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Rob's Super BlackJack
This is the program I used to learn basic strategy. And it's lots of fun. Super BlackJack uses a realistic-looking Blackjack table with animated cards to make the game as natural as possible. A long list of game options lets you tailor the house rules to your liking. The program's truly unique feature is its use of Microsoft Agent v2.0, installed with Super BlackJack, to advise you along the way with speaking, animated characters. The wizard even offers introductory and basic strategy tours. An optional training mode can help to teach you basic strategy, making recommendations as you play. The system also explains card counting and includes some training support, as well as strategy drills to firm up your decision making. Other features include statistics, custom and supplied strategies, option sets, background music, written information on playing Blackjack, and much more. I highly recommend it. Click here to order it and save.

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This real-life adventure documents the famous "MIT" Blackjack team, which won more than 3 million dollars in a couple of years, playing blackjack in the early 90s. It's chock-full of stories of duffel bags full of cash, high stakes play, and the cat-and-mouse game of advantage play.

Prior to publication, an adaptation of some of this book appeared in the September 2002 issue of Wired magazine, titled "Hacking Las Vegas".

Very enjoyable read. Recommended.

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If you're just starting to learn about card counting, this makes a great introduction. The system that Vancura and Fuchs have created is indeed very easy to learn and use, but that simplicity doesn't come at the expense of effectiveness. Especially well-suited to multi-deck games, the K-O system offers a strong beginning system, that can grow with your knowledge. This book was the most popular ever as 'Book of the Month' here, and deservedly so.

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Wong's classic is still the book I recommend most often. He starts with the basics and then introduces the Hi-Lo counting system, the most commonly used system among card-counters. He moves on from there to a 3-level system called the Halves, which yields near perfect information about your advantage during the game. The text is sometimes tedious, but the information is dead-on.

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I was initially skeptical of this book's premise. Most books that claim you can win without card counting espouse some sort of progression scheme that just doesn't hold up to mathematical scrutiny. But, Cardoza has accomplished what he claims. His winning method is based on the same concepts as card counting, but with less work required.

Perhaps more valuable for a beginning player is his thorough explanation of basic strategy. It's a lot easier to learn basic strategy when you understand why each decision is made. Cardoza examines each combination of cards and explains why you should play each hand as he describes.

In the latter part of the book, you'll find his system, which is based on watching for the appearance of small cards, and increasing your bet. It's like card counting, but less precise. Overall, this is an excellent book, and quite inexpensive. Recommended.

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Don Schlesinger has contributed a wealth of knowledge to the game over the years, always meticulous in searching for accurate information. This book assumes a basic knowledge of the game and card counting, and gives you solid information on how to select the best games and assess the effect of different rules and conditions. For the experienced player, looking to improve his or her profits. (Now in a new second edition, with some extra information.)

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This is the bible for those interested in the complexities of the game. Not for the mathematically faint-of-heart, but full of the most complete information available about how the removal of cards affects your expectation. Key ideas from Griffin's work were the underpinnings of several of the "perfect-play" computers developed over the years. It's a real gem.

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Scoblete does a good job of covering all the bases to get a player off to a profitable start, but is a little short on technical detail compared to some of the other books reviewed here. Of course, that's not always a bad thing. If your eyes begin to glaze over when looking at the strategy index tables provided in Wong's 'Professional Blackjack', you may find Scoblete's book a breath of fresh air. The anecdotal approach has made 'Best Blackjack' the second most popular blackjack book at Amazon, and that's not a bad thing in this case. A good summary is straight from the back cover:

People play blackjack for fun. But it's more fun to play for profit. Now you can do both! 'Best Blackjack' shows you how.

Robbing the One-Armed Bandits
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This book contains some of the best casino tournament advice available in print. If you're planning to enter a blackjack tournament, the information here will give you an edge over most of your competitors. I play quite a few tournaments, and I also write frequently about tournament strategy in Blackjack Confidential magazine. This book is always my first recommendation when someone at a tournament asks: 'Where do I learn this stuff?'.

This book can easily pay for itself in your very first tournament. Recommended!

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This was the first non-blackjack choice for Book of the Month here, but for good reason. If you're in casinos very often, this book will pay for itself in no time. My first experience playing advantageous slots was at the 'Piggy Bankin' machines. If the piggy bank feature has enough coins in it, you can play it until you 'Break the Bank' and make a small but reliable profit. In this book, Lund examines lots of similar machines, telling the secrets of which machines to play, and how.

If you're in the casino to make money instead of contributing, knowing what to look for on these slots is like finding money on the floor!

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Playing blackjack profitably for high stakes is difficult, not for technical reasons, but rather due to the challenges of dealing with the casino personnel whose job it is to prevent your success, and prevent your play if you are a threat to the house. Ian Anderson has produced an excellent book detailing his tricks of the trade. If you are playing for black chips, you'll want to hear what he has to say.

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I've always believed that this book is poorly named. Although it does cover the basics of the game, it is also an excellent reference for any unusual rule variations that a casino may offer as a promotion. Let's say you find a promotion that allows you to double down on your first two, three, or four cards. Need to know the right strategy? It's in here. How about bonuses on five or six-card hands? It's in here. Play with a joker in the deck? Well, you get the idea.

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Card counters are usually portrayed in the popular media as individuals with amazing abilities, like Dustin Hoffman as the Rainman. It seems as though all these characters need to do is set foot in a casino, and they're guaranteed to be escorted to the door a few hours later carrying all the cash they can handle.

This novel doesn't do that. It tells a story about a counter's in-the-trenches experiences, winning, losing, and of course, still being escorted to the door a few times. But it's closer to an accurate depiction than any other popular treatment I've seen.

The book is a peculiar mix at times, blending an odd combination of gambling, religion and spirituality into the story line. But, I did find it quite an enjoyable read, and I expect you will as well.