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56 of 57 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Blackjack Bluebook II, June 29, 2003
Gem says it all! It took 30 years, but somebody has finally taken all the hi-tech blackjack strategy that you need to actually beat the game and reduced it into clear layman's terms. This book turns basic strategy into an artform with 7 hands that should be played "against the book" if the right cards are on the board. It also touches on a provocative angle that I've never seen dealt with before, "Hand Interaction" (completing other players' doubles for less, taking part of their advantageous splits, pawning off one of your own disadvantaged split cards, etc.) The author, an obviously accomplished card counter presents some laughingly simple ways for a basic strategy player to identify a shoe that has become heavy in Tens and Aces, then shows exactly how to bet and play that shoe through to the end. The book is littered throughout with graphic card hand illustrations which really drive home its salient points. It also contains the new unbalanced KISS Count which makes basic card counting about as easy as it can get. Later in the book, the reader is shown how to refine the basic Kiss Count into a full scale performer. The chapter on advanced skills and techniques contains useful gems, particularly a list of 15 "camouflage" plays that a journeyman counter can use to hide his proficiency. I wish this book was around 15 years ago when I was struggling with all the more tedious handbooks on advantage play. This one's a real smooth read, and provides some new insights besides.
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28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well Organized, Highly Informative Manual, October 24, 2003
Although I've been playing "advantage" blackjack for many years, I still found this book to be helpful and educational. It was a reading delight with a comprehensive sequential arrangement, smoothly moving from basic strategy - to basic refinement techniques - to amateur card counting - to advanced card counts. Its chapter on the "art" of skillful play offered some advanced, yet easy tactics regarding camouflage, truing up an unbalanced count, etc. Even the pure recreationalists will find practical ways to improve their game beyond correct basic strategy by using information from the cards showing on board. There is also quite an interesting analytical perspective on betting progressions. One thing I liked in particular was that nearly every strategy or technique presented was given a percentage value, backed by millions of computer generated hands. That gives us all a better feel for what our various efforts are worth; something I haven't always had. Another big plus was all the card hand graphics that were used throughout to illustrate its strategic points. For hard to grasp concepts, the pictures were a big help. After reading 20 blackjack books, if I can get just one or two new helpful things from the next one I consider it time well spent. This one provided lots of them.
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46 of 50 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent!, March 25, 2006
This may be perhaps the best blackjack book ever written. "Blackjack Bluebook II" has things that I have never seen in any other blackjack book. Did you know that you can get an advantage in a six-deck game by counting the number of ten cards? After two decks have been dealt, you may have an advantage--and you will not have to count anything for the rest of the shoe! Did you know that if there is a hand with an inordinate number of "babies" (low cards) compared to ten cards, you also have an advantage for the remainder of the shoe? Read it and reap.
Renzey also has tidbits like the "Rule of 45": if you have a total of sixteen versus the dealer's ten, and one of the cards is a four or a five, then the proper play is to stand, not hit! Renzey will help the serious player who does not want to count cards narrow the casino's edge to a sliver. If you do want to count cards, there are three counting systems in here of increasing complexity. This book is excellent in every possible way; if you plan on playing blackjack seriously in a casino, you should not be without this book.
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