blackjack

[Jonathank]

anyone know of any good blackjack literature?
i like playing blackjack tournaments, but i don't know basic strategy.
my results have been decent, but going by the seat of your pants usually proves to be less than optimal.

[iceveins0901]

the book is called beat the dealer, as far as I know that book gives you everything you need to know... I actually have it, my father gave it to me after his trip to vegas a few years ago. I should get into reading it. I think it would be good to know, and a more simple way to earn money than holdem, lol.

[Jonathank]

not sure if there is a way to make money playing bj, but tournaments are fun and you can only lose a fixed amount of money.

[Vito_Nuccio]

Tournament Blackjack is different than the normal you against the house game. Basic stragety is part of it, but in tournament play blackjack betting position and amounts are just as important as the way you play your cards.

I am sure there are many tournament books out there, but I would seek them out, not a winners guide to beat the casino.

Good Luck.

[neps]

Was in Riga recently, and played black jack on baltikums biggest casino. Was great fun But when the weekend was over my wallet was missing 2k Got abit drunk . hehe. free drinks.
But great fun though.

[iceveins0901]

yea i suppose if you just wanted to play tourney blackjack then beat the dealer wouldnt be the right book. I think that is more than a you vs casino how to win game.

[lepkin]

Blackjack is evil, i emailed UB and AP to have blackjack removed on my accounts. My only regret is that i didnt do it sooner

[iceveins0901]

LOL, that is a gem of a post right there.

[gamer4life27]

Like liladypokerpro said earlier, Tournament Blackjack is WAY different than regular Black Jack.

In Tournament Black Jack, it's not only you against the dealer, but it's you against everyone else against the dealer. That makes the betting WAY more different. Like regular poker games, there is a kind of button that moves around signifying who must act first in each round. After a certain amount of rounds, there is an elimination round. Where the person at the end of that hand gets eliminated.

When it gets around this time, you can take different approaches. If you have a big chip stack, you can just bet small, wait for it to be over, then gamble again. If your low in chips, it's time to really gamble. If it comes down to you being short chiped on that elimination round, you have very little choice. Most of the bigger chips will bet small, knowing you have to put all your chips on the line. This is where calculations come into play.

Most players will take into account that you will put all your chips in, and most likely double up in chips, or even hit a black jack. So they count your chips, count there chips, and bet the exact amount to either keep them in the lead, or if they win, they would have more chips than you would. This is why it's good to know when that elimination round is, where you stand in chips, and when it's the right time to gamble.

In most Black Jack tournaments, theres a Secret Bet. This is used mostley on the last hand of the match, or in an elimination round with the shorter stacks (if the chips are more even). Using this throws your opponents off there game and forces them to guess. Most of the time, they will think you will bet half your stack, or all of it. When using this Secret Bet, you can use the Secret Action card. It's the same thing as the Secret Bet, but you can secretly make a stand, hit, surrender, double down, and double for less. This also throws them off there game, as they REALLY don't know what to do because in Black Jack tournaments, it's all based on what your opponents do.

In regular Black Jack, where it's just you and the dealer, you use basic strategy against the dealer. For me to explain basic strategy would take forever. But basically, it's all a learning experience. There is a DVD by Andy Bloch called Beating Blackjack. You can look it up on google. Andy Bloch was part of the infamous MIT group who robbed Vegas for millions for college money. They did a move in it recently called '21'.

I hope this has helped you.

[liladypokerpro]

Ummmmm, thanks for the kudos Gamer, but I think it was actually Vito that said that *hehehe* (Although I would have if he hadn't said it first LOL )

[Vito_Nuccio]

With all said about getting a book, the question now becomes, why blackjack? If you do not have a grasp of basic blackjack, why look to tournaments?

You would be better off devoting your time to the further study of poker instead. You have a better chance to win in the long run by improving your skills plus there are unlimited choices of games and levels in the poker world. In blackjack the tourneys are few and far between, making experience that much harder to aquire and keep.

Blackjack is a fun game, but it is designed as player against the house casino game. Tournaments add the element of playing against others, but your hand is still playing against the dealer, only your chips are playing against the others.

If this is your passion or could become it, then great, enjoy and good luck. Otherwise, stick to poker, it is great to play and the profit opportunities are greater.

Thanks,

[Jonathank]

duh. you have to know basic strategy and basic tournament strategy. but you don't know of any good literature, so thanks for nothing.

[Roboligraphy]

The book that I've read is called "Winning blackjack for the serious player" or "The worlds greatest blackjack book". Both of these will provide basic blackjack but I'd recommend "Winning blackjack for the serious player" before the other. Good luck.

[kevinfromhb]

split A's and 8's always!

[liladypokerpro]

"Blackjack's Winning Formula" by Jerry L. Patterson is a good read...check it out...also "Blackjack Bluebook" by Fred Renzey...

Best wishes

[Matthew]

Watched "21" the other day and I really enjoyed it. Does anyone know the book the movie is based on?

[powrdragn]

duh. you have to know basic strategy and basic tournament strategy. but you don't know of any good literature, so thanks for nothing.

I think you took a post that was offering some helpful information very personal.

Vito was simply pointing out that you have a current option, in poker, that offers you tons of advancements, lots of strategy, and multiple games with varying levels.

You simply don't have that in blackjack and he was offering some words of wisdom.

[BUILDMO]

black jack the house has an advantage

craps, get lucky win big, crap out - enjoy the buffett

stick to poker and stay steady.

If I play BJ it's ususally for 10-20 cent per bet. That way, losing a dollar or two, I am ok.

[Gil_the_Mover]

Buying somethign that claims to have a system to beat the casino is just as silly as gambling on games you know the casino has an edge on.