Gambling Books

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!

I m sorry to buy this book , i expect it has some ways to further cut edge , but it just point out a little all known and say too many rubbish word to make it become a book

useless at all for beginner to expert

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 !

"Bets, Drugs and Rock & Roll" by Steve Budin. This book was written by the father of off shore sports book gambling and is a truly fascinating read. Having learned the basics of bookmaking from his father, who was one of the top bookies in New York City, Steve Budin demonstrated a remarkable talent for his chosen field. The book charts his rise from his early days as a high school bookmaker in Florida, who took bets from his classmates as well as their parents and his teachers, through his time as a casino host to his setting up of the first real offshore sports book in Panama and later in Costa Rica. He describes the difficulties this posed as well as his success in overcoming the many obstacles placed in his path. Steve Budin also discusses his battles with the US government, whichultimately lead to his downfall, notwithstanding that he was meticulous about paying taxes on his earnings. The book is filled with interesting tidbits about some of his celebrity clients, which included actors and professional athletes to his own philosophy about the proper conduct of a bookie. The book also provides an excellent introduction to the basics of sports betting which I found especially enlightening. I will note that Mr. Budin frequently pats himself on the back in his book and brags about his accomplishments but I think he is entitled to his pride when you realize he helped create what is now a multi-billion dollar industry. The book is a fast paced read which I finished in one sitting.

Fast shipping, great product, got exactly as described. I would do buisness with this seller again! :) Thank you!

This is a truly fascinating tale of the rise and fall of a Sports Gambling ring. Steve Budin was a self-made millionaire before turning thirty, and we see how he coped with the money, the drugs, the sports, and the fall of it all. The book sucks you in to the very last page.

all he talks about is how great is father is (the guy seems to be in line for the nobel peace prize) and how smart he is when all he really is is a tool for the New York mob, which called all the shots. The guy is a shameless self promoter. I am ashamed I spend money on this book and immediately tossed it in the garbage.

A third grader could have written a better book. This guy supposedly has the father of the year who was 6 foot 4 and full of muscle with the brains of Einstein and could never make a mistake. He makes the old man out to be Gandhi.

He makes himself out to be the coolest guy since James Bond. He admits that he smoked weed and cheated on his wife on a regular basis (she is also a Miss Universe clone). At the end of course he talks about how he is devoted to Jesus his savior and how he dedicated his life to him.

The so called "adventures" he goes through are so trumped up with BS and tall tales that you have no idea where the truth ends and fiction starts.
He apparently knows every mobster and wise guy in New York and Miami. He claims to be an international jet-setter.

Of course one his good buddies is Stu Feiner. If you know anything about sports betting I don't need to go any further.

I was really looking forward to reading this book. I did finish it out of some outside chance that the end would be better. That did not happen.

I had never heard of the guy and I follow this subject very closely. He really seems to be a two-bit broken down gambler with a trifle of a story that is blown way out of proportion.

If you like sports gaming and the stories that go with it find another book.

Sorry to say, but this book was a major dissapointment. The author tries to be too cute with his writing style. He uses all kinds of big words like 'quarom', quixotically', 'effete', 'de rigueur', etc. If I want a vocabulary lesson I'll buy a dictionary.
But worst of all, he gives so much usless information. One chapter guides you on setting up your own home poker game. (do I need help doing that?) He gives advice on how much to play for: "play for an amount that quickens your breath, but doesn't leave you breahless". No kidding! What useless info. Much of the book is like that. Big thumbs down for this book.

No you won't learn how to play a small pair in early position from this book. This is all about the psychology and emotions of gambling. Konik is probably the best writer of all the gambling pundits when it comes to telling it like it is warts and all. A very honest book. You gotta feel for the guy even if he seems to get more women than the average poker player. He knows he's not that great of a player. He belongs on T.V. talking about the game not playing it.

The shorter stories about sports and blackjack are highly educational and amusing. Good chapter about "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire."

This is the kind of book you can dip into a few chapters at a time in between watching Konik on T.V. acting like he knows what he's talking about. Mr. Konik, stick to writing. You're the best.

I was interested in this book after seeing the author on numerous television shows about gambling. Michael Konik has always been one of my favorite commentators about poker. He brings articulateness and humor to the game. I found these qualities in his writing. Some of his writing is laugh outloud funny and some of it is quite serious. He is more eloquent in print than he is on TV. "Telling Lies" is an incredible piece of writing. It's brutally honest almost painfully honest. I felt for the guy showing so much vulnerability. What's really great about this book is that it's about gambling and poker but it can be enjoyed by readers who don't have a lot of interest in those subjects. That's how good the writing is. A classic.

I thought, when I began reading Michael Konik's books, that I would discover gambling stories: descriptions of cons, cheats, old and new games, great losses and winnings, and wily stratagems between the house and the man with a fake beard and a card counter in his boot. And all such stories are certainly there in clear and compelling form. But what I've come to find in book after book is that Konik is, at heart, a biographer. He's more interested in the man holding the hole card than the hole card itself. He wants to know why his subject is sitting at a green table rather than lecturing at a blackboard or curing pancreatic cancer. And although he presents these subjects with respect and even reverence, he presents them in the round, with beauty marks and warts, perfume and halitosis. They step from his pages alive and breathing. Surely, some of them distribute copies of his books inscribed with their own autographs, so proud they are of the portrait. Konik makes the mute sing and the paralytic dance, and his subjects must, as his editors must, love it.

Beyond all that, Konik presents himself as a flawed human being, as indeed we all are, however loathe we are to admit it. He imparts a great truth: "Lie in poker, but not in love." And he explains the penalties of ignoring such an admonition, as he experienced them personally. If this doesn't sound like any book you've ever read about gambling, be assured it certainly is not. Yes, it is about the rules of hold `em and the bizarre casinos of Macau, China, but it is also about life itself as the greatest gamble, and the odds of traversing it with soul intact.

Been seeing Mr. Konik on TV for some time now commentating on the poker shows and was curious if his poker books are as knowlegdeable as he sounds when he's talking on TV. Well, to be blunt I'm not sure he's as much of an expert about the game as some of the other players out there with books and dvds etc. Meaning he never won any major tournaments that I can tell and I don't know if he has any great insight that you couldn't find in the average instructional book -- but there's a big difference in "Telling Lies and Getting Paid." Mr. Konik is a truly great writer, I would say the best by a long mile over anybody else trying to write about poker. I enjoyed his "Man With $100,000..." very much so I wasn't completely surprised by this sequel. The writing is even better I think.

Mr. Konik has a way of making you feel like you're right there in the middle of the action and you're feeling the emotions the author is experiencing. I was very moved by his account of playing in the World Series of Poker with a broken heart, which is something I don't reccommend doing! This book is not always easy to read. It's very honest and sometimes very moving. Sometimes it's funny. All the time it is a book to read over like you put on a favorite record. If you want truly great writing about gambling, this is the book.

They say that 'luck is the residue of preparation'. This is especially true when it comes playing poker. So, plan to get very lucky after you read Dan Harrington's 2 volumes on cash game no limit hold'em.
I've been a limit player for 20 years. Recently, I decided to devote myself to no limit because of the greater profit in these games. From my general knowledge, I knew that there were significant strategy differences in correct strategy for no limit so I read a couple of books. However, these books didn't really help very much. Then I got Harrington's books and it was like someone had turned on a light in a dark room. It made a world of difference in my game. I 'get it' now.
To put some perspective on this, I'm playing in a $2/$3 blind no limit game with a $200 cap on the buyin, in a brick and mortar poker room. I mention this because some of the reviews of these books have critized them for being too basic. However, if you're playing in a small game, basic strategy is probably the BEST strategy. In the second volume, there is a chapter about playing in small no limit games. I recommend you jump ahead and read it first. Keeping this chapter in mind as you read everything else will really give you a great perspective on how to beat a small no limit game. With respect to beating the bigger games, I really don't know if these books will help because I'm not playing in those games yet. But if you are new to no limit, or you are just having trouble beating the small game you're playing in, these books are great.

I have all of Harrington's poker books and many, many other poker books by other authors; my husband and I play poker. Harrington, in my opinion, ranks amoung the best of the best poker authors. His books on poker, tournament poker and cash games are excellent!!!

This book, and Harrington's cash game vol. II, are the best I've found on the subject.

If you play poker, you understand, or should understand, that gaining poker knowledge, acquired from study and experience, is a life-long educational experience, and that it is far cheaper to learn things the "right way" the first time around with respect to studying the variation(s) of poker you play, as this will be the basis for your personal thoughts about and analysis of your experience (the games you most recently played). If you want boks offering good reasoning about and stratagems for cash games, purchase Harrington's books, and you'll not regret it.

One thing I have noticed, is that when those new to poker purchase a book on the subject of poker, any book, they seem to think, and often mention, that said book, is "great" when, in fact, they really have no basis for making such a judgement. Hey, we all have to begin somewhere. As a poker player progresses to higher levels of ability their choice of poker books becomes much more selective as they are better qualified to analyse the large selection of poker books now offered for sale. I've said all this to simply inform those new to, as well as those experienced at, playing either Hold'Em tournaments or Hold'Em cash games, that Dan Harrington's books are amoung the best of the best, according to my husband, and he, not to boast, should know, and he has recommended Harrington's poker books to a lot of people.

Poker is about making the best possible decisions based on available, although limited, information. Poker players who purchase Harrington's books are, in my humble opinion, making good decisions.

This book is the bible for Deep Stack cash game play. Highly recommended to anyone who plays cash games.

recommended for those of us, myself especially, who think that they're ready to excell at the cash tables. take the time and let this book river you out of $30, if that, and then take the time to learn, relearn, and over-learn all the book has to offer.

I am fairly new to the game of poker and this book was very easy to understand. This is definitely a book you can re-read many times and use it as a quick reference guide. I would recommend it to anyone trying to master the game of poker.

It's a good read but I've tried to do the dice setting but yet to see it work. well written book though.

This book needs no intro. Covers the aspects of dice control, trouble-shooting and goes further with some wager tactics. It contains not only the words of Frank Scoblete, but also of other great and known shooters.

The main objective here (obviously) is dice control. But I was actually happy when I saw several wagering approaches. There are books that cost a lot and are about progression build ups on a hot roll. Well, there's a small 6 step 6-8 press that has become a favorite I committed to memory with no question or doubt. A work of art that puts you in a zone of safety after 2 hits on either number.

Not much more to say. It is what it is and you get more than you pay for. The expense is small and can always serve as an excellent point of reference.

hkb

My cousins and I were at a casino in Tunica losing big time. He usually has a good run so I was betting away on his rolls. He would pick up the dice, blow on them, say a prayer, kiss his nuckles, and go through a whole ritual before shooting. He's what Frank would call a "gambler." One of the dealers asked if we had ever heard of the Dominator, neither of us had. He said, "try reading the Dominator before coming down here again." I read this book on a Thursday and went to the casino that Friday night. Did I try to become an overnight controlled shooter? Heck no, I stood at the table for about 20 minutes until I found someone that was. I walked away happy that night.

I believe in the techniques, and have been practicing them myself, but have yet to try my novice skills at the casino. I'm ordering a makeshift golden touch craps table that I found on Ebay.

I blazed through this book in a day. It's a solid read, but definitely a little longer than it needs to be, as a lot of stuff becomes redundant as you move along. I also thought the learning sections could've been organized a little better, but admittedly, I may just be splitting hairs with that one (I think my conclusion is I would've enjoyed the DVD more - except it's really expensive.

Anyone who is reading this book with hopes of becoming an instant craps whiz better look elsewhere. This book preaches hard work, focus, meditation, among many other things. If you truly believe that this works (I'm a bit skeptical myself, but hey, that's why Frank would call me a "Random Shooter!"), then this will give you all the tools you need to go forth. But if you're sincerely interested in "breaking Vegas" via craps, then this book will show you how to get started.

I like this book, it had the information I wanted to learn. I also bought "Get the Edge at Craps by Sharpshooter" because I always like to get several opinions on the same subject to make up my own mind on what to believe. They both contain basically the same information except "Get the Edge" goes into the mathematical formulas of physics a lot deeper. I like the writing style better in this book.

It boils down to this, if you want to learn how to throw the dice and learn from the best out there, get this book.

If you want to impress your friends by punching numbers in your calculator to show the probabilities of physics then get the other one.

In my opinion you only need one book and this is it. Plus it goes over all the rules and betting so you don't need another book on learning how to play either.

This is the only book you need on Craps.

If you liked the movie Rounders you'll certainly like this book. It's a story well balanced between narrative and strategy chapters. Buy this book and have fun with Matt!

Matros has a mathematical background and tells a good story. It is interesting to follow his rise up the tournament ladder and to experience a first hand account of the poker world. However, while eh sprinkles the stroy with some poker tips, Matros' advice is skimpy, especially when compared to Harrington and Sklansky.

Mike Matros has a bachelors in mathematics from Yale and a MFA in creative writing from Sarah Lawrence, which is itself an interesting combination. One does not normally think of the two sides of the brain converging in a single person, but apparently, it has in the personality of Mike Matros. Matros is a rising tournament player who after writing this book placed 3rd in a WPT event, netting him over $700,000. That story, and others, is related in the book (as a postscript).

Poker books have been around for decades, but due to the sport's recent, explosive popularity, the market has seen a signficant increase in both the numbers published, as well as the creation of new sub-genres. Anyone who is in the market for a book on poker deserves to know where Matros's new poker book fits within this marketplace. Here's my shorthand for the sub-genres of poker books:

1. Technical and Strategic. These books seek to explain, not merely the rules of poker, but strategies and the technical mathemetics needed to become a winning player.

2. Poker Memoir. These books are more about the poker player than they are about poker. They recount stories of bad beats or significant events in the life of the player.

Works that fit #1 are absolutely essential reading for anyone interested in improving their game. Books by writers like Dan Harrington, David Sklansky and Mike Caro fit this category well. Works that fit #2 are not, in a sense, technically necessary but are enjoyable reads nonetheless if one loves the sport. A great example of an excellent memoir book is Michael Craig's recent THE PROFESSOR, THE BANKER AND THE SUICIDE KING, as well as Jim McManus's POSITIVELY FIFTH STREET.

Not all books are simply one or the other, because as the market has grown and expanded, hybrids that are a mix of the two have emerged. These books attempt to combine the best of #1 and #2, but in my experipence, rarely succeed. For instance, a hybrid poker book will focus on poker stories, as well as strategy, in an attempt to make poker strategy more readable and interesting. But in so doing, these books rarely provide enough technical depth on given situations or needed mathematics to be truly helpful. Thus, hybrid books will tend to be the weakest in those chapters that are devoted purely to strategy. An example of this is several of Phil Helmuth's books, which are more about Phil Helmuth than they are about poker.

I consider Matros's book a hybrid, and like most hybrid books I've read, it fails at offering substantive analysis and technical depth of the game. His training in creative writing is definitely evident in reading the book, as he is truly gifted writer of nonfiction. I found myself genuinely liking Matt after reading about him in tournaments. He also does a good job of putting the reader at the table, in certain hands - something which only talented writers can successfully do. He is like Michael Craig, in that sense - he is able to take you experientially into the tension and excitement of gambling, and that alone makes this book worth reading.

But I thought the book was weak in the chapters where Matros appeared to be providing technical information to the reader. For instance, the game theory chapter is slim on actual game theory. We learn nothing about solving actual games; we're simply recounted anecdotes involving problems suggested to an Internet discussion forum, and a prediction by Matros that game theory will one day revolutionize the science of poker. As an economist, I've heard this prediction before - not with poker, necessarily, but with any number of fields. It was once predicted that Chicago price theory would be supplanted by a game theoretic approach, but that day has not arrived, despite the signficant contributions to the field that game theory has made. Hence, Matros came across to me as more of a cheerleader in that chapter than he did someone who could open up the black box of game theory and relate it with relevance to a layperson.

Hence I felt the book was not balanced well, and suffered the fate of most hybrid poker books. It worked well as a narrative about poker-playing, but worked poorly at explaining poker strategy to the reader. Nevertheless, I think Matros understands poker very well, and the few nuggets I did get from the book on playing were helpful.

This book out of all others I have read(Sklansky, Brunson, Harrinton, etc...), this is probably my favorite. I myself, and a player who is wanting to learn the game and work my way up. This book gives you that hope. He seperates the book from Beginner, average, to advanced. And along the way, he shows you what he did and the mistakes he made. You get a sense of what not to do when playing poker for a living or trying too. The is a strategy-story book which is very different among others. I highly-highly recommend this book.

I cant wait until his 2nd one comes out!

_JAck

Most importantly, I feel the need to correct something one reveiwer said.
"Dave M (Alexandria, VA) The amazing part is that this book was written BEFORE he won playing in the 2004 WPT Championship. He was nothing but an amateur with a couple cashes. He had no business writing a book."

The fact that this book was written almost in its entirety BEFORE getting the big payout is the true testament to its validity. I believe this book would have been inconsequential had it been yet another luck draw player made famous by his/her 15 minutes on ESPN. All theories and practices are well thought out and layout a natural development of this man's poker strategies. A great read for anyone bored with taking their friend's money every Saturday night, but not ready to start rounding.

When I started studying and playing seriously a decade ago, this book was mentioned constantly by all the old masters. Read it and see why.
Yardley is a solid writer and player, and you learn the poker basics here as a by-product in this entertaining tale. He's quite a character and was a real player in our various nefarious intelligence agencies; his brains and wariness suited him well at the card table.
This little book is a quick and easy read and has a lot to say about poker and life. While not the strategic masterpiece its adherents often claim, it is nonetheless one of the first books to really detail the how-to's of good poker. Add to that the non-poker aspects and it becomes one of the more engrossing reads in the poker-book world.
Highly likely to be in your local library. Try to get an older copy; the various semi-lurid covers are most humorous. Poker IS a seedy gambling game full of harlots and ne'er-do-wells, after all. And, well, maybe one or two fascinating, intelligent, funny characters...
Better to stay in church.

Pros- Very entertaining read. It definitely hearkens one back to a time long past in American history- wild rough-neck types plying their wits over a card table in any given Saloon in any given town in any given state, a century ago.

Also, it was pretty much one of the earlier books to ever address poker from a mathematical perspective. Things like "pot odds", while not called "pot odds", are discussed in an easy to read, organic fashion. Later poker classics like "The Theory Of Poker", while much more factually comprehensive than Yardleys book, are clearly built on a foundation that was originally laid by "The Education...".

Cons- Save for the chapters on 7 Stud, most of the games talked about in this book are no longer played on a broad scale, save for the occasional home game. Games like 5 Card Draw, 5 Card Stud, 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo without a qualifier, 5CD Deuces Wild... These games just don't occupy the same presence today that they once did, so a lot of the technical and strategic information, while still "valid", is a bit dated...

... but like I said in the title, this "con" is also very much a "pro".
While games like 5 Draw and 5 Stud are no longer kings of the hill, they are most definitely experiencing a resurgence of interest as players expand their interests beyond Omaha, 7 Stud and Hold Em. As strategy books on these games, "The Education" is absolutely top flight- read it and heed it and you will find yourself crushing your friends the next time they decide to throw a 5 Draw or a 5 Stud into the rotation at the next home game because someone just got done watching "Cincinnati Kid."

Also, a lot of the principles, while discussed in the context of somewhat 'dated' poker games, still apply to *all* poker games...

Pretty safe bet that as long as everyone is informed in advance that this poker book mainly deals with older games, there won't be a single buyer who regrets purchasing it.

I have purchased several copies of this book over the years. I bought the first one to sharpen my play and my wife's play when, in graduate school, we got together with our best friends (two other married couples) and played into the early morning hours (A total of $15.00 at stake--$2.50 each!). This latest purchase is a gift to a friend who is interested in the beginnings of our current intelligence agencies--NSA, CIA etc. No doubt there are better poker guides on the market: No doubt Yardley's guide is the only one worth reading just for the fun of it. (See Yardley's "The American Black Chamber")

Poker books of late, for the most part, have all been about strategy. If you're already figured out how to play small pairs in early position or if you're looking for a poker book that isn't about "odds", this one is about as good as you're going to get.

I don't know if all the stories are to-the-letter true or not- Yardley may have exaggerated some of them a wee bit- and it was definitely written in a different time but overall, the organic advice about the gamesmanship aspects of poker is spot-on accurate (from my perspective as a winning NLHE and mixed games player). There is just so much more that goes in to beating this game than pot odds and hand selection.

I don't think this book will appeal strictly left-brained sort of people who view the game of poker almost entirely as a mathematical exercise, but it will appeal to everyone else.

But mostly, it is a collection of autobiographical anecdotes by one of the most interesting characters in twentieth century American history.

Actually, it is about an even split between poker and the exploits of Herbert O. Yardley, but it is hard to tell which aspect the author invested more of his energy in.

Regarding poker; both the mathmatical disciplines of poker and the psychological game of poker are well addressed in terms that make the knowledge easy to apply. Well structured breakdowns of when to fold and raise based on straight probability make the book straight forward from the numbers aspect. Anecdotes of various poker games and player that Yardley knew address the psychological game, including bits on reading the other player and how to present yourself at the table. A little dated, perhaps but mostly relevant.

Regarding Yardley; the anecdotes provide a portrait of a man you do not want to trust with secrets. Vain, arrogant, self-serving, and possessed with the belief that laws are for other people, but he still conveys surprise and resentment that he was put out of the American intelligence community (such as it was) in the 1920s. This book should be a cautionary tale for people deciding who an organization should place in a position of trust. If someone sounds like Yardley, DON'T put him in a sensitive position.

Still, the advice on poker is good, and the tales are exciting (whether historically accurate or not; I have a hard time believing that Yardley was the hero and 'James Bond' type that he paints himself). Also a great adjunct to serious reading on game theory, both for the applications and psychological vignettes related to the subject.

E. M. Van Court

I'm not really one for books about Poker and games, but i read the last book by this author, Masters of Doom, and I saw a review of Jonny Magic in the New York Times book review that seemed interesting so I picked it up. I really loved it! Great characters--Finkel is a classic, and the story reads like the most gripping fiction. David Kushner's writing style is humorous and riveting.I think this should be a movie or television show.

I don't play cards. I can't imagine playing all day, let alone all night.
A good day for me is getting muddy on a mountain bike. I like shooting through rock gardens just shy of the disaster threshold, and climbing until I feel sick. So it came as a surprise that Kushner's prose carried me away into this world of Magic players. Their awkwardness and their lack of social skills triggered painful flinches. Night after night I looked forward to Kushner's tale, his guided tour of the back rooms of game stores, to the awakenings of young boys finding their niche, and their transformation from misunderstood geeks to heroes. Their journey to manhood.
The story has energy and organization. Kushner starts out in the passing lane, weaving his tale through obstacles with toe-taps on the break and precise jerks of the steering wheel. You ride shotgun through the maze of an unfamiliar world with it's vivid scenes, and three-dimensional characters.
Johnny Magic is in the casino doing the mental gymnastics of a small fleet of mortals, managing the complexities card-counting in one part of his mind and the dance of appeasing the pit boss in another. He teases invitation to "the back room for a little chat". Send in the thugs stuff. Physical danger.
And there is our former geek, stone faced and cool, playing his part, an actor in a play of his own making. The stakes are real-real money, real danger. As I read, the tension builds. Leave the table I think, I have got to stop reading, big day tomorrow. Johnny stays at the table, his play scrutinized by the pit boss, a thug in an expensive suit. Johnny keeps playing cards. The chips pile up. I loose sleep.

I admire David Kushner's writing skills - he can tell a good story and seems to do the needed research. I loved his "Masters of Doom".

"Jonny Magic" is the story of Jon Finkel, who transformed himself from being an overweight, bullied teenage nerd who could play a great game of Magic into a 20-something millionaire who mastered the casinos and could play a great game of Poker. He lost weight, rode the crest of the (still) current Poker phenomenon, and belongs right up there in the "Useless People Hall of Fame" along with various winners of reality, survival, and celebrity programs. Finkel became successful at something of no real use to society. And Kushner misses that aspect of the story. It's not that Finkel didn't have great talent, and he did accomplish something admired by many. Kushner tells that story, although - as others have observed - the book lacks drama, and is actually a little boring. But just ponder the difference between the "two Johns" in "Masters of Doom" and the "one Jon" in "Jonny Magic", and you have the makings of a really interesting story. Still untold.

A lot changed in the few years between the era of "Masters of Doom" and that of "Jonny Magic". Finkel's life says much about the world we live in today. It's really unfortunate that Kushner is not taking the lead in writing about this, since he has been commenting on parts of it for the past dozen years, and should have some perspective by now. There is room for good journalism in these topics, and I think Kushner has the skills to produce it. Instead, he settled for a quick write about a hot topic, once again repeating the pattern of "Wow - look at this - a genius nerd becomes a success and has the last laugh."

I didn't know anything about the game of Magic, but basically read this book for the Blackjack card counting story and the poker story. Very easy to read and interesting. I read it in 2 sittings and wanted to read more. Interesting to find out about other poker players that were into the game magic, thunder keller and david williams. Great book, highly recommended by this card shark...

Jon Finkel was an overweight, middle school nerd who was bullied, laughed at, and ostracized until he found his calling in a fantasy game called Magic. Magic combines the otherworldliness of Dungeons and Dragons with complex elements of card play and has become a cult game with tournaments of its own. In Jonny Magic and the Card Shark Kids, David Kushner follows the transformation of Finkel from teenage geek in the throes of Magic mania into a thin, sophisticated and extremely wealthy professional gambler who joins the highly successful blackjack counting team known as The Lawyers. The true-life story traces Finkel's evolution from bully magnet to World Champion Magic master, to card counter and shuffle tracker, to sports bettor, and onto the World Series of Poker. Throughout his adventures, Finkel is accompanied by the so-called "Card Shark Kids," a strange mix of misfits and brainiacs who find a sense of belonging through the addictive escape of Magic and carry that into the gambling world.

Kushner does an impressive job of providing condensed explanations of such wide-ranging gaming concepts as the underlying premise of Magic, the mathematical foundation of card counting, and sports betting theory, while keeping the reader engaged in Finkel's ongoing tribulations and triumphs. Interwoven within the biography is also an intriguing account of Dr. Richard Garfield, the inventor of Magic, who would be a worthy subject for his own story.

Ironically, the story's pinnacle comes via the success not of Finkel but of David Williams, another Card Shark Kid and Magic enthusiast, who claimed the 3.5 million dollar second prize of the 2004 World Series of Poker. Although Finkel is having success at poker tournaments, he doesn't yet have the crowning achievement to capture a literary climax to his own journey, so Kushner sneakily manipulated Williams' victory as if it was connected to Finkel.

What is particularly revealing about Jonny Magic from a game player's point of view, is that it provides an unexpected answer to the question, "Where are all the young guns of poker gaining the championship qualities to end up as final table tournaments players?" Apparently, a surprising number have been Magic players from a young age -- honing the essential qualities of discipline and emotional control long before tackling the intricacies of poker. And if Magic is far harder to master than poker, as Finkel suggests, Magic players would have a distinct edge.

Yet, while Finkel's tale has the makings of a fascinating read, Kushner's book isn't as emotionally gripping as one might expect from a biography about a man's metamorphosis. Even when Kushner describes a young Finkel as afraid to go to school because of such humiliating experiences as being urinated upon, the reader might wish he had a deeper and less cliched reason to root for the game-playing underdog, who we really don't get to know at any more than a surface level.

Certainly, if the inside life of a professional gambler intrigues you, Jonny Magic will satisfy some of your voyeuristic curiosity -- but be forewarned that at least half of the book is focused on Finkel's life playing Magic, and not on how he later accumulated his ample wealth as a professional gambler. If you're a Magic player, this might light your fire, but if you're not, you might be tempted to skip ahead to the casino action. Whatever else the book accomplishes, it does confirm one thing most professional gamblers already know: that brains are always a frontrunner over beauty when it comes to making money and overcoming the odds.

First off - learn a few basic techniques such as those found in the McCreight book "The Complete Metalsmith" - but then dive into this wonderful book. Why?
1. Cold Connections - incredible technique useful in many applications
2. Great Projects - easy for beginner (trust me on this) but doable and interesting for the advanced metalsmith.
3. Photos that go with directions on how to use or make items.
4. Well written. My compliments to the author - Joanna Gollberg.
5. Projects allow for creative modification and can inspire one to move into a different design flow.
6. Gallery of metal art - not too excessive (I love the groovy ring designs by Beth Piver).
7. The price! What an incredible inexpensive book that has a plethora of information and inspiration. I really wish I purchased this book from Amazon rather than my local bookstore paying $25...but then again, I was new to this field and have since learned my lesson.

So with the above mentioned, I don't see how any metalsmith should be without this book, particularly when learning/reviewing cold connections. It is amazing how these connections can easily be hidden OR used as a design interest. This is definitely one of my top five books on metalsmithing.

Very informative, I have learned and used several different techniques in this book. There is an abundance of creative ideas. The techniques described are very easy to follow and apply. The money spent for the cost of the book was so well worth it. Worth every penny and more!!!

I first saw this book in a metalsmithing class and liked it well enough that I bought it for my home library. Ms. Gollberg reviews a number of techniques for cold-connecting metals and illustrates them with excellent photographs. Her materials lists are complete, her instructions concise, and her projects are always interesting. I may not ever make anything from this book as shown, but the ideas and techniques provide plenty of inspiration and guidance.

As a wire artist and beginning silversmith I found this book a great addition to my collection. The photos were great and the ideas throughout were most helpful. I would recommend this book to anyone that loves making jewelry. It would be most beneficial to the experienced jewelry maker.The ideas and patterns are not for the beginner but, it would challenge you to learn more as they are very beautiful and unique.

Cold connections are not merely the last resort for jewelry artists who lack a torch or soldering set-up. These projects are refined and sophisticated, taking cold connections to a highly sophisticated level with plenty of challenge for even advanced metalsmiths. However, none of the projects is beyond the ability level of beginners, and all could lend themselves to different materials and treatments according to how much you'd like to spend. This is a really good book for anyone wishing to master cold connections on any level.