5 comments about Beating the Casinos at Their Own Game : A Strategic Approach to Winning at Craps, Roulette, Slots, Blackjack, Baccarat, Let It Ride, and Caribbean Stud Poker.

1. Beating The Casinos At Their Own Game is a book you should consider if you'd like some help playing at the casinos. It's a well, written and nicely illustrated 278-page gambling guide with instructions for most of the games you'll find at any casino. The author, Peter Svoboda, knows his math because he has the credentials: a degree in both mechanical and civil engineering.

   You'll find casino basics in chapters 1 and 2 including some history, odds of winning and losing, what the casinos do to get you there, the house advantage, advice on managing your money and when to quit. And if you have a gambling problem, Peter will direct you to the right place. Chapters 3 through 13 list rules of the ten most popular casino games, with playing strategies and some betting systems you can try. The illustrations will help you learn the games and the math listed will explain the odds and probabilities of winning.

   Peter includes some known strategies for Craps, Roulette and Baccarat. So, if you're inexperienced at any of these games, you can take an expert with you to the casino. Peter also presents some of his own winning systems.

   If you've never been to a casino, but think you might want to try some of the games offered, I'd recommend studying this book before you enter. It has all the basic playing information you'll need to improve your chances of winning...




2. This is the first review I have written on Amazon. I felt compelled to write this to keep unsuspecting people from purchasing this book. I do not know the author, I am not an author, and I have no interests in whether this book does well or not. I am simply giving my opinion.

   Simply put, my problem with this book is that it is full of incorrect statements and poor advice which completely ignores probability theory. For example, on roulette, Mr. Svoboda actually says, "The house will always have a 5.26% edge, but you can increase your winning probabilities by playing it smart." What?!? When I read that, I knew he had a very weak grasp of probability theory. It is impossible to change the odds in roulette; they are fixed. You are always at a 5.26% disadvantage, no matter what your betting strategy is. Period. I suggest you run away from any book that asserts otherwise.

   The surprising thing is that in several parts of the book, Mr. Svoboda agrees that the casino has an advantage over the player in the long run. However, to overcome this, he recommends that players play in the short run! I couldn't believe that an engineer, and someone who supposedly understands mathematics and probability, would actually write such completely incorrect information. True, in the short run you may win, but odds are that you will lose. The percentage disadvantage you face does not change.

   Over and over, Mr. Svoboda asserts that his strategies increase your chances of winning. How can you increase your chances of winning if the odds against you are fixed? For example, after several pages of detailed and complex tables and charts, Mr. Svoboda admits that his craps betting strategy gives the house a 2% advantage. Yet he still advocates following his strategy, saying that you just need to know when to walk away when ahead. What he fails to mention is that you will be behind more often than you will be ahead.

   In games of chance and independent trials (such as craps, roulette and keno, to name a few), the house has a fixed percentage advantage over the player. This is a proven mathematical fact. There are no betting systems or strategies whish can change this percentage advantage. The only thing a player may do is bet slowly and bet the minimums in order to decrease the rate at which he loses. Gambling at these types of games should be viewed as paying for entertainment, not investing, as Mr. Svoboda suggests.

   Casinos love people with systems. Why do you think companies choose to spend $1 billion to build a new casino? Because they know that system betters will come in and lose more than that. Casinos exist because they make money for their owners. I had thought that with the advanced level of gaming theory available today, that books which advocated incorrect probability theory would become a thing of the past. Then I read Mr. Svoboda's book and realized I was wrong.

   On the plus side, the book does clearly state the rules of the games and the odds of winning. It has very pretty and colorful charts and tables. As a rule book, it is very good. However, as a strategy guide, you are much better off ignoring this book. Mr. Svoboda's assertion that "this book will help you learn how to level the playing field...and gain a return on your investment" is false. This book does not tell you how to even the odds against the house. The only return on investment you will get by following the advice in this book is negative.




3. I browsed through this book at the local bookstore. All I can say is don't take any pointers from this guy. He says before placing bets on "any craps", you should wait until the die hasn't produced craps for atleast 18 rolls???? He says after this the probability of any craps showing is 88 %. What is this all about? The truth is the odds of rolling craps is the same (11 %) regardless of how many times it's been rolled in the past. If you already own this book, I suggest you take your loss and throw it away.



4. Once I picked up this book I knew immediately I would breeze through the explainations easily. The text was well done and very readable = the charts, graphs and diagrams all came at the right time. The tid-bits about Mr Svoboda's experiences were fun to read, But.. most of all I was able to acquire a grounded knowledge of how to approach the games at any casino! Can't wait for the next book to come out from Mt Svoboda!! His knowledge and skills at communicating the nuances and the details of each game were very evident! Fun and easy lessons!!



5. I bought this book before heading to Vegas mainly because I wanted to brush up on the rules of blackjack. I was only going to have 4 hours there so i didn't want to waste any time getting ready to play. I found the second chapter and other sections that describe how things work in casinos (where to get your chips, what hand signals to give the dealer, etc) useful in keeping me from wasting time when i got there. The rest of it was worth reading to learn the rules of the games and to get me thinking about probabilities.

   Unfortunately, the logic's not always there and sometimes the data are wrong.

   Some examples:

   In the roulette section, he recommends that if you are going to bet on a single number, you should pick one that hasn't shown up in the past 20 spins. This, after explaining how a lot of people keep gambling on the faulty premise that if something hasn't happened in a while, it's likely to happen, and after describing bias in roulette tables, which would make a number more likely to re-appear if it HAS appeared multiple times before.

   In the blackjack section, I re-calculated the probabilities for each of the tables that he has in there, and while most of his numbers are right, some of them are off by as much as 5%. True, my numbers could be wrong, but since i wrote a computer program to do it (meaning that it did it consistently for each test), why would it be right for all but one value in the table? More likely, they are hand-copying or editing errors.

   I wrote software (yes, i'm a geek) to play the game, implemented his suggestions one by one, and played 100,000 hands with each to see what kind of improvement each one made. The fact is, if you play your hand just like the dealer (hold at 17+, hit below), you will win 48% of the time, lose 43% of the time, and push 9% of the time. If you implement all of his strategies, you will win 48% of the time, lose 43% of the time, and push 9% of the time (yup! exactly the same!). What's important turns out not to be how you play the game (in most of the strategies, you are trading busts for losing hands and vice versa), but how you BET. Using his doubling and splitting strategies lets you hang on to your money much longer before going broke (sometimes twice as long). In the blackjack section, he doesn't spend much time talking about betting.

   Lastly, and this applies to blackjack again, he claims that the casino's main advantage in blackjack lies in the fact that "the players must choose before the dealer whether or not to draw more cards." While it's true that you could play a lot better if you could see the dealer's cards, that is not what gives the casino the advantage. Remember, the dealer is basically a human machine -- it hits at < 17, holds at 17+. The dealer does not have the benefit of seeing EITHER of your cards, so that can't be the advantage. The casino's real advantage is that the player has one more losing condition than the dealer has. That condition occurs when both the dealer and the player bust. Other than that, if the player played exactly like the dealer, they would both do exactly the same. You cannot overcome this handicap. If you play conservatively such that you do not bust (which is where most of Svoboda's recommendations lead you), the percentage of hands you lose because the dealer has more points than you will go up.

   That's about it for now. Just wait till I read the other chapters, though!

No comments about Essential Poker.

1 comments about Gambling Times Guide to Blackjack.

1. The author Stanley Roberts calls himself the Blackjack Guru of the 80's. gu·ru ( A teacher and guide in spiritual and philosophical matters. A trusted counselor and adviser; a mentor. A recognized leader in a field: the guru of high finance. An acknowledged and influential advocate, as of a movement or idea: This description is totally accurate. A contemporary and a contributor to the founding fathers of Blackjack. Stanley Roberts writes to the beginning Blackjack Player and shows them how to advance through the levels of play needed to become an expert Player. Stanley does this with a minimum of "hype" for any particular system which is so evident in many other Blackjack books. Stanley starts with the development of Blackjack theory and methodology for beating the game. He expalains about the affect of casino rules on the house advantage over the player using noted author Lance Humble as his expert. Stanley explains the use of Basic Strategy as well as any other author. He even goes on with the help of Julian Braun to give the extremely rare and vital information on Double Exposure and Home Game basic strategy. Arnold "the Bishop" Snyder contributes a chapter on the casino conditions and other topics. Jerry Patterson contributes a chapter on a topic that became the next area of attack against the casino, the order of the cards and how it is affected by the shuffle procedure. After all the mathematics of the strategy and count systems had been developed then teams came into play. Ken Uston writes two of the most interesting chapters on team play and getting Barred. All areas of play are discussed including cheating, bankroll management and a plan for progressing up the ranks to an advanced player. This is a terrific for a beginner. There is no advanced strategy for Sale. But, it is written by a true visionary in the gaming world at a time when Blackjack was a Main course on the casino platter.

1 comments about Texas Hold'em Lift-a-Flap: 2008 Day-to-Day Calendar (Lift-A-Flap Calendar).

1. Nice and sturdy box with magnetic flap holds all calendar pages. Bought as a gift so I haven't played myself but it looks like good fun for the next 365 days!

5 comments about Blackjack: The Real Deal.

1. Blackjack: The Real Deal is right on the money! Its basic strategy section increased my understanding of the game and brought my winnings up an average of 30%. J. Phillip Vogel's style is easy to read, straight forward, logical and based on statistical facts, not luck or superstition. (Mathematics don't lie.) What's more, he covers casino etiquette, money management and other handy tips. I think quite a few gamblers could use this book, whether or not THEY think so. I see he is also coming out with a craps book that, personally, I can't wait to read!



2. The review by Booklist--a very respected source of book reviews--caused me to buy and read Blackjack: the Real Deal. Relatively new at the game and wanting to improve my chances to win, I was impressed by the information in this book. Now I'm on my way to Vegas and to try out my new skills. I recommend this very logical and readable book to anyone interested in improving their game !



3. Blackjack:The Real Deal was by far the most informative and logical black jack book I have purchased. I've been going to Atlantic City for some time now, and I have never won so often in my life. I've read many other books on this game and this was the only book that was written in a way that I found easy to understand, and, beyond a shadow of a doubt, WORKS!! J. Phillip Vogel goes into such topics as casino etiquette, betting stratogies, and easy to read charts telling you when to take a card, split your cards, and so on. Since I have read this book, my winnings have increased by at least 45%. My recommendation would be to defanitely buy this book, read it, and be ready to "WIN"!!!



4. I enjoy reading about gambling almost as much as I like playing it, and I have found Vogel's work to be an excellent source for any player, especially a novice. His basic strategy methods are right on the money when you compare them to every recognized strategy, any he even includes a basic section on card-counting which is important for beginner players. Some of his discussions on trends and probability will probably confuse some players who are less-than-mensa material, but he tries somewhat successfully to make them read easy.

   The basic breakdown of the book is a separation into what he terms "The Successful Six" which is generally a breakdown of the six most important weapons in a gambler's arsenal: proper bankroll, knowledge of the game, self-control, strategy, understanding probability, and patience. All of this information is highly useful, and it is presented in a thorough, enjoyable manner.

   As a semi-professional gambler myself, I would recommend this book to any gambler, and call it essential reading to any novice.




5. This is the only blackjack book needed. J. Phillip Vogel covers everything needed in order to beat the casino. He includes basic strategies, easy to read charts and even card counting. No gambler should play without reading this first.

5 comments about Big Slick.

1. 
   Awesome read -- Eric Luper has stacked the deck with all the cards you need for a thriller of a page-turner. I loved riding alongside sixteen-year-old Andrew as he dug his way out of a mess caused by his high stakes poker habit and "borrowing'" of cash from Dad's laundry business. Andrew is clever, honest, vulnerable and risky, all at the same time. Love interest Jasmine breaks the typical Goth Girl mold -- we get why Andrew is drawn to her sensitive soul. Andrew's buddy Scott is as quirky as they come (I dare you not to laugh about where he ends up!) And other poker playing characters are as salty as a can of mixed nuts. You gotta love these names: Shushie, Flying Squirrel, Bourbon, Lampost and Cleavage. But my favorite supporting character is Andrew's little brother. What's sweeter than a kid named Rooster?
   
   If you love watching the fast paced action of poker on cable TV,
   read this book.
   If you're a sucker for sweet & salty tales that pull LOTS of punches,
   read this book.
   
   And finally,
   if you're into poker, girls and vintage Chevy Chevelles, then go buy BIG SLICK faster than you can say No Limit Hold `Em!



2. This book had me laughing out loud, smacking my forehead in dismay, and shouting "Don't do it!" as I watched the protagonist, Andrew, dig himself deeper and deeper into a hole. It was a total blast of a read, one of those wonderful I-can't-put-this-down books that you hope will never end.



3. This book has many sexual references that are inappropriate for teens in it. I would not recommend this book unless you want your children to have better ideas of how to become sexually active. I couldn't get past chapter 2's details of "Ribbed For Her Pleasure" condom reference. I teach English and this would certainly not be appropriate as an independent novel.



4. BIG SLICK is a fast-paced and fun read but don't let that blind you to some of the great themes lurking beneath the surface about relationships with our parents (and between our parents--and that "knowingness" that we come into as teens where we begin seeing our folks as real, flawed people instead of just "Mom and Dad"), the value of real friendship, and the joy and pain of first love. I have to commend the author for capturing, spot-on, the sometimes wacky decision-making rationale that teens use, and how, sometimes, we just have to move ourselves through those decisions--and the outcomes--to get to the other side and gain some much-needed insight (which is true for both teens AND adults). Thanks for a great read!



5. 
   In poker terms, a big slick is when you start a hand of Texas Hold 'em with an Ace and a King showing. It's a strong starting hand, but in the case of main character Andrew Lang, things fall apart quickly. Lang is a boy genius of sorts -- the youngest player at Shushie's underground poker club, and he has a knack for the game. But he borrowed money from his dad's dry cleaning business to enter a tournament and digs himself deeper and deeper in trouble with every page. Add to that mix some family tension, a really cute little brother, a loyal best friend, and a hot goth girl who works with Andrew at Dad's dry cleaning business, and you have a seriously compelling plot.
   
   This is a book that teenaged boys -- and girls, since there's a cool, strong female character, too -- will love. It's not one of those YA novels that you'll want to share with most middle school kids, though. The language is intense sometimes, and there's a pretty steamy romance scene. It's definitely more of a high school title -- and a perfect one for reluctant readers at that age.
   
   Even though I'm not a poker player, I loved this book. Probably because it isn't really just about poker after all. When all the cards are turned, Big Slick is a fast-moving, gutsy novel about finding your way in the world, making mistakes, and making good.

5 comments about The Complete Book Of Blackjack: A Comprehensive Guide to Winning Strategies.

1. I would consider myself a better than average card player, and I can play blackjack pretty well. But I have never looked at the formal mathematics or strategies involved in playing blackjack, *to win*.

   This book covers "BS", the Basic Strategy, in itself enough to improve your game. Once you master this topic (you are dealt an A,7 and the dealer has a 3, what do you do?), the author introduces more and more advanced topics to continually improve you chances of winning (or rather remove the advantage the casinos already have, i.e. your chances of losing)

   These advanced topics include several different methods of counting cards (take your pick), ranging your bet based on the count, and then finally using MBS, or "Modified Basic Strategy", complete with a whole new set of tables to master, oh my!

   This book provided me exactly the information I wanted to become a better player, namely the BS strategy table, methods for counting cards, and sound reasoning to back it up. As a bonus, the author continually stresses how to reduce the chances of getting wiped out, and in general I think provides some good tips to keep in mind when gambling.




2. I've got to declare my bias up front... I'm the author's son, *but* I am also a computer programmer -- *the* computer programmer that wrote the simulation programs used by T.J. Reynolds in his research, in fact.

   I knew very little about the game before I became responsible for replicating its play electronically and assisting in the proof-reading...

   I used the amalgamated systems to win enough to pay for my honeymoon cruise through the Carribean, and still had enough left over to buy a *very* nice watch!

   The best thing about the book, in my opinion, is how the author explains the rationale behind every element of the Basic Strategy as well as the more complex topics in a straight forward manner that seems to assist in remembering them.

   I also appreciate the section that debunks the common Myths of Blackjack, and shatters the superstitions that are the most common causes of ruin among amateurs -- once again he pulls no punches about the statistics while wording the explainations in a way that is accessible to those of us who are crappy at Math...

   With this book -- which is a fusion of all the most noted works on the game of BlackJack published this century -- you don't need to buy any of the originals by Thorpe, Wong, Uston, etc. -- It's all inside reduced to the essential concepts without any of the peripheral dissertations that would only be of interest to Statisticians.

   If you can only afford to buy or travel with one book, THIS IS THE ONE!




3. I bought this book because I was going on vacation to a destination with a casino, and although I'm hardly an avid gambler, I thought I'd spend some time playing blackjack. But this time, I wanted to make sure I knew what I was doing, because I was tired of simply showing up at a table with a pocketful of hope.

   I was aware that there were basic systems around for amateurs that purported to even out the casino's edge in blackjack, but to be honest, I'd never taken the time to read about them or learn one. If I ever knew all the right plays, like when to hit, stand, split or double in every conceivable situation, I had long ago forgotten the rules. For example, do you hit a 16 when the dealer has a 7 showing?

   Enter "Professor" Reynolds with The Complete Book of Blackjack. I call him Professor because I never would have imagined a more literate, humane, or succinctly instructive treatment of a subject like this. If you ever decide to play blackjack, the section on the "Basic Strategy (BS)" will repay you many times over. In this unit, you learn the cold, hard mathematically validated rules on when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em, reinforced with practical exercises and drills. There's an immensely readable chapter on myths of blackjack, all debunked with the same matter-of-fact, analytically based style. I didn't have time to absorb info on money management techniques and the real payoff that comes from counting systems, but the Professor assured me that I could hold my own with the basic strategy, so I decided to give it a try.

   After three days of occasionally studying the tables and quizzing myself until I had BS memorized, I summoned up the courage to enter the casino, despite the fact that the book prudently warned me to practice at home or on the computer first. It's an entirely different game when you know the statistically right thing to do in every situation: violent emotions of hope and despair are replaced with relative calm and dispassionate observation. Don't get me wrong: this system doesn't guarantee that you will win every time out or get rich quick. It just insures you won't make a decision that concedes the advantage to the house.

   So what happened? I played for two hours the first night and won $85 betting $5 a hand. I played for 45 minutes the next day with the same betting routine and won $75. Unfortunately Professor Reynolds can't accompany you and swat you in the head when it's time to get up from the table-you have to do that for yourself, although he offers advice on how to quit when you're ahead. Cost of book: $12 plus shipping. Return: $160. Not bad for openers.

   I'm sure there are plenty of other books that offer similar systems and probably even more depth, but this a terrific primer for someone who doesn't want to devote his life to the subject. Thanks, Professor!




4. I've played blackjack using the widely-available "basic strategy" for over 20 years. I love the game; but I just don't get to play as often as I'd like - MAYBE three times a year. Of course, each time I have to re-learn the basic strategy on the flight to Las Vegas. I've read a lot of books on the subject and I'm writing this review to tell you (it's actually the first review I've ever submitted to Amazon.com) that you needn't clutter up your bookcase as I have with any other blackjack books once you've read The Complete Book of Blackjack.
   
   It covers everything you need to know about how play the game and the nuances of actual casino play. It's not deeply mathematical; but I have gained a better understanding of the game and have actually adapted my own counting system based on the information in the book. I've learned to subtly range my bets and have taken the time to learn some of the Modified Basic Strategy which is clearly laid out in the text. I have not returned from a blackjack trip a loser...and the strategies and methods in this book will allow you to really take control of your blackjack experience - helping you understand when the risks are high or low, and how to take advantage when conditions are favorable...
   
   This really is the "complete book" of blackjack - and it is absolutely "usable" in that it is written in a straightforward and engaging style.
   
   There is no substitute for actual casino experience; we all have to make our own stupid mistakes. But if you take the advice and information in this book and apply it diligently, you will enjoy your time at the table and the success it will bring.



5. I am a psychologist and successful low level card counter. When I switched from Hi-opt I to the High-Low count I got Reynolds book first. I subsequently read all the classics et al and used other counts at times but this is absolutely the most underrated book in blackjack. Some of the index numbers are slightly different from Wong at times but Wong's research found that minor index differences aren't a big deal. The book is just a joy to read. Its really too bad that others have not noticed what is probably a Magnum Opus by Reynolds as it is probably the most sound, fun and useful entry to High-low count out there. I love the 101 tips in the back of the book. Excellent advice that I still use. I have made this same claim repeatedly on BJ21 a few years back. Read the other books later. Congratulations, Mr. Reynolds...yours is the most underrated book in the whole realm.

1 comments about Expert strategy for Let it Ride.

1. I have played using the information that the late Mr. Frome wrote and I found it to be very beneficial! I watched people at a Casino play the game and lose alot of money. By using the information in the book, I was able to take $100 and turn it into $1000 in 20 minutes.

   Mr. Frome was the person that had completely calculated the game and the house "edge" so that the Nevada Gaming Comission could allow it to be played in its' Casinos.

   The information is invaluable! I recommend this book to anyone that has watched the game and was unsure if they should play it or those that play the game and want to win more!

5 comments about Stone Cold.

1. Stone Cold by Robert Swindells

   Stone Cold deals with frighteningly realistic social issues in a sympathetic and understandable manner. It follows the story of Link, a runaway teenager, as he learns to cope with life on the streets in London. The reader is shown Link's progress from a naïve schoolboy to a streetwise kid. Somewhat unusually, Swindells chooses to unveil his plot through two narrators: Link and Shelter, a format which certainly increases the tension.




2. stone cold is right he sure knocked me out when i purchased his book



3. Sixteen-year old Dennis Doyle is learning about an important tool of independence - money. Like many young people, his first job is mowing lawns. He's good at his job, and keeps track of his profits down to the last cent. He learns that money can give him some control in his life, which is something he's been looking for since his dad left him and his mom.

   We get to know Denn Doyle so well very early in "Stone Cold", especially since the book is in first person through Denn's perspective. Pete Hautman does such a good job portraying the stage of life Denn is in - somewhere between child and adult, and we can't help but laugh with Denn, and really like him.

   Denn's newfound interest in money and the control it gives him leads him down a path we readers know he shouldn't go down, but can't help but wonder if we would take the same path if in his shoes.

   It starts with a simple card game, but Denn wins, and he's hooked. He plays more and more, dreams about and studies poker, and we readers experience Denn's addiction, his obsession, and what it does to his life, and his youth.

   Before we know what's happened, Denn Doyle has left childhood far behind, and we get quite a hint at what adulthood has in store for him.

   "Stone Cold" is such a moving depiction of adolescence and addiction, and though I must admit it saddened me, it also had me laughing out loud more often than most books I've read. It's a good one - for both young adults and adults.




4. This was a great book that just shows you how gambling can ruin your life even if you're good at it and win. It can especially ruin your life if you lose. I think it touhgt a good lesson to my son that gambling is bad. I would greatly recommend it.

   Definitely 5 Stars!!!




5. The book I read was called Stone Cold, By Pete Hautman. I liked this book and I think it would be a great book for anyone who likes poker. The book is about a teenager named Denn Doyle who is about sixteen years old, who plays poker and finds out that he loves it. He is just and ordinary kid who does lawn work and loves money. One day he is doing lawn work when a kid he knows asks him if he wanted to come over later and play poker and Denn says why not. When he starts playing he relizes he is good and he loves how much money he gets and how quick he gets it. Soon he quits doing lawn work and gets addicted to poker. Soon nothing else is important to him and his friends and family start to drift away from him. This book didn't have pictures but the author was so good that the pictures you imagine are better. This book also had a good cover. Anyone who likes poker would have taken this book if they saw the cover. The cover has a kid on the front with a stack of poker chips and cards in front of him. I liked this book because when the author wrote is was like you were in the book.

1 comments about Nick The Greek: World's Greatest Poker Player and Gambler.

1. I purchased this book already knowing most of the biographical information about Nick the Greek. I was really hoping it would have a few interesting stories surrounding the life of the century's greatest gambler. Instead, I got a poorly written book that took famous quotes out of context and then fictionalized a "cleaned-up" story around them. Not only was the writing style painful to read, it took events out of context, attributed sayings to Nick that were actually said by other people, and had no sourcing or original interviews/insights from people who actually knew the subject. The entire book is done as a "fictional" story, but with the details cleaned up to the point that I had to check and make sure it wasn't a "young teen" book, rather than one for an adult. If you like Nick the Greek, don't buy this book.