Knockout Blackjack Book
Here's four years and 14 blackjack books' worth of advice:1) Yes, you can beat blackjack by learning how to count-even against six-deck shoes.2) The biggest reason players lose after learning how to count is they are making counting mistakes and don't know it.3) Knock-Out Blackjack is the one level-1 system that virtually takes the mistake factor out of counting.That's the biggest reason it's. Here are my personal favorites for the best blackjack books of all time. These books have stood the test of time and provide outstanding advice on how to improve your blackjack skills. As a collection, these books cover everything you need to be successful at beating the casinos. Books are listed in order of the year they were first published. The revolutionary new Knock-Out card-counting system eliminates the mountain of mental arithmetic necessary to win at blackjack. The scientifically devised Knock-Out count can be used profitably anywhere blackjack is played: Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Mississippi, riverboat casinos, Native American casinos, the Bahamas, and on cruise ships.
Knock-Out Blackjack - Reviews
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A book by Olaf Vancura and Ken Fuchs
'K-O is a simple and powerful card-counting system that deserves seriousconsideration, clearly and entertainingly presented.'
--Edward O. Thorp, Ph.D., Author of Beat the Dealer
'The Knock-Out blackjack system is a very well thought out and clearly presentedsystem which allows players to obtain a healthy advantage over the casinos. Very logicaland easy-to-follow, an excellent book for any player who is looking for one of the easiestand strongest professional level systems every published. The book provides an excellentoverview of card-counting from both the historical and mathematical perspectives,presented in a style which is both scholarly and easy to read.'
--Arnold Snyder, Publisher of Blackjack Forum
'***** Outstanding. Highly recommended. Knock-Out Blackjack is a welcome addition tomy library of high quality books on
blackjack. Not only is the K-O unbalanced system a valid and winning blackjack method, butit ranks as one of the top single-level counts available to players today. Knock-OutBlackjack also includes an outstanding history of card counting, good blackjack tips andtricks, honest side commentary, and stories that bring home the card counter'scat-and-mouse struggle with the casino.'
--Michael Dalton, Editor/Publisher of Blackjack Review
'K-O is a novel card-counting system, which, given its simplicity in design andexecution, produces nearly miraculous results. In the past, we would always recommend thatthe neophyte begin with the hi-lo. With the advent of K-O, I predict that, in the nearfuture, it will supplant hi-lo as the system of choice for the aspiring cardcounter.'
--Don Schlesinger, Creator of Illustrious 18 and author of Blackjack Attack:Playing the Pros' Way
'There is simply no reason for the aspiring card-counter to consider anything but anunbalanced count, and the Knock-Out system is the best of them.'
--Anthony Curtis, Publisher of Las Vegas Advisor
'There's a new book, 'Knock-Out Blackjack', and inexpensive companion software,'Knock-Out Blackjack Workshop', by Olaf Vancura and Ken Fuchs. Vancura and Fuchs are thefirst authors who appear to have fully comprehended the message I've been attempting torelay to players since 1980 -- Go For Simplicity! They have divised an unbalanced runningcount system, utilizing an optimally reduced set of strategy indices, that is both easyand extremely powerful.
In their computer simulation tests, their counting system matches up favorably with thebest true count systems vs. any number of decks. The book itself is thorough, clear, anddespite the fact it is loaded with all the technical information you'd want or need, it'swritten in a light amusing style that's fun to read. This is my new recommendation for theone book every new player should read. You will never have to go beyond the system in thisbook for traditional card counting.
Even seasoned counters should read this book. It is quite frankly the best compilation ofthe theories of card counting on the market, destined to become a classic.'
-- Arnold Snyder, Publisher of Blackjack Forum (Winter-1996 Issue)
'Two Thumbs Up!'
-- Biskel and Seibert.
LastUpdate 04/05/05
The KO System is one of the easiest card counting strategies to learn and use. It’s a recommended strategy for beginners because all you have to do is assign a +1, -1 or 0 to each card that is dealt. That’s much easier than using a system like the Zen or Uston Advanced Count, where you’re assigning 3+ values, as well as keeping running, true and side counts.
However, players were (and still are) having a problem with calculating the true count. Not everyone is good at division, especially with fractions, let alone having to figure the math out while playing.
Seeing this, Ken Fuchs and Olaf Vancura developed the Knock-Out System in 1998. The KO strategy is similar to the Hi/Lo in that you assign a +1, -1 or 0, but different in that you only have to keep track of the running count. You don’t have to figure out the true count, so there’s no need for complicated math.
The KO System assigns the value of +1, 0 or -1 to each card that is dealt. Here are the cards and the values you will assign to each one:
Knockout Blackjack Book
- 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 – Count +1
- 8, 9 – Count 0
- 10, J, Q, K, A – Count -1
For you Hi/Lo System users, the difference between the Hi/Lo and the Knockout is that the 7 is assigned a +1, whereas it’s a 0 in the Hi/Lo. Because of this the Knockout System is unbalanced. If you count through a deck of cards your final count will be a +4.
Since there’s no true count you’ll use the running count to determine how much to bet. The rule of thumb is that the higher the count, the more you should bet, and vice versa. That said, it’s recommended that you use a spread betting system. As your count increases/decreases, so will the number of units you bet. Here’s an example to show you what I mean:
Running Count / 2 Decks / 6-8 Decks
- 0 or less / 1 unit / 1 unit
- +1 / 2 units / 2 units
- +2 / 3 units / 4 units
- +3 / 4 units / 8 units
- +4 / 5 units / 10 units
- +5 / 6 units / 12 units
A unit refers (in this case) to the minimum table limit. If the minimum table wager is $5, that would be one unit. So if your running count is a +4 then you’d bet $25 at a 2-deck game or $50 in a 6-8 deck game.
A spread betting system is a good idea because it maximizes and minimizes how much you win and lose depending on how likely you are to win or lose. It disguises you as a card counter, too. Instead of betting at one extreme or the other (table minimum or table maximum), your betting is gradual. It’ll be harder for casino staff to tag you as an advantage player.
How Hard is the KO System to Learn?
If you already know how to use the Hi/Lo system then the KO should be no problem. You’re merely adding a +1 to the 7-card, and eliminating the true count.
However, if you’ve never counted cards before, the KO System is the easiest one to learn. The quickest way to pick it up is to practice with a deck of cards. Go through each one and assign it a value, all the while keeping track of your total (running count).
For example, say the following cards were dealt:
2, K, 4, 5, J, A, A, 3, 8, 9, 6, 5
As each card comes out you assign it a value:
(2) +1, (K) -1, (4) +1, (5) +1, (J) -1, (A) -1, (A) -1, (3) +1, (8) 0, (9) 0, (6) +1, (5) +1
Adding all of these up we get a count of +2.
But you want to make sure that you keep a total as you go. You won’t have the time to wait for all the cards to be dealt to figure out your count. Especially if you have poor table position (the closer you are to the dealer’s left, the worse your position).
Knockout Blackjack Book
So as you see each card you’ll want to keep a (running) total. Using the same example as above (card = running count):
- 2 = +1
- K = 0
- 4 = +1
- 5 = +2
- J = +1
- A = 0
- A = -1
- 3 = 0
- 8 = +0
- 9 = +0
- 6 = +1
- 5 = +2
Knockout Blackjack Book Pdf
Each time you go through a deck of cards you should try to do it faster than you did before, while staying accurate (+4 count when you’re done). Experts also recommend playing background noise so that you can practice with distractions. You could also go to the casino, stand behind a blackjack table and try to keep count. This will show you what it’s like to count cards in an distraction filled, action paced environment.
What we’ve covered above is a primer to the Knock-Out System. It would still be a good idea to read more about it, especially if this is the system you’re going to master.
We recommend going straight to the source: Knock-Out Blackjack by Olaf Vancura and Ken Fuchs. You can pick it up at Amazon for less than $7 on your Kindle, or for $15 for the paperback. This book will cover basic blackjack strategy, an intro to card counting and finally it’ll walk you through the KO System and betting strategies.
This books come highly recommended, even from blackjack greats like Edward Thorp:
“K-O is a simple and powerful card-counting system that deserves serious consideration, clearly and entertainingly presented.”
–Edward O. Thorp, Ph.D., Author of Beat the Dealer