Since reading Modern Pace Handicapping I have really increased my winnings at the track. I hit a [money] trifecta because of this book. It has an excellent way of explaining pace. The calculations aren't too difficult but it does take lots of time before the races to determine the best horses. This was a great investment but it is for serious handicappers. Great Book.

If you are serious about horseracing and want to beat the public, this is the book for you. Tom Brohamer introduction to the reader of Dr. Howard Sartin's methodology on pace handicapping will change the way you look at horse racing forever. After reading this book you may want to find out more about Sartin methodology, and eventually obtain an easy to use computer program to make your handicapping job much easier and more effective. I hit a $2400 trifecta using this method last month.

Whether you subscribe to one handicapping theory or many, Tom Brohemer's explanation of modern pace handicapping is the best I've read.

Brohamer clearly and succintly outlines his tenents of pace handicapping and makes it easy to convert running times into meaningful handicapping information. He uses charts from actual races to illustrate his theories. The book is easy to follow and understand for semi-experienced handicapper, but takes a bit of practice to convert 1st and 2nd call fractions into pace numbers. The book covers modern tenents of pace handicapping, including running style,class drops, energy distribution. Even if you chose not to do the arithmetic, Brohamer's explanation of pace will increase your profit.

Ian Andersen is an entertaining writer as well as a longtime high-stakes professional blackjack player. With his latest offering, "Burning the Tables in Las Vegas," Andersen has attempted to update his classic from the '70s, "Turning the Tables on Las Vegas," and make it relevant to today's game. The results are mixed. "Burning" is a good read for sure, with many fascinating vignettes about life in the high-roller fast lane, as well as quite a bit of useful information for pros on how to survive and prosper in an age of high-tech casino surveillance. But, all that aside, it still left me wanting. Andersen may write about blackjack with the entertaining talent of, say, a Bryce Carlson, but he lacks the solid mathematical knowledge of a Carlson, or a Wong, or a Schlesinger to back it up. For example, with his so-called "Ultimate Gambit," he is all too happy in the name of camouflage to reduce his edge to not much more than half a percent, and then throw even more ev out the window with fairly large bets at craps and other negative-expectation games. His whole approach smacks of a certain lack of appreciation for the harsh realities of variance and standard deviation. Don't get me wrong, "Burning" is a very good book, and I think serious bj players will find it enjoyable and useful, but in the real world of professional play--high stakes or otherwise--it laces in a little too much fantasy with the facts to rate five stars.

Absolutely awesome. Anderson understands the casino game very well. Just buy this book. That is all I can say.

Contains excellent discussions of cover plays, psychology, high rollers and other keys to be a pro.

Absolutley must reading.

This is a fabulous book both for the casual player like myself or the expert. Ian Andersen writes well and is able to bring to life true gambling vignettes that are not only mesmerizing, but also really give the reader the flavor of what it's like to be a high stakes game player. Yet he only plays when he has an edge. This concept of "advantage play" is far different from the ideas I had about gambling. The skills he uses can be applied to many areas of life. The section on communication skills and optimistic thinking are current state-of-the-art stuff. Very useful! In fact, those are the best words to describe this book --very useful, in gambling and in life. A brilliant read!

This book is written very well, for the new player, up to the experienced player that wants to cut the houses odds. The odds and 'right' ways to bet are clearly and concisely explained. I see people betting all the time on '[easy]' bets. (bets where the casinos odds are greater that you'll lose) This book points out WHY these bets are bad, in the long run, and the proper bets to make, that cut the house odds and make your money last longer. Who wouldn't want the houses 'edge' cut from over 5% to less than 1%?
With just a little luck you'll win more often using the strategy this book spells out. You'll have more fun. And you'll be at the table longer. (gets you more comps) *wink*
Don't waste your time and money on other so called 'craps books'. I've bought several, before this one, and this one beats them hands down. It's short and sweet, yet very thorough.

Jim,
Michigan

The book is very well written. I have followed the method he teaches, and either played the pass or don't pass lines according to how cold the table is playing, and I walked away a winner. He also stresses that if the way you are playing does'nt work, you probably are having a choppy table, and should walk away. If you work the system when someone is rolling a hot hand, the chances of winning increases. He stresses that walking away a winner is important. If after an hour at the table, walk away. It is very important to have an attitude that you are playing to win. I have reread the book to enforce the techniques so they become natural. I have recommended this book to my friends.

I've always stared in wonder at the craps games in Atlantic City. This book not only taught me how to play but how to win.

There's no doubt in my mind that Mr. Sklansky should be a rocket scientist and not a poker player/writer. This book is deep , way beyond the comprehension of the average stud player. I've read, reread , studied , restudied this book over and over again and only now am I beginning to see the light . I see S&M students out there night after night losing their shirts making these plays , blaming their losses on bad luck. The title of the book "seven card stud for ADVANCED PLAYERS " is very revealing. After all , most poker players consider themselves advanced players , especially if they've been playing for a couple of years . Let's face it , an advanced player is probably already a significant winner at the game , it's the average player who needs help. To sum it up.. Great stuff for the ADVANCED PLAYER. Dangerous for the AVERAGE PLAYER. Suicide for the BEGINNER.

The best advice backed up with easy to understand examples. Contains the least amount of dubious advice of any poker text. This book will make a huge difference to your bankroll. No matter how good a player you are you are a clueless newbie until you read this text. Once caveat: Keep in mind that in general their advice is directed towards your playing in a game with tight aggressive skilled players. These authors no longer play in low limit games and to some extent have lost touch with the type of player the low limit playing reader faces.You should add another title to your shopping basket here to read that addresses games with loose bad players in it so as to obtain a proper strategic approach to all situations. A good poker book teaches you how to think about situations more so than what to do in specific situationAny text by the team of skylansky malmouth is worth it's weight in gold. Look for a revision of some of their classic texts, subtitled- "year 2000 or 20c. update"

A perfect study for anyone who's SERIOUS about completing their 7-card education. This should NOT be the first or even second book you read on your journey to 7-card mastery. The theories presented are certainly advanced, but nothing beyond what even an "intermediate" player would (and should) understand. In fact, this is the kind of text that, when put into practice, can foster the growth of an intermediate player to a higher level. What made this book stand out among my poker library is its direct approach to SPECIFIC situations. Most poker books fail to provide numerous, exact plays in those all-too-often marginal hands. Yet, it is in these plays where the expert extracts his profits over the long run. The examples are often involved, yet clearly presented. What are you representing? What should you represent? How do your opponents perceive you? Will a raise here put you into a heads-up situation? If so, is that desirable at this point in time? One word of caution: As a player who has experienced up to the 15-30 level, I suggest these techniques are worthless below 10-20, with the exception of a TIGHT game below 10-20 (is that an oxymoron?) In fact, the authors often use a 30-60 game for their examples. Most players below the 10-20 simply aren't sophisticated enough to make "correct" decisions in reaction to your plays. After all, if your opponents don't know what they're doing, how are you supposed to know what they're doing? There is a section on loose games that addresses these issues thoroughly, but I wouldn't suggest a low-limit player buy the book simply because of that text. A better book for those low limit players would be Roy West's "7-Card Stud: The Complete Course in Winning at Medium and Lower Limits." There's one more thing that this advanced course has that I have yet to see in another poker book: A quiz - just to make sure you're getting the key points! I never understood why all of my other poker books, which are in fact tutorials, didn't provide a quiz to make the reader (student) is getting a passing grade. Students in school don't get through a semester without being tested, and the reader of a tutorial style book shouldn't pass through without facing the challenge of a test either. Cheers to Sklansky, Malmuth, and Zee for caring enough about their students to include this critical section so many others seem to lack.

A great book for anyone wishing to become familiar with all aspects of the game. Describes and illustrates in great detail all that the beginner needs to know to play. Extensive strategy sections with illustrations and scenarios show offensive and defensive techniques. The book covers the Japanese, American, and Chinese versions of the game. My only complaint is that it focuses on the Japanese, and to a lesser extent the American version of the game. Nice tables are provided for both. In order to learn the rules of the less complex Chinese game, one must read through pages of detailed text to reverse engineer the Chinese rules by removing all of the irrelevant bits. No tables are provided for the Chinese rules. It would be better to have started with the original Chinese version of the game and work up to the other two. However, the book is extremely complete, even with a very extensive glossary of terms in Japanese and English. Highly recommended book.

Eleanor Noss Whitney has not only succeeded in writing a concise, understandable, and comprehensive Mah Jong handbook, she has elegantly and expertly distilled into a mere 176 pages the essential tools and strategies to achieve true mastery of this ancient and wonderful game.

Whitney's handbook is the only book that most players will ever need to become a knowledgeable, confident and winning Mah Jong player. The basics of play, including seating, dealer selection, wall-building, tile-dealing and play are laid out clearly with helpful examples and good illustrations. The scoring of Mah Jong is explained with numerous carefully-constructed examples, with helpful diagrams of each tile scenario for good visual reference.

The strategy of the game is brilliantly explained in Part III, again with numerous examples that gradually train beginning players how to quickly make strategic decisions to enhance their play. As Whitney explains, Mah Jong is a game governed by sheer luck of the draw, yet the "skillful player is actually one who knows how to adapt to his luck." Her extensive explanations and examples of both "offensive" and "defensive" strategies are the soul of the book, and I, for one, was amazed how quickly my comphrehension of the game improved after having read the entire chapter.

It is true that the focus of the book is primarily on the Japanese and American rules and variations, but Chinese equivalent terms are included in an extensive Glossary-Index. For the vast majority of players, this will not be a serious problem.

If you buy one book on Mah Jong, it should be this one.

How many times have you wanted to play a game of Mah Jong but you you are bombarded with different rule books on the subject - each one giving a more confusing set of scoring instructions There are many times when I have encountered this problem especially when teaching newcomers the game We play using Eleanor Noss Whitney's "A Mah Jong Handbook" as our rules which we find of all the other books on Mah Jong the easiest and most understandable set of rules compared to all teh others which clutter the field with a multitude of sets and scoring tables that make the game a nightmare to play Her rules are Clear, Concise, Unambiguous and simple to use I use her book to teach all newcomers the game and everyone agrees that her rules are the best I show them the scoring from the other books and their examples and explain to them that there are many other variations regarding the scoring and everyone opts for the simple version without any complications

I would heartly recomend this book to everyone if they want to get into playing the game within inside a hour of opening the book There is plain simple concise instuctions that dont confuse you with umpteen different names for the same Mah Jong scoreing hand

If there is one book you should get to learn and play Mah Jong - It should be this one - You wont regret it

I loved it. At first I thought it was a "guy book" only and that a girl just wouldn't bond to the gambling and wrestling talk. I was wrong. Depending on how you read Headlock, it's either a gambling thriller or a family connection. When you're lost in it, it's both. And more. Adam Berlin's prose makes you feel like you're there, travelling and gambling with Dess and Gary (both wonderfully explained characters), feeling for them all the way through. It's a true page-turner; you need to know what happens next. Not only because of the story, but because you care about the characters and their lives. The dialogue was flawless, it flowed beautifully. Flashbacks of when they were kids really make you understand Dess and Gary better and worry about them more. Headlock was a fabulous read. I'm looking forward to reading another Adam Berlin novel if this is any indication of what I can expect. I think that this is his first novel -- what an impressive one!

I have read many books in the past few years, and even some debut novels, but none have struck a cord in me like Headlock has. It is a powerful and riveting story that grabs you by the heart and mind in only the first few pages. It is a simple story of two cousins finding the truth about themselves and their family out on the road to Las Vegas, but tucked into the simple storyline is dialogue that makes you smile and cry because it is so real, violence that shocks you, yet feels familiar in it's rage and characters that will be alive in your mind for a long time after you put down the book. For anyone out there who hates how much books cost these days, I strongly recommend this one because as soon as you finish it, you are going to read it again. Congratulations to Adam Berlin for debuting with a novel that impacts the mind, heart and soul. I look foward to reading anything he puts out in the future.

If this is Adam Berlin's first novel, I can only say that we have a lot to look forward to. The book reads like no debut. It is a tight narrative that shows Berlin is a master of the written word. There is nothing wasted here, not a word, not a phrase, not a sentence. Headlock is a well-crafted whirlwind through contemporary America -- the money, the violence, the loss of innocence. But this novel is not simply a good read. It's a heavyweight demanding its place within the best tradition of American literature. Witness this passage from p. 35: "He described the coil, the spring, ready for action as soon as it was touched, how it took on an energy of its own once it was put into play, and Gilmore told us that was how all classical tragedies began. Once the spring was set into motion there was no going back. That was fate. That was life. That was why Antigone never made it out of her play." Thanks to Algonquin and Berlin, the American literary tradition is clearly in good hands.

This book will save you time but offers nothing more.

Was hoping that more effort was spent on the personallity of each casino rather than basic information that can be found in minutes on the web.

In fairness, the writer never claims the book would offer an opinion of each establishment... My mistake!

Save your money and do the web work yourself.

Now in a newly updated 2002 edition, the American Casino Guide is a superbly presented and highly recommended reference for both casual casino visitors and people with a yearning to learn more about the games and their odds. From a comparison of the house edge in different casino games to a brief study and focus upon individual games such as slot clubs, slot machines, video poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, and much more, to a state-by-state listing of the best casinos, American Casino Guide has it all. The 2002 edition pays for itself not only in terms of strategies to improve one's gaming skills, but also in more than $1000 worth of valuable casino coupons that can be clipped out of the book itself! If you are planning a visit to the gaming tables of Atlantic City or Las Vegas, begin with the 2002 edition of the American Casino Guide!

This book was much more than what I had expected! There are almost 200 pages of useful information on gambling, tips, strategies, best bets, etc. They don't just rehash the rules on how to play the casino games...but actually cover the proper winning techniques in detail (the things you need to know). They cover almost all the games...Slot clubs, Video Poker, Blackjack, Craps, Roulette and Baccarat. They also cover comps and lots of other tips to save you money on your overall expenses (all-right...more money for gambling!). The price is cheap considering all the information that is packed in to this book.

This is the 2nd book in JB's 'Malloren Series'; its my 3rd since I've read them out of order. It would really be best to read 'My Lady Notorious' first due to a lot of references in this book to things that happened in the first one. Now, all of that being said, I was really disappointed in this book. I just loved 'My Lady Notorious' & 'Secrets of the Night'.... they had both heros & heroines that I could really enjoy. Even though I didn't start out liking Chasity Ware from the first one, her personality was totally explained, understandable, & made me come to really respect her. Not so with Portia in this book.
I can't, for the life of me, figure out why Bryght fell in love with her. She was rude, unappreciative & very insulting through the entire book - right down to the page when she admitted she loved him & couldn't live without him (at the very end).
Although it was attempted to explain why she acted like she did, I didn't go for it. Without telling the story, she made sacrifices for a brother that was worthless & blamed Bryght - however, it was only thru his actions that her life wasn't REALLY horrible!
I like a book that at least has some affection and/or fun between the hero & heroine - that at least have a reason for falling in love. Although Bryght was an excellent hero, Portia ruined this one for me. Bryght's the reason this one got the 3rd star! lol

In this book you will see how a woman who doesn't like any kind of bets, she bets not once but three times with Bryght Malloren and she lost the three times, so here we can learn that if you don't like to do something just don't do it.
This book will keep you reading the story of super heroine Portia St. Claire who climbs all kind of walls and super hero Bryght Malloren who is always there to save her.
This love story is kind of different from others, if I tell you why I will tell you the main story (the three bets that she lost) and I think that this is a nice book to read.
In the other hand of the love story, you can see how gambling could make rich people poor.

Enter the world of the gambler - where stakes are high and all could be lost or gained at the turn of a card. Portia St. Claire's brother, Oliver is an addicted gambler who loses their estate. In order to try to pay off the debt, Portia and her brother travel to London to ask for help from a family friend.
Bryght Malloren, 2nd in line to the Malloren Fortune is on family business to attempt to retrieve a damning letter in the home of the Earl of Walgrove. He finds instead the short, fiery Portia St. Claire instead who holds a pistol on him and demands he leaves. Sparks fly immediately between these two.

This good is interesting on several levels. First it very accurately portrays the addiction to gambling, the inability to control it, and the dangers of bidding beyond your means. Secondly, and completely unassociated the characters and secondary characters each hold their own weight, are interestingly created and weaved into the story. Unlike the 1st Malloren book (MY LADY NOTORIOUS), Rothgar, the head of the family does not overshadow Bryght who in his own right is sensual, intelligent and handsome. Portia, though not a traditionally beautiful woman has such a fiery nature, though perhaps a bit prudish and still, is a nontraditional heroine.

Though Portia is actually auctioned in a Brothel at one point, for her virginal qualities this book is much lighter on explicit sex then it's predecessor and indeed the story seems much richer. However, perhaps it is that you truly began to care about this family. And this being book 2, you get to know and like them a lot more!

This is the every day, common story of the 'fall from grace' of those touched by the gambling bug. Once you've read a few books about gamblers and gambling addiction, you'll realize that this story is the network TV version of what it's really like (if you want the cable version, check out "Stung: the incredible obsession of Brian Molony"). The author's intent is good I suppose, but characters' dialog is absurd, contrived and filled with unrealistic bravado. Clearly, the author is no gambling addict -- not a bad thing! Though the addictive symtoms and behavior illustrated throughout the novel are conceptually accurate, they're depicted with a simplicity that renders their phenominal effect almost trivial. I struggled and shook my head through the entire book. For the casual enthusiast, could be a good airport terminal read. Otherwise, you're better off playing cell phone solitaire.

If you are a gambler this book should be required reading. Nelson's writing style is engaging and accurate - he captures the feelings of gambling right down to the excitement that just walking into a new casino can generate. He accurately portrays all the little things that go along with gambling - the new "friends", the new social events to attend, the new feeling of acceptance with fellow gamblers, the comraderie around a table. Just like smokers also enjoy unwrapping their cigarettes, and tapping them, and holding them, gamblers enjoy a lot of little side things that make the whole package hard to give up.

A lot of what the main character goes through is very typical to all gamblers - unfortunately his compulsive personality takes over and gambling turns into an addiction for him. We see his slow decent as a gradual process - the final destination is something he would have run away from back when he was starting but by the end it all seems normal to him. You may scare yourself by recognizing the parallels to your own life. How far along are you in his progression? How many of his rationalizations have you already used?

My view of casinos has changed after reading this book. I was focused too much on my own story - an occasional casino day tripper taking advantage of cheap food and drink - and didn't consider all the compulsive personalities out there that casinos help ruin. If you want to put down your last thousand dollars on a bad bet the casinos will gladly call you "sir" and give you a free drink! Just imagine if a similar thing existed for drug addicts - imagine seeing someone in a tuxedo giving someone lying in the gutter a new syringe of heroin for three thousand dollars and calling him "sir" and making him feel important. It would be outlawed instantly and the tuxedo guy exposed as the fraud that he is! But as it is, it is "OK" and legal.

So, as you go out there and buy lots of gambling books explaining how to play and what the odds are, etc., I recommend that you also get this book and see if you see a side of yourself that you might not want to. But so much better to find out in a book!

It is all here....from the initial small bets, "just for fun", to the rush of winning, (the worst thing that can happen to anyone with an addictive personality), to the larger and larger wagers, to the eventual crushing losses. I would be very surprised to learn that the author was not in fact a compuslive gambler. He hints at that in his foreword.

The subtle, insidious slide of the compulsive gambler is portrayed very well in the book. The truth is in the details...the rationalizations, the hiding of money, the lying and self-deceit that takes place as the disease takes over more and more of his life.

See if you recognize anything of yourself in the pages. It will certainly make you think twice about gambling.

I've heard and read so often that with the right strategy you can actually come out ahead if you play video poker, but until now, have not been able to get a handle on a strategy. This book helped me tremendously. Not only did I learn to play better video poker, I actually had fun reading the book and learning. The quiz format made it painless. I've read other video poker books, but I always found it a bit grueling working my way through all the charts and calculations. John Grochowski makes it easy. He uses anecdotes to illustrate certain points and they serve as great memory triggers. The book has already helped me improve my play at some of the casinos near my home. I can't wait for my next trip to Vegas. I recommend the video Poker Answer Book to anyone who wants a better understanding of the game and how to play it. Fine learning tool.

Video poker, the experts say, is a game that can be beaten if players learn expert strategy and stick to certain high-paying games. Those experts then usually give information on how to play those games, and ignore everything else.

This book is different. John Grochowski shows an understanding that most of us play for entertainment, and that we're not always going to have access to the games the experts say we should stick to. He shows how to get the most for your money out of games people really play. It doesn't claim to be a guaranteed system for winning. In fact, he comes right out and says that even experts will lose more often than they win. But he does show how to attack games that other books on the subject won't touch.

I like the quiz format. I think it's fun, and in his answers the author tells stories from personal experience that make this a really breezy read despite the numbers and calculations that go into the strategies. Without doubt, this is the best video poker book around.

My copy of The Video Poker Answer Book already is well-worn, as I read and re-read, study and quiz myself, and prepare every time I go to the casino. Needless to say, I couldn't disagree more with the reviewer from Arizona about the question-and-answer format. I think you learn by doing, and this book lets you work out the problems, then gives the explanations that underscore the learning experience. It's not just a cookbook that tells you what do do. It's really strong on explaining why we should play certain hands certain ways.

On top of that, it covers games I've never seen in any other video poker book. It seems that every other video poker writer thinks everyone plays in Las Vegas and has access to all the top pay tables. Well, I play mostly in Indian casinos in the Midwest, and I never see those games. I do see many of the games detailed in this book. It gives me the strategy changes I need for the lower pay tables I see in the Midwest. That makes this book the most complete video poker guide I've ever seen.