Blackjack: 21 for the 21st Century

Ready to lose...er...win some money? Well, as gambler Jim Schian points out in Blackjack: 21 for the 21st Century, blackjack is the one game of chance where you can consistently win by setting goals and following rules. In a game ruled by mathematics, Schian's winning strategy involves four main goals: avoid busting, beat the dealer, get closest to 21, and let the dealer bust on stiffs. What's a "stiff"? Well, that's just one of the many arcane blackjack terms Schian explains as he sets forth clear percentages for prospective blackjack players (e.g., the player wins 44% of the time, the dealer wins 47% of the time, ties or pushes occur 9% of the time). For a non-gambler like this reviewer, the terminology did get a bit confusing at times, but this is a small hurdle for anyone serious (the tape is over two hours long!) about learning the ropes of playing blackjack. Recommended, especially for those without similar fare, such as The Winning Strategies: Blackjack (VL-1/97). Aud: P. (S. Fisher)