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Also explained are changes in basic strategy when using a card counting system. Excellent book for the intermediate player looking to move to the next level. This book explains different levels of card counting (KISS system) from simple to advanced in a clear concise format. They give many examples of commonly misplayed hands and the best way to play those hands that most people incorrectly play. This book has everything you will need to advance your play.
Well, I have the book right here. However, you absolutely must take your time. It's a great starter card counting book. Again, take your time.I then moved on to advanced plays and then to card counting. Renzey really lays out the core components of the game and the order content is almost flawless.
I've had the book for over a year and I still practice, practice, practice. I'm still trying to master the surrender deviations. The only part of the book I didn't care for was the explanation of "Board Composition." I did read it thoroughly, but I never practiced it. At the very least, go sit at some $5 tables and just get comfortable with the table environment.
All in all, a person needs to be serious about learning and playing blackjack, or in my opinion, already know a little something about basic strategy. For example, one reviewer says that he/she doesn't know which strategy to employ nor in what order to employ the strategies. I practiced until I NEVER messed the count up. I'm pretty sure those people either flew through the book, didn't know anything about blackjack before reading the book, or thought they were smart and could master blackjack in a day, or all three. Even though I had been playing blackjack for years, I set the book aside right then (obviously keeping it close for reference) and spent at least two weeks mastering each variation. Stay away from continuous shufflers.I own the book.
If you have one of the seven hands discussed, all you have to do is scan the table to see what is out there. Well, actually the book corrected me in some small details because I didn't know basic strategy changed given the rules of the table (e.g. I read the reviews that gave this book only 1 star. I also re-read several key sections in the book. As for learning the KISS Count (Stage I), I again set the book aside and practiced for what I know was at least two months.
Anyway, I decided to stop at the stage 3 KISS Count.
dealer hits or stands on soft 17).
You may or may not change your action (e.g.
The title of Chapter 6 is "What comes after Basic Strategy." Well, I guess he skimmed the book so fast that he didn't even bother to look at the chapter titles.
hit instead of stand).Finally, Renzey suggests reading all the books you can about blackjack.
I knew basic strategy to a "T" before I bought the book.
Renzey comments on these variations starting on page 55.
However, if you want to relax after each time your cards are dealt, this may be the way to go.
I'm taking that advice and that is why I am on Amazon today.
It didn't lead you to believe that you would make a killing by following these techniques. from a very basic one that is easy to implement and give you, I think, about a 0.08% edge--- to full blown systems that could give you around a 0.65-0.70 edge.
I'll never be more than a casual player, but even if I play occasionally, I want to know how to decrease the house edge and potentially gain a small edge. Although I rarely go to the casinos, I went a few times over the past several weeks and was intrigued by the game of blackjack.
If you don't know basic strategy yet, it gives you the proper charts.For players that know basic strategy, it give you the knowledge to know when to deviate from the strategy to narrow the house edge.For players that want to try and gain a small edge, it gives you several "counting" techniques. Blackjack Bluebook II is a great book for the beginner and intermediate player.
Here is why I found it useful:It dispels myths that many seasoned players believe are true (I have seen this in practice many times at the table, even on my few recent excursions to AC). What I like about the book is that it move you along from understanding the game, to understanding basic strategy, to improving your game and finally to turning the tables on the house.One of the things that impressed me was that the book was not full of hype.
In fact, it consistantly reminded you that this was a long term strategy to gain a slight edge and was still, in the end, gambling.
I've been using Renzey's KISS III count for several years because it is the simplest, most accurate card counting system that I have come across. Renzey has adapted to his KISS count, and it works.I highly recommend this book for providing a simplified yet very accurate counting system that is very user-friendly. I could even count the red 2s and not the black 2s if I wanted to to accomplish the same thing.
Lady luck may not always be on your side but the KISS count will. (I have tried) It is this counting of only half of the 2s which gauges the advantage or disadvantage to the player at all points in the shoe. While this system cannot guarantee that you will be a winner it can guarantee to tell you when you actually have the advantage against the dealer and when to start placing your blood pressure-rising monster bets.
At first this seemed strange to me as well but it is much easier than counting each 2 as 1/2 point. The last reviewer of this book missed the reason why the unbalanced KISS counting system has different values for different suits. I keep a count of the black 2s, but not the red 2s as the system suggests.
It is an old simplification trick that Mr. Now if I could only get lady luck on my side.
I was hoping for some clear guidance on how to approach black jack. One confusing example is that the author has different rules for different suits. Do you learn basic strategy first and then move to hand composition or card counting and how many moves do you have to relearn if you switch strategies.The book is not well organized and I agree that the information is confusing. I have a strong mathematical background and I only suspect that some assumptions in the book are not sound. But I'm 100% sure that the suits don't play any role in the outcome of the game, because all suits have the same values. This book is highly not recommended.
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