INTRODUCTION to BLACKJACK AND TWENTY ONE

An introduction to Twenty-One is not something you want if you are a skilled or experienced player. I agree. There are many fine books available that will help the beginner understand and follow the rules. I will briefly mention some of these books. However, for an in-depth introduction to the game, I recommend that you first read the Rules of the Game section before moving on.

Blackjack is my favorite game. This amazing game of chance and money challenges me and allows my mind to imagine myself as a secret agent attempting to infiltrate foreign territory. Yes, I am a successful player. Yes, I have a variety of winning strategies to exploit this game. My blackjack fortune has not yet been made. I play for the long term. I understand the risks involved and have created a money management1) strategy. I have been able afford to place large bets enough to pay for most trips to Las Vegas, Reno and Lake Tahoe as well as to the Caribbean. I sometimes win big and sometimes lose a lot of money. However, I keep records at each table and/or Casino I play so I know I've played correctly and have earned around 1% of the money that was wagered.

In my recommendations, I tried to keep the subject matter and controversial2) strategies out of my mind. Let me start by recommending a book which is unlikely to be controversial in any normal sense of the term. Chambliss and Roginski, two highly qualified scientists, wrote Fundamentals of Blackjack in 1990. This book contains one of my favorite generalizations of the game of twentyone. Only a handful of books are available that provide accurate and valid3) information about the game. Here are the titles:

There have been many other excellent books published over the years that tackle today's issues. Additional recommendations can be found in the book reviews section.

A solid understanding of the basic aspects of the game is necessary before players try to understand the controversial ideas surrounding non-random shuffles. These include the basics of the game, how rule variations affect play and the theory behind counting cards. The ability to identify when a game is good from a traditional standpoint should be an asset. Players must also be able recognize when a game is good or bad from a traditional perspective. In order to be successful at playing, players must have developed a proper money management plan and understand the concepts behind win rates, expectation, and standard deviation. They should also keep documentation for each casino or table they visit. Players must also understand that in order to win at the tables, they need to be able and able to manipulate casino staff to make the game more favorable. Introduction to Blackjack