The 10 best blackjack books for improving your game

There have been hundreds of books written about blackjack and the best way to play it. While it is a relatively simple game to enjoy, players are always looking for an edge.

Here are our top 10 favorite blackjack books. Pick the title that jumps out at you, and then put your newfound skills to the test at BetAmerica Casino.

1. Sklansky Talks Blackjack by David Sklansky

Poker players will be familiar with Sklansky and his learned writings on that card game. He also turned his hand to blackjack in this book which, although published in 1999, has stood the test of time. He analyses just about every possible hand, and although he talks a lot of math, he does so in an easy-to-understand way.

2. Blackjack Bluebook II by Fred Renzey

If you want a book that explains basic blackjack strategy in simple language, then this is the one for you. It even includes a section on card counting, if this is your thing.

3. The Theory of Blackjack by Peter A. Griffin

This will teach you the basic blackjack strategy, including when to double down, split, and measure your play based on the dealer's upcard. It, too, talks about card counting.

4. Winning Casino Blackjack for the Non-Counter by Avery Cardoza

Seeing as so many of these books talk about card counting, we felt it only fair to highlight one that avoids it. Instead, Cardoza likes to teach you how to increase your edge by following a solid blackjack strategy on single-deck blackjack games. It includes online play – something not all blackjack books do because they were written before the Internet came along.

5. Blackbelt in Blackjack by Arnold Snyder

This book is more than a creative play on words. The author sees "Playing 21 as a martial art." Together with playing strategies that can improve your chance of turning a profit, Snyder looks at various counting methods, including The Red 7 count and the Hi Lo Count. The book does not, however, recommend you fight anyone, as the title might suggest.

6. Blackjack: A Winner's Handbook by Jerry L Patterson

This book deserves mention because it looks at two areas that are often omitted by other books. The first is the importance of bankroll management, and the second is how to keep your emotions in check while you play blackjack.

7. Playing Blackjack as a Business by Lawrence Revere

If you can get hold of it, this book is worthy of inclusion for nostalgic reasons. It may have been written 50 or so years ago, so it is old-fashioned in language and tone, but the basic strategies it suggests you use are as true now as they were then. The title is a little far-fetched, though, as few of us would ever consider playing blackjack as a business.

8. Blackjack for Blood by Bryce Carlson

This is one of the best blackjack books as it has something for everyone. If you want to become a pro card counter, you'll find out how to do it here. Further, Carlson gives practical tips on how you can disguise your cunning counting techniques, so the pit boss doesn't spot it and throw you out (card counting is not illegal, but casinos will eject you). There are great tips about making your money last and possibly turning a profit for the recreational gambler.

9. Million Dollar Blackjack by Ken Uston

You'll need to find a used copy of this book from somewhere as it's no longer in print. It was a favorite back in the 1980s, and it has step-by-step guides for playing optimum blackjack. The idea that you will read it and soon be playing for a million bucks is a little far-fetched, however.

10. Play Blackjack Like the Pros by Kevin Blackwood

If you are a complete beginner, this is a perfect starter's book. It explains how blackjack is played and introduces you to a solid and straightforward playing strategy that will reduce the house's edge. Blackwood writes in an entertaining fashion, which helps novices take his advice on board.

Play blackjack at BetAmerica Casino

If all this talk of blackjack strategy books has you in the mood to try the game for yourself, why not sign up for an account at BetAmerica Casino? You can even begin by playing blackjack for free – but if you do play for real money, you can have a go at the live dealer blackjack tables, the next best thing to playing in a real casino.