Donald "Don" Schlesinger is a gaming mathematician, author, lecturer, player, and member of the Blackjack Hall of Fame who specializes in the casino game of blackjack. His work in the field has spanned almost four decades. He is the author of the book Blackjack Attack - Playing the Pros' Way, currently in its third edition, which is considered one of the most sophisticated theoretical and practical studies of the game to date.
Schlesinger was born in New York City and graduated from the City College of New York (CCNY) with a B.S. degree in mathematics. In addition, he holds M.A. and M.Phil. degrees in French from the City University of New York. Don began his professional life teaching mathematics and French in the New York City school system. In 1984, he changed professions and, until 1998, was a principal (executive director) at a Wall Street investment bank. Since his retirement from the finance industry, he has devoted even more time to blackjack, in a researching, writing, teaching, and playing capacity.
His contributions to the game include research into optimal betting, risk analysis, optimal back counting, Floating Advantage, camouflage and team play, and card counting systems comparison.
He is most well known for:
Creating the Illustrious 18, an abridged set of the most efficient card counting indices mentioned in most card counting books published in the last 30 years.
Creating DI (Desirability Index) and SCORE (Standard Comparison of Risk and Expectation), to optimally compare games under various scenarios.
Publication of the optimal Blackjack composition-dependent basic strategy.
Schlesinger has edited, consulted and/or collaborated with many of the leading Blackjack analysts, programmers, and authors, including Stanford Wong, Edward O. Thorp, Peter Griffin, Arnold Snyder, Karel Janecek, John Auston, Katarina Walker, and Norm Wattenberger. In addition, he has contributed to many different issues of the aficionado magazine Blackjack Forum. .
Books that mention Schlesinger include:
Repeat Until Rich by Josh Axelrad
Blackjack: A Professional Reference, the Encyclopedia of Casino Twenty-One by Michael Dalton
The Theory of Gambling and Statistical Logic by Dr. Richard Arnold Epstein
The Doctrine of Chances: Probabilistic Aspects of Gambling By Dr. Stewart N. Ethier
Finding the edge: mathematical analysis of casino games By Dr. Olaf Vancura, Dr. Judy A. Cornelius, Dr. William R. Eadington
Burning the Tables in Las Vegas by Ian Andersen
Professional Blackjack by Dr. Stanford Wong
Risk and Reward: The Science of Casino Blackjack by Dr. N. Richard Werthamer
Knock-Out Blackjack by Dr. Olaf Vancura, Ken Fuchs
Basic Blackjack by Dr. Stanford Wong
The Blackjack Zone by Dr. Eliot Jacobsen
Legends of Blackjack by Kevin Blackwood and Larry Barker
Play Blackjack Like the Pros by Kevin Blackwood
Blackjack autumn: a true tale of life, death, and splitting tens by Barry Meadow
Blackjack: Play Like the Pros by John Bukofsky
Frugal Video Poker by Jean Scott
Dynamic Blackjack by Dr. Richard Reid
Blackjack Blueprint by Rick Blaine
Blackbelt in Blackjack by Arnold Snyder
Blackjack Diary by Stuart Perry
Beyond Counting by Dr. James Grosjean
Hollywood Blackjack by Dave Stann
The Pro's Guide to Spanish 21 and Australian Pontoon by Katarina Walker
Modern Blackjack by Norm Wattenberger
Bootlegger's 200 proof blackjack by Mike Turner
You've Got Heat by Barfarkel
Mensa Guide to Casino Gambling: Winning Ways by Andrew Brisman
Silver Fox Blackjack System by Ralph Stricker
Get the Edge at Blackjack by John May
Books that briefly acknowledge Schlesinger:
Gambling 102: The Best Stratgies for All Casino Games by Michael Shackleford
Gambling Theory and Other Topics by Mason Malmuth
Blackjack for Blood by Bryce Carlson
Extra Stuff by Dr. Peter Griffin
Blackjack Essays by Mason Malmuth
Gambling for Winners: Your Hard-Headed, No B.S. Guide to Gaming by Richard Stooker
Fundamentals of "21" by Mason Malmuth, Lynne Loomis