The Blackjack Library

From time to time I get e-mails from people asking me for advice on purchasing blackjack books from the ConJelCo catalog. Assuming that they are beginning at card counting, I virtually always give the same answer. Of the many in the catalog, there are three that I think are particularly good for someone who wants to learn to count. These three, in alphabetical order, are: Blackbelt in Blackjack, by Arnold Snyder, Knock-Out Blackjack by Olaf Vancura and Ken Fuchs, and Professional Blackjack by Stanford Wong. In this month's column I will do a capsule review of each of these and explain why they are my favorites.

Actually the main reason they all are my favorites is because of simplicity. I have been persuaded by the arguement that a simple card counting system (as long as it has sufficient power) is a superior choice to a more advanced card counting system. The more advanced system may be more powerful, but the added complexity may cause the counter to make enough mistakes that any gains are more than erased.

Blackbelt in Blackjack by Arnold Snyder. 1998, RGE Publishing. 185p (paper). ISBN 0-910575-05-3, $19.95. This is the recently updated version of Snyder's classic originally published in 1983. It features the Red Seven count, an unbalanced level-1 count. Because it is level-1 it only requires the counter to add or subtract one from the running total. Because it is unbalanced it does not require the counter to convert the running count to a true count, a process that involves estimation of the number of cards played and division. The result is a count that is both powerful and simple. As far as I am concern, Snyder could have stopped with the Red Seven count and the reader would have gotten his money's worth. But the book includes two additional counts, Hi-Lo Lite, and the Zen Count. Both are more powerful than Red Seven, and both are harder to learn and use. Other topics covered in this book include betting strategies, camouflage, shuffle tracking, and team play.

Knock-Out Blackjack by Olaf Vancura and Ken Fuchs. 1998, Huntington Press. 179p (paper). ISBN 0-929712-31-5, $17.95. This book features (surprise) the Knock-Out count. This is also a level-1, unbalanced count which means that it shares the same characteristic simplicity as Red Seven. The count values are different between the two, but all of the pluses of Red Seven apply to Knock-Out. From basic strategy through how to play in a casino, this book covers everything that a beginning counter needs to know.

Professional Blackjack by Stanford Wong. 1994, Pi Yee Press. 352p (paper). ISBN 0-935926-21-6m $19.95. When I was first learning to count, I bought and read all of the "mass market" books on blackjack, many of which are excellent, and most of which are still available today. The first edition of this book was published in the 1970's and I can remember purchasing a copy in Las Vegas in the late 70's. It was hardbound back then, and relatively expensive for a blackjack book, but it was worth every penny. This newer edition is not nearly as expensive and is every bit as worthwhile. Wong introduces the High-Low count, a level-1, balanced count. Because it is balanced it does require division to convert the running count to the true count, so it is a little more complex to learn and use. However, it is a powerful count, which is well worth learning. Wong has been in this business for years and he knows virtually everything there is to know about the game. Besides the usual tables, etc., Wong covers how to vary play according to the rules in play. (The others do this to a lesser extent.) Of particular interest is a section of double exposure blackjack (where both of the dealer's cards are exposed prior to play of the hand.)

Of course there are many, many more books on blackjack, including many that I highly recommend. A serious counter will want to own most of them. But I think that the beginning counter cannot go wrong by choosing one of these three as a starting point.

(c) 1999, Charles B. Weinstock, All Rights Reserved.