Customer Reviews

Blackjack For Blood: The Card-Counters' Bible, and Complete Winning Guide

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

BLACKJACK FOR BLOOD was the first book on BJ I ever read, and only because it was personally recommended to me several years ago by a professional player in Las Vegas. In retrospect, it is the only book I'd ever have needed to master the game, and I refer to it often while training, and while planning gaming trips.

While there are other BJ books that are perhaps more comprehensive about the theory and history behind the game (Julian Braun, Edward Thorpe), or more detailed about the actual life one can lead as a card counter in a casino (God, I wish I had had the chance to meet and talk with Kenny Uston before he died!) or even more fun to read (Scoblete's books are great, as well) Carlson's book is as complete as you'll need; comprehensive in its detail of the game, and all the intricacies of playing in a casino from camoflage (critical if you're going to play as a counter) to betting stategies.

When I first started playing, I just used the Basic Strategy section. When I had mastered that, I moved on to learning his Level Two count (and contrary to other reviewers, I found it easy enough to learn and master). As my game improved in actual casino play, I moved on to varying my playing (and betting) strategies based on the count of the cards. As I said, I've referred to the book often.

I now play at casinos many times a year, am almost totally comped on all my trips, and win far more than I lose. I have no desire to play professionally--why bother? But it's a terrific and lucrative hobby. And the writers, players, and counters are right: It's not the money that's the thrill for me...it's knowing you can beat the game.

Like anything else, you get out of this book what you put into it. Learning to count cards is not difficult, but it's a skill that takes work. If you really want to guarantee you'll be a winner in virtually any casino in the world, you want BLACKJACK FOR BLOOD.

This book has it all. It's mathematically accurate, highly informative, up-to-date, and beautifully written. In addition, Carlson's anecdotes of high-roller life in the casino fast lane make for a really fun, entertaining read. Carlson is both a mathematician and a successful high-stakes Blackjack player, and he presents the concepts behind card counting in an easy-to-understand way that is informative, practical and very entertaining. This book is just chock full of priceless information. It presents the theory of card counting, basic strategy, game selection, camouflage, casino comportment, special "commando" tactics, money management, risk of ruin, etc., etc., as well as Carlson's own Advanced Omega II System, which all the experts agree is the strongest BJ system going. AOII is a level-2 card-counting system that I've found easy to learn and easy to use. And it works! It really gets the money. K-O and Hi-Lo don't come close. This book is da bomb! If you could only have one book on BJ, this should definitely be it. Highly recommended.

Blackjack for blood is a great beginner as well as advanced guide to playing blackjack. For the beginner, the description and charts on playing basic strategy are great. For the intermediate player, the book offers a basic hi/lo card counting strategy. And for the advanced player, the book introduces an advanced level two count system that is more accurate to use than the simple hi/lo system. The level two system, however, is slightly more complicated and requires the player to practice longer in order to master. The author also explains all of this in an easy to understand narrated format that makes the book quite enjoyable to read. For advanced players that want to learn the intricacies of the probability theory behind blackjack, I strongly recommend reading "Professional Blackjack" by Stanford Wong. I definitely give this book 2 Thumbs UP! Maybe the only blackjack book you'll need to succeed!

"BlackJack for Blood" can benefit any player of 21, from new people looking for the basic rules of when to stand/hit/double, to the more ambitious card counter who wants a system that can basically guarantee success at the table.

The unnamed author mixes rules with amusing, relevant anecdotes and actually creates an interesting read. He gives information that will help counters avoid detection and also deals out less-than noble (but not exactly illegal) tricks a player can use to take a few extra chips from those evil casinos.

The meat of the book, however, is a card counting system that takes some serious brain power and practice to master. I always found math to be boring and simplistic in school and received nearly perfect scores on the math sections of scholastic standardized tests. But the card counting system covered in this book may be a little above my mental capacity. It is only for people with Mensa-level processors.

Blackjack For Blood is the best book on blackjack I have ever read -- and I have read just about all of them. According to all the experts, Carlson's Advanced Omega II System (included in the book) is much stronger than Hi-Lo or K-O, and I have found it surprisingly easy to master. It definitely gets the money; that's for sure. I also like the author's writing style. He explains things very well, and he intersperses the hardcore stuff with entertaining stories about his high-rolling experiences in various casinos around the world. All in all, a terrific book on how to beat casino blackjack. I highly recommend it.

This book has it all. It's mathematically accurate, highly informative, up-to-date, and beautifully written. In addition, Carlson's anecdotes of high-roller life in the casino fast lane make for a really fun, entertaining read. Carlson is both a mathematician and a successful high-stakes Blackjack player, and he presents the concepts behind card counting in an easy-to-understand way that is accurate, informative, and practical. This book is just chock full of priceless information. It presents the theory of card counting, basic strategy, game selection, camouflage, casino comportment, special "commando" tactics, money management, risk of ruin, etc., etc., as well as Carlson's own Advanced Omega II System, which all the experts agree is the strongest BJ system going. AOII is a level-2 card-counting system that I've found easy to learn and easy to use. And it works! It really gets the money. K-O and Hi-Lo don't come close. This book is the bomb! If you could only have one book on BJ, this should definitely be it. Highly recommended.

The system is a good one, but complicated. Way too much so for the average person. If you're a smart cookie, this book is for you with a super-powerful system. If you're a newbie to the game, go with a simpler system like Knock-Out Blackjack or High-Low. These simpler systems are almost as strong in computer simulations, and surpass the complex systems when real-world conditions are factored in.

This book is only a 2-level system that has a playing effiency of the 3 and 4 level systems. The playing efficiency is calculated independently by a mathmetician in the theory of BJ. So this stat is not Carlson's smoke blowing , but the facts of mathmatics. On top of that the book is well written and very motivational. The author explains the ups and the DOWNS of a BJ player, and how to manage the money accordingly. Other books to read: BJ as a business, the theory of BJ, professional BJ, Million dollar BJ, take the money and run.

I've read and studied just about every good Blackjack book published in the last 15 years, from Wong's Professional Blackjack to Vancura and Fuch's K-O Blackjack to Schlesinger's Blackjack Attack: Playing the Pros' Way, and believe me none of these books come close to the level of Carlson's Blackjack For Blood. It really is a BJ masterpiece. Definitely, a must have for serious players.

Bryce Carlson is no doubt a very good blackjack player and an even better statistician. His book gives the average player some priceless advice on how to make the most of your small advantage you gain from counting. On the other hand since I don't have a pentium III chip for a brain I will rate his Omega II counting system complicated at best. My feeling is that this system is not worth the extra effort to master unless you are a professional. His system uses high indices and therefore demands constant practice in order to use it effectively. IMHO There are plenty of easier (level 1) counting systems that are very close to the same accuracy.