8. Get The Edge at Blackjack

Author………………..John May

Published……………2001

Publishing Com….Bonus Books inc

I have read a few peoples opinions about this book and many of them were not complimentary. Having read the book a few years ago then I definitely think that it rightfully takes its place alongside other blackjack books as a positive read in the world of casino gambling.

I found John May’s book to be both insightful and innovative. It looked at finding fresh ways of getting an edge at casino blackjack without just counting cards. I had come to this conclusion several years earlier and could have been the first to write a book of this nature if I so chose.

Some people have said that this book sells dreams, on the contrary. I think that authors who sell card counting books sell dreams because the techniques are so well known as to be almost useless in many areas. You try going into many of the casinos in Las Vegas as a counter and see how long you last.

It is easier in Europe where the casinos do not have the same level of surveillance and knowledge. May’s book deals with explosive areas like card steering, card sequencing, glim play and hole card play.

It was amazing to me when I read this book because the techniques were already known to me but it felt kind of weird to see them in print and called something else. If all you want to do is play conventional blackjack then the book will be of little use to you as there are far better books on the market for that which have already been reviewed.

But there is a great chapter on blackjack card counting systems and how they stack up against each other. So how many marks would I give John May’s book? Well I think it deserves a good rating just because of the never seen before material although I would have wished that May hadn’t written about some of the techniques.

Do not listen to the people who say that this book is for dreamers, some of the techniques will not be workable and the shuffling machine designs have moved on considerably but the book should spark the notion to any serious blackjack player that you need more in your arsenal in the 21st Century than merely card counting knowledge.

RATING…….. 9/10

See you soon

Carl
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