Customer Reviews

Playing Blackjack as a Business; a Professional Player's Approach to the Game of "21". -

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When I discovered that a "hard cover" version of Playing Blackjack as a Business was going to be published in September of 1999, I rushed to place my order right away. Never mind that its list price was $ 27.95 plus the usual shipping and handling. Normally, I wouldn't pay attention to such trivial matters, but today I'm fuming and disappointed!

Don't get me wrong! The magic of Lawrence Revere is there still; I don't believe that will ever change. Nor there is anything wrong with the hard of the book is its strategy charts. And that's what got me boiling over. I can't believe it that Replica Books did such a bad job in reproducing them. Their wretched look is an instant turn off, and again that's perhaps the most important part of the book, the meat if I may!

It appears that color charts meant to be reproduced in color were reproduced in black and white. Normally, black and white designs reproduced in black and white come out in good quality. Not so, color designs reproduced in black and white, alas, this book in question.

The quality of the charts is so bad that I decided to return the book for a full refund. Amazon will even refund the postage so that it would be like if I never ordered the book, as one of her courteous representatives has assured me.

For my own consolation, though, I will order the soft cover version to replace my copy that after so many years of giving me the joy in the art of playing blackjack is beginning to fall apart. I know that version has better quality charts in full color

If the reviews I read are accurate do not buy the republished version [Amazon should love this]; find an older one when it was published by Lyle Stuart. Then you have the benefit of the color charts. Be aware that the man who published under the name Lawrence Revere died of cancer in the late 1970s. But he did write the best tutorial ever on how to beat the twenty-one game by card counting. Revere was a fanatic who believed in study and practice. He first published in 1968, and didn't bother to copyright his writing till the following year. It was, I believe, John Luckman, former dealer at the Dunes and founder of the Gambler's Book Club, who urged him to protect his work. Careful reading of Revere's _Playing Blackjack as a Business_ and of Thorp's _Beat the Dealer_ (both the 1962 and 1966 editions) will teach more about the game than all the other writings combined. For anyone planning to make serious money at blackjack, it would be a mistake not to own and study these three books. The only worthwhile active contributor to blackjack literature writes under the name Stanford Wong. I recommend his software for generating decision tables. Other works I can recommend are the late Peter Griffin's _Theory of Blackjack_ and the late Ken Uston's _Million Dollar Blackjack_. And if you can find a copy (you almost certainly can't) read Dr. Alan Wilson's long out-of-print _Casino Gamblers Guide_ to learn the history of the game and the digital and empirical pioneers who first analysed it. All other writing on twenty-one is eyewash.

I found this book to be a wonderful challenge. It covers every possible hand to your strategic advantage, and proves the game can be won if you are willing to put in the work needed to learn and practice. This book is still a present day authority on how to beat the game! My soft cover is in color! My condolences to the last reviewer. I have read many books and this is one of the best, no doubt.

In the section titled "A Word on the Construction and Format of this Book" the first sentence reads as follows:

"This book contains 70 charts, 36 of which are in color."

Well, none of the charts in the book are in color. A big disappointment giving the high price of the book.

I've read and re-read this book several times.
Revere's style is a bit aggressive, but it
apparently reflects the mental resolve necessary
to succeed at playing/counting blackjack.
He knows what he's talking about, and can show
you why and how to learn to play the game flawlessly.
Although most BJ books introduce you to basic strategy
and some sort of counting method, Revere shows you
what it takes to win.
Required reading for all students of the game.