Blackjack: A Winner's Handbook (Paperback)

by Jerry L. Patterson (Author) "This books has been in print since 1977, through three major editions, and longer than all but two other blackjack books..." (more)
Key Phrases: nonrandom shuffle, blackjack information, automatic shuffling machines, Atlantic City, Las Vegas, Research Pathway (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Here's what Blackjack: A Winner's Handbook will do for you:

* Reveal new information about the automatic shuffling machines, both the two-shoe type and the continuous shufflers, including a proven winning system

* Disclose that card counting does not always work and describe what you can do to avoid losing.

* Describe Count Profiles: A Bold New Strategy For Beating The Shoe Game.

* Show you how to choose an honest and fair Internet Casino for play.

* Enable you to get an edge at Internet Casinos before your first hand is dealt.

* Show you how to cull usable information from the thousands of blackjack web sites on the Internet.

* Teach you how to play the game (if you are a beginning player) and show you a simple basic strategy for playing each and every blackjack hand to maximize your gain and minimize your loss.

* Show you how to manage your gambling money so you’re always in control, whether you’re a beginner or advanced player.

* Provide a 5-step strategy for learning how to develop and use mental discipline to avoid losing and to increase your winning edge.

* Explain table biases caused by the casinos’ non-random shuffle, how to avoid the dealer biases and how to turn the player biases to your advantage.

* Provide you with a non-count strategy that minimizes losses while enabling you to score in those games where the dealer is breaking and the players are winning.

* Give you a complete home practice program including learning drills for basic strategy players and card counters.

* Tell you stories of team blackjack and teach you how to use team-play techniques to multiply your profits.

* Reveal extremely useful information for those blackjack players considering playing the game to make a living. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher
Winning Strategy And Vital Information ---
New For The Twenty-First Century

Blackjack is one of the simplest--and most challenging--games for today's gambler. In this completely revised and updated edition of the classic guide, Jerry L. Patterson, author and gambling expert, shares winning strategies that can help you beat the odds--whether you're a beginner or seasoned pro.

Packed with new information and tried-and-true strategies, this book gives you everything you need to know to find the winning edge--from card counting to playing at Internet casinos. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 253 pages
• Publisher: Perigee Trade; Revised edition (October 3, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399515984
• ISBN-13: 978-0399515989
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,853,738 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For those serious about winning at BlackJack!, November 14, 1998

By A Customer

This book is for those serious about winning (or those wanting to stretch their limited fun time dollars) while playing BlackJack. How many times have you sat at a BlackJack table, like me, only to see the guy next to you winning big time while all your hard earned money is going to the house? It wasn't all that much fun but I didn't know the difference then. More often than not, you say? Then you should read Jerry Pattersons book. Although this subject has been written by many authors offering different points of view (mostly theories or undocumented practices) Jerry puts his years of research into it. His advice is based on practical knowledge gained from years of working experience. Virtually everything you need to know to start winning plus many research secrets revealed. The vast majority of these secrets are unknown to the casual weekend gambler. Now I know the difference, exploit these secrets everytime I play, and stopped losing. I also found it surprizing that most seasoned BlackJack veterans I talk to know little or nothing about these secrets. For example, before reading Jerry's book I was not aware how the game is controlled by the house. Jerry reveals how to avoid these costly mistakes. I once believed every BlackJack table I sat down to play was a potential winning table for me. Not true. Jerry's money management techniques are an absolute must for anyone gambling for fun or $profit$. Jerry explains his research development cycle, talks about his years of trial and error research, and refers to these successful exploitable items he shares as "factors". You will learn about these "factors", what they mean to you and how to exploit them like I have. These "factors" exist all around you in the casino environment. This book is really fun to read. Some very interesting and exciting storys about how some groups and individuals cheated and got caught. This book is not about cheating. His system really works - I've tried and tested it many times and won big! His systematic approach works in all casinos around (Reno, Vegas, Atlantic City, Indian and Provincial Canadian Casinos too), playing basic strategy (single and multiple deck tables are included), how to capitalize on your observances AND use Jerry's research secrets. This book is easily worth 100 or 1000 times the price. While using Jerry's approach to the game I have many times invested no more than $20 just to entertain myself for hours on end. Other times I found a hot table and won as much as $400 on a measly $5 table and did it in just 45 minutes! His approach to the game is now my defacto standard for playing BlackJack. This book is fresh and right on track. Thank you Jerry Patterson for telling us how to Win at BlackJack. I am just a weekend gambler.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For entertainment purposes ONLY, January 19, 2003

By	Gary (Denver, CO, USA) - See all my reviews

Brief: If you are going to play blackjack then the price of this paperback book isn't bad for understanding some of the interesting details about this game.

Rule #1: Players who play a system lose systematically.

Rule #2: Casinos have made much money on those that think that they can out-smart the casinos.

I have played on BJ teams, roulette teams (wheel and dealer bias), race and sports books. The race books have been my ONLY long-term money-maker (I would qualify this though in the right forum). I feel that I have played every system ever invented/constructed/fabricated known to humankind. I've read every book, every critique, and paid enormously for every "SYSTEM" sold out there. Since I am independently wealthy, I could afford to buy such things and try them out as much as I want. I did, and my advise to you: you will not beat the casinos. I will put all my money on that. Unfortunately, many live on fantasy alone, much to their own undoing.

I've met Jerry Patterson in the late 80's while exploring a few systems. Generally, he is a person of integrity. I understand that his research into systems brings him into contact with many that make his life a frustrating soap opera. Such is the battle-ground, I suppose. I respect Jerry Patterson for his extensive work in this field.

My advise to you is simple: some people make money doing that one thing that is claimed to make you money, and other people sell information about making this same money. Well, why sell this information if you are happily making such money? If Jerry Patterson can't make a good-enough living on his talents in this field (and he is, at the very least, one of the best players), then why do you think you can?

If YOU found a great system for beating craps, blackjack, the slots, horses, or NFL playoffs, THEN would you publish how others can similarialy benefit, OR, --if it is such a great system--, just go about making your good money?

Publishing books and systems on how to beat the casino is a way to make money. It is not very good money, but good enough with decent sales. This, of course, wouldn't approach what may be implied in the money that could be made if following this "system" in the field. Right? So, again, if you have a winning formula, why go hawk it to the public, if not to make sure, but small, money on it from publishing rather than seldom successful practicing of it.

Think about this until it makes sense.

With the price of this book, I DO believe it is well worth the read if you plan on doing BJ as entertainment only. If your looking for a way to make a lot of money, then, sorry, don't let me embellish your imaginary world.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the few Blackjack Greats who's still around, September 5, 2000

By	Frank Jenkins (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

I've read just about every worthwhile Blackjack book published, and have even met a few of the authors personally (Uston, Patterson, and... "Wong," who apparently penned the 1-star review below). Around 1980, there must have been a hundred people writing Blackjack books, and the only one of them still standing, and more important, still playing in casinos, 20 years later is Patterson. That kind of longevity in the "Blackjack trenches" is unique.

You get the basics on the game, plus an outline of systems and development of Blackjack strategies from the beginning up to current methods. He includes discussions of shuffle tracking, hole card play, various counting systems, concealed computers, and card clumping (all of which Patterson has himself used over the years). The Basic Strategy and basic count are included, as well as some of Patterson's newer techniques refined from his experiences. He also details excellent money management systems and strategies for betting with count and without count. Plus, Patterson summarizes and reviews quite a few books and newsletters and makes recommendations for further reading and study of the game.

My opinion is, whatever books you get on Blackjack, this is the one to start with. This book is a great start on skillful playing.