No comments about Pai gow poker Tommy's way.

No comments about An encyclopedia of draw poker, (An Exposition banner book).

5 comments about Cards.

1. I entered a world I'd never seen when I opened this book. A trip I'm glad I took. Fun to read.



2. All my life through school, I never read books for subjects or anything like that. Though the past 2 years, I started ready poker books for strategy and other ideas of the game. But then I saw someone say something about a book called, "CARDS" and I thought i would buy to see. I wasnt even sure what is was about. I didnt even know it was a novel. When I recieved it, i saw that is was a novel and sat it down for a couple of days. Then one day, I opened it just to see what is was like. Right then, the book great control of me and I was very very hooked. I really upset because I was wanting more. I highlt recommend this book for people who love holdem and to see a young person succeed then fall. It is my #1 book to have ever read. I hope Mr. Maxwell will continue with these books and hopefully a movie will be made!



3. This book is the "Catcher in the Rye" of poker if you will, with most of the book narrated by the hero, Mike the poker player. It is funny, gritty, and if you've played poker seriously, you'll surely be able to relate to both the fortunes and misfortunes that Mike encounters on the felt.
   
   The only negative and this is a slight one, is the book could have used a bit more editing.



4. If you're looking for a safe, politically correct poker novel, stay far away from this, because it's raw, real, no apologies. It seems the author didn't try to please his readers, instead, he wrote what he wanted, and out came easilly the best poker novel to date, probably ever. Strong and defiant.



5. Two things you should know. First off, I personally know the author but I didn't know I knew him until after reading the book. Second of all, I go to the casino he's referring to, which is actually called Hollywood Park, all the time. Third, I was a "professional" poker player for almost a year in the exact same footsteps as this man. Ok, now the review. This is easily the most unapologetic, entertaining and real poker book of all time. Why you connect so much with this character is because he's not only telling you what's going on, but tells you what he's "thinking" about what's going on. It creates a personal feel, as if he's truly letting you into his pshyche. As far as the tactical approach to the game and his opinions on how to play certain hands, I don't completely agree with but it does provide a different approach. The truth is that the hand descriptions and ways of playing those particular hands are fairly accurate but not entirely. Anyhow, overall this is a book that any poker player is going to love and as far as non poker players, I have no idea what you're going to think cause I've been playing for so long lol. My friend recommended this book to me and all he said is, just read the first page, after doing so I read the entire thing in two days. You'll love it.

2 comments about Casino Poker Without Fear.

1. Nothing much new here. I could beat this guy asleep. If he wants to play me,....johnnyhughes.com



2. This is a small, 54 page spiral bound book that is so basic its not worth bothering with. Many better books out there.

1 comments about Teach Yourself How to Win at Poker (Teach Yourself Sports & Games).

1. I struggle to understand or imagine the type of reader who would benefit from this book.
   
   It's not poorly written, it is reasonably well illustrated, and it certainly *tries* to cover (far too) many topics in a scant ~100 pages. It is a very quick read, 1-2 hours at most -- yet even the greenest poker novice would gain a FAR better understanding of the game if s/he merely invested the same amount of time watching one of the ubiquitous World Series of Poker or World Poker Tour events on TV.
   
   The front cover of the book promises the reader (in bullet-point fashion): "learn how to improve your skills," and "increase your winnings." But the contents of the book beg to differ; inside, one finds dozens of quick (2-4 page-long) "chapters" devoted to topics ranging from the history of poker, the (abridged) rules of countless poker variants (including several games not commonly played anywhere in the Western hemisphere), something called "Poker Dice," and ... well, you get the picture.
   
   Lost in the rest of this noise, one can find the occasional chapter on "Tournament Play" or "Poker Strategy" but, rest assured that all poker knowledge in the world can safely be divided into one of two categories:
   (1) General information that everybody already knows and/or is inherently obvious, and
   (2) Information that is, apparently, not contained within this book.
   
   I'm reminded of grade school, and the dreaded annual assignment to "Write a Research Paper on a topic of your choice." Despite repeated encouragement from our teachers to "be more specific" and "narrow down your subject matter," the end result was always some horrible, high-level overview of some topic (I remember writing about "lasers" once, hehe) that could never be reasonably covered in 20 pages or so.
   
   That's what this book feels like: a 100-page research paper about "Poker." If you're a very young child, or if you're new to the English-speaking world (or from another planet, perhaps) and you want a very cursory overview of "that game called poker," then this book would probably give you a bit more insight than, say, reading a 4-5 paragraph entry out of the Encyclopedia Britannica.
   
   If you're an absolute beginner who knows virtually nothing about Poker but wants to learn more, and you have access to the Internet, you should check out the lengthy Poker and Texas Hold'em entries on Wikipedia. They're just as accessible as this book, but the information is far more useful, relevant, and in-depth. You'll learn far more -- and it's free.
   
   If you're a novice poker player, ie, you've played 5-card draw with a few friends before, watched an hour or two of Texas Hold'em being played on TV, maybe played a game or two on Xbox Live, etc -- then you have nothing to gain from this book.
   
   Naturally, the same also holds true for any average-to-advanced level players looking to "improve their skills." Although this book promises to help you do *exactly that*, it does not deliver. Look elsewhere, eg: Phil Gordon's Little Green Book: Lessons and Teachings in No Limit Texas Hold'em.

2 comments about Texas Holdem: Tournaments, Cash Games and Embarrassing Social Gas.

1. what a book. after reading it i called my priest. i needed an exorcism. my kids dont want me tyo get one. they enjoy watching my head revolve around. if you play poker this is a must read. if you dont like the book it makes a great icescraper or wheel block. people have been known to fall asleep during sex after reading chapter 5. i know i did.



2. Ten years as an enthusiastic Amazon customer - the first time I've returned anything. A total failure with nothing interesting or worthwhile. Absolute garbage!

No comments about Winning Gambler Training: Pirate Gambler Training.

1 comments about The game of orgy.

1. Robert Rimmer--acclaimed author of The Harrad Experiment, reviewed this book in 1978, saying:
   
   "Richard M. Vixen has done it again! The Game of ORGY is one of the most unusual books I've ever come across, and I don't mind saying that I think it's underpriced--it's worth much more than the cover price.
   Inside this book vixen has done something wild--he's not only invented totally unique games and symbols, but he's found a way for Canasta, Poker, and Casino (all very popular card games) to be sexy, funny, and twice as much fun. The wildest accomplishment of all this is that vixen has managed to mix sex and dominoes! How's that for a far-out hybrid?
   And if this all isn't enough, he's inserted an exotically illustrated, never-before-published story entitled:"
   
   "Margodessa Finds A Space In Time"
   
   "You can't help but wonder what this futuristic tale of a planet's evolutions and de-evolutions is doing in a game book, but that's only an initial reaction, because after reading it and playing some of the ORGY games in the book, you begin to see that Vixen is using the combination of game book and story book to 'create a space' in which one can experience the inanity of our righteousness with regards to sexual and racial bias and bigotry.
   There are Orgy versions in this book in which you do experience such senseless and needless hypocrisy, but also other versions, called Liberated versions, in which you may simply experience, symbolically, the joys of liberated sexual consciousness.
   You'll enjoy the story and games contained in this book-----try them and see! Besides, isn't it time you broke out of the game-rut and tried something besides Bridge, Poker, and Monopoly for a change?
   Vixen is ahead of his time, but his books are a contemporary as Saturday Night Live."
   
   
   Publisher's book description:
   "This is not a novel but a totally unique game book based upon a totally new and different game.
   The basic game is called ORGY, and it's about sexual symbolism. Instead of winning with high numbers, trumps, trick, and runs, ---certain combinations, called "affairs," symbolize different types of sexual relating.
   This book is for neither nor the kiddies. It's for liberated types who like to read Playboy, Penthouse, etc. and don't feel ashamed of enjoying the sexual aspects of life.
   As you play ORGY and the many versions of it that this unique book contains, you have the opportunity to discover, express, decrease, and perhaps eliminate biases and erroneous beliefs relative to sexual behavior. There are special versions for poker lovers, canasta lovers, casino lovers, heterosexuals, gays, lesbians, Anita Bryant fans, George Wallace fans, and domino lovers...you name it!
   
   The Game of ORGY is available in a paperback book which includes 8 detachable game cards."

1 comments about Drawing Dead: A Jake Morgan Mystery (Jake Morgan Mystery series).

1. Written by private investigator Rick Gadziola, Drawing Dead: A Jake Morgan Mystery is the story of a poker-dealing ex-cop who just can't seem to win. Unexpectedly thrust in the center of a lethal conflict between dirty cops, he tries to help Vice squad member Laura Bulloch stay alive. As attempts on his life mushroom, he tries to walk away from the bloodshed, but an unshakable antagonist trails him and will not be denied. A dark, suspenseful, at times outright wicked murder mystery, sure to captivate enthusiasts of the genre.

5 comments about Blackjack: A Winner's Handbook.

1. My wife just loves Vegas but I got tired of losing money on every trip we made there. A few years ago we were waiting for a plane to leave and I picked up the first edition of Jerry's book in the airport to read on the way home. I just knew there had to be a better way. Jerry not only changed my thoughts about blackjack but about gambling as a whole.

   I've read almost every blackjack book I could get my hands on and most are very technical and filled with statistics that work well for those who enjoy playing theoretical games against a computer but this is the only book that shows you how to beat the real game in real live casinos. When I heard the new edition was coming out, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I wasn't disappointed. I now am able to evaluate any game of blackjack before I sit down in a way that no other author has ever described. This book paid for itself many times over on my first trip back to the casinos.

   Thanks Jerry! Las Vegas is much more fun now that I come home a Winner!!




2. Jerry L. Patterson, with over a quarter century of teaching blackjack, has in one single book provided the most comprenhensive analysis of the game that is currently available. As oppopsed the the majority of blackjack books, which promote mechanical systems, he provides a complete understanding and a thorough analysis of every facet of the game. By following Patterson's teachings any blackjack player will benefit and if after reading the book one cares to further their knowledge there are courses that the author provides.
   Jerry Patterson is one very few widely respected experts in the blackjack education business and has an extremely large group of loyal followers, who over the years have prospered from his knowledge and teachings.



3. Brief: If you are going to play blackjack then the price of this paperback book isn't bad for understanding some of the interesting details about this game.

   Rule #1: Players who play a system lose systematically.

   Rule #2: Casinos have made much money on those that think that they can out-smart the casinos.

   I have played on BJ teams, roulette teams (wheel and dealer bias), race and sports books. The race books have been my ONLY long-term money-maker (I would qualify this though in the right forum). I feel that I have played every system ever invented/constructed/fabricated known to humankind. I've read every book, every critique, and paid enormously for every "SYSTEM" sold out there. Since I am independently wealthy, I could afford to buy such things and try them out as much as I want. I did, and my advise to you: you will not beat the casinos. I will put all my money on that. Unfortunately, many live on fantasy alone, much to their own undoing.

   I've met Jerry Patterson in the late 80's while exploring a few systems. Generally, he is a person of integrity. I understand that his research into systems brings him into contact with many that make his life a frustrating soap opera. Such is the battle-ground, I suppose. I respect Jerry Patterson for his extensive work in this field.

   My advise to you is simple: some people make money doing that one thing that is claimed to make you money, and other people sell information about making this same money. Well, why sell this information if you are happily making such money? If Jerry Patterson can't make a good-enough living on his talents in this field (and he is, at the very least, one of the best players), then why do you think you can?

   If YOU found a great system for beating craps, blackjack, the slots, horses, or NFL playoffs, THEN would you publish how others can similarialy benefit, OR, --if it is such a great system--, just go about making your good money?

   Publishing books and systems on how to beat the casino is a way to make money. It is not very good money, but good enough with decent sales. This, of course, wouldn't approach what may be implied in the money that could be made if following this "system" in the field. Right? So, again, if you have a winning formula, why go hawk it to the public, if not to make sure, but small, money on it from publishing rather than seldom successful practicing of it.

   Think about this until it makes sense.

   With the price of this book, I DO believe it is well worth the read if you plan on doing BJ as entertainment only. If your looking for a way to make a lot of money, then, sorry, don't let me embellish your imaginary world.




4. This book is useful for anyone who wants to win at blackjack. As an experienced player, I can attest that the info provided herein is comprehensive, complete, accurate and useful -- and if followed correctly will permit you to beat the casino at blackjack.

   However, I subtracted 2* because the author refused to provide his current system for winning, instead teasing the reader with a not so thinly disguised sales pitch. Anyone who writes a how-to book but leaves out the how-to instructions should be pilloried.

   In sum, I think both experienced and inexperienced players can benefit from his advice, but will be disappointed that the greedy author has chosen not to share his current strategy.




5. I wanted to learn blackjack so I wouldn't throw all my money away on the slots like I usually do. So one day I haphazardly peruse the gaming section of my local bookstore and leave with the most unique view on the game I have ever seen.
   
   The author is very thorough in describing several different scenarios of tables and gives great information about how to decide when to use the techniques that go along with them. Most people are looking for a sure fire way to win and the truth is that there really aren't any. But, armed with the information presented in this book you will probably end up winning more times than losing and when you do lose (as you invariably do) the author also mentally prepares you for this contingent and helps you in walking away still feeling like a winner.
   
   This would be a 5 star review except that he is pretty heavy handed in trying to sell you to his moderately expensive blackjack home study course. This is the only complaint I have though and the good far outweighs the bad.