Learn How to Beat the Casino with Black Belt in Blackjack: Playing 21 as a Martial Art by Arnold Snyder (PDF)
Black Belt in Blackjack: Playing 21 as a Martial Art by Arnold Snyder
Do you want to learn how to beat the casinos at their own game? Do you want to master the skills and strategies of blackjack, the most popular casino card game in the world? Do you want to become a black belt in blackjack, playing 21 as a martial art?
black belt in blackjack arnold snyder pdf download
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you need to read Black Belt in Blackjack, the classic book by Arnold Snyder, one of the most respected and influential blackjack experts of all time.
Introduction
In this article, we will give you an overview of what this book is about, who is the author, and why you should read it. We will also provide you with a link to download the book for free in PDF format, so you can start learning from the master right away.
Who is Arnold Snyder?
Arnold Snyder is a legendary figure in the blackjack world. He is a professional gambler, author, publisher, and Hall of Fame member. He has been playing and winning at blackjack since the 1970s, and has written several books on the subject, including The Blackjack Formula, Blackbelt in Blackjack, The Big Book of Blackjack, and Radical Blackjack.
He is also the founder and editor of Blackjack Forum, a quarterly journal that was the leading source of blackjack information and research for over 25 years. He has contributed to many other publications and websites, such as Card Player, Gambling Times, Casino Player, Blackjack Insider, and Bj21.com.
He is widely regarded as one of the pioneers and innovators of blackjack theory and practice. He has developed and refined many card counting systems, such as the Red Seven Count, the Zen Count, and the Hi-Lo Lite. He has also devised and tested many advanced techniques, such as shuffle tracking, ace sequencing, hole carding, team play, camouflage, and comp hustling.
He is known for his clear and concise writing style, his humor and wit, his honesty and integrity, and his generosity and mentorship. He has taught thousands of players how to beat the game of blackjack through his books, articles, seminars, videos, podcasts, and online forums.
What is Black Belt in Blackjack?
Black Belt in Blackjack is one of Arnold Snyder's most famous and influential books. It was first published in 1983, and has been revised and updated several times since then. The latest edition was released in 2005.
The book is divided into three parts: The Basics of Blackjack, The Art of Card Counting, and The Zen of Blackjack. Each part covers a different aspect of the game, from the rules and strategies, to the counting systems and techniques, to the psychology and philosophy.
The book is written for players of all levels, from beginners to experts. It covers everything you need to know to play and win at blackjack, whether you are playing in a casino, online, or at home. It also includes many practical tips, examples, exercises, quizzes, charts, tables, and illustrations to help you learn faster and easier.
Why should you read this book?
You should read this book if you want to:
Learn the fundamentals of blackjack, such as how to play, how to use basic strategy, and how to reduce the house edge.
Learn the secrets of card counting, such as how to choose and use a counting system, how to keep track of the cards, and how to adjust your bets and decisions accordingly.
Learn the advanced techniques of blackjack, such as how to spot and exploit favorable situations, how to avoid and handle unfavorable situations, and how to disguise your skills and avoid detection.
Learn the mindset of blackjack, such as how to manage your money and emotions, how to deal with variance and risk, and how to enjoy the game and have fun.
Learn from one of the best teachers and players in the history of blackjack, who has decades of experience and knowledge to share with you.
This book is not only informative and educational, but also entertaining and inspirational. It will make you laugh, think, and feel. It will challenge you, motivate you, and empower you. It will make you a better player and a better person.
Main Content
In this section, we will briefly summarize the main content of each part of the book. We will not go into too much detail or reveal too much information, as we want you to read the book for yourself and discover its full value. We will only give you a taste of what you can expect from each part.
The Basics of Blackjack
This part covers the essential elements of blackjack that every player should know before playing for real money. It explains the rules of the game, the objective of the game, the value of the cards, the actions available to the player, and the payouts for different outcomes.
It also teaches you how to use basic strategy, which is a set of optimal decisions for every possible hand based on mathematical calculations. It shows you how to memorize and apply basic strategy using simple rules and mnemonics. It also provides you with basic strategy charts for different rule variations that you can print out or download for reference.
Finally, it tells you how to calculate and compare the house edge for different games and situations. It shows you how different rules affect the house edge, such as number of decks, dealer hitting or standing on soft 17, doubling down options, splitting options, surrender option, insurance option, etc. It also shows you how different playing conditions affect the house edge, such as penetration (how deep into the shoe the dealer deals), shuffle point (when the dealer reshuffles), cut card (where the dealer places a card to indicate when to reshuffle), etc.
How to play blackjack
The game of blackjack is played between one or more players and a dealer. The players compete against the dealer, not against each other. The goal of the game is to get a higher total value of cards than the dealer without going over 21. If either the player or the dealer goes over 21, they bust and lose automatically.
The game begins with each player placing a bet on a designated spot on the table. The dealer then deals two cards face up to each player and one card face up and one card face down (the hole card) to himself. The players then take turns acting on their hands in a clockwise order starting from the leftmost player.
The players have four options: hit (take another card), stand (take no more cards), double down (double their bet and take one more card), or split (if they have two cards of the same rank, they can split them into two separate hands with equal bets). Some games also offer a fifth option: surrender (give up half their bet and end their hand).
After all players have acted on their hands, the dealer reveals his hole card and acts on his hand according to a fixed set of rules. The dealer must hit until his total is 17 or higher. Some games require the dealer to hit on soft 17 (a total of 17 with an ace counted as 11), while others require him to stand on soft 17.
Basic strategy
Basic strategy is the best way to play blackjack without counting cards. It tells you what to do for every possible combination of your hand and the dealer's up card. It is based on mathematical calculations that take into account the probabilities and expected values of each outcome.
By following basic strategy, you can reduce the house edge to less than 1%, which means you will lose less money in the long run. Of course, basic strategy does not guarantee that you will win every hand, as blackjack is still a game of chance and luck. But it will give you the best odds of winning over time.
To use basic strategy, you need to memorize and apply a set of rules for each situation. These rules are usually presented in a chart or a table that shows you what to do for each hand. For example, if you have a hard 16 (a total of 16 without an ace) and the dealer has a 10 up card, the basic strategy chart will tell you to hit.
There are different basic strategy charts for different rule variations, such as number of decks, dealer hitting or standing on soft 17, doubling down options, splitting options, surrender option, etc. You need to use the correct chart for the game you are playing. You can find basic strategy charts online or in books, or you can download them to your phone or computer for easy access.
House edge and rule variations
The house edge is the percentage of each bet that the casino expects to win in the long run. It is also known as the casino advantage or the expected value. The house edge is what makes the casino profitable and what makes the players lose money over time.
The house edge in blackjack depends on several factors, such as the rules of the game, the playing conditions, and the skill level of the players. The house edge can vary from less than 0.5% to over 2%, depending on these factors.
The rules of the game are the most important factor that affects the house edge. Different rules can either favor the player or favor the dealer. For example, a rule that allows the player to double down after splitting pairs lowers the house edge by about 0.14%, while a rule that requires the dealer to hit on soft 17 raises it by about 0.22%.
Therefore, it is important to know and compare the rules of different games before playing. You should look for games that have favorable rules for the player, such as fewer decks, dealer standing on soft 17, doubling down on any two cards, splitting up to four times, surrender option, etc. You should avoid games that have unfavorable rules for the player, such as more decks, dealer hitting on soft 17, doubling down only on 10 or 11, splitting only once, no surrender option, etc.
The Art of Card Counting
This part covers the most powerful and popular technique of blackjack: card counting. It explains what card counting is, how it works, why it works, and how to use it effectively. It also introduces you to different card counting systems and how to choose and learn them.
Card counting is a method of keeping track of the ratio of high cards (10s and aces) to low cards (2s through 6s) in the deck or shoe. High cards are favorable to the player because they increase the chances of getting a blackjack (which pays 3 to 2) and getting a high total (which beats a low total). Low cards are favorable to the dealer because they decrease the chances of busting (going over 21).
By knowing whether there are more high cards or low cards left in the deck or shoe, you can adjust your bets and decisions accordingly. When there are more high cards left, you can increase your bets and play more aggressively (by doubling down or splitting more often). When there are more low cards left, you can decrease your bets and play more conservatively (by hitting or standing more often).
Card counting works because blackjack is a game of dependent events. This means that each card that is dealt affects the composition and probability of future cards. Unlike other casino games where each outcome is independent and random (such as roulette or slots), blackjack has a memory and history.
To use card counting effectively, you need to learn and practice a card counting system. A card counting system is a set of rules that tells you how to assign a value to each card and how to keep a running count of the cards as they are dealt. For example, the Hi-Lo system is one of the simplest and most popular card counting systems. It assigns a value of +1 to low cards (2-6), a value of 0 to neutral cards (7-9), and a value of -1 to high cards (10-A). You start with a running count of 0 and add or subtract the value of each card as you see it. The higher the running count, the more high cards are left and the more favorable the situation is for the player.
There are many other card counting systems, such as the KO system, the Red Seven system, the Zen system, etc. Each system has its own advantages and disadvantages, such as accuracy, simplicity, efficiency, etc. You need to choose a system that suits your preferences and goals. You also need to learn how to convert the running count into a true count (which takes into account the number of decks left in the shoe) and how to use the true count to determine your bet size and playing strategy.
What is card counting and how does it work?
Card counting is a technique that allows you to gain an edge over the casino by keeping track of the ratio of high cards to low cards in the deck or shoe. High cards are favorable to the player because they increase the chances of getting a blackjack and getting a high total. Low cards are favorable to the dealer because they decrease the chances of busting.
Card counting works by assigning a value to each card and keeping a running count of the cards as they are dealt. For example, in the Hi-Lo system, you assign a value of +1 to low cards (2-6), a value of 0 to neutral cards (7-9), and a value of -1 to high cards (10-A). You start with a running count of 0 and add or subtract the value of each card as you see it.
The higher the running count, the more high cards are left and the more favorable the situation is for the player. The lower the running count, the more low cards are left and the more favorable the situation is for the dealer. By knowing whether there are more high cards or low cards left in the deck or shoe, you can adjust your bets and decisions accordingly.
Different card counting systems
There are many different card counting systems, each with its own characteristics and performance. Some of the most common and popular systems are:
The Hi-Lo system: This is one of the simplest and most widely used systems. It assigns a value of +1 to low cards (2-6), a value of 0 to neutral cards (7-9), and a value of -1 to high cards (10-A). It is easy to learn and use, but it is not very accurate or efficient.
The KO system: This is a variation of the Hi-Lo system that eliminates the need for converting the running count into a true count. It assigns a value of +1 to low cards (2-7), a value of 0 to neutral cards (8-9), and a value of -1 to high cards (10-A). It is slightly more complex than the Hi-Lo system, but it is more accurate and efficient.
The Red Seven system: This is another variation of the Hi-Lo system that also eliminates the need for converting the running count into a true count. It assigns a value of +1 to low cards (2-6) and red 7s, a value of 0 to neutral cards (8-9) and black 7s, and a value of -1 to high cards (10-A). It is slightly more complex than the KO system, but it is more accurate and efficient.
The Zen system: This is an advanced system that assigns different values to different cards. It assigns a value of +1 to low cards (2-4), a value of +2 to 5s and 6s, a value of 0 to neutral cards (8-A), and a value of -2 to 10s. It is very complex and difficult to learn and use, but it is very accurate and efficient.
There are many other systems, such as the Hi-Opt I system, the Hi-Opt II system, the Omega II system, etc. Each system has its own pros and cons, such as simplicity, accuracy, efficiency, etc. You need to choose a system that suits your preferences and goals.
How to practice and improve your card counting skills
skills. You need to be able to count cards quickly, accurately, and discreetly. You also need to be able to apply your card counting skills in real casino situations. Here are some tips on how to practice and improve your card counting skills:
Start with a single deck of cards and practice counting through the whole deck. You should be able to count through the deck in less than 30 seconds and end up with a count of 0. You can use a stopwatch or a timer to measure your speed and accuracy.
Once you are comfortable with a single deck, move on to multiple decks. You can use two, four, six, or eight decks depending on the game you are playing. You should be able to count through multiple decks in the same time as a single deck and end up with a count of 0.
Practice converting the running count into a true count. You can use a formula or a table to do this. For example, if you are using the Hi-Lo system and you have a running count of +6 and there are three decks left in the shoe, you can divide the running count by the number of decks left to get the true count: +6 / 3 = +2.
Practice adjusting your bet size and playing strategy based on the true count. You can use a betting spread or a betting ramp to determine how much to bet for each true count. For example, if you are using a 1-4 betting spread, you can bet one unit for a true count of 0 or lower, two units for a true count of +1, three units for a true count of +2, and four units for a true count of +3 or higher. You can also use an index table or a deviation chart to determine how to deviate from basic strategy for certain hands and counts. For example, if you are using the Hi-Lo system and you have a hard 16 against a dealer's 10 and the true count is +4 or higher, you can stand instead of hitting.
Practice counting cards in realistic casino conditions. You can use a computer program or an app that simulates casino games and card counting. You can also practice with a friend or a partner who acts as the dealer and tries to distract you or spot you. You can also practice in an actual casino by playing low stakes or observing other players.
The Zen of Blackjack
This part covers the psychological and philosophical aspects of blackjack that go beyond the technical skills and strategies. It explains how to manage your bankroll and bet size, how to avoid detection and deal with casino heat, how to exploit casino comps and promotions, and how to enjoy the game and have fun.
It also teaches you how to develop a zen-like mindset that helps you cope with the ups and downs of blackjack, such as variance and risk, wins and losses, emotions and stress, etc. It shows you how to adopt an attitude of detachment, balance, discipline, confidence, and gratitude.
This part is based on Arnold Snyder's personal experience and wisdom as a professional gambler and blackjack player. It is full of anecdotes, stories, insights, tips, advice, humor, and inspiration. It will make you think differently about blackjack and life in general.
How to manage your bankroll and bet size
Your bankroll is the amount of money that you have set aside for playing blackjack. It is separate from your personal or household funds. Your bet size is the amount of money that you wager on each hand of blackjack.
Managing your bankroll and bet size is crucial for your success and survival as a blackjack player. It affects your risk of ruin (the probability of losing your entire bankroll), your expected value (the average amount that you expect to win or lose per hand), your standard deviation (the measure of how much your results vary from your expected value), and your Kelly criterion (the optimal bet size that maximizes your growth rate).
To manage your bankroll and bet size effectively, you need to follow some basic guidelines:
Determine your bankroll size based on your risk tolerance, skill level, game conditions, and goals. A general rule of thumb is to have at least 100 times your maximum bet as your bankroll.
Determine your bet size based on your card
