John Patrick's Advanced Blackj

by John Patrick

Book Overview

Offers advanced blackjack players advice on strategy and money management, and explains the technique of card counting.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0818405821
• ISBN13: 9780818405822
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Lyle Stuart
• Length: 321 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.4" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Everyone's an Expert (not)

You people that flame J Patrick don't get it. He's the FIRST to admit that he's deviating from mathematics. His premise is NOT about making you rich. and it is certainly not about mathematics. after YOU play 2 million hands of blackjack and report back how effective splitting 8's Vs 10 is, I will do it. If you play one hand of blackjack per minute 24 hours a day you'll get to the 2 millionth hand in about 4 years. Since I hit the tables about once a month- I'll just go ahead and play for short term gains. I'll hit the 8-8 Vs 10 and lose one bet instead of two and just move on to the next hand. I'll make this claim and stand by it until one of you mathematicians can provide solid evidence against it: "If you study patrick's blackjack books and do NOT deviate what-so-ever you WILL consistently come out ahead, or break even, or incur a small loss. you will never come up broke and demoralized." and THAT is the REAL premise behind patrick's writings. He's writing to the guys who have no money- but insist on going to the casino every so often. he's writing to the roofers, painters, cops, fireman and plumbers of northern NJ who insist on driving 3 hours to AC with a few hundred in their pocket whose wives would shoot them if they found out. ...

Still making money with John Patrick's methods!

For all the people that gave this book a negative review, they definitely did not get his style of writing. Not once does he ever mention playing hunches which one reader wrote. Also, he never mentions "playing with the casinos money" as someone else wrote. Once you win that money it's your money. The casino doesn't say they're playing with your money when they win. I have been winning consistently for many years using John Patrick's methods. I have become an emotionless robot when I play. Every move I make is pre-determined (no hunches) and every bet I make is pre-determined. It may not be as much fun playing the game, but the three hour ride home is great knowing how much more money is in my pocket. He is the only author to say you don't always have to split Aces and Eights. I have read the other reviewers talking about computers and statistics. My degree in finance has me familiar with both, but it was only John Patrick's common sense explanations that stopped me from getting burnt anymore playing those hands. How many times have you split these hands only to get killed? But, it was the thing that you were "supposed to do". He makes you look at why you should be making moves in a logical sense, not because the computer said that you should and that's the way it has been handed down. In conclusion, I can only say that this book has totally changed the way I look at blackjack and has definitely made me a winner, sometimes in less than twenty minutes. If you are open to new methods and want to win consistently, then read this book. If you are closed minded, need computer print-outs and statistics, or just don't feel that you will ever have the dicipline to be a winner, then don't read this book.

Very realistic/conservative approach!

This is the first John Patrick book I have read and I think his system is great. I have read other books on blackjack and they make sense as well but they make it far too complicated to actually remember while you are sitting at a BJ table. Do you honestly think you can keep 3 or 4 different counts at a table? Not a chance! Yes, the more complicated systems claim that they are more accurate but how much more accurate can you get if you can't be perfect at what you are doing? In fact, you will be far less proficient than a regular perfect basic strategy player who isn't using a system or counting. He touches on the fact that some of us are more aggressive and some are less aggressive and he has different betting styles for each of these type of people. I highly recommend his book, practice his system (because you won't remember everything right off the bat and you will see that not nothing is 'EASY', even his system requires a lot of practice). The other thing I wanted to mention is about the mathematical aspect of BJ. John doesn't relay on mathematics but instead points out that any game you play, you will encounter a trend or streak. No matter how you look at it, it happens. You flip a coin and the odds are 50-50 that you will get heads or tails but does this mean you will always get heads, then tails, then heads, etc. NO! You might get 5 heads in a row, then all tails. These are the same type of streaks that occur in BJ and other casino games. John makes us capitalize on these streaks and it works! He answers all my questions in the book.

It is a great book!

This book really explain how to win. I have tested it by myself, and his theory worked out. I have to give John a big thanks. If you wanna be a gambler, buy the book

Money Mangement

I have read this book and I have implemented his system of money management and basic strategy at the tables. I have won more money consistantly at the tables with his methods. True I did not get those enormous wins but I never made a stupid bet at the tables on emotion. I think his regression system and up and pull chapters are the way to go when gambling at blackjack. I have watched numerous times when someone doubled down against a dealers 10 and they had 11 or a 10 and they get wacked. The logic is why put more money down when hes strong?? Always kick the dealer when he is weak. Those double down opportunities are a lot better when hes showing a weak card. Makes perfect sense to me if ya think about it and listen to what he is trying to tell you.As far as counting cards go, his system is still the easiest to master.I have bought numerous books on blackjack and I feel his book is still the best. No matter what anyone else thinks about his book, he has made me a consistant winner and thats the key to gambling