Expanding Gambling Knowledge
I recently read three books about blackjack. You may wonder if I’m thinking about switching my core casino game away from video poker. I know some players are doing that. Not me.
So, you might ask, “Then why would you waste your time reading books about blackjack?”
Down through the years, I’ve read a lot about many other casino games besides video poker and never considered it a waste of time. I almost always find at least a kernel of usable information from the writings of a successful gambler who plays another game, something I can use to improve my video poker play. In fact, I’m often surprised by how much successful gamblers are alike no matter what game they play.
I was once again reminded of that as I read these three recent blackjack titles: The Blackjack Insiders, The 21st Century Card Counter, and Radical Blackjack. Three very different personalities, three extremely dissimilar storytelling styles, three widely diverse casino experiences – yet I found so many common threads running through all three books.
I’ll begin by discussing The Blackjack Insiders, by Andrew Uyal, then tackle the other two books in future posts. I chose this book first because it is the easiest to read, with almost no complicated math details that keep many people from even starting to look for possible valuable information.
Two groups of casino gamblers will enjoy reading this book. The first is made up of readers who just love a good gambling story, whatever the game. And this is a good story, as the cover says, about “how two pit bosses beat the casinos at their own game.” You might not have thought much about whether casino employees gamble in their off time, but in my 39 years of spending a lot of time in casinos, I’ve come across many who do. In fact, many have approached me and told me that they’ve read my books and followed my blogs so they can gamble smarter; even some hosts have asked for details about what I do. But I’ve never been acquainted with a pit boss who worked both sides of the table and it was interesting to see how Andrew’s casino job experience helped him have more gambling success.
The second group of casino gamblers who may want to read this book consists of those who mostly play another game, but have dabbled a bit with blackjack and wonder if they could be more successful in making this their new option. Or a casual recreational BJ player might be wondering if he should set a goal to play it on a more serious level.
For this second group, I need to emphasize that this is not a BJ how-to manual. I mentioned earlier that there are not a lot of math details in this book. The general concept of counting cards is discussed, but you would need a nuts-and-bolts book that gives you the math information you need to learn this game well even on the beginner’s level. And at the beginning of the book, Andrew emphasizes that this is not a book that gives any advanced advantage-play techniques. What The Blackjack Insiders will give you is the emotional and psychological side of playing this game. And that’s why this book will be a valuable read even for a gambler who plans never to play blackjack. The struggle to improve your game, the agony of losing streaks, the stress of balancing family responsibilities, the constant research and practice – these are issues that players of any game will face.
This book discusses some techniques that I’ve recommended for years when talking mainly to video poker players. But these same ones worked well for Andrew in his blackjack journey. He used the comp system. He had a mentor to help him start on the road to success and then they became partners. This mutual support system not only helped with the technical details, like scheduling and bankroll management, but the emotional rollercoaster.
Most gambling books are written during the latter years of a skilled player’s life. Although they often begin with how-I-got-started stories – that’s how I started most of mine – the bulk of their books is usually a discussion and summary of all the things they learned through many years of casino experience. And these are valuable resources. However, The Blackjack Insiders is different. Andrew writes about his blackjack journey that lasts for only two years, an “experiment” to see if a completely unknowledgeable novice could become a successful – that is, winning – gambler during that time.
Yes, he had to learn the mechanics of card-counting, but more important, he had to learn to cope with the emotional ride. With vivid details, he takes readers on this trip with him. We rejoice during the glorious mountaintop moments when he returns from the casino and covers his motel bed with the day’s winnings. But he doesn’t skip the many many bad moments, when the pain of long losing streaks is almost unbearable. If you’re an experienced player, you can sympathize with Andrew as he had to learn how to cope with these ups and downs. If you’re a new player-to-be, this book might help you be cautious with future gambling decisions!