Playing Blackjack As A Business

• #3 in Best Blackjack Books

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As a Las Vegas pit boss for over 25 years, I can tell you Lawrence Revere's book "Playing Blackjack As A Business" is simply the best ever written. I had the privilege of asking Mr. Revere to leave our casino on two occasions. Not only was he the best, but he was a master of disquise. His book was and still is the "Bible" of blackjack couting, basic straegy and money management. Today, there are many "wan-a-be" card counters but only a select few can test pit bosses like myself. They usually give themselves away by being too greedy and tripling their wagers on a plus 10 deck or spreading their wagers to two or three spots. Or, they might take insurance with a stiff hand, surrender always correctly or double that A-7. We simply tell the dealer to shuffle up or cut the shoe in half and even the most moronic card counters get the hint and leave. But, Lawrence Revere was a 21 legend and wrote a book that was simple enough for anyone to understand. I highly recommend it to anyone who takes the game of blackjack seriously. Just using his basic strategy and money management tips will improve your game immediately.

I was introduced to this book in 1972 whilst applying for a casino job in Tehran, of all places, and a few years later when I began playing serious BJ myself, I would have given it 4 stars but with some reluctance because, aside from the good parts, it also contains a lot of gamblers superstition and questionable advice.

Revere's book was a breakthrough in that it was written for the player who wanted a clear and concise book on "how to win" rather than Thorpe ("Beat the Dealer")desire to demonstate how terribly clever he was. Unlike say Allan Wilsons "Casino Gamblers Guide" (see my review) the text is poorly written but, most importantly and memorably it did have excellent colour-coded strategy charts - it was this feature more than anything else which I believe made the book such a success.

On the debit side I would agree with the 2-star reviewer below that LR's agenda was to sell his much-touted "superior strategies", the mastery of which according to him, would double or triple your win-rate. I fell for this sales pitch and sent him another $200 (a lot of money at the time) - plus an extra $50 for the "no-hole card strategy", which consisted of a scrap of typed paper containing half a dozen numbers and no explanatory notes. His so-called "advanced point-count" was highly over-rated and his promised "after-sales service" non-existent. Besides, I soon discovered that going from a simple one-level count to an "advanced" multi-level count produces marginal gain at best, esp in multi-deck games. After expressing my dissatisfaction by letter, LR wrote a curt one-line reply on a businesscard..! Such was his brusque manner.

Most of LR's strategies and experience refer to the now rare single-deck game - sure you can still find them but if you bet more than a quarter and appear to know what you are doing you will certainly get "heat" and probably have the deck broken on you. He appeared to have very little if any experience of even 4-deck games let alone the now much more common 6 or more decks. His very conservative bet-spread was also based on a single deck game and would have been useless applied to 4 or more decks, but this fact was glossed over.

In Revere's day (the 60's and early `70's), the game was far easier to beat - more and better decision options, much deeper penetration, and much less scrutiny ("heat") for counters than is the case today. In this respect the 5-star review below by the "Las Vegas pit boss of 25 years" is inexplicable and totally unrealistic. LR also virtually ignored the fact (as do most other BJ books written for the US market) that in most of the world the dealer doesn't take a hole card - this apparently "minor" rule change makes a big difference to the basic strategy when playing against a dealers 10 or Ace.

I don't doubt that Revere was quite successful at the tables, but nowhere near as much as he makes out. In his day single-deck BJ was (relatively-speaking) easy to beat, there were very few counters, and dealers and pit-bosses weren't as paranoid about counters as they were to become, largely as a result of this book. I would wager that LR made much more money selling his books and strategies than he ever did from playing.

I don't know whether Revere's heirs (he died in the late `70's) are still selling their expensive "advanced strategies" but if they are - send me your money instead - I'll give you far better value and advice. Unless newer editions of his book have corrected these deficiencies, then this book is all but useless for the modern "tough" multi-deck casino environment.

This book is quite a bit out of date. In its time, I'm sure it was the best, but that is no reason to purchase it today. I give him an extra star for realizing the importance of a computer in coming up with a strategy. The basic strategy is strong, ..., but only for a small number of decks. The book doesn't cover any 6 or 8 deck games or go over any variations of the game other than the "most popular" version. (Unless you count 2 sentences) He also states the same information repeatedly throughout the book which leaves you wondering why he didn't add more tables instead of wasting the space.
Too much of the book was set aside to make fun of the other methods and discredit various authors and too little on things of educational value. With virtually no tips on avoiding heat (other than not changing bets wildly) and suggestions like "never let your eyes leave the table", he leaves no question in my mind as to why he was banned in every casino.
Finally, the one reason to buy the book would be if you were going to use his system. For the most accurate one, he asks you to send him another $200 to get a copy of it. To me, the book seemed like a large advertisement to his real system that is not included. Other systems are now available that are much easier and have similar accuracy, you may want to check into them instead.

I first read this book in 1975 in my quest to become an accomplished card counter. At that time and even today it is the best book I read on learning the fundamentals of card counting. The part of the book on learning Basic Strategy and its importance are the best of any book available on the marketplace even today in 2001. At that time the author Lawrence Revere was selling his Advanced Point Count System and other BJ systems. He overrated his Advanced Point Count System. He had used Juliet Braun a computer programmer with IBM to compile all the data in devising this system. What he says about the Advanced Point Count System is way overrated and the majority of top expert BJ authorities believe the simple point count system as being the best because of its simplicity. Other than that the book is a classic and very well written. It is a must for anyone who wants to learn to be an expert card counter and I would rate it as a five star recommendation.

This book is the end-all resource on Blackjack. Not only does the book teach Basic Strategy for single and multiple deck shoes, it teaches 3 different methods of counting. The systems are sound and the book isn't geared toward mathematicians or professional gamblers so that the average person feels stupid after reading it. I have purchased many books on Blackjack and this book is like owning 3 books in 1. It'll teach you the basics, putting these basics to use in a counting situation, and how not to get caught. Well worth the investment.

Other than the Hi-Opt Ken Uston method, this is one of the best blackjack systems available. Definitely for the serious player. The book starts with simple counting and progresses through several systems each more powerful, which is the great thing about the book, because a player learns in stages, which makes it easier. The greatest thing about the book, it not only teaches you counting and betting strategies, but also how to apply them to different hands. In case you are not aware, after reading the book and perfecting the point-count system, there are 2 additional systems you must learn to truly master the Revere method. These are available at the website. I recommend this for the serious player only, as much time will be needed to master the complete system. Also, this is geared toward single deck play. For the more common multiple deck games, you should read the book, then learn the 2 multiple deck systems from the website (Oh, these systems are very expensive!). The book also stresses that you must play perfectly to win, and that when you do play perfectly, you will not always win. This is a must for any gambling book. Any book that promises quick winnings or riches is not worth reading.

Not being "of age," and therefore not playing in a casino, I cannot say how much money one could make with these strategies. His Basic Strategy does seem to work though (in home games, etc.), it gets about a 49% win rate. This man is a sexist egomaniac who truly believes that everyone but him is a moron, and he is the ONLY man alive that should be listened to when trying to learn Blackjack. It's kind of amusing when he implies several times that most women are too stupid to learn his strategies, that they are unable to concentrate or devote any time to it, but that if a woman were to learn one of them she could make millions based on the fact that she is a woman and pit bosses won't be watching her. Pretty funny stuff. However, his "Revere Plus-Minus Strategy" is stolen from Beat the Dealer, it's a basic hi-lo, nothing more. Also, he devotes a chapter to the Revere Ten Count, only to say much later that all ten count systems are worthless. So what can I say, I think that reading it will improve your game, but not nearly as much as this man seems to think it will.

Although Revere's counts aren't as good as some others out there today, this book was the authority on blackjack when it was published. And you know what? It still pretty much is. This is a great book for beginners. The numbers were done by Julian Braun of IBM so the basic strategy is second to none. This book is a must for any player, beginner or advanced!

I've used this book for years as a reference before going anywhere I play Blackjack. Mr. Revere provided color coded, easily understood charts and tables for single and mulitple deck games. He gives basic strategy for each as well as several simple to advanced counting strategies. His rules regarding bet size, betting and playing time are rules to survival at the tables. I may not be getting kicked out of casinos, but I leave with their money 4 out of 5 times and the losses are pocket change compared to the winnings. Mr. Revere has since died, but his knowledge of blackjack is as true today as it was over 20 years ago.

Prior to this book I was winning with beginners luck. Now I am actually winning by knowing what I am doing when and why. Although the house is still up, I am a better player from reading this book. This book explains the game and the strategies in a very simple language. The book has charts that explain what you should be doing in all situations. These cheat charts were created from computer simulated odds. I have not been able to read the more advance strategies (counting cards) although the basic strategies has started to sink in an have helped me increase my odds against the house.
Enjoy the game and do not lose too much money.

This is a well-written, entertaining book in which the author claims a good blackjack player can easily make more money than most professionals, and do so in elegant casino surroundings. The suggestion to play in the company of an attractive woman, so as to avoid being tagged as a card counter, makes it seem even more fun. Who wants to work for a living when he can make good money playing BJ with a beautiful dame hanging on one's arm? "If it sounds too good to be true ...". You fill in the rest.

How well did Revere actually do? He gives a record of his play during a period when he hopped from one casino to another, playing only a few minutes in each one to avoid detection as a counter. If this is an honest record, it would seem to support Revere's claims that he beat the game, although he does not mention certain factors such as penetration which would affect his results.

In any event, this could be a good introduction to the game, along with Thorpe's Beat the Dealer, provided one takes it with a grain of salt. Just remember that casinos now have software which they use to keep track of players and detect counting methods.

It is a pretty good book but it is out of date. It was first published in 1969! Since then, there have been lots of advancements in the game of blacjack. Overall, I do not feel it is must reading for todays player given that the player has read the other great books that are probably better.

This is a very good book. Of the five bj books I've read, I'd say that Frank Scoblete's "Best Blackjack" and Fuchs and Vancura "KO" are the best. This is next. The others I read were not as good.

Of all the games in a casino, there is only one that offers the player an opportunity to gain an advantage over the house. That is blackjack. This book will show how to do it. Several years ago I was booked on a family trip with a cruise liner. In anticipation, I bought the book off the shelf after reading the back cover. I took it home and followed L.R.'s instructions about practice & strategy to the letter(I had a couple of months before the cruise). On the cruise I used the strategy and it worked. It worked so well that the pit boss decided to replace the dealer late into the last night of the cruise, just so he could try to trip me up with fast dealing and incessant talking. It was just like an old time movie. I smoked the guy! I only go gambling once avery few months, just because I don't want to get addicted, but I always study my charts and practice before I go. The cost of the book? Less than 1 bet if you are serious!

This book is well written and covers basic through advanced play in a way that should be easy for any level of player to follow. Especially insightful and useful are the charts on strategy. Some people argue some of the concepts in this book are out of date; however, if studied and mastered you should find they still hold true depending on the rules of the particular casino your are playing. It is a worthy complement to other books on the subject written more recently. The more you know and the more you have mastered different stategies the better you play will be. This is a great resource.

This book should without a doubt be in your blackjack library. It is truly one of the standard books ever written on blackjack. I also recommend, Gregorian Strategy for multiple deck blackjack.

Even Mr. Revere acknowledged the fact that no one will win everytime, but this book will help you trim down your losses and capitalize on your good sessions. If a majority of the players just used the basic strategy as outlined in this book it would most likely cause the casinos to change there rules.

I purchased & read this book a few years back, it reminds me of the book by ken uston (which was the 1st book on 21 i read). even though it may seem dated to read it now - it's solid advice. i took his advice while in vegas 3 yrs. ago, dated or not it still holds true! i first learned basic strategy when i was 21, and i go to the casinos in lousiana just to practice my counting skills (i can count up to 6 decks accurately w/ up to 6-7 players at the table). no one is going to learn this overnight, but you can do so - my only question to anyone reading this is: how bad do you want to?

I read this book while in college, which inspired a futile attempt to beat the casinos at their own game. I now know that the book has certain faults (weak betting strategy; no real attempt to deal with the huge financial fluctuations all counters will eventually face), but it really motivated me to learn to play. Also, it proved to my satisfaction that the game could be beaten.

Now that I've read "The Ultimate Edge," I realize that I was nowhere near the point of beating casinos. Playing with an edge, which is hard, is nowhere near enough. You have to then GET AWAY WITH IT! And that is really tough.

If you want to be motivated to drop whatever you are doing and become a professional blackjack player, read this book. It will quickly convince you that the game of casino blackjack can be beaten by the average person with greater-than-average self-motivation (and perhaps larger than average cojones).

The main strength of this book is the clear way in which the author outlines why the game of blackjack can be beaten. There are full-color charts, and some pretty good suggestions for how to practice.

The book is not terribly well-written (to say the least), the betting strategy suggested is woefully inadequate, there is no way for the average reader to decide which of the myriad counts to choose from, and the suggested "act" (slinking in, playing no more than 45 minutes regardless of outcome, and then slinking out again unnoticed) will be pretty tough to accomplish for anyone betting more than $25 per hand.

My suggestion: read "Playing Blackjack as a Business" to inspire yourself to become a professional player, and then read any one of a number of other books (see some of my other reviews for ideas) to learn how to bet and how to comport yourself in a casino.

In reviewing all of the faults of the book, you may be asking, "How does this warrant 4 stars?" Well, "Playing Blackjack as a Business" launched the careers of a great number of professional players (including all of the main characters in "The Ultimate Edge"), and you just can't argue with success. On another note, "Playing Blackjack as a Business" fairly must be compared against what was available when it came out. You can't reasonably criticize the Apple II because it ran at only 1 megahertz (hell, the computer on which I am typing this runs 3000 times faster!); the Apple II changed the world, and fairly must be compared with what was available in the late 1970s, not what is available today. Similarly, you can't fairly compare "Playing Blackjack as a Business" against, say, "The Ultimate Edge."

I attempt to wrap up each blackjack book I review on two levels:

(1) The *current* practical value of the specific information provided in the book (e.g., basic strategy, counts, betting strategy, etc.)

(2) The *meta-value* of the information contained (meta-value: includes entertainment value, what the book teaches you in general about
the game of blackjack, and the practical value of the book given the circumstances of the game at the time the book was written).

1 - There are two counts worth learning in this book: the high-low (the one that includes aces in the count), and what Revere refers to as the 10-count. Given the proliferation of multiple-deck games, a side count of aces is FAR more trouble than it is worth. The basic strategy Revere provides is correct, but lacks decisions for a number of subsequent rule variations. There is nothing for early and late surrender, doubling after splits, and how to play the European no-hole card variant, amoung others. Revere's Betting Strategy was barely adequate for single-deck play, and woefully inadequate for today's game.

2 - The meta-value of this book is very high. As mentioned, if you have any interest in the game at all, this book may convince you to drop everything and go win some money. It wouldn't be the first time.

The Ultimate Edge

I love the spring and this book is awsome I won like 400 dollars in like 15 minutes man.

It has been several years since I played blackjack at the Las Vegas hotels. A quick review of Lawrence Revere's book, "Playng Blackjack as a Business," quickly put me in the right frame of mind, not just to play, but to know I could win if I followed instructions. Years ago I decided that this would be the book I would use as a blackjack reference. I have never been sorry. I did not play well enough (my fault, not Revere's) to get rich. I did, however, play well enough to get shut down at two tables- one at the Stardust and again at the Thunderbird. Those that remember the "bird" know how long ago that has been. Revere, whose real name I believe is Parsons, helped me have a lot of fun at blackjack and, I am sure, kept me from losing more than I should have. If you want to enjoy blackjack, find this book!

This 1960's Lawrence Revere textbook, and that's what it is, is a very thorough technical offering that covers all aspects of card counting, the game itself and strategy without the go-go fluff we expect today.

This was the second best of 23 BJ books that I read, but an absolute prerequisite to understanding the probabilities. His work on statistically what to expect, how often is a requirement for success.

I read this book when I lived in Reno about 15 years ago. I thought it was the best book on blackjack in the world. I recently read "The Ultimate Edge," and then I re-read this. I now see that "Playing Blackjack As A Business" is missing a lot.

It has a good basic strategy and good tips on how to practice, but doesn't give a good betting strategy, and really doesn't tell you how hard it is to actually win money and get away with it.

Also, there is really no way to tell which count to use. The book has a bunch of counts, and you can buy two others for $200 each, but you really can't tell which is better than which.

Playing Blackjack As a Business is one of the best books ever written on card counting. It is very comprehensive listing basic to advanced card counting strategies. Perhaps the greatest benefit is the author's decades of personal experience in playing and winning using the strategies presented in the book. The book is, I believe largely if not wholly accurate. (The basic strategy charts are amongst the most accurate in existence!) Lawrence Revere stresses the importance of discipline and practice and that, regardless of one's skill, there will always be occasions when you lose sessions of play. The book is useful for an intermediate card counter and an excellent place to start if you're a newcomer.