1 comments about Craps: To play like a pro learn from a pro.

1. You'd never guess from looking at this book that it's one of the all-time classics of craps advice. Hey, if you want to play from a pro, you gott LOIN from a pro! Reading this book is like learning how to play craps from a guy who's been standing at a craps table in downtown Las Vegas for the last fifty years without a break. This book is the foundation of my craps library. Highly recomended.

1 comments about Craps Strategy: How to Play to Win at Casino Craps.

1. This book did help me understand all of the different bets you can make at the Craps Table. However, after stating you could reduce the house odds to less than one half of one percent, the book recommends 20+ strategies without ever identifying a strategy which would help you play at the lowest possible house odds.

5 comments about John Patrick's Craps: So You Wanna Be a Gambler'.

1. John Patrick's gambling strategy espouses a risk averse philosophy that does little to help the player in the long run. For example, he advocates placing the any craps bet to hedge the pass line wager. Any "gambling expert" can tell you that hedging does not work. Furthermore, the house edge on the any craps bet is over 11%!
   Another problem with his book is the "big four". First of all, money management "systems" have no effect on the long term winnings of the player. No matter what "system" the player uses, his/her winnings will fall on a curve dictated by the expectation of the game being played. According to Patrick, however, they are a cardinal rule to gambling success. Lastly, trends can only be seen in hindsight. If you are interested in learning craps, buy another book.



2. None of the previous reviewers have mentioned the most important thing about this book: the Patrick System. This method of playing craps, which he explains about two thirds of the way through the book (and which begins with the brilliant move of betting both the "Pass Line" AND "Don't Pass" at the same time!!) gives the bettor the lowest vig (best odds) against the house of any system I know...



3. John Patrick forgot more about the game of craps than most of us know. This book will make you a stronger player no matter what your level may be. His advice is invaluable to all gamblers but especially to the non-professional craps player. Even if you've been playing the game for fifty years, you will benefit from the no nonsense common sense observations here. This book will more than pay for itself immediately on your next visit to a casino. It takes you from a kindergarten to a Ph.D. level. The novice can become an excellent player from this one book. Buy it. You'll be sorry if you don't.



4. ...I'm somewhat at a loss as to why John Patrick's books are so popular. To be perfectly honest, I've purchased many of his books, including this one, his book on Advanced Craps, his book on Roulette, just to name a few.
   
   All of his books are basically the same - he presents the reader with the admonishment that discipline is the key to consistent winnings in the casinos. And then he lays out various money management strategies which are really just betting strategies based on progressing pressing one's bets as one is winning.
   
   The problem is...well, with the exception of Blackjack, all of the games for which he writes books have a negative expectation for the player. In layman's terms, no betting strategy will result in a long term win - the only thing these betting strategies will do is alter one's bankroll fluctuations.
   
   To be fair, I found his Craps book to be entertaining and I have used one of his strategies (which can basically be summed up as play the pass line, take the odds, place the 6/8) but I did so not because of any expectation of winning in the long run, but for entertainment (Craps is, admittedly, one of the most entertaining games in the casinos).
   
   I'm somewhat at a loss as to why John Patrick's books seem to sell so well. They all really just present the same "information" (his admonishment for players to be disciplined and his betting strategies) for games in which players really have no chance of netting a long term win. To make matters worse, his Blackjack book contains errors in its basic strategy tables. Speaking of Blackjack, there is a wealth of good information out there on this game by authors such as Arnold Snyder and others which present good, solid counting strategies which can yield a player a long term expectation. There is also a winning method for roulette published by Laurence Scott. However, all these methods require the player to actually put forth some sort of real effort (Laurence Scott's method alone made me want to puke when I thought of the effort required to put it into practice) rather than relying on a mindless betting progression. I guess there's a message in there somewhere.



5. At the very premiere location on John Patrick's website is this testimonial....
   
   =======================
   "Last night I walked away from the casino having turned a $1000.00 bankroll into $8381.00. I'm glad I learned about the WIN GOALS and LOSS LIMITS or I would have blown my $1000 on a few games and tables. Tomorrow, I will do it all over again. I don't ALWAYS turn such a huge profit but I always turn SOME PROFIT each day of gambling under your system. I have even applied your system further than you mention. I am lucky enough to live in a location with a big choice of casinos. If a CASINO is cold for me, I've learned to apply the DISCIPLINE enough to leave that casino and enter another. I've expanded your suggestions beyond just switching TABLES.
   
   I now sometimes think about how the casinos can take such big loses daily from me and I realize that the players who aren't using your system are the ones who are supplying the casinos with the money for my wins. I suggest every player get your books, tapes and NOW DVDs! The only worry I have is that if too many people know your strategies of gambling success, the casinos would soon go out of business because of all the people taking payouts instead of paying loses.
   
   I used to think that your books, tapes, and NOW DVDS were expensive. I now wonder, what was I thinking? I challenge anyone to find an investment that pays off even 1 percent of what the JOHN PATRICK SYSTEM did for me!"
   
   Mick Schofield
   ==========================
   
   It is total BS. I know for a fact. I wrote it.
   
   I was at his message board and a lot of people were posting negative things about JP which were all being deleted seconds later, including my own.
   
   I then decided to write the outrageous nonsense you see above. Not only was it not deleted, it was elevated to the absolute most premiere area of the site.
   
   I have confronted JP on this many times about him knowingly posting a false story. He knows the testimonial is bologna but he refuses to take it down.
   
   From what I've seen of his products, his central advice is to change tables when you are on a losing streak, the DISCIPLINE he keeps harping on.
   
   His self testimonial "I may not win much but I don't lose much either". This is the most positive thing I have ever heard him say in reference to his own track record.
   
   Not really much of an endorsement if you ask me.
   
   Seriously, I would bet with no fear of losing, that JP's record is of a slow gradual losing of money. Sometimes up for a while, usually down. The overall situation a constant descent.
   
   I don't know how he got so well known to be able to write and sell his useless products but that is his true winfall.

1 comments about Beat The Craps Table!.

1. This book covers the basics to help you understand the layout, the odds, and the flow of a game of craps. However, I feel that it falls short of other books I have read when it comes to exploring various styles or systems of play. For that, I would recommend John Patrick's books on Craps.
   
   I consider this a 3 star book except for one thing. Chapter 9 (if I remember right) has an excellent chart of odds for the various bets/payoffs around the table. It brings it all together in one easy-to-understand chart. I gave an extra star for that chart gathering up all the information for me in one place.
   
   It's not a bad book. I just don't feel it gave me any new insights to the game.

No comments about How to Win at the Casino: Baccara Black Jack Craps Poker Punto Banco Roulette Slots.

No comments about An Ex-Con's Guide to Living and Winning...at Slots, Blackjack, Roulette and Craps!.

No comments about Casino gambling: Winning techniques for craps, roulette, baccarat & blackjack.

4 comments about Casino Craps For The Winner, 5th Edition.

1. Gives a simple method of playing based on mathematical explanation of odds.



2. This book is fine for the beginning dice roller, but not for those who already have some knowledge about craps. The book has a VERY GOOD discussion of the basic rules of the game, odds and the different payouts. I like the chapters on special allowance for both right and wrong betters. I still use the book to refresh my memory sometimes. Other than that, however, the playing systems are nothing great. Pass or Don't Pass with odds. Nothing new here, but a good book for those just starting out in the game of craps.



3. The text and elaboration on the rules of the game are great for the beginner. The "winner" part, I'm not sure of. I would investigate other books for strategy advice on craps, though I cannot advise which ones.

   If you've never played before, this one is good.




4. I was preparing for a trip to Vegas and wanted to try something else besides blackjack.
   
   This was just the book I needed. Craps is really not that difficult once you know what's going on at the table, and, as this book will tell you, you don't even need to understand all of it. Most bets on the table are sucker's bets. The odds are stacked in the house's favor. Stick to the bets outlined earlier in this book.
   
   The early chapters explain the layout and rules of the table. The author goes on to explain what the odds are versus what the bets pay, which gives you the house advantages.
   
   The system described in this book is more of a money management plan. Bet smart, and know that the house will always have some advantage, even if it's only 0.09%. In the long term you're going to lose. Manage your cash, have a ton of fun at the table cheering and letting the dice fly, while being served free drinks. Maybe you'll walk away with more in chips than you showed up with in cash. I did.
   
   You'll have fun playing craps after reading this book. Just remember to ignore anyone, including the author of this book, who will lead you to believe over the long term you'll emerge a winner.

5 comments about So You Wanna Be a Gambler: Advanced Craps.

1. I bought 6 books to better improve my craps game. This was the best book purchased. It's around 500 pages, and offers the most insight into all aspects of playing craps. This is an Advanced book though and if you're new to craps, get a more basic book to start. Be warned that Patrick uses sarcastic anecdotes, but the wit is meant to drive home his key points. Also recommended, "Craps: The Real Deal" by Vogel and Edell's "How to Make Your Living Playing Craps."



2. This terrific book is really 600 pages of good, solid advice - everything you always wanted to know about craps! You'll learn over 50 different super systems and John Patrick REALLY drills them into you in his "unique" style (he kind of yells at you a little). But at least you'll remember stuff like I did. Don't be put off by his style - he does it for a reason - he's really trying to help. READ THIS BOOK it may take a while but it's the best book you'll ever read on the game of craps!



3. This is by far the best book ever written on craps. Patrick's style of writing is easy to read and very often entertaining. He gives detailed examples of different systems to use at the table. He not only describes the proper moves to make but also explains the reasoning behind each bet. Patrick briefly talks about the different bets available to a craps players and then jumps right into an analysis of the game. His style involves careful money management and a powerful regression move. By reducing your bet after a win, you lock up a profit and guarantee yourself a winner. Using Patrick's techniques for both right and wrong betting, you'll become a better player. Will you win all the time? Of course not, no system can guarantee you a winner everytime. But at those times when you do lose, Patrick's money management helps you keep the losses down. If you're looking for the big score, this book isn't for you. Advanced Craps is for the conservative player, looking to grind out small consistent wins. If you wanna win more money, bet more! Patrick's book has tought me the three most important words in craps -- Take Me Down. I highly recommend this book.



4. This book has many,many strategies to play craps, a down to earth book for people who are not greedy,he shows mostly conservative way to play.



5. things u didnt know about the game within the game of craps....this book will really help u win!

3 comments about Commando Craps & Blackjack!.

1. The first thing I need to say about this book is that it is an update of Gollehon's " Pay the Line". This information doesn't appear in the blurbs for either book on Amazon. Having pointed that out I can say that this is an excellent book for serious gamblers. The advice is difficult to put into practice, particularly for newer players. Does anyone really think that parking your butt at a craps table for eight straight hours is a formula for success? People do it all the time. Does anyone really think that the casinos beg you to take comps and insist on giving you rfb because its to your best interest? Everyone takes comps. So its difficult to be disciplined when it comes to gambling and visiting Vegas, but if you want to have a chance of winning you must practice what Gollehon preaches.



2. I have gambled in Vegas for 30 years, and read many a book from alleged experts. Save your money on this book. About the only advice this book gives that is worth anything is to bet more when winning. Otherwise, only very green beginners will find anything of worth in this book. I gave it one star because it has a great title. But, that's about all it has.



3. 'Commando Craps & Blackjack!' by John Gollehon is a good book in that some of the basic "rules" (or disciplines as Gollehon calls them) of gambling (bide your time, start small and work your way up, avoid greed, set a predetermined 'loss' limit, small wins are still wins, etc...) are sound advice for any gambler. However, in explaining the rules of craps, this book falls short in my opinion. The advise seems pretty elementary (play the passline, play the odds, play the come line, etc...), but doesn't explain everything an inexperienced player needs to know about the game. Gollehon glosses over the prop bets (mentioning only the Hardways and then actually contradicts himself.) No mention of horn bets, C&Es, any sevens.
   
   For blackjack, the advise is really standard advise. Just type 'blackjack strategy chart' on Google and print yourself out a chart. There. You're done. You have the 'optimum' strategy for blackjack (and you can take it into the casino with you).
   
   I would say that one should read the 1st half for the disciplines and basic gambling philosophies and then read a more detailed book for a greater understanding of the rules of blackjack and craps.