Best Blackjack Strategy Books: Must-Read Books for Mastering Blackjack

Best Blackjack Strategy Books: What You’ll Learn

• Understanding Blackjack Strategy Books: Explore how to choose the best Blackjack strategy books based on your skill level and learning goals, from beginner basics to advanced techniques.

• Key Titles to Consider: Discover influential Blackjack books like Norman Wattenberger’s “Modern Blackjack” and Arnold Snyder’s “Blackbelt in Blackjack” that cater to different player experiences.

• Practical Application: Learn the importance of practicing strategies and applying knowledge obtained from readings to real-life Blackjack play.

• Skill Advancement: Gain insights into structured learning methods, utilizing designs like belts or zones to gradually improve your Blackjack skills.

• Becoming a Better Player: Understand how strategic reading and practice can help increase your chances of success at the tables, with the potential to join the ranks of professional Blackjack players.

Searching ‘Blackjack books’ on Amazon will yield 1000s of results. Beyond the basics of the rules, what can these books on Blackjack tell you about the classic casino card game? That all depends on what you want to get out of Blackjack.

There are books out there for the beginner who wants tips, tricks and the basics or books on how to conquer the online Blackjack tables. There are also Blackjack strategy books that provide a wealth of statistics and probabilities in complicated mathematical equations.

This guide will give you a break down of some of the most popular Blackjack books that provide a comprehensive guide on playing one of the casino’s hottest games and some betting strategies to enhance both your experience and your wallet.

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The Importance of Strategy in Blackjack

Why is strategy so important to Blackjack? Even if you go with the basic, time-tested strategies that are printed on little cards you can purchase in casino gift shops, you can greatly lower the casino’s house edge and make the chances of winning work better in your favor.

There are books out there that will break down any number of Blackjack strategies from gameplay to betting. Depending on your skill level, motivation for playing (Fun vs. Blackjack tournaments, etc.) and how much you’re interested in gambling, you’re sure to find the right book for you.

So, let’s get started: Here is the Ultimate Blackjack Reading List.

Best Blackjack Strategy Books: Arnold Snyder Books

Arnold Snyder is a Blackjack legend. This Hall of Fame Blackjack gambler had been writing books since the 1980s (he passed away in 2023) and covers both Blackjack and Poker. If you’re looking for an O.G. perspective on the game of Blackjack, here are some of the Snyder books that made him famous.

Big Book of Blackjack by Arnold Snyder

I think there’s some rule that when you become a father you suddenly have a great interest in history. If you or someone you know loves playing Blackjack and wants some history on the game, Arnold Snyder’s Big Book of Blackjack is a solid read. It’s a comprehensive guide to the history of the game and how it gained popularity.

The Big Book of Blackjack recognizes that you can get basic strategy from anywhere but still has a few chapters dedicated to practical advice on basic Blackjack strategy. Where this one has the edge is that it’s designed to “show you exactly how the pros think about the game.”

Over the course of 30+ chapters, Snyder shares the history, mystery and mastery of Blackjack.

Blackbelt in Blackjack by Arnold Snyder

This guide is designed to teach its reader how to play 21 like a martial art. It starts out with the basics as if the reader is earning their White Belt in Blackjack and continues providing lessons to get a Green Belt, which focuses on card counting systems such as Zen Counts and Hi-Lo methods.

Then they become true Blackbelt masters of the game learning about special rules, shuffle play tracking and even how you can build a Blackjack team.

“Blackbelt in Blackjack” focuses a lot on card counting and how to increase your abilities and knowledge in the art of counting cards, but also brings up what Snyder calls “phony systems” that are methods or strategies players use but he considers more myth than reality.

But card counting is frowned upon, so Snyder also tells you about your rights and what you should say if the eye in the sky doesn’t like how you’re playing. This is one of the must-read books for mastering Blackjack strategy and written for those looking to up their game and do a little more than recreational gambling.

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Beat the Dealer by Edward O. Thorp

The classic Blackjack book that changed the game, “Beat the Dealer” is over 60 years old and still a solid read for the beginner Blackjack player who wants to know how they can boost their abilities at the table.

This book breaks down the basics and provides information on strategies that can help you lower the house edge as well as popular strategies that will actually fail you in the long run.

While this book is perfect for the beginner, it does show its age in some of the stories and terms. Its longevity has made it a classic but if you’re looking for something a little more modern, there are plenty of other options available.

The World’s Greatest Blackjack Book by Lance Humble and Carl Cooper

What is the best Blackjack strategy? If you’re not sure then take a look at “The World’s Greatest Blackjack Book.”

It’s a comprehensive book with the usual fare: brief history of Blackjack, the basic strategies, etc., but it also provides mental and physical strategies to ensure you’re ready to make the most out of your trip to the casino – and yes, with attention grabbing slots, any number of player personalities, surly dealers and the pressure to Hit or Stand, Blackjack is a great deal about getting yourself mentally prepared.

The authors give a personal perspective of their time at the tables. They share anecdotes, talk about the types of players and even how to spot a cheating Dealer, which you wouldn’t think exists but multiple Blackjack authors have brought this up.

Is it the greatest Blackjack book? That’s a matter of opinion, but it’s an entertaining read that will drop plenty of casino Blackjack knowledge.

Modern Blackjack by Norman Wattenberger

If you like math and getting into the nitty gritty of numbers when it comes to Blackjack, “Modern Blackjack” is the one for you.

This highly-technical breakdown of the game offers card counting strategies and goes deep into little known aspects of the game like REKO card counting methods and FELT counts as well as scams and myths that players should be aware of.

Norm Watternberger isn’t a gambler, per se. He worked in technology for decades and took his decision-analysis expertise and applied it to Blackjack.

Not everyone will make it through this book, but it’s ideal for the engineering mind or someone who loves math.

Blackjack Attack by Don Schlesinger

Written by a Blackjack Hall of Famer, Blackjack Attack is made for those who have played the game for a while, know and understand the basic strategies as well as card counting techniques, and want to up their game.

This Blackjack book differs from others in that it doesn’t take the time to explain the game; which is why this shouldn’t be the first book you pick up if you want to learn.

Blackjack Attack mainly focuses on card counting systems that range from the popular Hi-Lo strategy to more complex systems like the Omega II count which is a little more in depth for tracking cards.

“Blackjack Attack” also discusses wagering and bankroll management and how proper bet sizing can lead to becoming a successful Blackjack pro.

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Professional Blackjack by Stanford Wong

If there is one concept you should takeaway from Professional Blackjack, it’s that card counting and bet sizing don’t work independently, but rather an approach you must use together.

The book does offer a deep dive into almost everything Blackjack. It includes specific scenarios for making moves like surrendering and insurance as well as other types of strategies often looked over. He also has a chapter on the variations you can play, such as Spanish 21.

Wong discusses various card counting and betting strategies as well as suggestions to winning faster.

Professional Blackjack may be a little old but it will cover the main points of Blackjack and is good from the novice Blackjack player who wants to level up their Blackjack game.

The Theory of Blackjack: The Complete Card Counter’s Guide to the Casino Game of 21 by Peter A. Griffin

If you’re thinking “theory” as in ways to play different hands, this book isn’t for you. Griffin taught mathematics and statistics at California State University, Sacramento, and it shows.

From the start, The Theory of Blackjack goes right into mathematical theories of the game with complicated equations referencing how and why the odds of certain hands are better than others.

While there are ways to increase your gameplay, it wouldn’t be surprising if the reader who enjoys this book is more interested on the theory of Blackjack than actually playing it.

Truthfully, this book will help you understand the game more than provide practical applications – for instance, it’s not going to tell you when to hit as much as explain the statistical probabilities involved in the hand itself.

Finally, this book is considered a classic written by someone who is in the Blackjack Hall of Fame, but it’s not for the average player looking to increase their odds of winning.

Blackjack Blueprint: How to Play Like a Pro…Part Time by Rick Blaine

Rick Blaine never undertook gambling full time. As an executive at a Fortune 500 company, he found a way to turn his hobby into a seven-figure second income. His book shares his tips and tricks to making money without having to jump into gambling full time.

The book is broken down into zones so readers can take his concepts and apply them slowly until they can advance to the next zone. It starts off very basic with when to Hit, Stand, etc., and provides drills so readers can practice.

Blaine also talks about the Plus, Minus, Split (PLS) system which is simple and ideal for beginners trying to gain an edge in spite of it being less accurate than the traditional card counting techniques.

Elevating Your Game with the Right Literature

Of the thousands of Blackjack strategy books out there, how can you find the one that’s best for you? It comes down to the goal you want to accomplish after reading it.

For some, a beginner book that breaks down the basics of Blackjack and how to play at a Blackjack table might be the perfect option. Others might want to try different strategies and learn how to card count effectively; the more advanced books are for them.

Of course, those who are eager to dive into theories, ratios, deviations and probabilities will have their types of books they can devour.

Just like when it comes to exercises, the best Blackjack book is the one you’ll actually use.

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Putting Practice into Play

Reading about Blackjack is one thing, putting your new-found knowledge into play is something else.

Whether you’re one of the advanced players or a Blackjack beginner looking to improve your single deck game, it’s important to practice strategies so that you’re comfortable when heading to the tables.

This might mean sitting at the kitchen table with a deck of cards (or more if you’re practicing six-deck Blackjack) and going over what you learned or maybe heading to a real casino or online casino and putting money down on the table.

Like the design of Rick Blaine’s Blackjack Blueprint or Arnold Snyder’s Blackbelt in Blackjack, you have to work your way through different zones or belts by practicing and advancing. Just like any other activity, the more you practice, the better you’ll be.

Reading about new strategies and learning about myths will help give you an advantage, teach you how to win money at Blackjack and may even help you to become one of the professional Blackjack players in the Hall of Fame.

Discover the best blackjack strategy books to elevate your game, from beginner basics to advanced card counting techniques.

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