino. Peter also presents some of his own winning systems.

If you've never been to a casino, but think you might want to try some of the games offered, I'd recommend studying this book before you enter. It has all the basic playing information you'll need to improve your chances of winning...

First of all, I think the writer attempted to create a scenario full of intrigue but failed miserably. There are too many unnecessary characters that the whole thing seemed messy and confusing. To make matters worse, their roles are overlapping one another so much that they actually obscure that of the main characters. In a story, the roles of other characters should be 'muted' or downplayed a little bit so as not to shadow the hero and heroin. And secondly, the hero is a stupid, aimless man, who :

1) seeks respectability by thinking of marrying a socialite (not very macho, I must say. Rather sissy of him)

2) Bedded the supposed-to-be mistress of his old-friend due to revenge. His 'friend' supposedly murdered the hero's fiance. After all that the hero suddenly realised that he actually didn't love his fiance and she's better off dead (Whatta man!! Clap clap clap)

3) Can't really make up his mind about something.

And to think the heroine still wants him...jeez, way to go, sister!!

All in all, I thank God I only BORROWED this book from a friend. Be warned, this book is DEFINITELY NOT worth your time and money.

Reid Sinclaire is a married man who's wanted for murdering his wife's lover. He sleeps with Samantha to get revenge on Cord Rydelle, the man he blames for his fiancee's death and who he believes is Samantha's lover. You think perhaps he's not good hero material for a romance novel? And I haven't even mentioned that he starts courting Samantha's silly sister Clarissa (not knowing they're sisters) with an eye to marrying her for respectability.

With such a hero, the last thing this book needs is a convoluted plot, full of so many subplots and backstory it's impossible to keep them all straight. I found myself skimming through most of this book, wishing I hadn't paid good money for it. The heroine, although she shows she has a good heart in sacrificing herself for her sister's happiness, seems to fall for men like Reid in spite of past experience; thus, I really could not like her very much either.

I'm not often so critical, but I feel cheated. I don't buy romances to read about lying, cheating men and the women they con into loving them.

I did not not find the book as bad as the other two reveiwers. If it is a period piece and written true to form, at the time the men wear, rakes, rouges, and scoundrels. Which this main character is. I did not have problems following the sub-plots and found this book lightly entertaining.

This author knows the rules of blackjack and describes them well. He is aware that people beat the game by useing competent systems. There is nothing more to learn from this book. Much of his data and commentary of blackjack directly contradicts the general consensus of those who have researched and explained the game accurately. In addition, in this and all his other books that I have read he discusses "streaks" how to bet them as if they were predictable. This book is a waste of time and money because there is too much inaccurate data and there are accurate books available.

I've only read three books on blackjack, so I am no expert on gambling books. HOWEVER......

If you want a book that reads like a transcript of a gambler telling stories over drinks in a bar, name dropping old Vegas stars, talking about the big scores and the big losses, spouting opinions on lotteries and horses, and bragging about nailing hookers, by all means this is your book.

But if you're looking for advice on winning blackjack, look elsewhere.

The subtitle is "how to beat blackjack as a way of life." This is very misleading. There is good advice, mind you, but it's obvious and not worth filling a book. The advice is "quit winners." In any gambling situation, a player will go up and down. Quit when you're up. This is good advice, and it's what I already practice. But I didn't need to buy this book to tell me this.

As this is marketed as a book on playing blackjack, I'd think that instead of giving us the stats on high roller slot machines, or recounting keno stories, or any of the other endless off topic rants, there might be more about money management at the actual table. Showing me a "scorecard" listings wins at various casinos doesn't tell me how those positive numbers got there.

Congrats to Mr Levy on a nice brag book, admittedly getting publishing justification after two really good streaks. But by that standard, I guess I could write my own, having two streaks in a row.

I found much more helpful material for a casual player in Jerry Patterson's Blackjack: A Winner's Handbook. If you're a frequent player, you won't even take Levy's book seriously.

This is one of many dreadful books on BJ - I read it in a shop, without buying it, thank goodness. He presents an "altered" form of basic strategy, which flies in the face of the years of work done by the earlier BJ experts (Thorpe, Braun), seemingly based on the principle of avoiding busting bustable hands, and he claims that players tend to receive bad hands (14, 15, 16) because small and large cards tend to "stick together" after the shuffle! This book's advice will cause you to 1) bust fewer hands and 2) lose even more money. Avoid!