Blackjack Books

The Best Blackjack Books Ever!

Blackjack is a fascinating game that allows an intelligent player to manipulate the odds of the game (otherwise known as the 'advantage') away from the casino and back to the player. These insights and techniques were only revealed through several gifted players, often elite mathematicians and authors, who almost always tested their theories in the trenches racking up both incredible winnings and awesome stories. It's no wonder then that players wishing to improve or master the game often look to what are considered the Blackjack classics. While all of these titles are primarily concerned with helping the reader become a masterful Blackjack player most are also wildly entertaining, filled with eccentric personalities like Stanford Wong or Ed Thorp.

If you want to really improve your game or understand the theories and statistics behind your favorite game, these are required reading. Not accidentally, most of the authors in this list are also members of the Blackjack Hall of Fame.

Playing Blackjack as a Business: A Professional Player's Approach to the Game of 21
by Lawrence Revere

Originally published in 1969, this is the hallmark blackjack book that started the revolution within blackjack that led to all the innovations and developments that happened afterwards. Lawrence Revere had been a professional player, dealer, pit boss and casino owner since 1944 and knew every aspect of the game the way no one else before him had. Taking it even further the book includes helpful visuals like strategy charts. Some of the computation in later additions was the work of the legendary Julian Braun who also made major contributions through other books, such as Beat the Dealer. Even though the focus is on single deck games, which are largely outdated, it is still considered required reading.

Beat the Dealer: A Winning Strategy for the Game of Twenty-One
by Edward Thorp

Without question one of the most exciting and influential books in Blackjack. Edward Thorp was an MIT mathematician who borrowed money from mobsters and tested his theories in Vegas before publishing his findings in this New York Times bestseller, instead of going the traditional academic route. His gamble paid off and Edward Thorp is considered the father of card counting and a pioneering legend in Blackjack.

Million Dollar Blackjack
by Ken Uston

Ken Uston is one of the games' most famous players and authors on the subject of Blackjack. He is considered one of its greatest contributors both in his contribution to theory and publishing. But it is another book, The Big Player, that exploded him onto the scene. In it he described Al Francesco's idea of team play, which originally took the casinos by storm but is now considered less attractive. In Million Dollar Blackjack, Uston is at the very top of his form describing a multitude of creative ways to utilize advanced counting methods, front play, spooking and his outrageous ideas on camouflage. Even though it was originally published in 1981 it is still widely read for his descriptions of tournament play techniques not to mention Uston's outlandish and brilliant style.

Basic Blackjack
by Stanford Wong

One of the most useful books on Blackjack that can be described as both a complete introduction to basic strategy and a powerful reference for the simple but comprehensive list of game variations. It includes information on winning without card counting and is written in easy to understand language with Wong's hilarious style. While some of the techniques inside have lead Las Vegas casinos to update their rules, many other destinations still play the blackjack variations that this book provides profitable legal means for getting ahead on.

Professional Blackjack
by Stanford Wong

Once you've mastered the basics, you're ready for this one. Professional Blackjack published in 1975, was the title that propelled Stanford Wong into the upper echelons of the Blackjack world with its descriptions of a technique soon to be described as "Wong-ing." A complete explanation of the High-Low counting system, double exposure and how to handle larger four shoe decks instantly made Wong a force so unstoppable that casinos had to modify their rules... AGAIN. As Don Schlesinger said this is "the card counters bible."

Blackbelt in Blackjack: Playing 21 as a Martial Art
by Arnold Snyder

Arnold Snyder is the foremost leading author and expert on the subject of blackjack, the self proclaimed "Bishop of the Church of Blackjack." With numerous titles on specialized aspects of the game he is able to cover everything in a compact and straightforward 'HOW TO' format. In 21 powerful chapters readers are lead through a training process to learn everything from the basic rules and strategy to how to master the most powerful techniques for winning at the casinos. Advanced techniques are covered and both beginners and advanced players will find the index included in the later editions to be a valuable reference tool.

The Blackjack Shuffle Tracker's Cookbook
by Arnold Snyder

What is shuffle tracking and why is it so difficult to understand and use in real life? In a brief and highly readable text the blackjack authority breaks it all down in easy to read language. Shuffle tracking, also called ace tracking, is the alternative to card counting and just starting to blossom as an advanced playing technique. Once the basics are laid out using the appropriate cookbook and recipe analogies more complicated and never before revealed techniques are explored. Also articulated is the current scene in Las Vegas and why shuffle tracking promises to be an under appreciated way to win profitably.

Theory of Blackjack (sixth edition)
by Peter Griffin

Required reading for all serious blackjack players this is the masterwork of one of blackjacks greatest thinkers and the man who helped with the calculations in both Lawrence Revere's, Playing Blackjack as a Business and Edward Thorp's Beat the Dealer before working with Lance humble to create the best counting systems in practice today. The Theory of Blackjack is mostly concerned with the mathematical basis of the game: exploring possible side strategies and variations in several card counting systems. The sixth edition includes a helpful index.

The World Greatest Blackjack Book
by Lance Humble

The first and arguably the best introduction to the powerful Hi-Opt I counting system by Lance Humble, who helped develop the method with Julian Braun in the 1970's. Almost double the volume of the average blackjack reference book, it includes a complete introduction to the game of blackjack and a comprehensive breakdown of this powerful counting system, which has lead generations of enthusiasts to refer to his book as 'the classic Blackjack bible.'

Knock-Out Blackjack: The Easiest Card-Counting System Ever Devised
by Ken Fuchs and Olaf Vancura, Ph.D.

Anyone familiar with Blackjack knows the basic theory behind card counting. The problem for most players is the complexity and distractions that take something that is theoretically easy and make it difficult or impossible to practically employ at busy casino tables. With the average player in mind a new unbalanced counting method, the KO count was created and clearly described so that blackjack players can easily get an advantage over the casino. The book also contains a wealth of useful information and entertaining anecdotes that will fire up the reader to play.

How to Play Winning Blackjack
by Julian Braun

A straightforward and conceptual explanation of basic strategy by one of the great genius mathematicians of blackjack. Without a lot of ego or frills this is a world class instruction manual designed to teach players all of the ins and outs involved in playing, mastering and beating the game of 21. Recommended by other members of the Blackjack Hall of Fame, such as Al Francesco.

Beyond Counting: Exploiting Casino Games from Blackjack to Video Poker
by James Grosjean

Currently out of print, this incredible book is already valued at $600. For serious players interested in never before seen advantage play techniques it may very well be a good investment. The straightforward language is well written, however it is not for beginners as the mathematical analysis and insights are the big draw. Grosjean is considered the inheritor of Peter Griffin's crown as this generation's blackjack math guru. But unlike Griffin he also provides psychological insights that are often over looked and may play an equal role in winning.

Advantage Play for the Casino Executive
by Bill Zender

One of the greatest books ever written on the all important basic strategy of blackjack, Bill Zender is famous for being a casino manager, gaming control agent and author. A broad subject range is covered on such advanced topics as: shuffle tracking, reading the dealers hole card, warp hole card strategy and tell strategies. Also included is information on rolling rhythm for craps and roulette wheel bias. If you want to know what the casinos already do this is must read.

Blackjack Attack: Playing the Pros' Way
by Don Schlesinger

An instant classic and often referred to amongst players and authorities. With a forward and introduction by Arnold Snyder and Stanford Wong, it's clear that this is a book that any serious blackjack player must take notice of. Considered one of the greatest card counting books ever written several advanced techniques are explained in detail: back counting shoe games, team play, win rates, betting techniques, statistical insights and the "Illustrious 18" and "floating advantage" topics never before covered. Schlesinger also teaches you how to evaluate new rules and strategies. Newer editions include a great deal more content and a comprehensive index so make sure you've got the most recent edition of this groundbreaking book.

Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions
by Ben Mezrich

The story that made casino blackjack an adventure premise and MIT mathematics students swashbuckling heroes, this is the true story of the MIT team. Starting with a group of intelligent mathematically inclined college students trained in the essentials of card counting and team play they managed to extract millions of dollars from casinos world wide. Their fantastic circumstances and success also met with equally fantastic problems and counter strategies. It's a thrilling book and even more amazingly it's non-fiction.

Burning the Tables in Las Vegas: Keys to Success in Blackjack and in Life
by Ian Andersen

Burning the tables in Las Vegas is the sequel to another book, Turning the tables on Las Vegas. Both are excellent but the sequel makes our list for priceless strategy advice for the unique issue of high stakes bankrolls. With a forward by Stanford Wong, this is an instant classic for advanced and professional players who want to avoid problems with casinos if you want to be a high roller playing at the professional level.

Read the dealer
by Steve Forte

Differing from almost every other major blackjack strategy approach, Read the Dealer was not concerned with basic strategy, statistics or any of the usual advanced player techniques. Instead it peered into the psychological responses of dealers that anyone regardless of their other blackjack skills could profitably employ. Of course like most other major strategy bombs published for a wide audience casinos soon adopted new rules and dealer training to prevent these "tells." Although most of the content in this book is now outdated, it is still very useful particularly in non-US casinos. Published in 1986 the book is currently out of print and extremely hard to get a hold of.