My first experience of blackjack came from my father. He wasn’t a keen blackjack player by any means and aside from the occasional poker evening, he showed very little interest in casino table games. Still, one evening he explained to me the basic rules of blackjack. As Aces, Jacks and Kings were drawn from the deck he would tut if I stood too early and laugh if I hit too late. This was my first game of blackjack.
Later in life, I decided to invest some time in the game and my occasional sorties into casino blackjack were sometimes profitable. Still, I wanted to learn more about blackjack. I had long since abandoned any dreams of becoming a professional player and my motivation was purely personal. So I decided to learn from the masters. I read as much about blackjack as I could, remembering as much as my brain would allow.
Below I share the four books which have made my blackjack game the one it is today. If you have any interest in developing your real-world or online casino blackjack, I’d wholeheartedly recommend the following:
Playing Blackjack To Win – Baldwin et al.
A seminal work first published in 1957, Playing Blackjack To Win is considered to be the first book detailing blackjack strategy. Written by Roger Baldwin, James McDermott, Wilbert Cantey, and Herbert Maisel, the work is recognised for its pioneering analysis of blackjack strategies. The book includes the first-known example of a legitimate card counting system.
The Theory Of Blackjack – Peter Griffin
While some online blackjack gamers may be put off by Peter Griffins’ statistical analysis of blackjack, The Theory of Blackjack is a vital read for any blackjack player interested in the mathematics behind the game. It is widely regarded as one of the most authoritative studies of blackjack odds. Be warned though: it is very technical.
Beat The Dealer – Edward Oakley Thorp
Edward Oakley Thorp’s novel, Beat The Dealer, is regarded as a must-read for any blackjack players with a desire to go professional. The first piece of literature to contain the Ten Count and High Low systems, Thorp’s work has been the inspiration for thousands of gamers. Myself included.
The Big Player – Ken Uston
While you might find it a struggle to get hold of a copy, The Big Player is a seminal work for real-world and online blackjack players and well worth tracking down. Influenced by the blackjack talents of Al Francesco, Uston’s work and techniques are rumoured to be behind the successes of dozens of blackjack card counting teams. The infamous MIT blackjack team among them.
