5 comments about Pot-Limit & No-Limit Poker.

1. A clear guide to the differences in situational strategies between Pot Limit and No Limit. A definate must for the serious poker player.



2. I have read alot of poker books and this is in the bottom (of the ones I have read). It is to shallow and doesn't give you much of the practical information that other books do better. My two favorite authors on limit hold'em are Bob Ciaffone and David Sklansky (You should read the most of their material if you want to improve your limit poker, especially Ciaffones "Middle limit holdem poker" and Sklanskys "Theory of poker", "Hold'em for advanced players".). In the No Limit area I would rather recommend Doyle Brunson "Super system" and Dan Harrington books on tournaments. In the end Bob Ciaffones book "Improve your poker" is better then this one (cover the same thing but deeper), atleast if your intressted in Holdem only.



3. Stewart Reuben presents an expert's analysis of a series of about 50 omaha hands that he was involved over the past few years mostly in London poker rooms. He is clearly an expert's expert and I got much useful information. The author is clearly very aggressive in terms of his starting hands and players new to the game might do well not to emulate this tendency and just rely on better starting hands. My only qualm about the book is the layout of the problems/answers as I had to page back and forth more than I would have liked. All in all, I liked the book and found it somewhat more useful the McEvoy/Cloutier book which basically teaches, 'Only play great starting hands and wait for the nuts'.
   
   Whoops, even though I have the Reuben/Ciaffone book on Omaha , the above review applies to Stewart Reuben's, 'How Good is Your Pot Limit Omaha ?" Sorry



4. There's a lot of good, practical advice in this book. It's true that some of the sections cover games that you're unlikely to play today, but there's still solid thinking that you can apply to other poker formats. Moreover, the information density of this book is very high. If they expanded it with graphical depictions of cards and tables and repetitive bits of algebra (e.g., No Limit Hold 'em: Theory and Practice), then the no-limit hold'em section would easily fill two volumes.
   
   The discussion of position (absolute and relative to the raiser) is top notch. They introduce the 5/10 rule for implied odds decisions, which again is excellent, practical stuff.
   
   This is the book to take an intermediate player to the next level.



5. Since I am giving this book such a high rating, I will start out with the criticisms that I think are somewhat justified. After each criticism, I will explain why I think the book is still extremely worthwhile.
   
   1: The book does not concentrate on NLHE. This is very true and it would seem to be a cogent criticism. When I started to play in casinos, the only big-bet game at Foxwoods was an occasional five-dollar blnds pot-limit HE game. Now the lists are long for NLHE at four different levels and there is no pot-limit anything. So the sections of the book on other games and on pot-limit would seem to be wasted.
   
   The bare fact here cannot be denied but there are good reasons to understand the other games and the other betting structures. Poker games have continually gone in and out of fashion. While I think NLHE will be a very important game for a long time, I don't think people are well-advised to be so narrow in focus that they cannot adapt. Pot-limit Holdem is a useful game to understand but you probably won't get much opportunity to play it. Pot-Limit Omaha is an extremely popular game. Some think it is the wave of the future. Even if you don't agree, and I don't, there will probably BE a wave of the future and it is good to be adaptable. The sections on NL Draw and Lowball, PL stud and, shudder, London Lowball all have worthwhile analysis of poker situations that can come up in any game. I won a lot of money in NL Draw and Lowball at one time and any reader of this book will have a major advantage if someone decides to call one of these variations in a dealer's choice game. In fact, given the massive dealer advantage of draw games, there is no reason to call anything else when you deal.
   
   And it is fun to read about London Lowball, even if you would never want to play it. For the same reason that horror movies can be fun, even if you never want to be IN one.
   
   2:The sections on NL are somewhat dated. This is mainly true because Reuben and Ciaffone have probably never played in game where there was a one hundred big-blind limit on the buyin. Such games are very common on the internet and were very common in casinos until recently. The do require somewhat different strategies. In fact, they require very restricted and unimaginative play.
   
   Fortunately, most casinos have raised the buy-in limits somewhat.In deep buy-in games or in games where you and some of the other players have won enough to play deep-stack all streets poker, the advice from this book will aid you well.
   
   3: They advise getting all your chips in on a draw.
   
   Well, they do, under certain conditions. In fact, this is going to be right under those conditions and profitable in two ways. If you push your twelve out (flush and a gutshot or similar) draws very hard, you will win about half the time when there is a showdown. Because your opponent will fold sometimes under the pressure, you make money playing this hand that way. When you have fifteen outs or more, you are a favorite when it goes to a showdown.
   
   Also, once you have been seen to play a hand this way, you never have to slowplay a flopped set or even a straight or flush. You get paid every time.
   
   4: Some peole don't like the style and organization.
   
   This one I can't refute. I don't agree with it but that is a matter of taste and of what helps you learn. I even agree that it is not laid out in the style of a textbook. I just don't find it that important.

5 comments about Playing Blackjack As A Business.

1. Playing Blackjack As a Business is one of the best books ever written on card counting. It is very comprehensive listing basic to advanced card counting strategies. Perhaps the greatest benefit is the author's decades of personal experience in playing and winning using the strategies presented in the book. The book is, I believe largely if not wholly accurate. (The basic strategy charts are amongst the most accurate in existence!) Lawrence Revere stresses the importance of discipline and practice and that, regardless of one's skill, there will always be occasions when you lose sessions of play. The book is useful for an intermediate card counter and an excellent place to start if you're a newcomer.



2. Prior to this book I was winning with beginners luck. Now I am actually winning by knowing what I am doing when and why. Although the house is still up, I am a better player from reading this book. This book explains the game and the strategies in a very simple language. The book has charts that explain what you should be doing in all situations. These cheat charts were created from computer simulated odds. I have not been able to read the more advance strategies (counting cards) although the basic strategies has started to sink in an have helped me increase my odds against the house.
   Enjoy the game and do not lose too much money.



3. This book should without a doubt be in your blackjack library. It is truly one of the standard books ever written on blackjack. I also recommend, Gregorian Strategy for multiple deck blackjack.



4. I was introduced to this book in 1972 whilst applying for a casino job in Tehran, of all places, and a few years later when I began playing serious BJ myself, I would have given it 4 stars but with some reluctance because, aside from the good parts, it also contains a lot of gamblers superstition and questionable advice.

   Revere's book was a breakthrough in that it was written for the player who wanted a clear and concise book on "how to win" rather than Thorpe ("Beat the Dealer")desire to demonstate how terribly clever he was. Unlike say Allan Wilsons "Casino Gamblers Guide" (see my review) the text is poorly written but, most importantly and memorably it did have excellent colour-coded strategy charts - it was this feature more than anything else which I believe made the book such a success.

   On the debit side I would agree with the 2-star reviewer below that LR's agenda was to sell his much-touted "superior strategies", the mastery of which according to him, would double or triple your win-rate. I fell for this sales pitch and sent him another $200 (a lot of money at the time) - plus an extra $50 for the "no-hole card strategy", which consisted of a scrap of typed paper containing half a dozen numbers and no explanatory notes. His so-called "advanced point-count" was highly over-rated and his promised "after-sales service" non-existent. Besides, I soon discovered that going from a simple one-level count to an "advanced" multi-level count produces marginal gain at best, esp in multi-deck games. After expressing my dissatisfaction by letter, LR wrote a curt one-line reply on a businesscard..! Such was his brusque manner.

   Most of LR's strategies and experience refer to the now rare single-deck game - sure you can still find them but if you bet more than a quarter and appear to know what you are doing you will certainly get "heat" and probably have the deck broken on you. He appeared to have very little if any experience of even 4-deck games let alone the now much more common 6 or more decks. His very conservative bet-spread was also based on a single deck game and would have been useless applied to 4 or more decks, but this fact was glossed over.

   In Revere's day (the 60's and early `70's), the game was far easier to beat - more and better decision options, much deeper penetration, and much less scrutiny ("heat") for counters than is the case today. In this respect the 5-star review below by the "Las Vegas pit boss of 25 years" is inexplicable and totally unrealistic. LR also virtually ignored the fact (as do most other BJ books written for the US market) that in most of the world the dealer doesn't take a hole card - this apparently "minor" rule change makes a big difference to the basic strategy when playing against a dealers 10 or Ace.

   I don't doubt that Revere was quite successful at the tables, but nowhere near as much as he makes out. In his day single-deck BJ was (relatively-speaking) easy to beat, there were very few counters, and dealers and pit-bosses weren't as paranoid about counters as they were to become, largely as a result of this book. I would wager that LR made much more money selling his books and strategies than he ever did from playing.

   I don't know whether Revere's heirs (he died in the late `70's) are still selling their expensive "advanced strategies" but if they are - send me your money instead - I'll give you far better value and advice. Unless newer editions of his book have corrected these deficiencies, then this book is all but useless for the modern "tough" multi-deck casino environment.




5. Not being "of age," and therefore not playing in a casino, I cannot say how much money one could make with these strategies. His Basic Strategy does seem to work though (in home games, etc.), it gets about a 49% win rate. This man is a sexist egomaniac who truly believes that everyone but him is a moron, and he is the ONLY man alive that should be listened to when trying to learn Blackjack. It's kind of amusing when he implies several times that most women are too stupid to learn his strategies, that they are unable to concentrate or devote any time to it, but that if a woman were to learn one of them she could make millions based on the fact that she is a woman and pit bosses won't be watching her. Pretty funny stuff. However, his "Revere Plus-Minus Strategy" is stolen from Beat the Dealer, it's a basic hi-lo, nothing more. Also, he devotes a chapter to the Revere Ten Count, only to say much later that all ten count systems are worthless. So what can I say, I think that reading it will improve your game, but not nearly as much as this man seems to think it will.

5 comments about Winning 7-Card Stud: Transforming Home Poker Chumps into Casino Killers.

1. After the beginner has read 7 CARD STUD by Roy West he is ready for WINNING 7-CARD STUD which is the next logical step. It's well organized and in-depth in it's practical approach to introducing the novice to the finer points of 7 Stud. While Texas Hold'em is exciting and getting all the attention these days, 7 Card Stud is the thinking man's form of poker and this book will help you play it well.



2. This book is fantastic. I went from having casual knowledge of stud poker to being extremely confident at the tables. I had read a number of Ashley Adams articles and he is not your average writer. He has an extraordinary ability to recognize the abilities of the reader and not give him or her too much to handle.
   
   After reading the first 50 pages, I was quite disappointed at the starting hand requirements and put the book down. I started playing and had a winning session of 7 card stud. I had thought playing tight and waiting for good starting hands was boring, but tight is right. And winning is definitely not boring. I immediately finished the book and absorbed the advanced material later in the book and I am astonished at how great this book has helped me.
   
   While the Harrington on Hold'em books are the best ever written for NL tournament poker, this book is the best you can get for your library in 7 card stud. You might eventually advance beyond the concepts of this book and need a higher level book, but I don't think the average casual player with be sitting at stakes beyond $3/6 or $5/10.
   
   5 Stars, I highly recommend this book to everyone. Everything you need to know in one book to become a winner. You will appreciate the work Ashley Adams put into this book to help players understand the complexities of 7 card stud. He is truly one of the best at teaching poker that I have ever read.



3. The book is incremental in its teaching approach. The basic strategy first laid out will not make you money but it will limit your losses greatly. Then later in the book Ashley Adams covers how to play more hands. If you don't play more hands the antes will eat up the money you may make. But, this approach will keep the reader from going bankrupt while they develop a feel for the game. If the reader follows the author's program they will relearn some of the overly conservative strategies later....when they are ready. Coupled with real experience it is probably the only book you need to play lower limit cash games.
   
   The book covers some good ancillary information regarding Casino play in general.
   
   Then again I am not big on books being necessary for good play. Any book introductory would probably do well enough to get you started. The Roy West book is supposed to be good also.



4. I have no idea whether the book is good or not, but Stud Poker is a dead game. why would you want to learn it?



5. this book contains a lot of basic info, but, particularly for a poker book, is very well written. it is not only tight, but, as an apparent rarity for poker authors, atrocious grammatical errors are also largely absent.
   
   there are a few basic concepts, well explained, that even the somewhat strong player may benefit from relearning or considering. the beginning of the book is very basic, but is still perhaps a good review for most but very experienced stud players. for beginners,the next third of so of the book may be mildly helpful, but otherwise the descriptions of casinos and how to play there, manage buy in amounts, keep one's emotions in check after a so called "bad beat" (or bad play by the reader, which should, frankly, be a lot more upsetting than this silly idea than one should be upset because someone "sucked out" chasing with poor odds) etc., will only be read by the avid player with the expectation that this section will end soon(although his idea of getting up from the table when upset may be a good one for some players). it doesn't.
   
   but when it does, the last portion of the book is well worth it. while some intermediate and advanced stud is left out, the author does lay out, on top of the earlier basic foundation, some of the more important next step concepts, and a few advanced plays in largely clear and logical fashion, with strong examples. on some of them one may disagree with the author's conclusions, and a consideration or two may have been omitted, but basically the material seemed reasonably solid, and his reasons are usually well stated. while the author's own experiences are somewhat over prevalent, they again read well, and at times are relevant when related to the play of hands.
   
   while it is not overly ripe with material, anybody learning stud should really buy this book, and any other player who is not overly immersed in the game, looking to improve, should benefit as well. combine that with the tight read and cogent explanations, and it is a worthwhile purchase for many stud and horse players as well as those looking to play those games or broaden their horizons into a game that is really well worth learning, even for hold 'em fanatics.

3 comments about Your Best Poker Friend: Increase Your Mental Edge and Maximize Your Profits.

1. If you liked either of the author's previous poker books, The Psychology of Poker and/or Your Worst Poker Enemy, this book is a neccessary continuation of the lesson. YBPF is not a strategy book, and will disappoint those expecting one. This book lays out strategies for improving your game that are very practical. Of course, most of you won't actually get around to doing any of the things Schoonemaker recommends, just like you already gave up on your New Year's resolutions. That is why I don't mind giving an honest review and saying that if you take this stuff seriously you will improve.
   
   Also, there are some interesting updates to some of Schoonemaker's ideas from YWPE, especially regarding his hard-line stance that no one should ever quit their day job to play poker, and how on-line play is changing poker.



2. Reverse implied odds? Give me a break. Even Andy Black would be confused by this book. Give me Super System I/II any time.



3. Dr. Schoonmaker in my opinion is the most honest teacher of poker & life that I have ever crossed paths with. His writing, and observation of human behavior and the poker table/player is right on the money! I highly recommend this book for any semi professional, or someone who is considering becoming a professional poker player, or casual players of poker that want an edge on the home poker game. Limit, or no limit it works with both.

5 comments about The World Greatest Blackjack Book.

1. One of the first book i enjoy reading on blackjack, even old this book is great..



2. This was the first book I read on blackjack and overall it provided a thorough description of how to play the game, outlined basic strategy using tables and desciptions, and a coherent explanation of Hi-opt1 counting strategy. What it didn't do is provide sound reasoning for using the hi-opt1 counting system over the more common, and in my opinion simpler, braun method. The book also fell short in how it explains betting correlation. It gave a textual description of how to do it with a few short paragraphs but then spent most of a chapter discussing how to mask your bets. The emphasis on betting correlation seemed to get lost among a lot of "covert ops" to disguise your card counting. Many of these secret methods are useless until you actually learn how to correlate your bets anyway.



3. This is the type of book that, if I were to look at it now after having learned a lot about blackjack, I would probably consider one of the "dumb" or "mainstream" books that try to convince you there's a system you can use to beat roulette. I think the title might help lend it this idea as well.
   
   But in reality this is the book that started it all for me. I don't know why I chose it first, but I learned *everything* about blackjack from this book, except for advanced card-counting techniques (which are here as well, but I chose to learn a simpler system, the KO Count). This book does an excellent job of describing the game for those who are new to it, and it presents Basic Strategy very clearly and concisely. I still refer to it to refresh my memory every time I go to a casino. In a lot of ways it really is one of the greatest books, at least in my experience.



4. Lance Humble and Clark Cooper, The World's Greatest Blackjack Book (revised edition) (Broadway Books, 1980)
   
   The problem with the classic in the genre, Edward Thorp's Beat the Dealer, is that it's simply too complex for English majors like me to figure out. If you don't have a head for numbers, trying to put Thorp's work into practice is liable to send you to the nuthatch for long stretches of time. Humble and Cooper, after a good deal of expository prose (most of which is long, long out of date-- much of it, they surmise at various times, was probably out of date by the time the book rolled off the press), introduce first a basic non-counting system, then build on that to introduce the Hi-Opt (High Optimization) counting system. As it's a gradual process, it's already easier for boneheads like me to make sense out of. It does get complicated towards the end, of course, but as you're learning it in steps, things certainly seem a good deal easier. Besides, the big fad these days is Texas Hold 'Em, so you might actually be able to find a seat at the blackjack tables for once (or, better yet, at a no-dealer game administered by machine, where you can range your bets without a pit boss getting after you). The expository prose may be outdated, but the system is a "now more than ever" kind of thing. *** ½



5. Gook book to read on BJ. I hope everyone knows that you cannot make a professional living playing BJ in this country by counting cards. Go checkout blackjack forums first. Again, you cannot make money consistently by counting cards. It's a myth spread by the casinos, not the players. However, you will have an edge, ever slight. BJ should be played recreationally to get as much comps as possible without losing money. At least that's my goal.

5 comments about Big Deal: A Year as a Professional Poker Player.

1. While reading reviews of "Poker Nation", I noticed a large number of poker players who recommended "Big Deal" and "Biggest Game in Town" over "Poker Nation", so I read "Big Deal". It is a first-hand account which gives it a great deal of credibility. The story winds through the author's year with an even amount of detail of items pertinent to the game and to life in general. I particularly liked the tidbits of (life) wisdom strewn throughout the book -- something that modern books are displaying less and less of (no one wants to give advice to anyone else on how the good life can be lived). The book ends with a whimper, compared to many modern life-and-death ultradramas, but it is more true-to-life and we mere mortals.



2. Not only the best poker book that I have ever read but one of my favorite books regardless of the topic. Mr. Holden is a professional biographer of the British Royal family that loves poker enough to devote a year of his life to experience what it is like to be a professional player. This is not an instrucional book but an enjoyable account of a year of poker written by an excellent author.



3. As a serious poker player, I found this interesting, but not riveting.



4. This book falls in the category of poker memoirs. Unlike most such books, usually ghostwritten for a pro with name recognition, Holden writes about his own year-long stint as a pseudo-pro.
   
   I say pseudo-pro because for most of the year Holden is a pro in name only - a professional writer visiting his subject matter. His skills are initially not particularly good, "honed" in a home game played mostly over various wildcard-dense forms of mickey mouse poker. Over the course of the year, he travels to numerous tournaments, loses money in them, gets lucky at blackjack (which he doesn't seem to realize is a long-run losing game the way he plays it), gets lucky playing over his bankroll in one big pot limit game, and eventually develops enough poker skill to beat satellites and mid-stakes limit games which is a reasonable accomplishment. Using this newfound poker expertise, he recoups his tournament losses & expenses, makes a few bucks, and calls it quits after a disappointing showing in the world series of poker marks the end of his year-long experiment.
   
   Along the way, he collects the usual set of gambling stories, and those are told in entertaining fashion. This book is really a glimpse into professional poker as it existed before the poker boom, and as such is of historic value. It has little to nothing to offer in terms of poker strategy, and similarly little to offer someone considering "going pro" today since the boom changed everything. The book is well written and fun, but for poker players looking for additional depth or useful material, there's nothing to find.
   
   If you want a real life gambling tale, my review is 4 stars - get it. If you want a memoir with some more useful poker material on the side (and written by a far better player), I suggest you get "Ace on the River" instead.



5. I'm rereading this after a few years. While his sequel Bigger Deal, caused me to think he may be an average player, this first poker book of his proves otherwise. He beats both Johnny Moss and Stuey Ungar. Hello!?
   
   There's lots of great stories here -- even a history of poker in the U.S. -- and he's more confident in his game here. Maybe it's due to his being in love here, unlike the later volume.
   
   One of the two most famous poker memoirs since Yardley. The other is his poker crony A. Alvarez's The Biggest Game in Town. (Alvarez's is more famous.)
   
   Put down your Harrington and read about some legendary players.

5 comments about Blackbelt in Blackjack : Playing 21 as a Martial Art.

1. This book is so informative. I am learning the ins and outs of the game of blackjack. Also, the price was much less that going to the store to buy. It was shipped in a few days and I am very pleased overall.



2. good book written by a great person who had a lifelong experience in counting.



3. A must for any blackjack player book collection ,The Very "Instruction manual" like writing style is more tedious than learning the full indices for Zen count.
   Not enough shuffle tracking information, perhaps this is done purposefully.
   If your looking for a blackjack book , then do not even consider not getting this book.
   Definitely not a "fun" read but a somewhat necessary read.



4. This was a very good book that explains several techniques and has a lot of depth concerning how to use one's bankroll when playing blackjack, but most of the information provided is found in free internet websites, except for the management of bankroll, which I found very interesting and effective.



5. The book itself is full of information, but not as much as I was hoping. Snyder promotes his counting systems and doesn't go into as much detail on other topics as I had hoped. But it's still a good book.

5 comments about Sklansky on Poker.

1. I've probably read (and own) most of David Sklansky's poker books. I have never failed to learn something of value (usually a lot of value) from reading and studying one of his books. I recommend this one.



2. The only purpose of buying this is for the razz section. If you have read a number of other Sklansky books, a good portion of the advice given on poker in general you have seen before.
   
   There is extremely little published about razz that is available. This book, by far, is the most complete, even though the basic text is only about 60 pages after you subtract the problems and Q&A section. The discussion is more detailed and specific than what you'll read in the Michael Craig's FTP book interview with Ted Forrest and Huck Seed. It gives instruction on why and when to raise instead of call, as well as whether you should bet or check on each street.
   
   Even so, there are a number of things to would improve this text. More statistics on the chances of making a hand under certain conditions would help re-enforce the unsupported advice. For example, it would be helpful to players to understand that if they start with a three cards 8 or below, there's less than 50% chance of making their hand even when the cards are moderately favorable. The reason you look to muck on third street with three cards 8 or below if a lot of the cards you need are exposed is that this completion rate can drop to under 40% to make your hand. That puts you at a significant disadvantage to players whose cards are live.
   
   Information could be given on how to read hands. Yes, it is easier than in other games, but knowing the % chance of someone showing four cards 7 or below actually having a 7 high hand on sixth street is of value. A number of beginning players are unaware that the third highest card showing tells all of the other players what the best hand they could possibily have.
   
   While razz isn't the most difficult game to play, I believe that a full volume could be written. An good text would encourage more people to try it. With the increasing popularity of HORSE, many more people are looking to improve their razz game and would be delighted to have a more detailed source of information.



3. this is a collection of David Sklansky essays with a section on Razz.
   
   If you play me in Razz or HORSE do not buy this book.



4. The previous reviewer, Venice10, is right on target with a couple of statements. It IS surprising that there aren't some tables in the book which compare razz hands, according to the cards that are dead. Considering how math-based Sklansky's work is, it's strange that there aren't at least a couple of appendices at the end of the book for the more studious players. Still, this book is enough in itself to make you a winning razz player. In H.O.R.S.E. tournaments, this is a big advantage because you can pick up chips during the razz portion of the tournament from the clueless players. I like the Questions and Answers format, because it makes it easy for me to flashcard each concept and study it before bedtime every night. Like Venice10, I would like to see more good information on razz, but I don't think that'll happen since it's the Hold'em books that sell. Maybe it's best this way. One thing is for sure: if you understand the concepts in the book, you will make money at razz. The variance isn't too bad in this game, if you choose low-ante cash games. Today, there are a number of those to choose from online. As for razz tournaments, solid play will get you the money in the end. Sklansky's books will keep you from bleeding off money, unlike those players who don't read up on razz. And that's about 95% of them, I think.



5. With writings on razz few and far between, this book is a must read for anyone who plays HORSE. With the abundance of weak players across the internet and world in razz, you cost yourself money by not buying this book.
   The other ideas on holdem are concise and to the point, usually 3-4 pages a topic are great review especially if youve read theory of poker by david sklansky.

4 comments about 52 Ways to Cheat at Poker: How to Spot Them, Foil Them, and Defend Yourself Against Them.

1. After hearing the author describe some cheating methods in a radio interview, I decided to check out the book. It turns out to be a really fun read. The chapters are short and packed with information, and there are lots of amusing anecdotes. I also enjoyed the historical approach, which explains cheating methods from the days of Mississippi riverboat con-men up to the present. I have no plans to cheat anyone at poker, but I do like knowing how it's done. Great for anyone who enjoys reading about clever and devious thinking.



2. This book is a pleasant surprise. The author updates all of the standard cheating methods that have been described in the past, and adds many new ones that can be used in Texas hold 'em and other popular games. He also provides a context for the scams, and shows how many go back several hundred years. I doubt that anyone can learn to deal "seconds" or "bottoms" by reading this book, but that doesn't seem to be the intention. Rather, you learn what these techniques are, what they are used for--and there are several surprising uses--and what to look for during a game. The "protection tips" alone are worth the price of the book. It's also a good bedside read. Two chapters and lights out.



3. Allan Kronzek tackles cheating in poker as a magician and treats the subject with a conjurer's dispassion. This is a relief; if there's one thing we don't need, it's another self-congratulatory, non-falsifiable "insider's" story of how to cheat people. Instead, we get a quick but surprisingly serious volume that manages to feed the reader some history amid the tricks.
   
   The title isn't an attempt at misdirection: after a brief introduction, Kronzek runs through 52 short chapters, each detailing one or more methods of cheating. Generally, Kronzek explains the technique involved, offers notes on historical uses, and closes by telling the reader how he can protect himself. Miscellanea scatter throughout the text, such as reproductions of cheating house catalogs and excerpts from landmark books, enliven the story.
   
   52 Ways is written to be accessible to a novice who doesn't know a shiner from a holdout. But even veteran card mechanics could probably learn a thing or two from this book. Whatever your level of experience, reading 52 Ways will at least help you appreciate the ways that you can be cheated.
   
   That's the rub: Kronzek is honest enough to admit that no anti-cheating tactic is absolutely guaranteed. The final proof is in the pudding: if you find yourself losing one suspicious pot too many, you should suspect malfeasance.
   
   If nothing else, incorporating some of Kronzek's anti-cheating suggestions into your "friendly" home game will, at the very least, raise the bar for cheaters and help to keep honest players honest. You'll also gain a deeper appreciation for the ingenuity with which cheaters have approached poker.
   
   There's only one class of person who I'd warn away from 52 Ways: those that combine a tendency towards paranoia with an overactive imagination. If you're the kind of person who can't browse WebMD because you start imagining you have symptoms for every malady you read about, perhaps this book is not for you. By lifting the veil on cheaters and the innumerable deceptions, Kronzek has made sitting at any card table a supreme act of faith-and vigilance.



4. This is one of the best books written on poker cheating, and should be in the hands of everyone who plays for money -- from friendly Friday night games, to people who play in card rooms, to tournament pros. The author has done his homework, and gives the reader a superb education in the varied ways that hustlers and cheaters rob you of your money. Do yourself a favor and buy this book. Then read it. You will not be disappointed.

5 comments about How to Turn Your Poker Playing into a Business: Knowing What to Deduct to Improve Your Odds With the IRS.

1. This author has written a easy to understand guide for anyone who play's poker and want's to know how to take every legal deduction available. It help's you figure out if you are truely in a positon to take deduction's as a pro or if you are just playing for fun. Very down to earth and fun book even if it is written by a C.P.A.



2. whether you're filing as a professional poker player or just play for fun, this book is a must have for tax purposes. The book is concise and organized. The most helpful thing in the book are the example tax sheets she fills out for both the hobbyist and pro (2 of each case with different situations). Recommended



3. For all professional Poker Players who want to save money on preparing your tax return, you must have this book !!! UNLESS YOU WANT ANN MARGARET JOHNSTON TO DO YOUR TAXES which is better !!!! Either way, it is the NUTS !!!!



4. The book was very informative and helpful. It was an easy read and certainly will help me in preparing my taxes for this year.



5. If you win at poker you NEED the advice in this book.
   
   IRS rules are often rather arcane, but failure to adhere to them can be disastrous. Johnston's advice just might prevent you from making a mistake that could lead to a learning experience you'd much rather avoid. She carefully defines and discusses in detail differences in tax consequences, and procedures for reporting, for "hobbyists" vs. "professionals."
   
   The presentation is well done, the writing is clear, readable, and essentially free from typos and grammatical errors. Each chapter begins with a conversation in which a poker player reveals ignorance of a specific point of the tax code. The chapter then develops that particular topic to the "intelligent layperson" level.
   
   If you are a CPA or are experienced in preparing business tax returns you'll view this book as little more than a simplification of IRS rules. However, if you don't have that caliber of experience you'd properly view it as a guidebook through a potential minefield.
   
   For example, if your business is playing poker you should be able to deduct all poker-related expenses - right? Maybe! If you still collect a "regular" paycheck the IRS may decide you're not really a poker pro and disallow all expenses except for actual provable losses. And if they do, you may get the opportunity to prove not only the losses but also everything else on your return. And to prove everything on last year's return as well.
   
   If you win at poker you should read this one.