Card Games Books

I'm a relative newcomer to poker and after reading reviews on Amazon, I chose this as my starting point to start reading in order to improve my game.

The other reviews are spot on, this is an excellent starting point, for the following reasons:

1) It's extremely easy to read. It's well written, and it's peppered with interesting scenarios and anecdotes that keep it from getting boring. I breezed through it in a few days.

2) It's not jam packed with statistics, yet at the same time covers the basics. I'm sure in depth statistics are necessary for more advanced players, but for a beginner they can be overwhelming. The book does provide some very basic statistics, such as the calculation of "pot odds" in order to determine when to chase a drawing hand.

3) It covers a very wide range of topics, from a basic overview of the game, the types of equipment you need (incl brand names of cards and chips), how to host a home game, a description of casino cardrooms, how professional tourneys work, the world series, etc. It also of course has a number of chapters on how to play a game, such as how to think like a poker player, and a brief description of a number of different poker strategies and when they can be used.

4) Finally, it contains a number of references for additional reading. Like I said, this is an introductory book, and I plan to follow it up with additional reading.

I also purchased Slansky's "The Theory of Poker" and Caro's "Poker Tells", both also recommended by amazon reviews (and both recommended by Gordon in this book), and I'm very glad I started with this one.

One note though, this isn't a big issue but the majority of the book focuses on limit hold-em. Many (if not the majority) of the concepts are applicable to other poker games, but I think it's worth noting that the vast majority of the examples are limit Hold 'em and I don't believe that is mentioned anywhere on the book's cover.

Among the very best hold'em poker books for beginners. Good advice and clear examples make this a must have for those who want to learn and improve their game. Even for intermediate players it's a good refresher and ensures your fundamentals are rock solid. Easy to read and enjoyable to boot!!

This page a day calendar was useful but a little light on poker strategy. It won't be something I'd suggest buying for it's information but as a page a day calendar it was fun and sometimes informative. I'd suggest a Phil Gordon page a day calendar to anyone interested in poker.

Being a novice at poker, I bought this book expecting to find some very basic, not too complicated strategies on how to win at poker. Instead, I found a book that introduces some of the mathematical complexities of the game and in doing so, forced me to think more about the science of poker rather than the luck of poker. I have read this book many times and each time I learn more. I believe this book is excellent in that you have to read it more than once to understand it.

Phil also sent me an autographed photo, personalized. I am impressed, he is the ambassador to poker that poker needs.

Of all the poker authorities out there, I'll put Phil Gordon in the top three, along with Brunson & Sklansky. Without being arrogant or aloof, he explains the history and techniques of the game. He explains the odds and math in very simple terms that anyone can understand and benifit from. Phil walks you through the stages of learning the game. You learn how to play on line and setting up your own home game. He then walks you through moving from low to middle limit games. "The Real Deal" will definitely step your game up a few levels. This is a great addition to anyone's poker library.

This is actually the second book of Mr. Steiner's I've read. The first was his introduction to economics textbook at college.

I'm not surprised other people found the book valuable as well, because of the rich quality of the writing, and the focus on the specific goals of the book - the local, amateur, high stakes game. However, I've got a strong academic background which includes a Master's Degree in Finance, so the academic, logical approach was very welcome to me.

The quality of the detailed instruction is unusually high. Mr. Steiner puts most of his most important conclusions in a context that dramatically increases the value of the lesson.

Despite Mr. Steiner's academic background, his poker book is unsually easy to read, and I enjoyed it. I particularly liked his anecdotes about specific events that had happened to him either in local games, or when he was in the military.

In short, the author is the kind of guy with whom you know you'd enjoy playing cards, even if you lost a few dollars doing it.

This book is for people who like to play Poker for "medium" stakes (not nickel-dime-quarter). It's an enjoyable read.

its a good book, starts off pretty dry and relatively simplistic but gets better after the tells section. The characters he uses help and remind you of people you find in your average game. the only problem is 1/3 of the example hands he uses end in you or your opponent getting quads... considering this book is based on a lot of probability that doesnt really work out. a decent read, worth looking over

This is a very good book that is quite well written; however, since it is from 1996, it's rather dated. The author, of course, does not make any mention of the internet which is the vehicle through which most of us play poker nowadays. He also could not have foreseen the extraordinary success that amateurs have had against professionals which is why he stated that amateurs usually lose their money at the World Series of Poker. In the last two years Greg Reimer and Chris Moneymaker thoroughly disproved such a notion. Yet the author should not be blamed for historical eventualities he could not anticipate. He has written a highly functional and readable guide for the weekly, or Thursday night, poker game. It's ideal for beginners as his explanations of the game (and its many variations) are clear and concise. His knowledge of strategy and tactics is notable. A big plus at the end is the annotated bibliography which I read a couple of times.

This book is unique in that it covers strategy and tactics for play in
serious home games instead of a casino or online. (Some differences
are the blind/ante structure, the number of players, and how many
players enter each pot.)

An excellent selling point is that it covers all of the serious poker
formats: Hold'em, Omaha, 7 Card Stud, 5 Card Draw, and 5 Card Stud.
(The section on Draw is quite good!) It includes hi/lo versions of
some of these games, including with a declare. It also covers limit,
no-limit, and pot-limit. It does not cover any of the crazy or
wildcard games that are popular in nickel-ante home games.

The included example/problems are an excellent way to learn. Each is
answered and accompanied by a good explanation. Various player
stereotypes are used throughout the book to stage the problems. The
stereotypes are unfortunately one-dimensional, but do remind the
reader to play the player instead of just your cards.

If you play serious home games, this book can easily suffice as your
only poker book. If you go to a casino or play online, this book will
help plenty versus no book at all.

o.k., here's the thing of it-i count cards and i also sometimes play using a positive progression. i have won and lost big using both systems,counting cards and positive progressions that is.
i very much enjoyed all of Walter Thomasons books.

The author presents many theories that are interesting and unique. My problem is that 90% of this book is research/results, and 10% is actual gambling advice. Who is the target audience? This book might be relevant to gambling theorists but is not helpful to your average gambler. I am a basic strategy player and felt let down by the lack of advice and tips. I still don't know how you could implement his quit point strategy in today's casinos with crowded tables and tight rules. I would give this book four or five stars if the book was 50% research and 50% advice.

This is Thomason's best book to date. The Quit Points bring a wholly new dimension to the game. His progression are the most intelligent and an improvement on his previous ones.

I think he proves his case and makes no wild claims but is very fair and balanced.

Using his mehtods I am way up and what is more I can play higher limits on a smaller bankroll. This is the great value of his method. You get a shot at the House for little risk. Only the House can truly rely on the Law of Large Numbers to allow their built in advantages to play out. The rest of us have to make the most of winning streaks and limit our losses on losing shoes. This method allows one to do just that.

I use Mannorino's Gregorian Strategy NOT basic strategy as I believe this is a more powerful and advanced strategy against six and eight deck shoes.

The combination of these two methods is deadly. Ignore the dimwits who whine about Thomason's methods and proofs. Clearly they have not read the book or are merely jealous competitors. Perhaps they enjoy losing.

Blackjack is now fun again!

I've seen a lot of strategies, read a lot of books, looked at a lot of web pages. They all say the same thing, progressive betting systems don't work. Just look at the first reviewer who harangues the system. It didn't stand up to all of his umptybillion simulations. Well I don't live or play blackjack in a simulation. I've used this system over the last year and have yet to see it just break down and fail. Or on the same token do worse than flat betting. If you are a casual player that wants to win get this book. But be forewarned do not tell anyone how you are winning, because remember progressive betting doesn't work. On a more serious note, this book is extremely easy to read if a little longwinded. After seeing the size you may wonder what I mean. Well the strategy itself can be wrapped up in about 3 pages but you don't get to it until chapter 20 something. Not that I'm complaining I think the background is very important. My final word if your looking for a book that means you want to win. So try this strategy and find out for yourself. Don't let the "experts" fool you with their billion hand simulations, i've never played a billion hands , nor will you.

Why they chose that first reviewer at top is a mystery. If you read the book, within the first few chapters you'll know his review is worthless.

First the author does something that very few other books do, he compares his system against flat betting and card counters on the exact same sequence of hands dealt from shoes and compares the final results so all you are seeing is the results of each betting system. And his system does not always come out on top, that's not his contention anyway. His contention is that compared to the flat better you will lose less and win more with his stategies.

Secondly, all his findings are backed up by very exhaustive research, there is no "trust me" statements, everything is backed up by real world data and testing.

The premise behind how it works is simple. Given any shoe, if you have a sequence of 5 wins and 5 losses, a flat better would come out even. However if you had a minimum bet on the losses and a maximum bet on the wins then overall you would be ahead. Mr Thomason's system helps to put you into this position to come out ahead.

Now as to real world experience, I have won 29 sessions against 5 losing sessions. I am very much ahead. Prior to this as a flat better I would say that I lost a little more than I won, a little below .500. What's more its a pleasure to play and see things happen as they are predicted in the book.

There is also something in here for card counters as well. Pay very close attention to his "Quit Points" section. It is probably the most effective defensive strategy anyone has come up with and it works.

There is no doubt a card counter will win more often and more money but I go to Vegas to relax and have fun, I already have a job and to me card counting is work. Instead of stressing and straining I now sit at the tables relaxed enjoying myself and still walking away a winner most of the time.

Thanks Mr. Thomason for helping me win a lot of money and at the same time allowing me to enjoy myself.

Im not a big fan of poker books. They tend to be very dry and difficult to apply the specific theories to the game. This book is simply explains another way to look at the game. It is very easy to apply to the game after reading. It is mostly a book about folding and how to fold well. When youre folding well, youre playing well. Folding well implies betting well. The book states this much more clearly. Overall a great book for any poker player.

This is a great book for the beginner to middle player skill level. It starts off like it may be for advanced players but with its redundant reminders of how to play certain types of hands and what to do in case scenarios it drills it into the player. Making it much easier to retain the information.

This is the one book that I can read time and time again, and always learn something new depending on where I'm at in my poker career and my life. It's not a poker instructional book by any means. It's about you and who you are at the poker table -- but really, it's about who you are in your every day existence.

If you like to look inside and make yourself a better person, then this book addresses core issues that can help you excel. Let's face it, life is poker and poker is life. Larry Phillips encapsulates this beautifully. It will help you play better and it will help you live better, if you are willing to do the work and look at yourself honestly.

It's a quick read with much thought provoking insights on just abou every page. It is written very well.

I have been playing poker professionally for a little over a year now and have read all different kinds of poker books. But this was the first one that really took into the importance of your mental state. If you want to read a book that is going to give you statistics and odds this isn't it. If your looking for something that is going to make you think more about your innerself and others at and away from the table this is a must read. By the way- I have never written a review before but I felt that this was a must for the serious or even part time player!

This is not the best book to buy if you are just learning how to play poker (try Sklansky or Harrington), but if you are an advanced beginner or intermediate player, this book offers a whole new approach to the game that will radically improve your play. Most beginning players find themselves playing too many hands, and with disastrous results (hitting top pair with a weak kicker, or hitting second pair). This book's advice (Poker Rule #3) is that "If you've been folding a lot, for a long time in the game, and you're starting to think that maybe it's time you got in a played a few hands again... Keep folding." It counsels patience, emotional detachment, and selective confrontation. In a world of big egos, players on tilt, and WPT wannabees, this book will help you find a calmer, more profitable path.

I am a poker player, and I am used to read the very best books about gambling (mostly from twoplustwo publishing). This book striked me as being very unprofessional, compared to what I am used to.

The author brings out fallacious ideas like you have to "think about the card you want and it will make you more likely to get it". This won't help the author's credibility. A good publisher would have never let him publish such non-sense.

Also, the overall tone of the writing does not inspire confidence. I was not looking for a novel, but I like it when the author sounds professional.

I am not in good position to judge the rest of the book. But that's the scary part! I won't be able to tell the good from the bad!


I only recommend that book because I couldn't find many other books about Gin. I advise the reader too be cautious reading this book.

i would've given the book 5 stars if it had more pages with illustrations and quiz material.
yep, he seems to be full of himself. doesn't need to be. just get the material across and the book sales will come.
the illustrations were clear as well as the layout of the book too. he can thank his publishers for that.

This guy may be a good gin player, but he's really full of himself.

His advice is excessively basic.

Also, he admits that he cheats at cards for money.

Finally, reading this book will not make you a good gin player.

I found this book to be frustrating, mostly because it becomes apparent that while the author enjoys the challenge of pulling one over on a live opponent, this book is really the author doing the same thing to the consumer. I agree with the other reviewer who was put off by the overly large type. I also note the consumer clip art on the cover. I should have known better.

The book is edited and published by the author's friend. I am sure Mr. Killebrew is an interesting person and a pleasure to be around. Why else would so many people enjoy playing him and getting beaten by him? But the impression I get is one of a sleazy braggart of a con-artist. A small publishing house is fine, but usually there is a reason a regular publishing company does not pick up one's manuscript: it just isn't quite good enough. Looking at the other items Swan Pub. and his editor Pete Billac has come out with, they almost all involve the same things about which we get spammed. Having read the Bicycle books on hearts and spades by Joseph Andrews, one sees how a book on a card game should be written.

I was also lured in by the positive reviews. I should have listened to the negatives this time. I should have noted that several of the glowing reviews are written by the author (ckill2015). I also note that the anonymous reviews were written soon after the book's publication, many of which were posted on the same day.

As to the quality, there just isn't much here, certainly not enough to justify a $9.95 price tag. Gin Rummy is not THAT complicated a game to warrant an extensive treatise, but Gin Rummy How to Play and Win, in fewer pages and with a much lower price, covers FAR more information on the game, variations and strategy. This book covers a lot of the author reminiscing about himself and his life and how wonderful a player he is.

To echo the problem with the chapter on "Percentages," it is true the book doesn't deal with it. It is also the second shortest chapter in the book at nearly a page and a half. However, on the back of the book the first item in the list of "Learn How To" features is "Play Percentages." That's just false advertising, also known as lying. My apologies for being too personal here, but since he brings it up in the "about the author" section, I expect better of a Marine.

There are good points to the book: his chapter on cheating is interesting; he does offer good advice on playing a live opponent, and after all the smack-talk similar to the play of bid-whist, he does offer excellent advice on courtesy.

Nor am I one for political correctness, but something about this line just rubs me the wrong way and is indicative of the whole book: "Against the very good players (the ones who play the game as I play it) you have to maintain discipline and never give in to hunches or impulses. I know this is useless information to give to female players because their intuition is so much more acute than mine is..."

At $9.95, this book is far too expensive for what one gets. The practical advice could fit nicely into a well-thought-out brochure. Please leave out the extensive writing on the "card gods" and use of telepathy and telekinesis. I would rather have learned from and lost to the author in person than been cheated by this book.

It has been over a year since I made some comments about my book.
Since then I have gone from winning at 68% to 73% and continue to be the leading percentage player in World Play Case's Ladder, and no one has broken my 37 game winning streak record. Charley Killebrew

A definite how-to book for blackjack. Everyone serious about beating the house should have this book.

Very helpful for an easier approach to getting a better edge on the house
than basic strategy alone.

This is an intriguing book that adds a card counting strategy that is actually usable! For years, I have tried to memorize and practice various card counting strategies (Thorp, Uston, Revere, Wong, etc...); however, one poor estimate of the remaining decks or half decks left you with a count that was inaccurate, and even worse, led to poor game table results! Here is a book with a simple counting method that makes sense, that can be used at the casino tables or on-line very easily.

The book is a little long winded -- all that really matters is the counting technique and the betting technique and the revised basic strategy charts. That alone would be worth the price of this book.

This is a great method for those hobbyist players who want to enjoy themselves, shave a couple of points off of the house advantage, and not labor under the sometimes extreme pressure of more advanced counting systems. I have played several different counts over the years, and I have switched to the speed count completely. It's enjoyable to use, very simple to learn, and the playing efficiency is only very marginally lower than more sophisticated systems. I have found that my winning sessions have increased mostly because I make fewer errors with this count. Now, I'm not telling you that this is a miracle panacea and money flows across the table during all sessions -- those of us who play often know this isn't the case. However, I have noticed that in aggregate over 20 to 30 sessions, this system holds its own with proven results. Best of all, the play looks nothing like the play most counters use. I have used it with impugnity with wide bet spreads, and no one has been the wiser. I highly recommend this book, I can't wait for Frank's next book.

After reading this book, I have to agree with Scoblete and say that this is definitely the easiest card counting system on the market. What makes this system different from the norm is the fact that you are mostly working with addition and very little (but simple) subtraction, with no true count conversion needed. The basic strategy card deviations serve as good camouflage to the pit crew considering some table entries are different than normal basic strategy.

This book was written for the basic strategy player who tried counting cards but found it too hard to accomplish. This system only takes a day or two of practicing before you get it down and the system itself works slowly as you play (you don't count the cards as they come out, you count them after each hand has been played), which is much easier on the brain. I like the fact that the author provides millions of computer simulation results to back up the system. The results show that depending on how aggresive of a bettor you are, this system is 70% to 95% as powerful as the HI-LO. So you do obtain a long term edge over the house...HOWEVER...

If you have already learned a more advanced system than this and have it down pat, I don't think you will want to switch to the Golden Touch method. Before reading this book I had been using the HI-LO with success to the point where counting came second nature to me and I wasn't making any mental errors while at the tables. And while this system will give you an edge over the casino, it is still a downgrade from the more advanced. The biggest disadvantage of this system is that the standard deviation of your edge is very large. What this means is that your calculated edge at times is not nearly as accurate as with other systems. There will be times while using the Golden Touch system that you will be asked to put up your maximum bet while the edge is very small. For example, if you are using the HI-LO and the count is +2, you will only be putting up a 1 or 2 unit bet while the GT system in that same situation may ask you to put up a 4 or 5 unit bet. You are still betting more $$$ when the count is positive giving you an edge, but there will be circumstances when using the GT system that you will be overbetting your bankroll and as a result you will experience much larger financial swings than in other more advanced systems. Because of this, the GT system requires a larger bankroll to sustain the much more dramatic ups and downs long term.

Like I said, if you are a basic strategy player that tried to learn card counting with little or no success but you still want to beat the casinos, then the GT sytem is definitely for you. If you are an experienced card counter that has mastered a system of "HI-LO quality" or better, stick with what you have.

Good luck at the tables everyone!

After I purchased these cards, I read the reviews and all the bad things about them being thick and sticking together and not being comfortable, but when I got mine yesterday I immediately fell in love with them. I think that they're quite beautiful and for a beginner are a wonderful starter deck. Once you shuffle them a couple of times and get them nice and mixed there is no problem with cards sticking and it's nice to know that they're a nice durable, trusty deck. In fact, I started using them right away, and they came out on the head with answers. Mind you my friend wasn't too happy with the outcome, and how now his feelings were exposed to me, but that's his own issue, and he even agreed that they hit the nail on the nose with the problems he was having in his psuedo "relationship". Alas, if you feel like you want the cards, don't let negative reviews stop you from getting them, go with your gut, I adore mine.

This beautiful redrawing/coloring by Mary Hanson-Roberts of this most traditional deck is complete with a depth of color that many other versions of the same are lacking. If what you are seeking is a softer alternative to the bold colors and heavy black outlines of the "traditional" Rider deck, you've found it.

Interpreting this deck is like resting on a soft pillow. This is my original working deck, and is still my second working deck, after the Robin Wood. It's an excellent place for beginners to start. There's no wondering why the images created by Pamela Colman Smith are singularly the most popular in the world. These images are timeless and are traditionally known as being easy to read, as well as providing depth and insight for the more advanced.

This deck is pencil-colored with delicate, soft lines drawn around the faces and figures, and soothing rich colors within the cards. The backings are an intriguing and fully reversible gold and indigo star field. The Fool in this deck is absolutely gorgeous with his gentle yellow sky and snuggly robe. The High Priestess is absolutely beautiful.

I am reviewing the deck alone, as I don't have the book that now comes with it. I found this deck to be excellent when coupled with "Learning the Tarot" by Joan Bunning, which uses the Universal Waite for illustrations. This book gives a solid grounding in how to read Tarot, and along with this deck, you will be well on your way.

Beautiful cards brilliant colours. The only reason I did not give 5 stars was the accompaning book was not informative enough for me.

The Universal Waite Tarot Deck and Book Set by Arthur Edward Waite comes with the card deck, small paperback book and a handout "map" for doing a celtic cross general reading (this shows where to place the 10 chosen cards). Overall, the deck is the tried and true Waite deck that is univerally the overally best! This deck is easy to read and each symbol explains a situation with the help of the paperback book. The book is easy to follow and informative for the beginner. In my opinion, this is a good book to carry around for answers, however, the book "Tarot Plain and Simple" by Anthony Louis is my personal favorite book. When I do a reading and refer to it, something in the reading of a particular card that I am searching the meaning to just jumps out and BINGO, this is what I need to hear at the time. Overall, this is a GREAT BEGINNER SET that will get you started in this. I sometimes refer to the cards when I have a question. The cards just give me more advice and insight than anything else. The readings and answers given show me what MAY happen if I do nothing to change the situation. I do not look at this as a fortune telling but more of advice and getting my questions answered. This is why the cards help. Only I can work on my future!

A classic Deck and Easy reading book. If you want to learn the tarot use the deck that has been the leading deck used by every tarot reading from one time or another. With a book that can teach anyone.

If I knew a friend was about to play Lucifer in a game of euchre, I'd recommend the "Columbus Book of Euchre".................... by Natty Bumppo

Here's my 5 star review for you, Natty. I hope it helps.

Count me in! Here is my five star review for The Columbus Book of Euchre - the Greatest Card Game Book ever written! This book has it all! Pictures, funny stories, definitions, and so on. Bumppo rocks! The man knows Euchre. No doubt about that!
If we can get just a dozen more 5 star postings for this book, then we can bring the overall rating up to 5 stars. Tell your friends to get on to this review page in Amazon. I don't care if they don't know euchre from a hole in the wall! It's all about numbers. And besides, Natty is the nicest guy you will ever want to meet. My hero!

The Columbus Book of Euchre, 2nd Edition is an update of the
original book. A lot of the material is the still the same; a sort of "re-hash" of the old, and somewhat dull, 1982 edition. However, there are some interesting and informative additions.
And a sincere credit should be given for the positive features.
This book does have some great strategies and a wonderful home-spun humerous approach to the game of euchre. The fact that it does not have one illustrative hand of euchre is peculiar. But then again, fancy layouts of hands are not absolutely essential to get a point or two across. Overall, it is a decent book, and I liked it for the most part.

For the record, I looked at the reviews for this (newest) edition
a few weeks ago, and I noticed that some of the less than favorable reviews were culled. Thus, it appears that Mr. Bumppo has a sensitivity to any negative publicity.

Then we have a "cluster" of kids' five star reviews, which have
the effect of inflating the overall star rating for this book.
Some of these five stars reviews make the whole review process
a mockery, to say the least!

Finally, there is the persistent effort by Mr. Bumppo or his "fans" to continually post negative comments in forums and message boards about other writer's euchre books.

In spite of all of the above, I still recommend acquiring this
book, as it will improve your game.


Thus, it will be interesting, indeed, to see if this review, which
is honest and fair, is summarily deleted from this review area.

Right from the start - 5 big fat juicy stars! I have never heard of Solitare Euchre until I saw this book. That is a wonderful idea. And I love the way you socked it to the other Euchre writers for not knowing about Soilitare euchre, or two hand euchre, or not creeating it on their own. After all, if they knew anything about euchre, they should have included it in their books.
There is more to Euchre than the old timey regular 10 point game. That way of playing is dead, boring, and out of style, like disco or Elvis. Two handed euchre also rocks, and they did not have this in their books, either. 4-handed euchre is dead, Solitare, two hand, and 3 hand euchre is in.
You might be 80 years old, mr. bumppo, but you write like a kid, and think like a kid, and that works for me and my friends!

Great book for beginners! It is clear, concise and full of humor, making it fun to read, as well as easy to comprehend. It is very well organized and progresses logically from the basics to all you need to know. The rules and conventions included are The Standard American System (new since the Goren days) and are consistent with American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) standards. In this system, distribution points are counted only after partners have agreed on a suit, which is fully explained in the book.
I bought the first edition of Eddie Kantar's "Dummies" book when I retired 9 years ago and took up bridge again after a 25-year break, needing a refresher course and upgrade from the Goren years to modern bridge. As an intermediate player, I value it as a reference in case of forgetfulness... This 2nd edition has improved diagrams and other updated information. Highly recommended for beginners and beyond . . .
Another excellent book by this author: "Eddie Kantar Teaches Topics in Declarer Play at Bridge."

This book by E.Kantar is a mix of good and bad teaching and most novices would be better off with almost any other for beginners.

Kantar fails to stress that all 12 HCP hands with the same hand pattern are far from equal and thus do not qualify for an opening bid of one. A hand with four quacks(Q+J)is not equal to one with three Kings nor to one with three Aces even though each has a nominal 12 HCP count. Some, but not all, new books will tell students that an opening bid should also have two quick tricks, which are Aces, Kings and Queens in combinations.

Ch.Goren, the preeminent bridge teacher of old, urged students to count quick tricks as part of opening one bid requirements. There is no need nor a good reason to dumb down bridge teaching today.

Also, Kantar does not credit points for long nor short suits for opening bids,as is common in nearly all new books, so that 5,6,7,8 and 9 card suits are treated as equal and all requiring 12 or 11 HCP to open.

Such teaching is not helpful to novices and as a long time techer I would not use or recommend this book to novices, but more experinced players might find it worth reading.

Another shortcomming of this book is a lack of adjustments for unprotected honor cards. E.g. Axxxx,QJxx, QJ,QJ is not a 13 HCP count and should not be opened by a novice.

Another problem with the book is that all illustrations are ideal for the situation at hand, while most hands in real life are less perfect.

This second edition has only six more pages of instructions than the first and with just 372 pages of bridge, not 408 as claimed.Mr. Kantar is known as one of the best players in the country and the world. But lesser
players have written far better books for novices.

Stig Holmqui

I am a big fan of the 1st edition of this book and was pleasantly surprised to find that the 2nd edition is a marked improvement. The new hand diagrams are a big improvement. Mr. Kantar has done quite a bit of rewriting of the material and the 2nd edition seems more tightly organized than the 1st edition. The new "cheat sheet" is an improvement as well. The strengths of the 1st edition -- the author's engaging style and humor, the clear presentation of bridge basics, and the steady, logical progression of material -- all remain intact.

This book is not bad, but unfortunately is not clear, and not fun to read.
It goes in to details too quickly.

It appears to be aimed at a person becoming an Intermediate Player

This is the best book for Dummies I have ever read.
Kantar presents material in an order that makes sense. It is the first time I understood what I was doing in Bridge. As soon as I read some information on playing, I went to my software program, Bridge Baron (also excellent), and immediately played several hands by myself, making every contract with ideas Kantar had given me; even making contracts with what I used to think were awful hands. Kantar seems to be a born teacher. You can easily see that he loves his subject and very much enjoys imparting knowledge to others. This book is worth every penny! It is one of the best Christmas presents I received this year.

One of the best current books on the blackjack market today! I also recommend, Gregorian Strategy for multiple deck blackjack.

This book was recommended to me by a friend. Before reading the book I had never gambled before. That was soon to change. The book is incredably readable and even funny. The recounting of his stories concerning the "Act" had me in stitches, imagining him tipping chips all over the place. On a serious note the information is powerful stuff arming you with knowledge to earn yourself quite a tidy sum, if you stick to the rules. Marketing guys often have slogans like "This book will make you rich." It has never been more true than with this book. It is a gold mine. Thanks to John May I have earnt myself a tidy sum and shall continue to do so. Well done John May.

This is a entertaining and interesting manual of "how-to" methods to win money in casinos at blackjack. The range of subject material is quite impressive. Many ideas are a revelation-the author seems to have developed a method of winning by observing the pick-up and discard order of card sequences, for example, something I've never read about anywhere. Although I'm not a serious blackjack player-from what I can tell these ideas do seem to check out at the tables. If I was dumped in the middle of Las Vegas and told to make a fortune or die trying, then this is the one book I would take with me.

What this book definitely isn't is another, basic strategy, count-cards and a few filler anecdotes book.

This book has some very basic discussion on card counting and hardly helpful. It discusses some "advanced techniques" such as "Card Steering", "Shadow Play" etc which requires a very weak dealer, a professional blackjack team, lots of bankroll and a casino without surveillance. Most of these "advantage play methods" are not author's own idea and these sounded more like gambling myths than facts. Do yourself a favor - Do not buy this book !

As a serious, if recreational, gambler, I really have to commend the writer on the best blackjack book of the modern era.

Modern blackjack doesn't really bear much resemblance to the game talked about in most blackjack books. Casinos don't use single-decks any more, and they know a great deal about card counting, which is the only way of getting an edge most books cover. "Get The Edge" is very, very different. Despite a readable, almost populist style, May has some really incredible ideas.
For example, did you ever consider that the order you throw the cards back to the dealer in could influence your post-shuffle advantage? Sound like sorcery? Maybe, but the method is substantiated with rigorous proof and explanation. These methods are'nt just the subject of pure theory and computer simulation, with many of them May shows you how they work by getting you to try them out with just a deck of cards and a kitchen table.

Where other authors don't even mention the existence of devices like the card shuffling machines commonly used nowadays May not only talks about them but uses the casinos tricks against them. Think you can't beat a continuous shuffling machine? Well, its not easy, but it is possible and May shows you how with reference to real-world casino coups and his incredible perception.

The really bad thing about this book is that May just goes too far with what he is prepared to reveal. Some of us who knew about, for example, card-steering, would prefer he'd left that one out. I made a killing with that trick over the years and publishing it can only make things more difficult for players.

Nonetheless the majority of the book is ground-breaking and innovative, in a way no blackjack book has been since the publication of Thorp's "Beat The Dealer".