5 comments about John Patrick's Blackjack: So You Wanna Be a Gambler'.

1. No one said this book is for the expert. "Blackjack" is for the guys and dolls that go to a casino 2-3 times a year, 2-5 days a trip. For us, the short term is the only thing that matters. The "expert play" in the other books absolutely does cover the long term, but I'll never reach those stats in my life and therefore need to do what I can to help myself in the short term.

   John Patrick uses a distinctive style of humor to teach the basics of Blackjack (and craps, pai-gow, sports betting, etc) in a manner that will stay with you. He'll let you know why you should always hit your hard 16 against a dealer 7.

   Yes, if you go to a casino daily or weekly or even monthly, maybe you should consider a more mathematical book to cover your long term play but for most of us Patrick's book will cover us very nicely.




2. I am a fan of John Patrick's thoughts on gambling. However this book has me scratching my head more than any other he has written.
   
   On the one hand, I would definitely suggest reading a follow up book containing basic strategy. On the other hand, JP gives a somewhat compelling argument against putting more money on the table when the dealer has a strong up card. He also wants us to pile it on when the dealer is weak. Even if you can't remember basic strategy (buy a strategy card) just remembering these two ideas will help you out a lot.
   
   John's books cover how to play, and then the normal ideas about discipline, bankroll, money management, etc. All of this is good information. But his knowledge of the game in this book is the only book he has written where I deviate quite a bit from how he suggests I play the game.



3. That should be the title of this book. John Patrick writes from his experience and seeing and playing millions of hands of blackjack, not sitting behind a computer. His Big 4 approach is right on and can be applied to anything you gamble on. This book is fun to read, simple, and easy to apply. Anyone who has played blackjack and sat at a real table with real money will quickly appreciate his methods. I have played, watched and tested many of his theories advising against the "book" and he is right on. For 95% of blackjack players, following the advice of this book religiously will save you from losing a ton of money and will actually give you a chance to win. His Basic Craps book is excellent as well.



4. As always another great read from John. Whether you are a complete newbie, novice, or advanced, there is plenty to learn in this book. Nice systems to mull over, and of course great money management and discipline advice. Pick this one up and study it at length.



5. Clearly this book is ridiculously flawed when it comes to basic strategy. BS reduces the house edge to around 0.5%, but JP admits his method reduces it to 1.5%. Hmmm...
   
   But his (repeated) messages about discipline and walking away a winner are very good. And the betting schemes he outlines, though not original, are good for a beginner to follow. Certainly they've helped me stay more organized at the table, with less "hunch" betting. Obviously nothing short of counting will eliminate the house edge, but I utilize his money management to this day to help limit my losses and keep my win goals realistic. Worth a read, if you skip the basic strategy section.

1 comments about Wink: The Incredible Life and Epic Journey of Jimmy Winkfield.

1. Jimmy Winkfield led an epic life as a champion jockey driven from America due to racism on and off the track while losing everything twice in Europe due to the world wars. But through it all, author Ed Hotaling shows a man driven to succeed no matter what barriers were placed in front of him.
   
   By the age of 23 in 1904, Winkfield was a two-time Kentucky Derby champion and arguably the greatest jockey in the nation. But the ugliness of racism found Winkfield not being able to generate any interest from Thoroughbred owners and trainers. And before he - along with all black jockeys - were cast aside by hate, the rides were getting rougher with white jockeys trying to prevent wins through a variety of crass fouls, while judges looked the other way.
   
   Winkfield became a successful jockey in Europe - especially in the Czar's Russia - but the Bolshevik Revolution found Winkfield leading an expedition on horseback - many of the horses were champions of the turf - out of the country in a perilous journey of life & death. His career in the Thoroughbred industry was rebuilt after the war in France, but Winkfield again lost everything when he was driven from France during the early stages of the Nazi occupation.
   
   Though his grand achievements were largely forgotten as the years breezed by, Winkfield was slated to be honored late in his life in an event the evening before the Kentucky Derby. What happens when the champion jockey again meets the wall of racism brings his life as a jockey to a poignant coda.
   
   The Thoroughbred industry has been about as timely as Major League Baseball in dealing with the past racism in the sport. Winkfield has a minor stakes race named after him on the New York schedule, but it struggles to gate a full field.
   
   Hotaling does a magnificent job in delving into a history that has been buried for too many years. Winkfield lived an incredible life of triumph & heartbreak, and one does not have to be a Thoroughbred racing fan to appreciate his accomplishments under incredible odds.

5 comments about Thirteen Against the Bank: The True Story of How a Roulette Team Broke the Bank with an Unbeatable System.

1. The fascinating account of how Norman Leigh took a team to break the bank at Nice using his roulette system. Dryly funny, it offers an insight into how gambling affects and alters personalties. It also illustrates a winning roulette system for those with the exceptional discipline, stamina and bankroll required to play it.



2. I read this book as a teenager and enjoyed it immensely. Since then, I've often wondered if it was true. I recently decided to write a simulation program that plays the system exactly as laid out in the book. What did I find? Email me at jwoodger@sympatico.ca, if you're interested.



3. I read the book in less than two days....truly was hard to put down....if you are just picking up a book to browse through and try and pick up a system, then you don't want the book...the system is explained throughout...no charts or graphs or any other BS....I found it to be a great read and have used a part of the system(mostly red/black and high/low) 5 times in the casinos(hardly enough to prove anything)but have walked away with $100+ each time...Now I don't have the capital to get a "Mushroom" as they call it, but if you can consistently walk away from the casino with $100-$200 for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours of play...isn't that worth it.....Not quite as profitable as the European wheel, but it can still turn a profit with patience....BUY IT, READ IT AND ENJOY IT!



4. While the tale of a team of gamblers taking down a famous casino in Monte Carlo is an engaging story, here's the problem: The gambling system described is simply not possible.
   
   When I read the book, I had my father write a program to simulate 100,000 spins of a roulette wheel, using each of the gambler's moves (the outcome of the spin affects each team member differently).
   
   It took about 5 seconds on this massive computer (at Abbott Laboratories) to re-create 100,000 spins. Results weren't even close to making money. We ran it again, several times, same outcome.
   
   I then had him invert the program, that is reverse the logic revealed by Leigh's system. Maybe, I figured, the author was altering his strategy to hide the real method.
   
   Back to the computer, back to the same results - nothing that amounts to winning money.
   
   Cash in on good readaing from a fun older book, but don't get your hopes up to make a living off a the author's gaming system.



5. I read this book years ago and it captivated me. I have always thought that this would be a great movie with a young Michael caine In the lead role. I cannot vouch that this is a truue story (I have heard conflicting reports that Norman Leigh never Existed - his system doesn't work etc etc) However its a great read even if its a work of fiction. The Book ends with the "hero" about to depart for Vegas, I have wondered what happened Ever Since. Sounds like time for "Thirteen Against the Mobs bank!"

5 comments about Secrets of Modern Slot Playing.

1. Seriously, if you play slots, read this book. Of course luck adds to everything, but I read this book and followed what it said and I won and came out ahead (won $800 on the slots, and after playing other games, went home $500 ahead). This book gives the slot player so much more of an advantage.



2. I bought and read this book, then took a trip to my nearby Indian Casino, only to find that the slots the book recommends as the best paying, don't even exist there. The author recommends 2-coin, three reel, nonprogressive slots with the lowest top jackpot (1000 to 5000.) I searched the casino from top to bottom and did not find a single machine that fell in to this category.
   
   I also tried some of the other "strategies" mentioned and ended up going home, having spent my alloted bankroll, faster than any other trip. Bad luck? Possibly. Bad advice? More probable.
   
   Better advice? Stick with the slots that make you happy and forget trying to go home with more money than you came with.



3. This was a quick read and a lot of fun as well. Filled with information that ran from common sense to the intricacies of computer slots. Lots of jokes, and sensible tips for enjoying you slot time without loosing your shirt.



4. I jet got this book today (July 3, 2006) and read it through in one day as well. Regardless of the size of the book, it was filled with good and useful information in regards to how slots works, the dispelling of common myths, and how to modify you style of play to prolong your enjoyment in the casino.
   
   A fascinating feature of the book is a list of known casinos in the U.S. and their average payback based on location and denomination of the machine. This was information I have never seen before and helped me determine which of the casinos near me have the better paying slots.
   
   It was also nice to see that they weren't trying to "sell a system." The book explains that the slot machines are nothing more than computer-based random number generators and that there is nothing you can do that will alter their play or cause them to pay out better. It does suggest how to alter your method of play to prolong your playing time, if not improve your chances of winning.
   
   While Book Mama complained that the methods described in the book didn't work in an Indian casino, the book does explain that some Indian casinos have lower payout rates than most other casinos.
   
   My only problem with the book is that, while it did discuss tax rules in regards to your winnings, I wished it had given more detailed information than what it did. Still, it's a pretty good book.



5. While a little repeptitive at times the author underscores the things you pick up on if you pay attention while gaming. Solid advice if you can remember to follow it.

5 comments about John Patrick's Baccarat: How to Play and Win at the Table With the Fastest Action and the Highest Stakes.

1. John explains the game but just goes on & on repeating himself about elements of his philosophy. He tell the same story in all his other tapes and books. Tell me something new.



2. I found this book both informative and easy to understand. I have been very successful with his methods.



3. Let's face it. Casinos are tough to beat. Yet every book makes it sound so easy. They go into some strategy, tell a few stories about episodes at the tables all while giving the reader false confidence that costs real money. These books rarely delve into the most grossly under-represented aspect of gambling: the loss. Not the case when it comes to books written by John Patrick. Patrick addresses losses for what they are: a sad reality. Truth is that losing and losing sessions are one half of the game. How will you handle that loss? The seasoned gambler knows that all of the table games are tough to beat. This tough player knows that the "secret" to winning is catching the streak. How does the veteran do this? How can you do it? Get this book and learn the fundamentals. The rest is up to you.



4. John Patrick continues his misleading statements and his misuse of the word Win. This book does not overcome basic mathematics and the player disadvantage built into the game. Save your money and don't buy it; better yet, save even more money and don't play Baccarat.



5. Not only is this book awful for it's smarmy tone, it also contains misinformation in certain areas. Get John May's book instead (ISBN: 0818406046).

   I am a borderline bibliophile, and in the rare cases when I get rid of books (usually because of duplicate copies), I donate them to the local library. This is the only book I have thrown away, because I did not want to be responsible for someone borrowing it from the library and taking it's information as true.

5 comments about Champions: The Lives, Times, and Past Performances of America's Greatest Thoroughbreds, Revised Edition.

1. Bought this as a gift for my Dad. Huge horse racing fan. I guess this is a must have item. I personally have no idea. But he raved and raved about getting it. If you are shopping for a gift also get them the horse racing almanac.



2. I bought this book for my husband as a present as we both enjoy horses and horse racing. He couldn't put it down. The book offers easy to read history that would fascinate anyone with or without an interest in horse racing. The reader becomes excited reading about such races as Secretariat and Affirmed. It renews or introduces interest in horses such as Whirlaway and Nashua. This is a readable book with the past performances (which are hard to read for the non-horse race handicapper) that can be used as a reference book, too. The book is nicely organized with chapters representing the great horses of the decades and brings the reader up to the present (2004). If you like sports and admire athletes - here's a book filled with the greatest of them all!



3. in this book you will find the pp's of the most famous horses ever in USA.
   
   it's a really great book...i reccomend strongly for horse racing fans



4. what a beautiful and informat book that will have you turning pages for days-well worth the money...



5. I was disappointed to discover that in this 448 page book, approximately 290 pages are devoted to thousands of lines of statistical data. It was not what I expected. The history of the sport is arranged in a time line format with a story on each decade from the 1890s to 2004, each chapter followed by 30 or more pages of statistics. I am not a horse racing fan but I did find this book enlightening. What I learned is that horse racing is really all about the breeding and the money. I found this very sad, especially in light of the recent tragic deaths of Barbaro and Eight Belles.

2 comments about The Blood-Horse Authoritative Guide to Auctions.

1. Prepared by the staff and correspondents of Blood-Horse Publications, The Blood-Horse Authoritative Guide To Auctions is a superbly organized and presented instructional manual that anyone contemplating the purchase of a thoroughbred horse simply must read before investing their time and money. Readers will learn what thoroughbred horses cost, what the conditions of sale mean, how to read a catalog page, the role veterinarians play, how buyers can protect themselves, and much more. In addition to general guidelines for successfully buying a thoroughbred, notes on some of the most famous and successful thoroughbreds ever sold, and an extensive glossary, The Blood-Horse Authoritative Guide To Auctions is packed with maps and travel tips for lodging and dining when venturing out to a number of high-profile thoroughbred sales companies. An absolute "must-have" for anyone seriously interested in owning a racehorse.



2. No book alone can definitively help an individual who wants to get involved in the Thoroughbred industry through any number of public auctions held nationwide, but this guide comes close.
   
   It takes a novice through a readable, step-by-step learning process in this high-stakes game; the types of sales, major sales companies, how to buy, the need to hire experts and the factors that affect sales prices. The book is also good for race fans who are interested in background information on this important segment of the sport.
   
   It also must be noted that many Thoroughbred owners and trainers who race frequently at tracks are oftentimes highly accessible & may actually be great resources on how to get into the game. A person needs a realistic plan and fully understand the positives and negatives in owning Thoroughbreds.
   
   For those who are curious about what it takes to successfully bid at auction, the book can lead you to the starting gate.

1 comments about The Confident Gambler.

1. Through the use of personal stories, Mr. Gollehon provides advise in a non-threatening or judgemental way for both the beginning and the seasoned gambler. He covers table games and slots in easy to understand language while still providing entertainment. A must read prior to planning a gambling adventure and a definite re-read enroute!

2 comments about The Education of a Poker Player: Including Where and How One Learns to Win.

1. After reading many books on poker, I keep returning to the first book I have ever read on the art of poker playing. Zen and the Art of Poker is a good book on how our inner selves influence our actions. Silberstang explains the finer points of the game, but one does not need any special training to make money following Yardley's advice. In clear, simple examples, Yardley can make anyone a winner, with the caviat that not everyone will follow his instructions to the letter. Yardley has the techniques, but it is up to the player to have the discipline to stick to the task.



2. When I first read THE EDUCATION OF A POKER PLAYER by Herbert O Yardley, I was about fifteen and had never played poker. I thought it was a good read about the Bildingsroman growth of a young boy, sort of like David Copperfield cutting his teeth in the poker salons in mid 19th century rural America. Yardley was a smart kid who learned the basics of hard-nosed poker from his poker sensei Monty. In later years after I had begun to play poker, I remembered Yardley's book and reread it, this time for his sage advice. What I found was that Yardley's wisdom on the felt table has transcended time. Every future book on poker theory that I later read was neither as informative or as enjoyable as this one. Highly recommended.

No comments about Casino Industry in Asia Pacific: Development, Operation, And Impact.