1 comments about The Casino Answer Book.

1. This is an amazing book. It's so entertaining and easy to read you don't even realize how much you're learning. The author asks questions I'd never even thought of, then he answers them so clearly and logically that I had no trouble absorbing the information. I've read a lot of blackjack books and was never really clear on the whys behind some of the recommendations. With this book, now I know what all the others were talking about.

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5 comments about Playing Blackjack As a Business: A Professional Player's Approach to the Game of "21.

1. When I discovered that a "hard cover" version of Playing Blackjack as a Business was going to be published in September of 1999, I rushed to place my order right away. Never mind that its list price was $ 27.95 plus the usual shipping and handling. Normally, I wouldn't pay attention to such trivial matters, but today I'm fuming and disappointed!

   Don't get me wrong! The magic of Lawrence Revere is there still; I don't believe that will ever change. Nor there is anything wrong with the hard of the book is its strategy charts. And that's what got me boiling over. I can't believe it that Replica Books did such a bad job in reproducing them. Their wretched look is an instant turn off, and again that's perhaps the most important part of the book, the meat if I may!

   It appears that color charts meant to be reproduced in color were reproduced in black and white. Normally, black and white designs reproduced in black and white come out in good quality. Not so, color designs reproduced in black and white, alas, this book in question.

   The quality of the charts is so bad that I decided to return the book for a full refund. Amazon will even refund the postage so that it would be like if I never ordered the book, as one of her courteous representatives has assured me.

   For my own consolation, though, I will order the soft cover version to replace my copy that after so many years of giving me the joy in the art of playing blackjack is beginning to fall apart. I know that version has better quality charts in full color




2. In the section titled "A Word on the Construction and Format of this Book" the first sentence reads as follows:

   "This book contains 70 charts, 36 of which are in color."

   Well, none of the charts in the book are in color. A big disappointment giving the high price of the book.




3. I found this book to be a wonderful challenge. It covers every possible hand to your strategic advantage, and proves the game can be won if you are willing to put in the work needed to learn and practice. This book is still a present day authority on how to beat the game! My soft cover is in color! My condolences to the last reviewer. I have read many books and this is one of the best, no doubt.



4. If the reviews I read are accurate do not buy the republished version [Amazon should love this]; find an older one when it was published by Lyle Stuart. Then you have the benefit of the color charts. Be aware that the man who published under the name Lawrence Revere died of cancer in the late 1970s. But he did write the best tutorial ever on how to beat the twenty-one game by card counting. Revere was a fanatic who believed in study and practice. He first published in 1968, and didn't bother to copyright his writing till the following year. It was, I believe, John Luckman, former dealer at the Dunes and founder of the Gambler's Book Club, who urged him to protect his work. Careful reading of Revere's _Playing Blackjack as a Business_ and of Thorp's _Beat the Dealer_ (both the 1962 and 1966 editions) will teach more about the game than all the other writings combined. For anyone planning to make serious money at blackjack, it would be a mistake not to own and study these three books. The only worthwhile active contributor to blackjack literature writes under the name Stanford Wong. I recommend his software for generating decision tables. Other works I can recommend are the late Peter Griffin's _Theory of Blackjack_ and the late Ken Uston's _Million Dollar Blackjack_. And if you can find a copy (you almost certainly can't) read Dr. Alan Wilson's long out-of-print _Casino Gamblers Guide_ to learn the history of the game and the digital and empirical pioneers who first analysed it. All other writing on twenty-one is eyewash.



5. I've read and re-read this book several times.
   Revere's style is a bit aggressive, but it
   apparently reflects the mental resolve necessary
   to succeed at playing/counting blackjack.
   He knows what he's talking about, and can show
   you why and how to learn to play the game flawlessly.
   Although most BJ books introduce you to basic strategy
   and some sort of counting method, Revere shows you
   what it takes to win.
   Required reading for all students of the game.

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5 comments about The Morons of Blackjack and Other Monsters.

1. You won't find much in the way of strategies in this small volume but the insights and anecdotes are sharp and amusing. Scoblete is a great writer and this book shows off his talent in capturing the ins and outs of people and casinos. It would make a great gift for someone who already knows about the games.



2. The title of this book says it all - MORON - As in I feel like a MORON for spending money for this book. The print is so large and lacking content that anyone can read this book in under 2 hours. There are a few humorous moments, but in sum, the book is lacking substance and disappointing. Save your money!



3. This is not a large book but it is very funny and very insightful. I recommend that you take it with you on your next airplane flight to Vegas! It will help pass the time in an enjoyable way.



4. This isn't a strategy book. It is a great one night read! I agree with the person who said it is great airplane reading. From New York to Vegas or LA, this book will make the trip go by fast and funny.



5. This book is a waste of money. Scoblete truly disappoints here; I have come to expect great insights and entertainment from King Scobe. His other writings about blackjack are very informative, but this book is worthless. It is nothing more than a few slightly amusing stories strung together by Scobe's incoherent rantings about casino management. There is not one piece of insightful information in this book that is not also in Scobe's "Best Blackjack." An entire chapter even appears in both books!

   For the religious - don't even come close to a copy of this book, lest you turn into a pillar of salt. What is up with the chapter-long ramble about how God is dead and has been replaced by the pagan gods of chance and greed? Nothing, that's what. It has nothing to do with blackjack, as is the case with most of this book.

   Don't waste your money on this one. Instead, buy "Best Blackjack" or another of Scoblete's works. King Scobe is a great writer and storyteller, but he fires a blank on this one.

3 comments about The Ultimate Blackjack Book: Playing Blackjack With Multiple Decks.

1. This is a good book for newcomers to the world of Blackjack but should NOT be considered a thorough review of the game. Mr. Early presents only one method of counting cards which may or may not be the most effective for the myriad of Blackjack rules and games available. I was expecting more. A much more useful tome is BEST BLACKJACK by Frank Scoblete. It thoroughly explains not only the gory details (if you want them) of Blackjack geeks but also the easiest methods to maximize your odds of winning if you are, like me, a casual player



2. This is one of the very few books which emphasizes the reasoning behind mathematical results; knowing WHY plays are made is the first step to memorizing those plays. The book is excellent for those who face six-to-eight deck shoes. Only one counting method is presented, but others are referenced in the bibliography. For the low price required, it has paid for itself over and over again in superior play. I highly recommend this for everyone interested in 21.



3. I found the book to be an excellent primer. Early begins by walking the reader through basic blackjack play and strategy. He has chapters on card counting, fallacies, and the reasoning and math behind the basic strategies. He includes several appendices with interesting facts and math tables to help the player. I suppose that their are books that delve deeper into blackjack arcania and card counting methods but my guess is that this book will be more than enough for anyone but the most serious player.

5 comments about Double Blackjack: The Best and Worst Deals made by the New York Mets in their years of existence.

1. the person who wrote the review above does not know what they are talking about. This is a great book but there is no part about tennis or topsy turvy day. Anyways who is the wizard of Roz. DONT PAY ATTENTION TO THE REVIEW ABOVE



2. This is a wonderful book written by Liebenthal and very detailed. What else can you say about the Mets for the past 43 seasons you come to suspect the worst from this team from the Ryan-Fregosi deal to the Kazmir-Zambrano trade? This book although short and just gives a lot what of "what ifs" what if the Mets never traded for Nolan Ryan for Fregosi or Amos Otis for Joe Foy; Who??, or have given Seaver the proper contract he deserved or trade Staub, McGraw? The list goes on and on about bad trades and also the bad free agent signings like, Vince Coleman, Bobby Bonilla (Biggest Bust ever) you can throw in the Brett Saberhagen deal in there too; despite a 14-4 start to the strike season of '94. The worst trade was the Juan Samuel trade to the Mets for Lenny Dykstra and Roger McDowell. (Definitely a killer move there) Also another bad move for the Mets was not giving Strawberry a contract to keep him as a Met instead he went on to sign with the LA Dodgers and went on to ruin his career with altercations with drugs and alcohol and spousal abuse. Liebenthal doesn't talk much about the brutal moves that Steve Phillips made with Mo Vaughn and Roberto Alomar (which at the time was a no brainer until his hall of fame credibility was almost shattered in NY with his shoddy defense and lackluster 240 batting average that they had no choice but to trade him to the White Sox so at least he would have retained some of that hall of fame status that he was when he played in a bandbox like Camden yards and Jacobs Field. Just imagine what Alomar's career would be like if he played mostly at a ballpark that was similar to Shea stadium. I guarantee that his career statistics would be a lot less attractive and he would've been one of those players that come and go. Liebentahl also talks about the great moves the Mets have made throughout the years of existence, like bringing in Gil Hodges to manage the Mets in 1968, the Tom Seaver move which only worked because Atlanta at the time violate a rule, which stated that no team was aloud to sign players still playing for a collegiate team at the time. So it came down to three teams Mets, Phillies and the Cardinals all put in a hat and Seaver pulled out the paper and it said Mets and the rest is history. Signing Jerry Koosman who was later trade to Minnesota in exchange for a youngster name Jesse Orosco, who later on became a big part of the Mets 1986 World Championship team. Also moves that brought in Rusty Staub and even though he was at the tail end of his career, Willie Mays. Liebenthal also talks about the great moves the Mets made bring in Keith Hernandez to the Mets from St. Louis and sending Neil Allen in return. Moves like drafting Strawberry and Gooden. The trade that sent Hubie Brooks, Floyd Youmanns to the Montreal Expos for catcher Gary Carter in the winter of 1984.Trading for Bobby Ojeda and Ron Darling. The list goes on and on. This book written by Liebenthal would intrigue any Met fan who is interested in wanting to know what the franchise was like from birth to its glory year of '69 and '86 to the most dismal years of the late '70's to early '80's and the early to mid '90's.



3. This book was written by someone who obviously is a loyal and dedicated Mets fan, and he clearly put a great deal of passion and effort into it.
   
   However, Mr. Liebenthal either relied too much on a faulty memory or did not do enough fact-checking, and this resulted in a number of errors, too many for someone claiming to be an "expert" on his topic.
   
   For example, the author states on page 1 that after being illegally signed by the Atlanta Braves and having his contract voided, Tom Seaver was awarded to the Mets in a lottery involving the Mets, Braves, and Dodgers. Actually, the Braves were forbidden from signing Seaver, and the lottery involved the Mets, Indians, and Phillies. Also, on page 88, he states that the Mets beat the Braves in Game 5 of the 1999 NLCS in 13 innings, when in fact the game went 15 innings.
   
   More minor, but also glaring (to this reader) was the repeated misspelling of the name of former manager DAVEY (not Davy) Johnson.
   
   In addition, the author writes in a very cumbersome style, with unexplained assertions and questionable choice of words. Staying on page 88, he states that Todd Zeile's "moniker" (why not just say "name?") starts with "Ze, an interesting juxtaposition." Why is that an interesting juxtaposition? The author doesn't explain.
   
   On the same page, in describing Game 1 of the 2000 World Series, the author states that the Mets had a one-run lead and that reliever Armando Benitez "should have been able to hold the vanguard." HOLD THE VANGUARD?? What the heck does that mean? The closest definition of vanguard is "the forefront in any movement, field, activity, or the like." Why not keep it simple and just say "hold the lead?"
   
   Finally, the author strained my concentration with repeated cliches like "lidlifter" to describe the opening game of a series.
   
   Mr. Liebenthal obviously has plenty of knowledge of and passion for the Mets, but I wish I hadn't spent the money on this book.



4. I had high expectations about this book as a Mets fan. After all, the title says it all. Although I enjoyed reading it (a fast and easy read), I was taken aback by some of the poor research and mistakes. Most notably, the author blames Bob Ojeda for the tragic boat accident that claimed the lives of Tim Crews and Steve Olin. Bob Ojeda,who suffered from survivor's guilt for years, was not driving as stated by the author; and the only reason he didn't have his head taken off was that he was slouched down in his seat on the boat (having your head scalped is not a minor injury Mr. Liebenthal). The facts of that tragic night are so well known, it makes one wonder why the author would go beyond emblishment and venture into possible libel merely to smear a beloved Met. Read this book only as a guide and to bring back some memories, but don't rely on it for facts or accuracy. There are better sources.



5. I was highly anticipating reading this book, but found that it fell flat at only 94 pages. The author, in his introduction, states that he's going to write about the 21 best and worst deals the Mets had made. In his conclusion, he said he took poetic license and limited it to 18. Well, if you took each chapter by themselves and totaled them up, there are 32 total deals. The author says 18 because the chapters are essentially broken up. Chapter #1 is a high quality move, and what would be chapter #2 is really called low quality move #1.
   Now, I just mentioned high quality and low quality. This is the authors way of denoting if the deal was good (high) or bad (low). The author has a total of (if you count each chapter by itself) 14 good, 14 bad, and 4 that were in-between. Sometimes the author will talk about the player and how he fared before he played for the Mets, and then talk little about that players days as a Met. I found myself feeling that not much effort was put into making this book. The author states that has been a Mets fan since 1969. If that's the case, he would know how to spell their names! He spells manager Davey Johnson's first name D-A-V-Y, and spells Gregg Jefferies name with only one G instead of two.
   To save you time and money, here are the deals mentioned in the book, in order:
   
   High: acquire Tom Seaver through draft lottery
   Low: trade Tom Seaver
   High: acquire Tom Seaver (again)
   Low: Tom Seaver signs as free agent elsewhere
   High: bring in Casey Stengel as manager
   Low: bring in Jeff Torborg as manager
   High: acquire Donn Clendenon
   Low: trade Amos Otis
   High: bring in Gil Hodges as manager
   Low: trade Nolan Ryan
   High & Low: acquire Willie Mays
   High & Low: acquire Rusty Staub
   High & Low: M. Donald Grant is fired and replaced by Linda DeRoulet
   High: Team sold to Nelson Doubleday and Fred Wilpon
   High: Rusty Staub signs as a free agent
   Low: Frank Cashen retains Joe Torre as manager
   Low: Claudell Washington and Dave Kingman sign as free agents elsewhere
   Low: acquire Ellis Valentine
   High: acquire Keith Hernandez
   High: acquire Ron Darling
   High: draft Dwight Gooden
   Low: acquire George Foster
   High: acquire Howard Johnson, Gary Carter, and Sid Fernandez
   Low: Ray Knight signs as a free agent elsewhere; trade Kevin Mitchell
   Low: trade Lenny Dykstra, Roger McDowell, and Mookie Wilson
   High & Low: acquire Bob Ojeda (bad only because of hedge trimmer finger incident and future boating accident with Cleveland)
   Low: Darryl Strawberry signs as free agent elsewhere
   Low: acquire Vince Coleman
   Low: acquire Bobby Bonilla
   High: bring in Bobby Valentine as manager
   High: acquire John Olerud
   High: acquire Mike Piazza
   
   The author states on the back cover that "I know I have only scrached the surface of the Mets' transactions." I'm sure Mets fans out there will agree that there are a lot more deals that should have made this book.

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