5 comments about The Counting Game: An Accountant Reveals How to Win at Blackjack.

1. Alan Berg has given us a thrill ride through the world's casinos from the view of a high-roller. Even for a confirmed non-gambler like me, his well-crafted book provides hundreds of insights into winning at blackjack - and winning all the side battles as well. Most impressively, he often succeeded at keeping himself in the building and in the game through guile, brains and style - when most card-counters would long have been banished from casinos everywhere. Read - and enjoy - "The Counting Game."



2. The thing I liked about this book is that it was like having a one on one lesson with the author. He gives you the important factual skills you need to win the game. But also throws in personal experience and stories that make it very entertaining. You will like what he has to teach but at the end of the book feel like you could hang out and have a drink with him.



3. I've never played blackjack and probably never will, but I was absolutely fascinated by Alan Berg's book. Serious players must be blown away. I was amazed to learn so much about the game when I had always thought it was just a question of luck. NO WAY. It almost makes me want to take up black jack so I can reach the zenith of being barred from a casino. That isn't apt to happen since I got a bit bogged down in the intricacies of the numbers systems, but I LOVED the book. I especially enjoyed learning about Alan's gambling experiences and now have enormous admiration for his honesty in telling about himself in a thoroughly enjoyable and often amusing fashion. WONDERFUL book- I recommend it to players and non-players alike.



4. The Counting Game: An Accountant Reveals How to Win at Blackjack is different from an ordinary "how-to" gambling guide in that author Alan Berg is not only a skilled professional gambler (so good at winning money through card counting he's been banned in casinos across America), but also a certified public accountant. The Counting Game teaches the reader about the mechanics of card counting, the savvy acting skills needed not to get caught doing it, and especially about tax law, including how to take the government's due into account when calculating one's gambling profits. In particular, Berg notes that tax law is brutally regressive to recreational gamblers, effectively amounting to double taxation (and it's not much nicer to professional gamblers, who must adhere to stringent criteria to be considered such by the IRS). Taking the hypothetical example of a female recreational gambler who wins a $7000 casino jackpot and then amasses $7000 of losses in subsequent plays: "Her preparer explains that the $7000 win, even though wiped out by aggregate losses of roughly an equal amount, reduce her refund to the tune of $1475!" Although The Counting Game is the "must-have" blackjack counting book for anyone seeking to make money at casino tables, it effectively (and unintentionally?) is also one of the strongest exhortations not to gamble at all, simply because it spells out the unvarnished truth about what gambling for a living is really like, the severity of its risks, and the demands it makes upon a player. Highly recommended.



5. This is the second blackjack book I've read. It's very good and has a lot of interesting and useful information. It also only costs about 10 bucks, but there are two important points here: In Berg's view, one would need to start with about $150,000 to make serious money in blackjack. Second, he uses one of the most complex card-counting methods out there.

5 comments about Hold'em Excellence (2nd Edition).

1. I hated this book. I had read Lee Jones's "Winning Low Limit Hold'Em", and loved it. I've been winning consistantly in the online casinos since (just [money] tables), but wanted to read another "for beginners" book before I continued moving up the poker text ladder.

   I absolutely despised this book. My poker friends alternated between annoyance at my constant complaining about awful passages, and absolute laughter when they agreed with my mockery.

   The book is filled with paragraphs telling you to "Understand The Following Truths". It's never incorrect, but it's never useful, either. It's such general garbage that all I can do is laugh.

   I picked up Sklansky & Malmuth's "Hold'Em For Advanced Players" and loved it. I suggest you do what I SHOULD have done, and first read Lee Jones's book, and then read the Sklansky&Malmuth Advanced. Leave Krieger's garbage alone.




2. I found this book to be useful, very clear and very well written and is as much about why as what. I would ignore the previous reviewer. He cites Lee Jones as though Mr. Jones were the last word in Poker advice. Apparently, he's unaware of the fact that some of the starting hand recommendations promulgated by Mr. Jones are highly questionable from a probabilistic standpoint. So many poker books are poorly written and are mechanical in nature discouraging the reader to think for himself. A very nice poker book.



3. This was a very Enjoyable Book. It provided important and useful concepts about the game of Poker. I learned new concepts, which identified some leaks in my game. Leaks in your game can come from anywhere!!! Leaks can originate from lack of aggression, overcalling raises, misreading opponents and any other number of ways. So this book helps. Many people look at poker the wrong way. They think to win they need to do all of this super fancy plays and mindblowing stunts. Well folks...there are not that many options in poker...you fold, call or raise. So its really hard to do thinks that will just fool your opponents all the time. To win at poker it is mostly limiting your mistakes and getting all that you can from winning hands and minimizing losses on losing hands...that's it

   Ive been playing for about 5 years now and love the game. Ive read many poker books and found this one to be very good. So I would suggest you buy this book and maybe a couple others and get to playing. There's really no excuse anymore - since anyone can access the internet.

   (...)




4. I read this after Lee Jones' excellent "Winning Low-Limit Hold'em". Krieger's book was not nearly as useful. And although it's a short book, it's not concise.
   
   I'm not sure what the target audience is for this book:
   - It's not for beginners, because it skips a lot of basic stuff.
   - Not for intermediates, because it doesn't offer anything beyond Jones' book.
   
   While the writing style is decent and the organization is promising, the content is rambling with a bunch of dead-end special cases.
   
   And the publisher really needs to hire an editor. I've never read a book with so many typos.
   
   If you haven't read Jones yet, that's the one to get for starting out in hold'em. You could probably do worse with this book, but Jones is a lot better (and shorter to boot).



5. Let me start with what this book isn't. This isn't a good first book for beginnning hold'em players. A more appropriate book for a newbie would be Lee Jones' excellent "Winning Low Limit Hold'em" (especially with the new 3rd edition that I haven't had a chance to read yet, but it's almost twice the thickness of my 2nd edition). This isn't a book that gives the reader a fleshed-out system on how to play limit hold'em. It's subtitle, "From Beginner to Winner" really isn't true. I don't think this book would take a complete newcomer and turn them into a winner.
   
   All that being said, now let me say what this book is. This is a book that will help a new to intermediate player to start to think actively about low-to-mid limit hold'em. The above-mentioned Lee Jones book gives a new player a system that helps him or her to play "good" poker. That is the "how" for a beginner. "Hold'em Excellence" gives the reader ideas to think about, and actively debate. This is the "why" and the "what if" for a beginnner.
   
   To put it another way, this is a beginner course in poker theory. Many of the more experienced players have probably read (or should read) Phil Gordon's "Little Green Book". Gordon's book helps an advanced player creatively and actively think about no-limit hold'em. Hold-em Excellence helps a beginnner-to-intermediate player creatively think about low-to-mid limit hold'em. This book helps a player to start to think about questions such as when should I raise? How do I start to analyze the other players? How do I change my play based on table conditions? How strong is my hand, really? It helps players to understand why to do what they are supposed to.
   
   I should list a few caveats. The writing isn't stellar, and the grammar is at times bad. The book could have used a better editing job, as sometimes the summaries are full of info that wasn't in the preceding chapter. But this is a book about poker from a poker player, so please forgive the nitpicks. Also, this book is by no means complete, but it shouldn't be. A more advanced player could complain that the chapters aren't nearly as complete as they could be, but a new player would be overwhelmed by something more than this. This book isn't trying to be Sklansky's "Theory of Poker." Theory of Poker is post-doc work, and this is undergraduate level.
   
   So, what is this book? This book is a great supplemental book. Don't get it as your first book, but once you have a basic idea as to how to play poker, read this so you can start to think about the whys, the maybes, and the what ifs. In this way, I think this book is excellent for both the beginner and the more advanced player. This is a book for any poker player who needs to move beyond the sheer basics of poker and begin to think about the game from a higher point of view.

5 comments about Hold'em on the Come: Limit Hold'em Strategy for Drawing Hands.

1. If the reader is anything like me then they probably play a lot of no limit hold `em, and probably, at some point, have come to the realization that no limit ring games aren't going to last forever. This is particularly true if the reader happens to be a fellow American whose government recently declared war on our perfectly civilized habit of playing online poker. The long and the short of it is that we may well find ourselves in a brick and mortar casino playing whatever game is available with a reasonable buy in, which often, is a limit game (unless you're in Vegas where they have NL 100 and 200 live--by me it's NL 300 only). Therefore, brushing up on, or learning limit for the first time is advisable. With Hold' Em on the Come, Slotboom and Mason only do one thing, but they do it well which is to analyze and proscribe when draws should be played after the flop. The book issues lengthy discussion on this subject, but it is more diverse than you think as it includes low pairs, two pairs, and overcards along with the obvious mix of straights and flushes. From what I can gather, most of the text is really Dew Mason's with additional insight provided by Rolf "Ace" Slotboom. His sections are boxed off and titled "Ace Speaks." The great Ace's commentary enriches the work tremendously, and, personally, I'll buy anything he puts out because I loved his DVDs and still watch them. Overall, I found this offering invaluable.



2. if you are into poker like me.. invest in this book is worth it...
   this is comming from a poker head that has over 15 books.....
   If you think you know how to play yours draws....Raad this book... n you wil learn thing or two..... I did.! ! special when to foldem...lol
   Good luck on the tables.
   
   Nutty Rabbit



3. this book was a very good read to familiarize yourself with counting outs.
   the only thimg that was really surprising, was the fact that with all the explantions of outs and draws, i cant believe the author did not include any thourough discussion comparing your outs to the odds against making your hand. ie. u have 9 outs, therefore you ars 4 to 1 against making your hand, now compare that to size of pot, and you see to call a $10 bet you need the pot to contain at least $40. none of this was in the book.
   if i hadnt known how to calculate my odds,(4 to 1) etc. i would have never understood how the author came to a conclusion that he needed 4 outs to stay in a hand.
   really strange.



4. For less experienced players, this is a thorough exploration of drawing hands in limit hold'em. However, the play system he advocates is very intricate and unwieldy, in my view. To take into consideration all the factors that can weaken a draw, the author uses fractions of outs. Count 'em up, let's see, we've got 4 1/2 outs, but need 5 to draw, that's a fold.
   
   I'm sure Slotboom is a math head who does this effortlessly, but for most of us, I think the return is not worth all the effort. Most decisions are clearcut -- you have 8 outs, that's always a call, even if it really is 7.5 outs. Certainly figuring by tenths of outs would give only an illusion of precision, and I really doubt that 1/2 outs provide better resolution. It is a rare hand that might be decided by 1/2 an out. In such close situations, you are almost always going to decide according to how the opponent has been playing, what your image is, what happened last hand, etc.
   
   You will understand draws after this book. The system of discounting outs will help you understand the complexity that effects the quality of a draw, but I doubt many people retain the scoring system. Discounting outs is important, but can be simplified. If you've got a pair and an inside draw, that's six outs to improve, but since two of those cards (that make trips) could give him a full house, you only count one of them, for a total of five outs. Slotboom will figure 'there are only 3.5 clean outs to a straight, because you might tie, and the villain might make a runner-runner flush, so that discounts another half, plus the two halves discounted for a fullhouse, which adds up to 4.5 outs, but he's a bad player who will keep raising the river, so add a half, for a total of five, so call.' Or something like that.
   
   Bill Haywood
   HoldemTight



5. I found it difficult to understand and found myself reading the same paragraph over 3 times on many occasions. I had to stop reading it half way through because It seemed to become tedious to read. The advice about counting outs is ok, but often it assumes you are up against a top hand, hardly taking into account a bluff which is very common on online limit poker.
   Also the mathematical difference you can make to your bankroll is of little significance unless your playing very high limit poker. Even if you perfected what the author is trying to teach, you probably wont have the time or energy to apply it to online poker.

5 comments about No Limit Hold 'Em: The Book of Blunders - 15 COSTLY MISTAKES TO AVOID WHILE PLAYING NO LIMIT TEXAS HOLD 'EM.

1. This book really helped me improve. I play a lot of No Limit cash games and this book opened my eyes to a lot of mistakes I was making. Each page is packed with pro tips and advice and will make a great addition to any poker player's library.



2. Beware of early reviews. There are too many "reviewers" who only give 5 stars. You wouldn't think they had a relationship with the publisher or author would you? Hmm. And I love the people who tell you that some book has really improved their game, on the very first week or day the book is out. How would they know so soon?
   
   "Blunders" would be, and still is a good concept for a book, but this is only a thin little pamplet of 54 pages. The material is good, for what is there, but you could probably pick up more in a few articles from "Card Player" magazine, which is free. 10 dollars is just too much for such a tiny little bit of material. But if it were 4 or 5 dollars I would have given it 4 stars.
   
   Still would be a good idea for a real book. The author made a promising start. He just didn't get it more than a third written before he quit.
   
   Postscript: If I had known how agressive they were going to be packing the ratings with bogus five star "reviews", I might have downgraded my review to compensate against them misleading the public. The person who keeps writing the same review over and over (with identical word fingerprint statistics!) does not understand how badly he/she is hurting this product, because most Amazon customers can clearly see what goes on. After all, it is not a bad booklet, just skimpy and a bit overpriced for its size.



3. This book helped open my eyes to a couple of the mistakes that I make when playing NL cash games. Great in-depth hand analysis that really makes you think. I would recommend this book to any pokerplayer that wants to reduce bad decisions while playing and increase their bankroll.



4. The Book of Blunders, written by N.R. Villarreal, attempts to cover and explain the most common mistakes and errors that poker players make.
   
   With only 54-pages of content, The Book of Blunders resembles a pamphlet more than it does a book. It could be fully read and absorbed in 2-4 hours depending on your reading speed and poker skill, and therefore the 54 pages seem rather steep for the $9.95 retail price.
   
   The book assumes that readers already have basic No-Limit Hold'Em knowledge, and is written in a manner that is pretty well suited to players of all levels. N.R. Villarreal appears to have a good grasp of poker knowledge and experience, but occasionally seems to force certain disputed or strongly contested poker theories. This is not a big issue as most poker books often take a particular side, however the author often fails to inform the reader of these alternative strategies or styles.
   
   The Book of Blunders unfortunately takes it's title perhaps a little too literally. Since I read the book from cover to cover with the intention of reviewing it, I made special notice of typos, grammatical errors, and awkward writing. After dog-earing and circling such errors, I counted a total of 13, not counting awkward or confusing sentences. While I normally could care less about such publishing mistakes, with at least 13 discovered within 54 pages by somebody who has never went to college, I must admit that it made me second guess the poker abilities of the author. While there may be no direct correlation between writing and poker ability, it still seeps into the back of your mind and makes you wonder.
   
   That being said, The Book of Blunders does have valuable information. Some common mistakes covered include: "Not Protecting a Big Pair Pre-Flop", "Giving Drawing Hands Great Odds To Call On The Flop", "Giving Credit Too Easily", and "Bad Bluffs". The author also provides a lot of hand examples, walking the reader through the game play and thought process.
   
   The most valuable part of the book, in my opinion, is by far the "Rule of 4 and 2". I've heard of this before but had somehow forgotten about it. This little trick, in my eyes, is an extremely powerful tool and very simple to learn. In that sense, I relearned something very valuable in this book.
   
   To conclude, The Book of Blunders is a very small book which will help readers avoid pitfalls and common blunders. It contains some confusing and awkward writing, not to mention a plethora of typos. And at only 54-pages long, readers could save their $9.95 and put it towards a better book.



5. If not you must own this book! That bit of information alone paid for the price of the book many times over. I gave the book to my brother when I finished reading it and he knew about the rule already, but he loved all the other tips and strategy in this book. The chapter on bluffing was really good. I might just be a beginner but I know this book can help most players. The only problem I had is I wished it was longer. But that is only because it was good and I didnt want it to end.

No comments about Treating Gambling Problems (Wiley Treating Addictions series).

5 comments about The Most Glorious Crown: The Story Of America's Triple Crown Thoroughbreds From Sir Barton To Affirmed.

1. fast service. wonderful to work with. wish we had one more to add to the crown.



2. We continue to be completely satisfied with the excellent service we receive through Amazon.com and its affiliates. Everything is sent quickly (usually ahead of the estimated delivery date), cleanly, in excellent condition, and exactly as advertised. Thank all those involved with this process.



3. The DVD was great, the book goes into more detail, but overall a great package.



4. I saw the three races, I'm glad I found the book, us horse people has to stick together.



5. The service was superb for the above book. It was sent surface mail and I was informed it would be delivered around 15th. October, 2008. It arrived 5th. September - Terrific!! Well packaged and even though I have not completely read it yet, I am very satisfied with its content.

5 comments about The Basics of Winning Sports Betting (Basics of Winning).

1. no body can tell me that it is hard to win on sports betting. This book is the guide, to become rich.Winnn!



2. the book was intresting with a major emphasis on football betting. the baseball betting section was weak. a good book for an introduction to football betting



3. I was expecting some helpful insight on how to analyze betting lines; instead all I got was a very basic decription of lines. There was no insight at all. The book is very small and only 51 pages long, I read it in less than 30 minuets.
   The only useful information are the charts that show breakeven pionts on moneyline bets. Don't waste your money.



4. An important fundamental reference on sports betting that should be part of any comprehensive personal gambling library. Good for beginners, but crucial for those who already are involved in sports betting and need a quick reference on basic and intermediate betting strategies. Author is a well known Vegas insider (as well as being a known sports handicapper, he is also a tournament winning poker player)...



5. Cardoza puts a lot into 60 pages. If beginning bettors just followed his "Ten Commandments" of sports betting, they could avoid a lot of rookie mistakes. Of course, they won't, but that's not Cardoza's fault.

3 comments about How to Detect Casino Cheating at Blackjack.

1. Bill Zender worked his way up through the ranks from dealer all the way to Casino Manager at the Aladdin. He has also worked for the Nevada Gaming Control Board. His unique perspectives on casino cheating are a "must read" for the serious blackjack player, as a cheating dealer can obliterate your bankroll faster than a Vegas floozy. He discusses seconds-dealing in great detail, and how to detect it from the players chair. He also discusses methods taken by the casinos (since they are often victims of cheating dealers as well) and by the commission. All serious players will hit a bad streak eventually. You MUST be confident in your ability to determine whether it is luck alone, or a cheating dealer that is to blame (it's almost always bad luck, but you gotta know this). If you can't do this, you won't win over the long haul, it's as simple as that.



2. If you frequent casino blackjack tables this book is well worth your time.

   This book deals with a controversial subject -- insider cheating in casinos. Although the days of unregulated bust-out joints is over (at least in the US it is) it is not impossible to encounter some kind of cheating at casino blackjack tables. According to the author (who worked as a casino exec for a number of years), nowadays insider cheating in casinos is rare and it mostly happens by the floor staff running their own scams; not by the house running a scam against their customers. Even if the establishments are not to be blamed for such occurrences this book made some noise in the casino community simply because these establishments do not want the subject of the possibility of insider cheating even mentioned. I say, wherever money passes hands there will be some fast hands and the subject can not be ignored.

   Those who are already familiar with some standard blackjack cheating techniques and strategies will have to read through some descriptions they already know. However, I still found some fresh ideas and even the author's opinion on the subject is well worth the read.

   Highly recommended.




3. Zender is the most recognized expert on casino cheating in the world. His preface focuses on where you have to worry about cheating - mainly outside the US, or in small unregulated US casinos (if you play in Las Vegas or other large casinos, cheating is not a problem).
   
   The second area he focuses on is the methods casinos use to cheat, and how to detect them. I have played in casinos outside the US, and have personally seen casinos cheating (in Curacao). As a card-counter, I could have been financially wiped out if I played there unaware of what the casino did.
   
   This book is a quick read - it is entertaining with the antecdotes, but also includes good documentation on how to identify cheating, including illustrations. Another book to consider if you play many casino games is "Casino Game Protection" by Steve Forte.

5 comments about Craps For The Clueless: A Beginner's Guide to Playing and Winning (The Clueless Guides).

1. This book doesn't really have much of interest in it. For just a little bit more money you can buy "American Mensa Guide to Casino Gambling" which has a lot of good information.



2. I have always been intimidated by craps because I knew NOTHING about it. I found this book very helpful in describing the odds and protocol. When I used the advice at the table, dealers talked to me as if I were a professional gambler, and by playing conservatively and consistantly, I won money at the table when everyone around me was losing. I love craps!



3. Mr. Patrick's book "Craps for the clueless" has allowed me to win at craps almost everytime I play.

   Yes there has been days when I violated the rules he has layed down and went home a loser but usually under $100 bucks.

   I just got back from Lake Tahoe and took them for $170.00 large. ha

   Just learn the place bets of putting your money on 6 and 8. that is all you need. Of course a 2-way hard 6 is nice when you are winning and remember to give the bar babe at least a $5 dollar chip when she comes by with your drink, you cheap ass.
   Ty




4. John Patrick is dead on. I love this book because it explains a professional gambler's betting strategy and why in terms understood by a beginner. I knew very little about craps except that I liked the energy of the game. The book was great for explaining the types of bets and the pros & cons of each. The style was honest and very enjoyable. Do not expect to make the big hit with the methods in this book. The numerous small hits may not be as exciting but really add up.

   I read the book, downloaded some casino software, and became disciplined with the strategies on my PC. Weeks later I went to Vegas to try my variation of Twenty Two Inside. At the end of the trip my small winnings and ultra-conservative style added up to $350 and I was (very very) lucky enough to take money from all seven casinos I played. I could sense that the macho players were mocking me when I stated 'Take Me Down'. Of course, a couple of rolls later the 7 popped up and they watched the dealer take their money. John was dead on about this too.




5. Not the most elequent writer I've ever read, but if your looking for the basics of Craps and some great strategy that will help you avoid losing and generate reasonable winnings...this is the book!

4 comments about The Illustrated Guide to No-Limit Texas Hold'em.

1. I was not a fan of this book. It contains a lot of errors - like how to look like you are going to bet by holding your chips when describing an Internet tournament scenario! Of the 150 scenarios, one includes making a Royal Flush and another involves flopping quads. Sure, they happen, but I've been playing online for more than six years, and I've made one Royal. Are there people playing on the Internet as dumb as the opponents described in this book? Sure. But the overall message I took away from this book is, "Don't gamble unless you have the absolute nuts." Good luck on that. Find a better use for your money.



2. Following the success of the limit version of this book the author has moved into the arena of the very popular no limit Hold'em game. Unlike most of the books out there this one breaks everything down into illustrated scenarios which include the important factors of position, pot size, action, and other useful information upon which decisions should be based. The reader can visualize the exact scenario and then read the correct course of action. By providing over 150 scenarios some of which are multiple parts of the same hand the reader is guided through a number of thought processes that are essential for any winning poker player.
   
   A beginner is exposed to ideas they may never have considered such as the importance of position, how to figure pot odds, the consideration of prior action in the hand, theoretical hand strength, maximizing profit from a winning hand, and much more.
   
   Some of the concepts will be old news to an advanced player, but to new and intermediate players it drives home some very important advice covering real life and internet games. By using illustrations with every hand the concepts are easy to grasp and remember. It is a book that can be read a little at a time and is very easily absorbed.



3. I'm between Beginner and Intermediate, and this book works great for me. Illustrations help reders to understand situations very clearly. With this book I feel as if I were at a card table with a great mentor.



4. There are lots of books out there that are just too much work for the beginner. Sklansky is brilliant but I can't wade through his books or most of the 2+2 library just yet. That's a criticism of me not them.
   
   Lots of other books attempt to describe hands in prose or through some kind of diagram. These books by Purdy provide a very clear way of illustrating and narrating a poker scenario so that it has the feel of being at the table. The situations can be read one at a time. Each stuation and analysis taking perhaps five minutes or so to read through.
   
   Since 95% of the book consists of the 150 situations, don't buy this book unless you are willing to actively engage in thinking them through as presented. This is not a book to just sit back and read on autopilot. You have to "play" the hands. You might think of it as 5 hours of play at the casino poker room.
   
   The books by Purdy have helped me the most in starting out. And who knows, after reading them, I may just be ready for some Sklansky.