Sklansky Talks Blackjack [Paperback]

David Sklansky (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1999

Blackjack is the one casino game where the player can easily get an edge over the house. This has been known for almost forty years and many good books have been written on the subject. In spite of this, there are still only a relative handful of people who are taking advantage of this knowledge. Why is that?

David Sklansky believes the reason is that most people think expert blackjack play is too hard to learn. They browse through a book and are struck by the complex charts and tables.

Sklanksy realized that these charts were not really needed to show someone how to play an almost perfect game. As a renowned teacher, as well as a professional gambler, Sklansky (already the author of eight books on gambling) has devised a technique that literally "talks" you through everything you need to know to truly "beat" this popular game.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David Sklansky is generally considered the number one authority on gambling in the world today. Besides his ten books on the subject, David also has produced two videos and numerous writings for various gaming publications. His occasional poker seminars always receive an enthusiastic reception, including those given at the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City and the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.

More recently, David has been doing consulting work for casinos, Internet gaming sites, and gaming device companies. He has recently invented several games, soon to appear in casinos.

David attributes his standing in the gambling community to three things:

1. The fact that he presents his ideas as simply as possible (sometimes with Mason Malmuth) even though these ideas frequently involve concepts that are deep, subtle, and not to be found elsewhere.

2. The fact that the things he says and writes can be counted on to be accurate.

3. The fact that to this day a large portion of his income is still derived from gambling (usually poker, but occasionally blackjack, sports betting, horses, video games, casino promotions, or casino tournaments).

Thus, those who depend on David’s advice know that he still depends on it himself.

Product Details

• Paperback: 140 pages
• Publisher: Two Plus Two Pub.; 1 edition (March 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1880685213
• ISBN-13: 978-1880685211
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,167,582 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

David Sklansky is generally considered the number one authority on gambling in the world today. Besides his twelve books on the subject, David also has produced two videos and numerous writings for various gaming publications. His occasional poker seminars always receive an enthusiastic reception, including those given at the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City and the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.

More recently, David has been doing consulting work for casinos, Internet gaming sites, and gaming device companies. He has recently invented several games, soon to appear in casinos.

David attributes his standing in the gambling community to three facts:

1. The fact that he presents his ideas as simply as possible (sometimes with Mason Malmuth) even though these ideas frequently involve concepts that are deep, subtle, and not to be found elsewhere.

2. The fact that David s teachings have proven to be accurate.

3. The fact that to this day a large portion of his income is still derived from gambling (usually poker, but occasionally blackjack, sports betting, horses, video games, casino promotions, or casino tournaments).

Thus, those who depend on David s advice know that he still depends on it himself.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nothing New Here., September 25, 2004

By 

Bernard Chapin "Ora Et Labora!" (CHICAGO! USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sklansky Talks Blackjack (Paperback)

I admire David Sklansky very much and think that his attitude towards living the gambling life is b-lls out, but I do not think this book was worth the money I paid for it. Contingent to winning, with Sklansky, is that you, as reader, have the ability to count cards. Without it, you won't get any advantage over the house by reading Sklansky Talks Blackjack. The book's organization and use of pictured cards is useful but the author's offering nothing new here that can't be obtained by knowing basic strategy. Sadly, he provides no original or intellectual take on dealing with the 5 and 6 deck shoes that all of us-- outside of the gambling Meccas-- must deal with. I wish that he had.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars so so at best..., December 12, 2005

By 

J. Rubino (Simi Valley,Ca USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sklansky Talks Blackjack (Paperback)

When Sklansky came out with this book the Two Plus Two titles were really gaining momentum. This is an expanded version of the blackjack material he wrote about in "Getting the Best of It" and does not need to be a stand alone book. It only covers the basic strategy and simple count systems available in most blackjack books. and no illuminating angles or approaches. After the successes of "Theory of Poker" and "Holdem Poker for Advanced Players"- both considered must reading for poker players he elected to write this book because "players were interested in having him weigh in on the subject". His blackjack book is just so so in my opinion; it is accurate and to the point but you won't find new or better material here. If you are just starting and have no other blackjack books it is an acceptable primer but that's it.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars not worth the money, January 16, 2004

By 

joevin (States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sklansky Talks Blackjack (Paperback)

conceptually the book is well thought out.playing blackjack is an exact science unlike poker where one has to judge the quality of opponents. describing deck situations as "slightly" "moderatly" "highly" is not appropriate when we know exactly when to deviate from basic strategy.
a much better book is "knock-out" blackjack if card counting is your aim or "blackjack bluebook" if recreational blackjack is your game