Customer Reviews

Blackjack's Hidden Secrets, Win Without Counting (New & Expanded Edition)

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Listen to the reasons this book has been getting 4 or 5 starts here. "I didn't know there was a basic strategy - this is great!"

Duh!

"Other books show how to count cards. That's hard. This book shows any easy way to win with money management. That's easy."

People, you can NOT win with money management. One of the reasons Blackjack is hard to figure out is that you can NOT learn from experience how to play. You would have to play millions and millions of hands, and record the results of every single hand, before you could figure out the correct plays.

This game has already been figured out with mathematical proofs and huge computer simulations. I quickly perused this book in the book store (took about 15 seconds, because it's about 12 pages long (exaggerating just a bit)), and it's got plenty of errors, while the basic strategy tables are found in ANY book, folks! Don't waste your time. If you really want to win, you have to either
a) find a game with such good rules (almost always a single deck game) that you have an advantage even playing basic strategy. Good luck finding such a game.
b) count cards, or at least pay attention to the cards.

For the easiest approach (and a very good explanation of basic strategy), try Cardoza's book WINNING CASINO BLACKJACK
FOR THE NON-COUNTER. Even here, you must find a single deck game with good rules, that gets you close to even with basic strategy, and then watch for a lot of low cards coming out early, and then betting higher. Otherwise, you have to count. For an easy counting system that is mathematically proven, try Knockout Blackjack.

Folks, if you want to believe you can win by some betting progression or money management system, please do. The casinos will stay open with your business. Just because you won does not mean you have an advantage. You are still playing a losing game. Blackjack has HUGE variations in winnings, so your experience PROVES NOTHING. Great players can lose in the short term, and lousy players can win in the short term. "Short term" means less than about 10,000 hands, or about 1,000 hours of playing (that's playing for 4 hours a day, 5 days a week for about a year.) If you come out ahead after that time, then come back and write a positive review for this lame book. Otherwise, knock it off people.

The most valuable information in George's book is essentially how to be a disciplined blackjack player, which is most valuable indeed. Think about it though. If there was a guaranteed way for the average non-card counting Joe like you or me to win consistently at casinos, casinos would soon cease to exist. What about George's 78% win average? Well, that's according to him of course. But consider this: when you use his system you've had a "winning" session when you win 50% of your original stake. You've had a "losing" session when you've lost 100% of your stake. Therefore you can end up with a higher percentage of winning sessions than losing sessions, and still end up in the hole. George doesn't say he sees a consistent 78% monetary return on all his blackjack investments, just that he sees a 78% "win average." Plus, no betting system can gain or lose you money. How does one hand know what was wagered on the last hand?

However, I rate this book highly because of the many positive lessons it teaches about gambling in general. Although George's system cannot guarantee you will win money, it is still a system which requires discipline, proper playing technique, and a strict betting and money management formula. He emphasizes fundamentals that are paramount to having a successful ride at any gaming table: do not drink, don't bet hunches or feelings, bring only a certain amount (depending on table limits) to each table, walk when you win or lose a certain amount. If you can follow all George's disciplines, you will definitely increase your chances of winning. Hopefully you will have a good time as well and not walk away broke, having spent five times as much as you intended in half an hour.

George is an Everyman, and his short book is a good read. From reading his books and hearing him on talk shows, I think he has a great personality, and very much speaks to the average or casual gambler like you and me. He is a good writer for someone who is not a professional writer. The handy strategy cards can be simply torn out and taken to the blackjack table with you. If you're planning a trip to Vegas or Atlantic City, it can be a fun system to try. Who knows, you may get lucky!

I've only read the sample pages on amazon but I have recently ordered it. The sample pages that mention money management is actually what I have been practicing before discovering this book. When playing blackjack I usually start out with twenty $5.00 chips($100). On an average session I can gain 10 chips (10 X $5 = $50). On a good session I can gain 20 chips(20 X $5 = $100). Going beyond that is pretty hard and I start losing or going up and down. On a really bad session I can gain only 4 chips (4 X $5 = $20). Usually on bad sessions I go negative before I can make it all back and get ahead by a little. But I usually do get ahead eventually. After seeing this pattern I figured the only way I can make more money is to start betting larger chips regularly such $25 chips. So my usual $50 gains become $250 and my miniscule $20 gains become $100. I go to the casino once or twice a week and make a couple of hundred dollars within the first half hour inside the casino. Then I leave. If I stay any longer I end up losing my gains and getting stressed out. I'm not breaking the casino or getting filthy rich. However, I've turned the casino into my own modest free ATM machine on a weekly basis.

I met George at a conference and only picked up his book to be polite. Wow! I'm glad I did. This book is very helpful and with its tips and guides, got me over my fear of playing Blackjack. If you want to play Blackjack and actually walk away from the table with some money in your pocket, buy George's book.

Not only is George a great guy but he has written a great book! I love it. He is the perfect person to teach people to play. Read his book! You won't be sorry!

This is a very straightforward book. The author gets to his points quickly and concisely. He doesn't waste words in the 20 pages of text. It was a radio interview Mr. Pappadopoulos did earlier this year with a Vegas radio station that peaked my interest. I was considering learning to card count but after reading this book I am relieved that I found an alternative. I've only used the system in simulation but it does make sense and seems to be a sound progressive betting system. Card counters will not enjoy the book, but novice or recreational players will easily understand the book and flat bettors will profit from using his system. I'm looking forward to testing the system in Vegas when I return later this year!

If you have never read a book on blackjack before, this one would be helpful. Otherwise, you have heard it all before.

This book was great! It was easy to follow and I played for hours. I have never walked away from a Black Jack table with money in my pocket and never after 4 or 5 hours of playing.

People at my table wanted to know what I was using and where could they get one. I won't go back to vegas without this book. I can't wait for my next visit to Vegas.

I was not a Black Jack player. My friends would hit the tables and I'd meander over to the video poker to kill time while they had fun at the tables. I never felt it fun to turn over all my money at black jack.

Mr. Pappadopoulos' book gave me the confidence to not just play, but to have fun. He made it clear how to set my limits, when to start playing, when to leave and how to leave a winner more often than not. In other words, focus on having fun rather than focus on counting cards or other mind-consuming approaches to beating the odds.

I loved his clear and concise, yet personal, style of writing. I felt he was there with me when I went to the tables.

I recovered four times the cost of the book on my first visit after reading.

Thanks, Mr. Pappadopoulos, for your insights.

George is the real deal and this book is the ticket! I was skeptical at first, but I went into the casino here in Vegas and tested it out. WOW! I have now won 6 times in a row following his system. I'm now a converted card counter and would HIGHLY reccomend this book to anyone who wants to make money, have fun and not try and count every card coming out of the shoe. One quick warning: when you buy this book follow the system EXACTLY. Do not freelance and try and do stuff on your own. George has figured out how this works and if you deviated from his system it will come back to bite you. Following his system I pocketed a total of over $4100 in six trips. THANKS GEORGE!