I agree with the other reviewers that this book is for poker players only! The author uses lots of poker terms and jargon that is familiar mostly to poker players. And it's hard for a non-"rounder" to understand what's truly going on in the authors mind.adrenaline, excitement, bluffs, and that one critical decision that separates winners from losers! Personally, as a poker player, I enjoyed the book all the way to the end, got my adrenaline pumped up several times from just reading some of the action and decision making in the story.

Like I said, this book can be really entertaining if you are a rounder, however, the storyline lacks a progressive organized story plot, not terribly bad for a person who doesn't write for a living but the story and character development could've used some refining. It's more of a personal daily diary than a true novel...just keep that in mind while reading the book and you'll enjoy it.

Considering that Jesse May is not really a novelist, Shut Up and Deal is quite good. Even though the book suffers severely from a lack of plot, but there are so many intriguing vignettes and characters that you tend to forget this.

The story revolves around a self-referential professional poker player and the moves he makes as poker relocates itself across the nation and gains acceptance. However, the characters are the true charm of this novel. They each have their own kind of persona and can even move around in the story, appearing in certain locations and stealing the entire show, so to speak.

Another great aspect of the book is how May shows the absense of time while playing poker. Having accidentally sat at a nine hour straight poker game, I can truly relate to the elapsation of time in this story. Days, weeks, and months pass as the same people buck the table and play again and again without break, except to get up and literally run to the bathroom so they won't lose their seat. Sometimes it's told in an extremely funny way and others the prose seems to create a sense of urgency that anyone who has played poker in a casino before can relate to.

The entire novel is set at a breakneck speed with only a few breaks in the tension to resolve some character issues. Overall, this is very good novel that will please just about everyone. The subject matter might not appeal to everyone, but if you're looking for a very charming story with extremely well-written characters, then Shut Up and Deal could possibly be that book.

Shut up and deal is a unique book that provides players of all skill levels a constant reminder that the philosophy of luck is as important to learn and understand as all of the "how to and statistical calculation" books ever written about poker. It does so in one book that also stands out as entertaining poker fiction. The underlying truths provide what it takes to win at playing poker at the highest levels and the pitfalls that are there everyday to test any player that has chosen to make poker their profession, or who have chosen to play semi-pro. I understand that to a literary critic, this book rambles, but to players who have been there it is a must read.

This is an hilarious book at times and at other times it really digs in and tells you stuff you never thought of. I think it is worth the price and if you like gambling I would definitely consider buying it. It's an easy read but a great read.

Read this book for the sheer fun of it. You won't learn strategies but you will get inside the head of a gambler. Scoblete is one fine writer, maybe the best gaming writer of all time. His style and wit are rare commodities in the gaming genre. Get this book!

This is not a large book but it is very funny and very insightful. I recommend that you take it with you on your next airplane flight to Vegas! It will help pass the time in an enjoyable way.

This book was really a disappointment! We go to Las Vegas frequently and do take advantage of many legitimate comps offered by the casinos. I had hoped this book could give me some further insight into the intricacies of the comp system. Unfortunately, Max Rubin has written a book about squeezing the system dry.

Some of his topics include "Feeding 4 with a comp for only 2" - this sections includes bribing the waitress with $5 and ask her if it is ok for your guests to "taste" your food. He says to
make sure you order plenty of appetizers so you will have empty plates for your guests' portions of the food.

He says that if you are being comped for Room, Food and Beverages, never leave the hotel without taking home at least a couple of extra bottles of booze or champagne. This is not taking advantage of comps, this is stealing.

He also says that if you are offered free tickets to a fight, don't worry if you are not a fan of boxing. He says to take the freebies and resell them and then he says "you're on your way".

A really poor book. Not at all what I expected.

Rubin is an amusing fellow, obviously a debaucher, degenerate, and reprobate. This I admire, along with his writing style and ability to spin an ancedote. What I can't grasp is the cheapskate mentality that would have folks do almost anything for a comp. I go to Vegas to gamble and to win money. I can readily afford the cheap airfares, rooms, and food or I wouldn't go. I can't imagine making large bets into a negative deck just because the floorman is watching and I want to fool him into inflating my rating. Intentionally spill a drink on the table to stop the game for a few minutes so you play fewer hands than reported? Gimme a break. Ninety percent of average players would be far better off learning to gamble intelligently than worrying about sqeezing a few extra comp dollars. Still, some of the stories are laugh out loud funny and worth the price of the book.

First, I would like to say flat out-- yes, Max talks about husteling every possible comp you can get and sometimes the methods he mentions can be demeaning or whatever (pardon my terrible spelling!). But this is the definitive book an all aspects of comps, from sittting down at a slot machine right as the cocktail waitress walks by to full RFB (room, food and beverage), and as such, it covers ALL aspects. You choose what you want to do, but don't bite the book because you don't like some methods. Secondly, I would like to inform all the people who rate this book low and talk about Max's strategies eventually losing your bank and this that and the other thing. Knowing about blackjack and standard deviation and the correct odds will help you there. If you DO play basic strategy blackjack, your comps will, ON AVERAGE, pay for your blackjack play and then some. Don't tell the people who are browsing this book that Max doesn't know about casinos. This is MAX RUBIN. Max is a very knowledgable man, and the host of teh infamous Blackjack Ball, where all the best of the best BJ players get together and brag to eachother about how great they all are. I can assure you Max knows what he is talking about. If you are looking to make money, learn to count cards, or better yet, get a real job. If you are looking to get the most bang for your buck, get free stuff, and maybe even have a Vegas vacation pay for itself, GET THIS BOOK. Max is the man!

This book has a wealth of information on low stakes poker variations, but little on how to win. The rules are a little subjective for "according to Hoyle", especially if you've been playing a while. If you need something to spice up your low stakes game or are constantly being confused about the variations your partners are springing on you, this book is fine. But I would steer clear, and buy "Thurs. Night Poker" by Steiner instead. It will help your game infinitely more. "The Rules of Neighborhood Poker" is basic enough that I would give it as a gift to a poker buddy, knowing that it would add nothing to his game except his readiness to play.

This is a great book for recreational players who are more interested in comraderie and smoking cigars than winning money. It provides good advice for hosting and setting up games and it provides a lot of good games and variations to help spice up the weekly game. I've always had problems coming up with new games and learned a lot from this book. This is also a good book for new player who wants to get into a regular group and is intimidated by regular players who seem to know everything about the game . There's a lot to learn.

If you regularly play with the likes of Teddy KGB or that dude in the blue eyeglasses in Vegas, then this book isn't for you. But if you're just starting out and want to learn, this is a good source of valuable information.

I am not exactly new to home poker, but even I got a LOT from this book. First and foremost, are the many different versions of draw, stud, and community card games in the book. We play many, many different games, but there were at least a dozen new games I got out of this book. The great thing is, for a lot of games he describes, he also "plays" sample hands and describes strategy for each of the "players." He also shares some stories of playing these games. Standing out in my memory is an entertaining story of a game of "night baseball" he once played with two monster hands going for a huge pot. Other great features of the book are a poker dictionary, poker etiquette, and other things you need to know to play or host a game. And the whole book is fun--you can tell the writer has a lot of love for the game. You will have fun reading the book, you will probably have more fun playing, and you will probably play better too!

How often do we get to read a writer who's not afraid of his own shadow? How often do we get to look inside our own minds when we read another's work? Well Rob Singer has made these things happen. The Undeniable Truth wastes no time in telling all video poker players why they continually lose. I lose, you lose, everybody loses! Otherwise, as Singer says, the game would not be so very popular among local players in cities across America as it is today. So how does this author beat the odds and win? I had to read his web site to find that out, but then again, he clearly tells us in his book that he did not write it as a magical cure for anything but countering the spoon-fed download we've had to endure non-stop from the long-term gurus for years. Thank God for that!
One point he makes very well in his book is about short-term play. He says we all play only short-term sessions that do not add up into any sort of long-term whatsoever. My college math professor couldn't have said it better--and this is gambling! Godspeed to this bold and fearless writer!

Having read all books on video poker that I can get my hands on, I really have to say that I was extremely surprised such a book existed. What's this? An author who doesn't simply copy others words down into a different format and publish a book? An author with a mind of his own?

This work has changed my whole attitude towards the game. I haven't a problem any longer telling anyone that I'm an expert play-follower but a loser. No longer do I believe the "Gurus" as Singer calls them, because how is it they win and I don't? My education in the field of mathematics is extensive too, but i lose even with the most dedicated of efforts. I believe Mr. Singer when he says the famous people only tell us they win all the time and that they know "hundreds" of others who win all the time, because they have a stake in their sales of products to players that is directly tied to their reputations. I know thousands of players, and no one wins. This book is so very right on that it hurts. I want more!

When I purchased this book a year ago after reading much of that which Mr. Singer has had to say, I was confused. Not only does this book identify his play as not being according to the mathematics of what the game has been based on, he argues of how the game's well-known experts are pushing a flawed method when they sell their products that are indeed based solely on the math! I was skeptical at best, and I put the book aside.

Recently however I re-read The Undeniable Truth About Video Poker. I have also belonged to several of the chat boards on the game. I now find that Mr. Singer has in his book seemingly successfully attacked the game's biggest names and is winning the battle. I honestly figured he would disappear off the scene after his book hit the streets, but he has become stronger with each passing year. This great book was the predecessor to his rise in power among the top players, if there really are any others besides he himself. While I haven't the funds to play the game according to how the author describes in his book, I and many have certainly learned how NOT to play. I've saved a lot of money thanks to Rob Singer and this wonderful book.

This book (and its sequel)give a very interesting and humorous look at the machine that is a Las Vegas casino. The the stories are timeless, the facts and figures are out of date.

Just outstanding! Although things in Vegas have changed significantly since then (book was written in early to mid-80's), the details and history are fascinating and the stories timeless. I have re-read the book many times as so many of the pieces are hilarious. Only Vegas could offer the setting for such crazy happenings, and all are believable within the veil of Vegas' history. This is NOT another book teaching you how to win or play the games..this is just a great informative timepiece which is highly enteratining reading, of which you won't be able to put down.

Although written more than 10 years ago, this book still has a ton of usefull information. I met Mr. Vinson at Ceasers Palace about 5 years ago. He was giving free lessons on the basics of Craps. I had a chance to talk with him, and through our conversation relized he truly is part of the vanishing "Old Guard" of Las Vegas. His insights and stories are fasinating. If your headed, for Vegas for the first time take this book along. It's great fun to walk into a casino with your companions and start giving them the "insiders information". If your going back for more fun,this book is still a great help. Memorize his picture, I know you'll see him at Cearsers or some other major casino. I look forward to his new book and have pre-ordered it already. In the meantime get this book and have fun with the stories written by someone who "walks the walk" and "talks the talk".

Andy Nelson's books are always well-written, clear and informative. This book is no different. What makes this book special, though, is how it stimulates the reader to think about poker (even when not playing). The result is an immediate improvement in one's game. Furthermore, after you've read this book (and maybe re-read a couple of sections) your game will improve over the next several months because you'll be able to learn from your mistakes. Buy this book if you are a fairly good player who wants to be very good.

I have made my living by playing Texas Hold 'em for over ten years. I have read every book I can find on any game of poker. This is the fourth book I have read that Mr. Nelson has written. I am impressed. The first book I read was POKER: 101 Ways To Win. That book convinced me that Mr. Nelson has a unique understanding of what poker is REALLY all about.

The Advanced book on Hold 'Em builds on the foundatation started in Book One and Intermediate. Now Mr. Nelson gets real specific about what it takes to become a winner at this very complicated game. He stresses emotional control, how to play the players and what the tools of the sophisticated player should be. These are extraordinary insights.

I have seen players with many years of playing poker that do not have a clue on how Texas Hold 'em should be played.

This book is excellent, well-written and brief. Its sections on emotional control and playing players are the best I've read. The chapter on playing players actually gives you a step by step process through which you can categorize players quite easily. Other books give a few tips on this cocnept; Nelson's book gives you an entire laundry list of things to look for. I would reccomend this book to anyone who is serious about improving his or her hold'em game.

"Fifty years at the Craps Tables" by Mr. Stuart is NOT a book about craps. It is ramblings about Las Vegas and various casinos. Apparently, telling stories about casinos and his previous play, mostly all wins, of course, is suppose to be a book on craps. Boring. His craps system?..."Play the pass line and take full odds. After the come out roll, make a come bet and take full odds." That is the entire book! What a waste of my time and money. I recommend this book for the circular file!

-I gave this book two stars because the author comes accross as a nice guy and he is a seasoned fellow craps player. The shocking thing that comes out of this book is that after fifty years of experience and dealing with the casinos, Mr. Stuart is still infatuated with comps and being treated like a big shot. Comps are the casinos best weapon against serious gamblers because comps are so appealing and subtle in their destrution of your good intentions. The cardinal rule that all gamblers must keep in mind and one that Mr. Stuart has apparently never learned is, ..If the casino wants you to do something or offers you something, it is almost never in your best interest. Sure take a chit for a free lunch or dinner AFTER you have gambled, but, if you become a comps player you will inevitably find yourself gambling where you shouldn't be and playing longer than you should. This is one of the most valuable lessons that can be handed down to newer gamblers and I'm surprised and shocked that Mr. Stuart never learned it.

While other books can provide a more detailed analysis of the various odds, bets, and betting strategies, I would not hesitate recommending this book to anyone interested in learning more about the game of craps. If you play craps, it pays to heed many of the lessons Mr. "Stuart" has learned over the last fifty years.

Richard A. Cromie, Mr. Trifecta (ParlorGrand, 2000)

Handicapping books can be divided into two basic types: those that rely on solid information and those that rely on more nebulous information. 99.9% of the latter (I know if I say 'all,' someone will publish one that actually works) are complete and utter bunk. The majority of the 'nebulous information' books rely on one source of information: 'smart money.'

The concept of 'smart money' is that a horse's owner, trainer, and jockey have a better idea than most handicappers about how the horse will run. The obvious logical fallacy should be apparent: the so-called 'smart money' may know everything there is to know about their horse in the race, but are likely to know just as much as the next guy about every other horse in the race.

Mr. Trifecta is just this kind of insider-money book, taking an old system (looking for horses who have more money bet on them in the daily double pool than the win pool and assuming that's 'smart money') and applying it with a new angle (Cromie uses the pick three pool instead of the daily double pool). But it's nothing we haven't seen before, and while it's not the quickest road to the poorhouse, you're far better off with books from the former camp by authors like Tom Ainslie, Dick Mitchell, Jim Quinn, William Quirin, Mark Cramer, and the like. **, because it's short, to the point, and contains some good tall tales about track life.

This book is extremely easy to read. It only takes me probably 2 hours (4 subway trips of half an hour each) to finish this book as the idea presented in this book is very simple. In short, proportion of win odds to pick three odds + smart money in win odds + horse's condition on the paddock = selection. However, does this actually work?

I cannot give you a definite answer as there is no pick three odds like this in Hong Kong. However, I can imagine the author has made three major assumptions in his system as follows:-

1. Smart money tends to go to pick three pool instead of win pool.

2. There is an existence of smart money on win pool that causes the movement between prelimiary odds and morning line odds.

3. Smart money is actually smarter.

I cast doubt on the first 2 assumptions especially majority of the bets come into the pool at the last 5-7 minutes before a race (hence, early odds are not too accurate as smart money has not come in yet). This happens in Hong Kong.

As a serious horse racing "participant", I will recommend you a miss on this book.

Reviewer middletown, de United States either believes he is e e cummings or can't spell. Furthermore, what use is a system that runs through the numbers then says to look at the horses and possibly add the chalk? The use of a realistic system like that is to cash at the window more often. If I could pick winners just by looking at them I wouldn't have bought his book or used his system either, but since I did I've been able to leverage the facts he points out. Not only do I save by not needing the forms and not spending hours studying the sheets, I save by cashing more winners than I ever did before. If you buy this book for the price of a trifecta ticket consider that your first winner of many to come

This book is trash, and the title is misleading. NO ONE can win EVERYTIME they play, that is impossible. The ONLY way to win consistently is to play under favorable conditions and count cards. Even playing with good rules, and single deck games, one can and often does lose money. But under ideal conditons, the skilled counter will win in the long run. This book attempts to convince you that ANYONE regardless of skill level will win EVERYTIME they play. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Stay away from this book, don't waste your money.

Listen to me very, very carefully. In the world of blackjack, a lot of books get written. Blackjack books make a nice little profit for everyone involved. Many, many BJ books are complete trash, promising riches and sure-fire systems and appeal to gamblers who are tired of losing the rent or mortgage money. They will believe (and buy) anything.Amazon allows reviews. Anyone can write them. Add the two together and you get utterly worthless blackjakc books like this. Read all the reviews listed, all the testimonials, look at all the five-star ratings. These were all written by the author and/or publisher. Posting good reviews on Amazon is part of their marketing plan.Check out the title. It was written to sell books to desparate losers. Listen to me the final time. THE ONLY WAY TO WIN AT BLACKJACK IS TO COUNT CARDS. Any other theory in books exists to take your money as easily as you will lose it at the table.The Author checks this site often and will write a rebuttal. Watch for it.Now go out and buy either Knockout Blackjack if you want a good, easy, level 1 counting system, or buy Blackbelt in Blackjack if you want a more powerful Level 2 system. If you've followed what I've said so far, you are easily smart enough to count cards. This book will only cost you money.

I am a representative of the publisher and I am writing to say one thing. You are wrong when you say that the testimonial was written by the publisher! Not only would that be unethical, it would be fraudulent!

Sorry that YOU didn't like the book, but it is a stunning, excellent book that has made many people winners . . . WITHOUT counting cards which is a completely LOSING proposition!

As you know, casinos now deal up to eight decks, deal only half way into the shoe, and have pit bosses watch the player's every move which prevent the player from staggering his bets to the extent that is necessary to gain the edge by counting cards. You are WRONG on that. Card-counting worked years ago, but the casinos have put that one to bed.

This book teaches the truth about the great game of blackjack, which is more than can be said for most of the other blackjack books. Let people judge for themselves. The methods in this book are proven wisdom. Reread the book and judge it on its advice. You cannot argue with its teachings, especially pages 68 to 89.