Mensa Guide to Blackjack

by Joshua Hornik

Book Overview

These are the smartest, simplest, most solid strategies for winning blackjack ever--even a total novice can bet on it. Joshua Hornik belongs to a group of professionals who prove their talents at the table every day, and he knows the system for coming out on top. It's all about counting the cards--do it right and the odds are on your side. Hornik explains blackjack's rules and basic tactics, how to do the actual card counting, and how to use the information...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 140270979X
• ISBN13: 9781402709791
• Release Date: June 2005
• Publisher: Sterling Publishing (NY)
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.58 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 7.1" x 10.1"

Customer Reviews

Awesome Book! Easy Read. Difficult to Implement.

This is a brilliant book! It is so well organized and presented that the book is unbelievably short. Clear explanations of card counting theory without too much detail. The basic strategy is simple to learn. The card counting is similarly simple to learn. A little practice and anyone can learn the basic strategy and card counting. The difficulty comes in adapting the basic strategy for card counting. This is NOT simple to learn. That is not a fault of the book, just the reality of learning to beat the casinos. My only complaint is that the book focuses on the rules of play in the large Las Vegas casinos. The smaller casinos and those outside of Las Vegas use rules mentioned in the book but not included in the counting charts. Adapting the charts for these other rules is time consuming and would be a welcome addition in a revised edition of the book. If you are serious about counting cards, get this book, hunker down to memorize the charts then spend LOTS of time practicing.

Great Book - Especially for Begginers

This is the first book I read about Blackjack. The book is short but very concise, you can read it in a couple of days. If you haven't read a book about Blackjack make this one your first. And let me tell you why, the book is not confusing and the author does a great job explaining why Basic Strategy works. The author explains the probabilities behind Basic Strategy, knowing why you should hit or stand makes it easier to memorize the strategy. Also, the books has exercises and drills that will test your knowledge and help you refine your game. As for the Basic Strategy Chart, I will use the one published on the WizardofoddsDOTcom website since most casinos use multiple decks 4+ and the dealer hits soft 17. Learn the rules of the casino before playing. Also I recommend complementing this book with John Bukofsky's "Blackjack: Play Like The Pros". John gives more detail in other areas and offers a more in-depth analysis of the game. However, note that if you've read Mensa Guide to Blackjack you will gain a better understanding of what John is trying to teach you. If you can only afford one book then get this one, this one does a better job of helping the beginner player understand the game. I recommend reading this book once and then re-reading it a second time. And if you are an advantage player, well you won't be learning anything new here...

Everything you need to know about Blackjack.

I didn't knew how to play blackjack at all before reading this, but this book explains you all the rules, the strategy, how to count, and more in a very clear way. I cant figure out better ways of teaching you the secrets of the game. To be honest, it's well explained but definitely it's not easy to count cards, if it were everybody would be doing it, and if you can't do it, at least you will do much better in normal play without counting.

Easy To Learn

High recommendations for this book. Straight forward and unconfusing instructions. Hornik also educates the reader the about the subtleties of, and what to expect while sitting at a blackjack table. With consistent practice (play with your friends), you will play without initimadation!

An absolute "must-read" for anyone who wants to play casino blackjack to win

Mensa Guide To Blackjack is a no-nonsense handbook of tested and proven techniques to win at casino blackjack. Written by a former professional solo and team blackjack player, as well as a member of the MIT Blackjack Team, Mensa Guide To Blackjack explains card-counting strategies and dispels common myths - one does not have to be extraordinarily skilled at math to count cards; card-counting is neither cheating nor illegal; and no one can be arrested for card-counting. Card-counting will get one banned from a casino, if one is suspected or caught doing it, because casinos know card-counters can win - therefore Mensa Guide To Blackjack offers simple exercises and techniques to practice until card-counting becomes so ingrained, one won't give away telltale signs while doing it (although betting and winning too much at high-limit tables may well tip a casino off!) Chapters cover both basic blackjack and rules variations, betting to win, refining basic strategies, playing with a team, and much more. An absolute "must-read" for anyone who wants to play casino blackjack to win.