Customer Reviews

Blackjack: Play Like The Pros

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A must read for any serious player who wants to get to the next level. Two card counting methods are presented with lots of helpful hints on how to make learning the whole process easier. The Casino Countermeaure Chapter is an excellent description of what happens to good players when the casions discover someone can beat them, and many helpful tactics are covered in the next chapter on how to remain undetected once you are playing at that level. The chapter Blackjack Team Play also describes and teaches the nuances of this fascinating approach to the game. Overall, a sound and technically well written book with the player in mind that focusses on exactly what you need to know.

The author starts at the lowest level, and leads the reader by the hand through the complexities of "pro" level Blackjack. Even if you don't plan to play the game at the casinos, the book is a must read for entainment value alone. He covers every aspect of the game, up to and including, behavior at the table and proper dress code to avoid suspicion.
In additon to the technical aspects of the game, he spices the book with personal experiences, successes and failures. A great book for knowledge and entertainment. Should be a must reference for all who plan to try their hand (not luck) at the casino tables.

This book is great. It tells you what you need to play at the pro level--nothing more, nothing less. And there isn't a lot of filler or self-promotion. It's also written by someone who knows how to write, and not just another card player. The author has obviously been around for awhile and knows exactly the ins and outs of playing with an advantage at casinos worldwide.

I loved this book. I've been interested in blackjack and the science of card-counting for a long time. Thing is, nobody has really written much about the game. And, upon reading this book, I am secure enough to admit this is the definitive book on the game of blackjack and the tools you need to beat the casino. Not only do you learn about the game but you also come to understand the intricacies of the casino. Mr. Bukofsky explains what to look for in the casino regarding how casino management tend to get the odds in their favor. However, this book puts the odds in the reader's favor. Thanks for the tips.

This is the best overall of three books on blackjack I've read so far. You get the feeling this man has a very well-organized mind. He's the first author I've read who adequately explains deviations from basic strategy and the matix tables. He nicely discusses the issue of whether to go with a simpler or more complex counting system. Ironically, he is weakest where other writers are stronger: on betting strategy. Here I think he gets a bit too mathematically precise in his betting tables. Would someone with a $20,000 bankroll really bet in amounts of 83, 133, 182, 267, 338...? (p. 122). Of course not. But I completely agree with Bukovsky when he says, "Don't just read this book. Read everything you can get your hands on....Read and reread..." (219). Sound advice, in my view.

If you are a blackjack player this book will help you win. It is worth more than the price. It is endorsed by well-known experts. Many of the books published about blackjack are manuals. This book is more than just a manual. I highly recommend this book if you would like to win at blackjack consistently.

This book was well written, the chapters are short and packed with useful information - no fillers. The author speaks about his personal experience to help you gain a better understanding of what he is trying to say. This was my second book after I read Mensa Guide to Blackjack and I found that the 2 compliment each other. Mensa Guide is heavy on Basic Strategy but light on everything else.

This book offers great advice and recommends many drills that will help you become an advantage player.

There are a few misconceptions about counting cards. First, it's very difficult to do. While its not easy it does not require you to be mathematically gifted in any way. You do however need to be dedicated to practicing and patient at the blackjack table. The second misconception is that you will get rich fast. Card counters or advantage players can expect to gain about 1.5% percent per hand. For example, playing at a $5 dollar betting between $5 and $20 dollars (based on the true count) the expected return is $15 for every 100 hands played (about an hour at the average table).

I think this book should be the second blackjack book an aspering blackjack player should read. The first is Blackjack Bluebook II - the simplest winning strategies ever published (2006 edition) because it has more statistical analysis to prove why basic strategy works and has teaches ways of achieving a positive expectations without counting cards. In addition it offers a basic counting method called KISS (Keep it simple stupid.)

Finally, the review of this book. It offers explanations on all areas of advantage play:
Card counting
Betting strategies according to bankroll ($2,000 - 10,000)
Team play
Camouflage
Basic strategy and deviations according to the count
Expectations
Single deck games
Random tips throughout the book

I guess maybe there is no mathematical way to really have a positive expectation when you go to the casino with $100 dollars. Blackjack: Play Like the Pros says that you have to have a bankroll of $2000 to go at the tables with positive expectation. That is not to say that you can't make money playing at $5 dollar tables but it would be difficult to survive any substantial loosing streak.

Playing basic strategy will get the casinos advantage down to about 0.5% (to be clear that is less than one percent). So if you want to play for fun and experiment with your ability count cards taking $100 to the casino playing basic strategy and trying to count cards will really helpful in determining weather or not you want to invest the time necessary to learn to count cards. If you make the decision to become an advantage player this book definitely covers everything you need to know.

I have had this book now for 2 days and am almost done reading it. It is extremely well written and you just want to keep going from chapter to chapter. The book unlocks the secrets of black jack and the truth behind card counting to become an advantage player. I live 4 miles from a casino and cannot wait to try out some of these techniques........yes there is obviously a bunch of practice needed, but it seems well worth the effort. No freebies people.

The book gets 5 stars because of how well it teaches and also because you will come away with very comprehensive knowledge of not only card counting, but also all of the other things that make up being able to play and win at blackjack in a casino. If you're looking for a book that covers it all and explains everything in detail, this is the one.

Mark Ebner
Phoenix, Arizona