Customer Reviews

John Patrick's Advanced Blackjack

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

For all the people that gave this book a negative review, they definitely did not get his style of writing. Not once does he ever mention playing hunches which one reader wrote. Also, he never mentions "playing with the casinos money" as someone else wrote. Once you win that money it's your money. The casino doesn't say they're playing with your money when they win.

I have been winning consistently for many years using John Patrick's methods. I have become an emotionless robot when I play. Every move I make is pre-determined (no hunches) and every bet I make is pre-determined. It may not be as much fun playing the game, but the three hour ride home is great knowing how much more money is in my pocket.

He is the only author to say you don't always have to split Aces and Eights. I have read the other reviewers talking about computers and statistics. My degree in finance has me familiar with both, but it was only John Patrick's common sense explanations that stopped me from getting burnt anymore playing those hands. How many times have you split these hands only to get killed? But, it was the thing that you were "supposed to do". He makes you look at why you should be making moves in a logical sense, not because the computer said that you should and that's the way it has been handed down.

In conclusion, I can only say that this book has totally changed the way I look at blackjack and has definitely made me a winner, sometimes in less than twenty minutes. If you are open to new methods and want to win consistently, then read this book. If you are closed minded, need computer print-outs and statistics, or just don't feel that you will ever have the dicipline to be a winner, then don't read this book.

This book is obviously bad advice. General principles of probability are thrown out the window. I'm 90% sure that Patrick is employed by casino companies.

He does show his readers a standard basic strategy chart, but then decides that part of it is wrong, and even explains that his reasoning is NOT backed up by computer analysis, but his own observation.

For example, he deviates from a well-established play, doubling down on eleven versus a dealer's two: "I don't like laying out extra money, getting only one card and having that dealer pull to a two." That's ridiculous. The player would almost never WANT a second card in that situation, and would be in such a position of strength that laying out twice the bet is well worth the risk. Have no doubt Patrick knows this.

In my card counting experience, bad players are of course superstitious, and they tend to play scared and thus conservatively. His table modifications feed right into a bad player's fears. All of which pad the casino's bottom line.

In Advanced Blackjack, John Patrick writes with style about a strategy without substance. Misinformation is the best way to characterize the contents of this book, and losing is the best way to characterize the strategy contained there in.

I have read this book and I have implemented his system of money management and basic strategy at the tables. I have won more money consistantly at the tables with his methods. True I did not get those enormous wins but I never made a stupid bet at the tables on emotion. I think his regression system and up and pull chapters are the way to go when gambling at blackjack. I have watched numerous times when someone doubled down against a dealers 10 and they had 11 or a 10 and they get wacked. The logic is why put more money down when hes strong?? Always kick the dealer when he is weak. Those double down opportunities are a lot better when hes showing a weak card. Makes perfect sense to me if ya think about it and listen to what he is trying to tell you.

As far as counting cards go, his system is still the easiest to master.

I have bought numerous books on blackjack and I feel his book is still the best. No matter what anyone else thinks about his book, he has made me a consistant winner and thats the key to gambling

You people that flame J Patrick don't get it. He's the FIRST to admit that he's deviating from mathematics. His premise is NOT about making you rich. and it is certainly not about mathematics. after YOU play 2 million hands of blackjack and report back how effective splitting 8's Vs 10 is, I will do it. If you play one hand of blackjack per minute 24 hours a day you'll get to the 2 millionth hand in about 4 years. Since I hit the tables about once a month- I'll just go ahead and play for short term gains. I'll hit the 8-8 Vs 10 and lose one bet instead of two and just move on to the next hand. I'll make this claim and stand by it until one of you mathematicians can provide solid evidence against it: "If you study patrick's blackjack books and do NOT deviate what-so-ever you WILL consistently come out ahead, or break even, or incur a small loss. you will never come up broke and demoralized." and THAT is the REAL premise behind patrick's writings. He's writing to the guys who have no money- but insist on going to the casino every so often. he's writing to the roofers, painters, cops, fireman and plumbers of northern NJ who insist on driving 3 hours to AC with a few hundred in their pocket whose wives would shoot them if they found out. ...

Don't listen to the people who give poor reviews to Patrick's books. Patrick has been around the casino tables for nearly 40 years and has plenty of experience. His playing methods are very sound and mathematically accurate. For the average player, his strategy can be invaluable, especially when it comes to money management and how to bet. If you guys don't feel comfortable with not doubling down on 11 vs. every dealer hand, go ahead and chart your progress. Chart how many times you win on dealer 2, 9, 10, or A. Until then, don't give this good book a bad review. This book is filled with good Blackjack principles!

This book really explain how to win. I have tested it by myself, and his theory worked out. I have to give John a big thanks. If you wanna be a gambler, buy the book

This is the worst blackjack book i have ever read.Blackjack when played with basic strategy which is easily memorized(most casinos will allow a crib sheet if you cant)is one of the cheapest forms of entertainment in the world with its house edges against basic strategy ranging from 0 to .5 percent. A five dollar bettor will lose less than three dollars an hour on average while earning comp time and free drinks. Patrick throws basic out the window and instead goes with his moronic unmathematically sound principles of attacking weak dealer upcards and being scared off from dealers strong cards. blackjack is won through the battle of expected values not hunches. The only time basic strategy should be deviated from is when a counting system(one that counts high cards against low cards taking into account amount of cards left and amount of cards played) tells you that you should because of a different expected value because of the changing of tens density. Basic strategy will help you come close to breaking even while counting correctly will help you make money depending on rules , bet spread, penetration and casino tolerance. John patrick will do neither for you instead he will help you lose your money. I wonder if he works for the casinos maybe he does through the griffin detective angency. I would have gave the book zero stars if i could have. If you would like to find a top notch book on blackjack I would reccomend Stanford Wong or Don Schlessinger. My top 3 reccomendations are 1)Basic Blackjack 2)Professional Blackjack 3)Blackjack Attack.

I couldn't put this book down. Loaned to me during a pool tournament & I read 1/4 of it that night. I knew what he was saying and had lost money for 30 years by being each of the people he describes but I knew there was something basically I was not doing. He describes and teaches how to consistently be a winner through money management and discipline with allowances for individual assessment of the situation.

This is the third time I'll be buying this book having left it in different casino hotels around the country or loaning it out. I have used John Patricks Methods for years and have either come out ahead or even. For a while I was driving to Laughlin from Phoenix to make extra money that's how consistent his methods are. My Dad and Stepmother who are retired always come home with 200-300 extra and that is starting with 60.So to all the "dorks" who claim it doesn't work have fun losing.