5 comments about Weighing the Odds in Sports Betting.

1. Can a book be too good? First, you must decide what is meant by "good" . . . Deep insight to some, is inscrutable for others. I've run a major sports betting website for many years, and what is undebatable is that the average fan is looking for guidelines, rather than a complicated forumla. But if you are looking to dig deeper, this book offers valuable insight.



2. This book is easily worth the 14 dollar investment. I gave this book 4 stars as I was primarily looking for handicapping ideas or methods whereas the book excels in providing "betting" advice which he has learned through the use of his extensive databases.
   
   The book is essential reading if one is new to sports gambling and has not read Stanford Wong's "Sharp Sports Betting". It is especially nice that King Yao provides the reader with information such as fair betting lines for firts half (4.5 innings) baseball lines, as well as fair first half NFL lines corresponding to a full game line.
   
   Overall, very good book and easily worth the money



3. I agree as many of the other reviews before. That's it's a good book for beginners in sports betting. The math is quite simple to understand. If you never done sports betting and want to learn more about how to calculate EV and to understand how sports betting is working, this is the book for you.



4. Really did enjoy this book and will refer to it again and again to re-inforce some of the material in here. Very sound advice and the content is easily grasped. My only criticism (and it's a minor issue) is that some of the topics aren't covered in deep enough detail (IMO) i.e. Some of the topics are written in 2-3 paragraphs when I felt they needed a little more in depth coverage on them.
   
   That aside, it's a good read and useful resource in a genre where quality is hard to come by.



5. The book gives the basics, but some are questionable. The author needs to move into the 21st century and realise that Vegas is a shadow and online books are the way to go. How many readers will interested in hearing about the heat in Nevada? He needed to tackle this from an online perspective, as this is how most people bet.
   
   There is no talk of College football or hoops, nor is the NBA regular season mentioned
   
   Also, the author does not understand efficient markets and fails to realise that the more a market is efficient, the harder it is to beat

5 comments about Beat the Craps out of the Casinos: How to play craps and win!.

1. The 5-count contents is less than 1/8 of the book. The rest are redundancy of author's other books. I do not see the logic in the 5-count except to prolong playing time for casino handout.



2. I started playing craps this past year and really enjoy playing the game. Naturally, I wanted to develop my skills and use my new fascination to make a little money, opposed to placing wild bets that seldomly paid out. I purchased this book to attempt to beat the system with mathematical odds. While this book does touch on the mathetical odds of the game the strategy recommended by the author appears to be based on superstition, rather than mathematics. As such, I believe the Supersystem to be inherently flawed. I would not recommend employing this system in the Casino if you want to make money. Good luck and happy gambling.



3. In reading this book I found absolutely nothing that would be anything close to a winning system. The "Five Count" and all variations, when tested at length is merely a way of limiting your losses in hopes of staying at the table longer and hitting a hot roll before you run out of money. As with most craps books this one may teach you to manage your money and remind you about discipline.



4. This book is not for newbies! Frank Scoblete teaches a new method for craps that I just could not understand. I was looking for something more basic.



5. This is a great book for beginners. It gives you an overview of the game and the different bets out there. It also lets you know what bets to stay away from unless you want to leave completely broke. I've tried the 5 count in this book and I believe that it is a genius way of qualifying shooters. I used to have a big problem with shooters craping out right away and loosing me a lot of money. It has definitely saved a lot of money on my recent craps trips. The super system is a little more complicated, but I've made my own little modified version of this system that works better for me. The only downside of these two systems is that you do need to be a little more patient when utilizing them. I'd say that this is the only book that beginners need to read, unless they want to get into dice control.

5 comments about How to Cheat at Everything: A Con Man Reveals the Secrets of the Esoteric Trade of Cheating, Scams, and Hustles.

1. I've made it about 70% through, and I'm very pleased. It's a broader study than The Big Con, and doesn't go into as much depth, but it hits the kind of thing the average person is more likely to see. One thing lacking is the pictures on such things as the false shuffles. I suppose you'd truly need high-speed video to really see what's happening, but more than one picture per shuffle would be a good start.



2. Would be interesting if it were half as long. The cons were the most interesting; the endless variations on how to cheat at cards and dice and silly bar bets were tiring.



3. Not only is Lovell's book twice as long as it should have been, but over 90% of the material covered is so dumb and artless it would only rip off a stoned retard. Remember Lloyd and Harry in 'Dumb and Dumber' scamming that crippled blind kid with a headless dead parakeet? You'll get the picture straight away. In fact, about a third of the book is on clumsy and oafish playing card frauds that wouldn't fool your own mother.



4. THAT TYPE OF BEHAVIOR WILL ONLY GET YOU SO FAR..IN REFERENCE TO THE BOOK, ONLY A MENTALLY DISTURBED SOCIOPATH WOULD READ IT IN THE FIRST PLACE. THERE IS A COUPLE IN PHILADELPHIA,PA (SEE PHILLY.COM) THAT WAS RECENTLY BUSTED FOR FRAUD, AND IDENTITY THEFT. THIS BOOK WAS FOUND IN THEIR POSSESSIONS. IT WILL ONLY GET YOU SO FAR. IF NOT PRISON, 6 FEET OF DIRT AT THE CEMETARY OF YOUR CHOICE FOR SCREWING OVER THE WRONG PERSON...SAD, BUT TRUE...



5. Who wouldn't want to gain the oohs and aahs of friends at dinner or a bar?
   
   This book is loaded with some fantastic tricks. It's not teaching readers about ripping people off, though those stories are mixed in throughout.
   
   If you want a very unusual gift book, this is it.

5 comments about The Fun Way to Serious Bridge.

1. As one of the other reviewers noted, there is a dearth of good introductory bridge books. This book is not bad, but it is very busy and focuses on memorizing rules -- not a good thing, despite the numerous cartoons designed to help you remember. The book is a bit childish and might be good for teaching a kid, I can't see an adult using this to learn with though.
   
   Most of the other books are at least slightly better. Root's ABC's of Bridge is more thorough and less busy, and Penick's Beginning Bridge Complete will get you playing much quicker. But even these books are heavy on memory work and light on teaching you to think. Furthermore, because all of these books are focusing on memorizing instead of thinking things through, they frequently "simply" modern bidding to make it "easier" to learn. Doing this however, destroys the logic behind the bidding, making it almost impossible for a beginner to learn.
   
   INSTEAD OF THIS BOOK, you should get Alan Truscott's Bridge in 3 weeks, the absolute best book, and the *only* one I'd recommend. The writing is superb, which you would expect from the Bridge editor of the NY Times. The book focuses on teaching you to think at the table and will get you playing the game quickly. More over because this book focuses on logic instead of memorization, it actually teaches you to bid and play in the way that most actual players do, making it easier to advance beyond the book.



2. I am a bridge player of long experience, and this is the best book for beginners I ever saw.



3. Tells you in ordinary terms what to bid, why, & when to use a bid. Very easy to understand, even for conventions. Great for beginners and intermediate bridge players.



4. For anyone planning to teach someone to play bridge, this is an excellent first book to use. I teach bridge classes at a retirement park and always encourage the students to buy it if they enjoy humor and are planning to learn the game to play for fun. It's easily understood and contains lots and lots of cartoons to illustrate the concepts.



5. I have played bridge on and off ( mostly off ) for 45 years having learned Goren years ago. This simple and easy to use book is a great tool to remind me of all of the basics I have forgotten or never learned. It also takes the reader up to the level of most casual players. Fastest reference I have found on the subject and I have given a dozen copies out to friends who agree and use it regularly.

5 comments about American Casino Guide: 2008 Edition (American Casino Guide).

1. Loads of good info and a ton of coupons. If you are planning a trip to Vegas this book is a must have. You won't find offers from many of the large resort casinos but you will find enough free play, free gift, and food coupons to pay for this book a few times over in just one trip!



2. We bought this book before our last trip to Vegas. It was well worth it just one coupon for dinner paid for the book. We always rent a car so getting to the different places was easy. The two for one buffets at Green Valley, and the Silverton were great. If you only go to the big hotels on the strip you wont get the full benifit of the book.



3. Well I never used any of the coupons in here but it did have good tips and reading in it. It was prompt on getting here.



4. 
   This was the worse book I ever bought. The pages are falling out because of bad binding. The contents are very poor. Casino's that I know are not in the book or not accurate. Very Very poor



5. Our third trip to Vegas is coming up in October. I always use Alamo for our car rental and I have used the same coupon to book the car every trip. This alone more than paid for the cost of the book the first time I used it. I have never been asked for the coupon at the rental car center so am able to use it multiple times. We have also used several of the match play and food coupons. Although the majority of the coupons are for off strip locations, many are for downtown including Binions Steakhouse, Main Street Station etc. You won't be disappointed.

5 comments about Practical Poker Math: Basic Odds & Probabilities for Hold'Em and Omaha (Ecw Press).

1. Finally, a book that makes odds, probabilities and expectation easy to understand. The book is well written and the math is easy to follow. Also, it is the only book I know of that deals with the odds in Omaha. Well worth the money!



2. I started playing poker with some friends about 1 1/2 years ago. After going through a learning curve I was winning more than I was losing. I then thought I'd try online poker and found that the caliber of players was higher than I was used to and realized I needed to improve my chances. I happened upon Pat Dittmar's book Practical Poker Math and thought I'd take a look at it. I'm a computer professional and the book struck a chord with me because it's very logical. It also doesn't get so complicated that you lose interest and put it aside. After putting some of Dittmar's ideas into play I soon found I was holding my own with the online players. As I get more disciplined about sticking to the math and not letting my adrenaline carry me away I'm winning more and more. This book has paid for itself many times over.



3. This is the second book I have read about poker odds and the first I could understand. It is easy to understand, easy to read and best of all I have been winning more since reading it. Well worth buying.



4. I got this book about two weeks ago and immediately disliked the presentation so I put it aside until yesterday. Upon reading it I found more to dislike - much more. I've assigned it ONE STAR only because zero stars is impossible.
   
   I'll avoid picking the nits, though there are several, and just focus on the reason I cannot recommend the book to anyone.
   
   A single example will make my point. On pages 186-187 the author presents his analysis of the odds for hitting the nut low in Omaha/8 holding A2XX.
   
   1. To have the nut low the flop MUST be 345, a fact which he ignores. He considers any flop with three low cards not duplicating the A2 in your hand to be the nut low. Though it would be the nut low AT THAT POINT, you may well be counterfeited and not have the nut low when the hand is over.
   
   2. He then calculates (24 x 23)/(1 x 2) = 276 which he declares to be the number of 2-card combinations that will flop the nut low draw. Obviously here he is considering the first two cards on the flop. Of the six ranks (3-8) we want to see on the flop there are indeed 24 cards that satisfy our need on the first card of the flop but only 20 that do so on the second. His use of 23 in the formula allows duplication of the first card rank by the second card. (If both of the first two flop cards are low the second one will duplicate the first about 13% of the time.) This is because the first low card on the flop renders the remaining 3 cards of that rank useless for our purposes. The third flop card comes from a universe of only 16, a fact that he does get correct.
   
   Finally he arrives at odds of 3.5:1 against flopping the "nut low." Translating these odds into percentage probability of flopping a low 3.5:1 is equivalent to 22% (100/4.5). In short this author is saying that if you hold A2xx you will flop a low hand 22% of the time. Ridiculous!!!
   
   About half the cards in the deck that aren't Aces or Deuces are low so a crude calculation of (1/2 x 1/2 x 1/2) = 0.125 = 12.5% gets closer to the truth though it ignores the decreasing number of acceptable cards, leading to an overestimate. You can do the calculations carefully, deal out a couple of hundred hands and count the results, or write a script using perl, VB, or Dos Batch Language and use simulation to get the correct answer of 7%.
   
   I have neither the time nor the inclination to proof the entire book, but this isn't the only calculation error!
   
   Bottom line - If you're buying a book that'll teach you how to calculate percentages and odds BUY ONE THAT DOES IT CORRECTLY. This one doesn't.



5. The poker world needs more books like Practical Poker Math. This book made difficult topics like odds, probabilities and game theory easy to understand for a beginner like me.
   
   But I almost didn't buy the book because of the review by Herman Jackson and now I'm glad I ignored his review in favor of all the other unanimously favorable ones. And, after having read Practical Poker Math, I know I made the right decision. In Herman's example of the Nut Low, he says the author is talking about flopping a wheel when plainly the author is talking about flopping the nut low to a random board i.e., to a board of 6,7,8,J,J an A2xx is indeed the nut low hand and it is not a wheel. This obvious distortion of the author's intent caused me to look for other reviews he'd done. It seems suspicious that for another odds book (where he was the only reviewer) he gave it a great review while distorting the presentations in Practical Poker Math. Makes me wonder about Herman's hidden agenda.
   
   Anyway, I for one got great value from Practical Poker math and give it 5 stars. I loved the tables and presentation and already it's helped my game as much or more than any other poker book.

5 comments about Secrets of Professional Pot-Limit Omaha.

1. If you buy into cash games for the minimum and want to reduce your risk, while raking in large pots, this book is for you. Rolf has written a unique approach that is really quite informative. It takes a real commitment to his strategy for it to work, but in the long run I am sure it works well. Even if you don't use this specific strategy, the book is worth it because it covers a lot of groundbreaking areas that other Omaha books haven't touched and it is well written. I haven't pulled the trigger yet on his strategy, but I learned a lot about the reasons behind a successful Omaha strategy. Well done Rolf.



2. A fresh view on pot-limit omaha, a must read for everyone seriously interested in the game. Helps you understand the strategy of shortstack play perfectly.



3. Ok folks, up front this is not a how to book. Actually there is very little information in this book about starting hands, semi bluffing ect. This book is more about Power Plays. It is about using betting to lure in the action, controlling the pot, and most of all: understanding a great players use of logic rather than pure aggression. Rolf goes through hand scenerios that he has been in, in specific types of games.
   
   For Example: He tells of his time playing in a loose aggressive game in Vienna and how he was able to develop a systematic approach in beating this particular game. P.S. It is fascinating to read.
   
   His style is very erradic but once you read a few of his "Tales from the Felt" (as I call it) you begin to comprehend why he plays these hands a certain way in one game and completely different in another type of game.
   
   If you are an intermediate player I would still say you should read: Jeff Hwangs, Pot Limit Omaha book first and then read this one. Because the concepts in this book are advanced and you must have a clear understanding of the game to fully grasp the ideas and plays in this book. If you don't you will loose alot of money attempting these Power Plays.
   
   On a Personal Note:
   
   I play Omaha hi/lo Ring Games at my local casino and there are moments when I can understand these plays and incorporate them into my game and they have helped me get that extra value for my hand that I could not get before.
   
   Hope this helps!
   
   - George Johnson



4. Having read these reviews, I thought I'd better give my sad opinion too, since most of the reviews miss the biggest point.
   
   Unless you are an advanced Omaha player, this book is not for you. If you don't have an exceptional understanding of the game, the stuff Rolf writes will go right over your head. God help you (and your bankroll) if you try using it in money games.
   
   One reviewer is right in saying to read Hwang first. Ciaffone would be another good choice.



5. If you are looking to learn PLO, this, Hwang, and Ciaffone are the standards.
   
   The only thing I dislike about any of these books is that they tend to show you the easy hands - you play good cards, you get hit in the face by the flop, and then they explain what to do from there, which is fairly obvious.
   
   They don't go into as much detail about what to do for what you really spend the bulk of your time doing, and that is getting cards that aren't that great, or whiffing on flops - because that is what is hard and requires thought and separates the beginners from the rest.
   
   These books are all for beginners and basically tell you what you need to know to minimize the hard decisions and minimize your losses.
   They also discuss a fairly tight strategy that is largely specific to full ring games and live. In that there are very few full ring games online, compared to the shorthanded 6max games that are becoming the standard for PLO regulars online.
   
   Of the standards, Slotboom's is probably the best in terms of the next level discussion, but even then it is a lot of him talking about hands he played - but he does show a lot of the thought that goes behind it and it is a good book.

5 comments about Double or Nothing: How Two Friends Risked It All to Buy One of Las Vegas' Legendary Casinos.

1. "Double or Nothing" should be mandatory reading for any entrepreneur. This book is a captivating quick read and has the perfect mix of lessons and laughter.



2. A testimony to friendship in an exciting journey. Fast, furious, electric.
   As the reading progresses one feels as part of the adventure. A very easy and fun reading. What a treat!
   Can't wait for the next one.
   Marne



3. Imagine building an Internet business during the dotcom boom/bust and selling it to Microsoft for millions. Now imagine buying the famous Golden Nugget casino in Las Vegas and selling it in less than a year and half for hundreds of millions. Now imagine you are barely in your 30s and you are doing all this with your very best friend. This is the story of one of Las Vegas' most dynamic duos, two young guys from different backgrounds coming together to own the world.
   
   The Book tells the story in autobiographical form of Tom, a simple hard working boy from Minnesota, and his friendship with Tim, a local Vegas boy who has gambling in his blood. The two formed a bond that has lasted throughout the last 20 years and will be around till one of them passes on to the big casino in the sky. The pages of the book offer the reader an insight to a world that most of us will never be in: a world of fast cars, movie stars, corporate jets and millions of dollars wrapped in cellophane being bet on one roll of the dice.
   
   I enjoyed this book and I would have loved to have been a part of the world written in this book. The authors tell this story at about an 8th grade reading level which allows the book to be finished in a few hours. The book is not just about Vegas, it is about a time in financial history that was exciting and may never be duplicated, I hope you enjoy this book.



4. Having actually been there for the Las Vegas Reservation Systems and Travelscape parts of the story, it was interesting to read about some of the business deals that were going on at the time. While there was some new stuff that I didn't realize in there, there was also a fair bit left out. It is a very quick read, by the way. Lots of short chapters.



5. Truly one of the most remarkable success stories in the fascinating, ever evolving history of Las Vegas. Tom Breitling and Tim Poster rank among the elite of the mavericks who molded and shaped Las Vegas, such as Benny Binion and Sam Boyd. Much like Boyd and Binion, Breitling and Poster started their dramatic and profitable rise on little more than a wing and prayer, not to mention a few "floated" checks.
   
   Bucking the odds of the corporate casino mentality and invoking a strategy of "Old Vegas", Tim and Tom not only made a fortune, but managed to remain best friends and great guys. Tim and Tom's relationship has remained steadfast and strong throughout their whirlwind ride giving great insight into their character. Tom's introspect and honesty about his friendship with Tim and his early family life adds an insightful, touching side to this remarkable story.
   
   The most amazing thing is the whole story is absolutely, undeniably 100% true! No B.S.! No embellishment and no filler! Imagine having the time of your life with your best friend, while making hundreds of millions of dollars in the process!
   
   "Double or Nothing" is a must read for anyone contemplating a new business venture with a friend or just looking for an entertaining true story about two guys who worked their butts off and made a ton of money. I would highly recommend this book to anyone with a passion for life, friends and business; it also doesn't hurt to have a sense of humor.

5 comments about Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King, The : Inside the Richest Poker Game of All Time.

1. Michael Craig does a great job of mixing reportorial style with novelistic pacing. He tells the story of Andy Beal, a very rich man even among rich men, whose motivations for taking on the greatest poker players in the world by definition transcend the money. At the same time, he raised the stakes for the heads-up hold 'em games to levels never before seen -- even among the highest stakes players who joined financial forces to accept the challenge. Craig also gives insight into the "gambler's mindset" -- that itch that sits in the mind of anyone who gets off in a casino -- as it applies to the game of poker. This is the most interesting part for me, as poker is the only widely spread casino game where the house's advantage is 100% but capped (in other words, they charge a fee or "rake", rather than making money off of a statistical advantage). Thus, Poker combines the skill and gambling -- which is why it attracts some of the brightest people you will find in a casino. Michael digs into this phenomenon, both in his interviews of Beal and of many of the successful players who played against Beal.



2. This book was very interesting and hard to put down. It talks about a lot of the poker pros that live and play in Las Vegas and L.A. And is a good insight into some of the highest stakes poker games in the world. If you ever wanted to know what it would be like to be a high stakes poker player you should read this book. It is also very interesting to read about what goes on behind the scenes in the high stakes poker rooms in Las Vegas.



3. This is a great book, I believe for a poker player although someone who wants insights into the High Stakes world would also enjoy it. It was absolutely riveting and it was extremely difficult to lay it down. An exceptionally fast read. I would recommend the book wholeheartedly. The ending was a bit off with the author forcibly interjectedly himself into the story. I found that trivial and quite unnecessary.



4. In some ways this could be considered a story about negotiating terms and conditions - these factors were key in determining the outcome of "the game". Very interesting backstories about some of the players that appear at so many final tables of big tournaments.



5. I bought this book because I'm a poker fan and casual player. I love reading dramatic stories surrounding Las Vegas. However, I found myself more interested in Andy Beal throughout the book than any of the stories surrounding the games being played. Maybe it was my entrepreneur/business side coming out, but for pure poker alone this book wasn't that interesting. If there is a biography about Andy Beal, I'll be sure to read that next.

5 comments about The Whole Horse Catalog: The Complete Guide to Buying, Stabling and Stable Management, Equine Health, Tack, Rider Apparel, Equestrian Activities and Organizations...and ... Else a Horse Owner and Rider Will Ever Need.

1. I just received this book. I find it quite outdated. The drawings and illustrations are poorly done. There are only a few black and white pictures. Just beware that this is a 1998 book and I am sure you can find a more updated horse book than this one.



2. Great book



3. It was very helpful and helped in answering the usual questions that you might be too embarrassed to ask =D It also was good because it had many pictures that aided as well.



4. I just received this book and am so disappointed in it. I saw a few bad reviews, but most of them were glowing reports, many from experienced horse people about the information provided. I wanted a book about horse equipment, tack, care, etc. because I sometimes feel overwhelmed with all the "stuff" out there and what the purpose of using it is.
   The day I received this book my farrier had suggested I try a "stud chain" on my horse the next time he is shod (he is a sweet horse but horrible in this one area). Yes, I thought, now I can look up "stud chain" - - but, NO, that is not in this book.
   The book has black and white drawings, which are not very clear or detailed. For example, in the section on bridles there are 6 drawings of bridles, but several of them look very much alike, and although they are described there is NO information about why you would use one style instead of another. That is the type of information that I was expecting. If that is what you are looking for, don't buy this book.



5. I wasn't impressed with the images or the format of this book. With so many horse books out there you could do better.