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1 comments about Bridge Today 1001 Workbook: One Thousand and One Bridge Problems.

1. Fun and excellent book on bidding fundamentals. Not simple stuff like what do you respond with 6-9, etc. Instead it shows bidding sequences and asks you to figure out pards hand shape. There are some good play problems requiring visualization and deduction, (rather than advanced squeezes). The book will expose gaps in your knowledge of fundamental bidding. This is far more valuable than studying new conventions.
   
   A GREAT book for Intermediates.
   
   I bet many of you "advanced" players would get a lot of this BASIC and FUNDAMENTAL material wrong.

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3 comments about Mathematical Strategies to Winning Casino Poker.

1. In his new book, Mathematical Strategies to Winning Casino Poker, engineering Ph.D. and mathematician Michael Stelzer shares simple playing and betting strategies that guarantee poker players will leave both tables and tournaments as winners.
   
   Providing a brief history of poker and basic playing strategies, Stelzer's approach does not require players to have any previous skill or experience, nor does it involve learning a complicated system or counting cards, making it practical for players of all levels of experience in both casinos and private games.
   
   Stelzer's study of poker began as a hobby based on his extensive mathematics background. The discovery that many poker games offer players odds as favorable as 50/50 inspired Stelzer to test gaming strategies of six popular poker variations. Using computer simulation, Stelzer was able to establish strategies for determining whether or not a hand should be betted on based on desirability.
   
   Stelzer encourages responsibility in betting and gambling, emphasizing that Mathematical Strategies is not a "get-rich-quick" book. However, players who follow these tested probability methods will find that they can minimize losses by folding undesirable hands while capitalizing on virtually guaranteed wins.



2. The passion for gambling dates back to ancient times, with poker being one of the oldest and most popular forms. Author Michael Stelzer became fascinated with the game and convinced that his knowledge of math could help him understand and beat the odds, decided to investigate its complexities from a mathematical standpoint. Letting the chips fall where they may, he formed his own astute conclusions on poker's risks and rewards, and his findings make up this terrific little handbook. Mathematical Strategies to Winning Casino Poker, which is one that good poker player can't afford to be without.
   
   Whether you are a novice or an expert player, you'll find lots of fascinating tips and tricks to get the upper hand on your opponents. Stelzer suggests that the games are actually not stacked as highly against the player as you might think. Any good player can win big money on poker and walk away with those winnings, he found, and this discovery so buoyed Stelzer's own confidence that he began hitting the casinos himself to play.
   
   Lucidly and elegantly, Stelzer gives the reader a concise history of the game as well as those all important poker basics. His thorough analysis of the various poker hands, as well as their accompanying mathematical proofs, is straightforward enough so that anyone can benefit.
   Readers will learn playing and betting strategies, such as play or fold decisions, hand derivations and game strategies, how to manage a bankroll and more. Encompassing years of personal research in casino poker games, Stelzer's book is packed with enough information to help anyone play better and enjoy poker more. Knowledge is power, and with this handy guide, any reader can have the confidence to win.



3. This is a good book for players who want to win.
   Very easy to read and understand.
   I used the strategies to hit more than once.
   Well worth the look.

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.

2 comments about Defend These Hands With Me.

1. Good thought provoking problems.
   Not just the simple stuff (2nd hand low, 3rd hand high).
   Pottage gets you thinking about taking partner off endplays, and what declarer might hold.
   
   This might be hard for average players who are not used to thinking in this depth. The problems aren't super hard either. They are just right.



2. I liked the style of the book, an "over the shoulder" explanation of the authors reasoning while defending 60 hands, some of which are advanced.
   
   The reader is asked to visualize the unseen hands, and must frequently reject the obvious play upon closer examination. At the end of the problem the author discusses the theme and may show anotehr example.
   
   My main gripe is it was difficult to follow the card play. I would have gotten a lot more out of the book had the card play been easy to follow.
   Also, a few of the hands I did not care for, but most were good.
   
   The book is worth reading, but first I'd read all the Eddie Kantar books on Play and defense (Kantar for the Defense 1,2, A new appraoch to Play and Defense 1,2, Test your Bridge Play 1,2)

5 comments about 501 Essential Backgammon Problems.

1. This book contains invaluable information for the improving backgammon player. It suffers from it's unfortunate layout (as do all Robertie books) --- poorly located diagrams or solutions in relation to the diagrams. Still the contents are a must read (and reread) for any advancing player.



2. Backgammon is as good as it gets. The rules take minutes to learn but a lifetime to master. Each checker on the board plays an offensive and defensive role, as the two opposing forces march past each, one going clock-wise, one counter-clockwise. And then there are the dice. Like chess, there is a tremendous amount of strategy involved in how to play each roll, but the dice add another level of probabilistic strategizing. And sometimes the better strategy loses, just because the rolls don't come through.
   
   Bill Robertie, "The world's best backgammon player" according to the back cover, breaks the strategy down into discrete 31 topics, examples being "the opening," "the middle game," "the blitz," "crunch positions," "action doubles," and "the bearoff." The topics are covered by a series of snapshot moments from a potential game. You're given a certain layout and a dice roll and asked what the best move is. Then you flip to the answer section of each chapter and see what Mr. Robertie thinks is the best move and why. As someone who was a student for over 25 years, I'm well acclimated to this format of testing, and quite comfortable with it. However, the snapshot approach doesn't address what many players do wrong, which is to lock-in to a strategy early in the game, or to have overall certain tendencies, instead of focusing on the flexibility to change strategies at any time to match the action of the game. This strategic flaw is analogous to a football coach who says you always have to establish the run before you can pass (think Mike Ditka, Dan Reaves), as opposed to a coach who approaches each team differently and can adjust to the opponent throughout the course of the game (think Mike Shanahan, Bill Belichek). It's also seen in brokers who chase after trends in the stock market, or poker players who try too hard to avenge their last hand and lose their perspective.
   
   Like other reviewers, I did find flipping back and forth between problems and solutions to be annoying, but not a deal-breaker. You just need two bookmarks and a little patience.
   
   I recommend this book. I think it has helped my overall decision making skills in Backgammon. But it won't solve the big problem of not being in the moment, of not reacting and adapting strategy to each roll of the dice. A book won't fix that. Meditation might help. Wading through a creek might help. Relaxation techniques, mindfulness exercises, and beta blockers wouldn't hurt.



3. This book is of great tactical value. It let's you exersise and perform 501 plays that will change the way you play Backgammon. Not just a theoretical book, but actually a much more practical approach.



4. This is a great, affordable book on backgammon that will quickly improve your backgammon game. I haven't read Robertie's "Advanced Backgammon" books, but I have read this one (501), BG for Serious Players, and BG for Winners. They are all good depending on your level, but this one and "Serious" I found very helpful. Between these 2 books, 501 has had a greater effect on my game than any other BG book I have ever read.
   
   His approach is as simple as it gets. He discusses strategy and then gives you examples of how the strategy is implemented. The book is very easy to follow and you seem so soak up the teaching very quickly. (Nevertheless, this should not be your first book on BG. You should already know basic strategy before you get into this one, e.g. BG for Winners) The book is very broad as well. It covers practically every area and situation of the game you are likely to face, and will give you some very good principles to use in determining your move. Due to the format, this book does not have to be read in a continuous way from beginning to end as most books. It can be consulted as a reference when you need some help on a particular aspect of the game and do not want to trudge through an entire book on the subject.
   
   As with chess books, oftentimes the writer's recommendations are checked by a computer program and "errors" pointed out. I do this alot just for fun with chess problems, but I can't say it has helped me one bit when I let the computer do the thinking for me. He is human and one can hardly expect perfection when compared against todays computer programs. Further, a writer chooses examples and moves are presented in a manner that illustrates the point the author is making, when in fact there may have been a mathematically more accurate move elsewhere.
   
   However, I think this computer analysis approach misses the point somewhat. Robertie is trying to impart principles and tools to the reader that can be used to evaluate a position and choose the best move, and this book does that very, very well. This approach will help you "think on your feet" and have a good set of principles in your head to help you evaluate and choose your move. The human brain can recognize patterns and positions and can apply principles in the situation, but it can never calculate like a computer and would advise you to avoid any approach that is strictly mathematical.
   
   As I said, I have never read Robertie's "Advanced" series, nor Magriel's "Backgammon", but if I had to choose one BG book to take on the proverbial desert island, this would be it.



5. I'm only 3/4 of the way through this book, but that's far enough to gauge the benefits that this book provides for the Backgammon player who wants to get better.
   With 501 sample problems, you will find that many (never all) situations that will come up in a game are illustrated here. The format is easy to follow, with each of the 31 chapters containing problems and solutions for facets of the game from openings to bearing off, and blitzing to holding games, and the author's comments in the solutions provide the tips that can be memorized. For example: faced with a choice, say between making a point, or hitting a blot, "do the hardest first." In Backgammon there are exceptions to almost every rule, and Robertie covers these also. I'd also like to point out that this is an extremely "fun" book, that you can pick up for 5 minutes or 55, at lunch, or in the car!
   
   Other than the most basic rules of the game, like how to set up the board, everything is covered here, from beginner on up. Robertie has a real gift for clarity, and is able to speak to EVERYONE, from someone new, to an expert, in a clear, focused voice.

No comments about The Right Way to Play Bridge: The Complete Reference to Successful Acol Bidding and the Key Principles of Play-For Improving Players (Right Way S.).

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