Which book to start with

I have been playing amateur blackjack for around 1.5 years at my local casino.

I am looking for a book to start.

Would blackjack blueprint be a good start?

I am confident with my basic strategy. But am not confident If I would cope with going to the next level. Never done card counting or learnt about any system.

What other books do you recommend ?

Thanks

Just why is it that you want to read about blackjack instead of playing it?

I do play twice a week at the casino until they shut down due to the pandemic.

I have heard the books have some more detailed concepts on card counting systems , examples of the authors experiences that maybe as a reader I could relate too.

Also, I have lost more than I have thought I would. So want to see if I can improve my game and be less impatient, more confident and try to have fun in doing so

My favorite beginner blackjack book was World's Greatest Blackjack. The authors were Humble and Cooper. I believe Humble just passed away in the last few weeks. It has some good stories and teaches the Hi-Opt I system. Not the best system but it is a good book. Also, the High Opt II system is pretty good and easy to learn if you know the first one.

Quote: Zuluwarrior

I have been playing amateur blackjack for around 1.5 years at my local casino.

I am looking for a book to start.

Would blackjack blueprint be a good start?

I am confident with my basic strategy. But am not confident If I would cope with going to the next level. Never done card counting or learnt about any system.

What other books do you recommend ?

Thanks

Blackjack Blue Book 2 is , in my opinion, the best beginners book. Fred Renzi teaches you how to progress from basic strategy to being an AP in several smooth steps. He starts with a very simple unbalanced count so you don't doing any true count conversions and gradually adds more cards to track
The Blackjack Zone is outstanding for destroying numerous myths and mistaken assumptions.
I'm reading Beat the Dealer for the first time and am disappointed in it. I'm sure it was groundbreaking in its day, but many modern books do a much better job of teaching today's game.
Learning to count is important, but learning how to get away with counting is just as important. You have to learn how to convince the mouse that he is the cat. Let them look at you as food as you pick their bones clean.

Quote: FleaStiff

Just why is it that you want to read about blackjack instead of playing it?

Why can't he do both?

What you really want to learn is hole carding. This is where the money is. Nobody's making money counting. Counting is nothing more than the cover story for hole carding. Study what effects reading the hole card has on your play and how it changes the odds. Next, catch a flight to Indiana, New Orleans or Tampa.

Quote: TigerWu

Why can't he do both?

Well of course he CAN, but I was thinking more along the lines of Return On Investment for the time and effort involved.

Blackjack Blueprint covers everything from basic strategy to card counting, from maximizing potential by going it alone to playing on a blackjack team. So yes, if it's a good book to start with