A Great Book for All Blackjack Players, February 13, 2003
Reviewer: A reader from Las Vegas
Best Blackjack, as Howard Schwartz of the Gambler's Book Club in Las Vegas says,
is really five books in one. First Best Blackjack explains the basics of the
game in clear and precise language so that a novice is not confused. Then it
gives the basic strategies for single and multiple-deck games and gives
recommendations in how to memorize what you need to know to cut the house edge
down to about a half percent. It also gives some variations in basic strategy
based on rule changes. Scoblete also analyzes the benefits of certain rules and
the downside of other rules and explains which games are worth playing and which
are not.
But Scoblete doesn't stop at the elementary aspects of the game. He gives a
detailed and easily assimilated analysis of various card counting systems that
have been developed by many authors and then he explains why the one he uses is
preferred. He gives examples from his own long experience in the casinos to
bolster many of his points, and his insights and anecdotes are smart, funny and
right on the money. His tales of "ploppys" and "the million dollar bum" and his
own "blackjack diary" at the end of the book are howls!
Scoblete also goes into areas of blackjack play that you usually don't find in
most blackjack books; areas that only an expert blackjack player can employ,
such as glim play, front-loading, tells, and team play. Again, he offers his own
personal experience in the casinos to bolster his points and make clear his
opinions.
This book is a fun and informative read. Scoblete is a gifted writer and one who
knows his way around the casino. Best Blackjack has something for everyone,
whether you're a novice or an experienced player. I recommend it to anyone
looking to improve their game and have some fun while doing so.
My Favorite of Five, May 24, 2001
Reviewer: Frank Schmidt from Philadelphia PA
I have read five books on blackjack, "Professional Blackjack" by Stanford Wong,
"Blackjack Take the Money and Run" by Henry Tamburin, "Blackjack Attack" by Don
Schlessinger, "Knock Out Blackjack" by Fuchs and Vancura, and "Best Blackjack"
by Frank Scoblete. They were all very good books but Scoblete's was the best
overall. As I was a novice, I felt Scoblete was able to take me from knowing
nothing about the game to being a very competent player. When I finished reading
his book I followed his advice and read the other books. Scoblete has a whole
bibliography of recommended books in his book. I found that while I learned from
each and every book, no one gave me the information in such an assimilable way
as Scoblete.
"Best Blackjack" was also a lot of fun to read as Scoblete intersperses his
teaching with great stories. All five books are worthy in their way but I have
to give my vote to Scoblete's "Best Blackjack" as being comprehensive but not
daunting. I have been winning consistently at the casinos utilizing his ideas
and I am very grateful. Blackjack is a great game if you know what you're doing.
