Customer Reviews

Hit and Run!: How to Beat Blackjack As a Way of Life

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I've only read three books on blackjack, so I am no expert on gambling books. HOWEVER......

If you want a book that reads like a transcript of a gambler telling stories over drinks in a bar, name dropping old Vegas stars, talking about the big scores and the big losses, spouting opinions on lotteries and horses, and bragging about nailing hookers, by all means this is your book.

But if you're looking for advice on winning blackjack, look elsewhere.

The subtitle is "how to beat blackjack as a way of life." This is very misleading. There is good advice, mind you, but it's obvious and not worth filling a book. The advice is "quit winners." In any gambling situation, a player will go up and down. Quit when you're up. This is good advice, and it's what I already practice. But I didn't need to buy this book to tell me this.

As this is marketed as a book on playing blackjack, I'd think that instead of giving us the stats on high roller slot machines, or recounting keno stories, or any of the other endless off topic rants, there might be more about money management at the actual table. Showing me a "scorecard" listings wins at various casinos doesn't tell me how those positive numbers got there.

Congrats to Mr Levy on a nice brag book, admittedly getting publishing justification after two really good streaks. But by that standard, I guess I could write my own, having two streaks in a row.

I found much more helpful material for a casual player in Jerry Patterson's Blackjack: A Winner's Handbook. If you're a frequent player, you won't even take Levy's book seriously.

I really enjoyed the anecdotes in this book, and it was highly entertaining to read about Mr. Levy's experiences in old Las Vegas. But this book (as the earlier reviewer said) doesn't say anything abut HOW to win at Blackjack. Just to "quit [as a] winner." What? Like, after one bet? I think his good friend Lyle Stuart wanted to get him published, so we have this book. It's definitely worth reading for the fun stories, but read "Blackjack Bluebook II" or the like for actual useful BJ information.