Blackjack: The Real Deal [Paperback]

J. Phillip Vogel (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The gambling boats have come to town, but your blackjack is a little rusty. Not to worry. Vogel is ready to help. This handy little guide explains the basics of the game as it's played casino style--doubling down, splitting your cards, doubling after the split--and then discusses a variety of betting strategies to fit every bankroll. Weekend players will be most interested in the tables: what to do when you've been dealt various combinations in concert with the dealer's up card. The logic behind the charts is persuasively explained, and best of all, it won't take much for motivated readers to memorize the data. Along with tables and facts, Vogel supplies more subjective advice: how to manage money, how to exercise patience and self-control. A sound, commonsensical guide to playing blackjack. Leon Wagner

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Ravenhaus Pub; 1st edition (October 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0965984508
• ISBN-13: 978-0965984508
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,728,772 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE ONLY BLACKJACK BOOK YOU'LL EVER NEED, May 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Blackjack: The Real Deal (Paperback)

Blackjack:The Real Deal was by far the most informative and logical black jack book I have purchased. I've been going to Atlantic City for some time now, and I have never won so often in my life. I've read many other books on this game and this was the only book that was written in a way that I found easy to understand, and, beyond a shadow of a doubt, WORKS!! J. Phillip Vogel goes into such topics as casino etiquette, betting stratogies, and easy to read charts telling you when to take a card, split your cards, and so on. Since I have read this book, my winnings have increased by at least 45%. My recommendation would be to defanitely buy this book, read it, and be ready to "WIN"!!!

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't buy this book!, April 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Blackjack: The Real Deal (Paperback)

I've read at least a half-dozen books on Blackjack, and this one is far and away the worst. He can't even get the basic strategy right! Beyond the fact that he uses a mishmash of "correct" plays (some only true against single deck, some only against multiple deck), he tells you to split 9's against a 10 or an ace (as well as a 7, which are all major no-no's) and not to double an A-4 or A-5 against a 4 (a good play against any rules)! Beyond that, he packs the book full of complete nonsense, such as trend analysis. This technique is based on the absolutely faulty premise that if the dealer has broken 5 hands in a row, he is more likely to break the sixth. The truth is, that the OPPOSITE is more likely to be true, since a dealer who's been busting a lot has probably drawn a lot of high cards out of the deck (but this is no substitute for counting). The net result is you'll waste a lot of time watching others play, and gain absolutely nothing for it. He also emphasizes progressive/regressive betting methods that, in the long run, will perform no better than just flat bets (for the simple reason that you're not counting, and don't know when you should bet higher). The ironic thing is that his bet-changing methodology won't help you, but could possibly get you harrassed or barred, simply because it looks a lot like the manner in which card couters change their bets. He puts forward other stupid ideas as well, too numerous to all recount here. Basically, avoid this book like the plague. It's not worth the paper it's printed on.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Informative, straight forward, logical and easy to follow., April 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Blackjack: The Real Deal (Paperback)

Blackjack: The Real Deal is right on the money! Its basic strategy section increased my understanding of the game and brought my winnings up an average of 30%. J. Phillip Vogel's style is easy to read, straight forward, logical and based on statistical facts, not luck or superstition. (Mathematics don't lie.) What's more, he covers casino etiquette, money management and other handy tips. I think quite a few gamblers could use this book, whether or not THEY think so. I see he is also coming out with a craps book that, personally, I can't wait to read!