Las Vegas Books

I HAVE BEEN AN INSTRUCTOR FOR 8 YEARS AND THIS IS NOW ONE OF THE REQUIRED BOOKS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN MY TRAINING CLASS FOR NEW DEALERS. AT MY SUGGESTION A LOCAL POKER ROOM HAS INCLUDED THIS AS THEIR RULE BOOK AND ALL SUPERVISORS ARE REQUIRED TO USE IT. THIS BOOKS HAS COMPREHENSIVE UP TO DATE RULES. AS WE KNOW RULES MAY CHANGE FROM ROOM TO ROOM, BUT SOMETHING THAT IS CLOSE TO STANDARD THE POKER ALMANAC HAS IT ALL. TDA RULES, ROBERTS RULES, GAMES, AS WELL AS A GREAT UP TO DATE GLOSSARY. THIS BOOK IS AN ASSET FOR TRAINING NEW DEALERS. I USE THIS AND THE PROFESSIONAL DEALER'S HANDBOOK AS A REQUIREMENT TO PURCHASE.

This is a concise encyclopedia of the rules for poker. The Official Rules will particularly appeal to novices as it explains the nature of the cardroom, the equipment integral to the game, and hand rankings. Much of it is based on Robert's (Bob Ciaffone's) Rules of Poker and is elaborated upon by the author. It provides an introduction to the game as well by experienced player, Kelli Mix. The various styles of games are also discussed: limit, spread limit, no limit, and pot limit. The text covers just about everything including seven card stud high low and deuce-to-seven high low. The explanation of tournament rules is valuable because, as those of us who watch HSP already know, tournaments and cash games are entirely different animals. It even tells you what should be done with the "odd chip" in casino games. I appreciated the definition of "kill pots" and wish I would have read it before I began playing in kill limit games online, lol. This is definitely something I could have really used back in 2004 when I first began learning about the game.

Game Day highly recommends this book as the standard poker book for use during all types of poker games. This book is especially helpful to players in home games of poker, where it is important to have a way to resolve rules disputes quickly and amicably.

We at Game Day saw that there was something missing in the current field of poker books: a standard poker rule book. Before we published the Official Rules of Poker, the only authorities on the rules of poker was Scarne and Hoyle, which were written in the Nineteenth Century. The game has changed, especially in the last ten years, and we realized that it was important to have a Twenty-First Century rule book.

When we put out the word that we were looking for an editor and for such a book, Kelli Mix came forward. Ms. Mix, or "Poker Mom" as she is known at the poker table, eagerly took up the challenge of gathering and writing the rules to suit the modern game of poker. This turned out to be a gargantuan task. Ms. Mix researched each rule, making sure that they were found in at least five independent sources. Mix turned out to be a wonderful choice as editor and author of the Game Day Poker Almanac Official Rules of Poker.

Mix is a professional poker player. She is still under most poker players radar, but she is quietly climbing the ranks of tournament poker players (she finished 11th in the 2007 World Series of Poker Texas Hold 'Em Women's tournament in a field of more than 1,200 players). However, she is more likely to be found at cash games, playing high stakes.

The Official Rules of Poker includes all the rules of poker, from the most basic hand rankings to the most obscure tournament rules.

Contents:
1: Elements of Poker. This chapter covers the most basic rules of poker, and also describes the way poker is played in casino card rooms. Mix wrote these rules in a way that makes them easy to use while playing a game.

2: Professional Poker Rules. These rules cover more of mechanical means of acting in a poker game, giving the finer definitions of what constitutes a raise, a call or a fold. They also discuss the penalties of rules infractions. There are four parts to this chapter.

a) Robert's Rules of Poker. These rules were written by professional poker player and authority, Bob Ciaffone, as a standard set of rules of cash games in casino card rooms. While local laws may require changes to these rules, and some casinos use their own rules, these rules are often cited as the official set of rules in professional play.

b) Robert's Rules of Poker for Private Games: This is Ciaffone's "Robert's Rules of Poker" which he adopted to home games where no impartial dealer or floorperson is present.

c) Poker Tournament Director's Association Rules (TDA Rules). Each year, the Professional Poker Tournament Directors Association updates its rules, which most casinos and poker leagues use as their official rule book in tournament play. Tournament rules add a new layer of rules to poker, as tournaments are about eliminating players, not about accumulating money.

d) World Series of Poker Rules: The World Series of Poker is considered the premier poker tournament event. Due to its sheer size and commercialism, the rules for WSOP tournaments are different than TDA rules. Many poker leagues use WSOP rules instead of TDA rules, as the WSOP rules are more popular among those who learned poker from television.

3: Poker Etiquette. There are types of behavior frowned upon in poker games, due to the fact that poker is a highly competitive game and may involve large sums of money. In some games of poker, violating etiquette may result in ejection from the game.

4: Variant Poker Games. Includes 69 different versions of poker, including 5-Card Draw, 5-Card Stud, Cincinnati, Chicago, Baseball, Anaconda, Mexican Stud, Chinese Poker, Iron Cross, Guts, English Stud, Kansas City Lowball, California Lowball, Pineapple,Spit, Three-Card Draw, and the ever-hilarious Indian Poker. Also includes rules for declaring wild cards and using jokers. WhIle professional poker players and casino card rooms will never play most of these games, home games are notorious for playing "dealer's choice" where the dealer chooses which of the many variations of poker will be played that hand. (Note: Mix and I had a really good time finding out about all of these games.)

5: Glossary. Again, Mix was very thorough in her research. Poker terminology is highly colorful and is a lingo all its own. from the Nuts to the Fish. Mix used multiple sources, as there are many local poker terms and terms used that do not last more than a few months. She excludes popular names for two-card Texas Hold 'Em hands, purposefully, although we plan to have a separate glossary for hand names in future editions. Still, this is one of the most complete glossaries I have seen in a poker book anywhere.

6. Index: Okay, I did the index. I believe that indexes should be thorough, and so I did my best to make the index easy to use in the heat of play. Still, this was a fairly easy index to create, as Mix's presentation of the rules and her organization of the material was straightforward, allowing me to easily pick out the rules.

The Official Rules of Poker has been wonderfully received. Professional poker dealers have been clamoring to get this edition. When we released the book at the WSOP 2007 in Las Vegas, the WSOP dealers practically knocked me over trying to get their own copy.

Thank you for considering The Game Day Poker Almanac Official Rules of Poker. I personally hope you will find it to be of great use, and that the book will provide you with years of fun--and fair--poker.

David A. Rozansky
Publisher
Game Day (an imprint of Flying Pen Press)

I am planning a Vegas trip for the spring - which will involve three rounds of golf - so I picked up this book to see if it would help me in my decision-making process. Man, I'm glad I did. This book is a wealth of information regarding Vegas (and surrounding area courses)....but that's not the best part of the book - you can get all the nuts and bolts info you need on the internet. No, what makes this book so enjoyable is the author's opinions and insights - and tons of wit and humor. He has a very enjoyable writing style...I read the ENTIRE book - unusual for me in regard to guide books - not just the stuff that I might be interested in for my trip. That's a tribute to the entertainment factor of the author's writing style.

And the reviews of the courses are very detailed (in most cases). If Ken deems the place to be a bad value, he will - in no uncertain terms - let you know. This is pretty refreshing for a change. There is a fair balance in the reviews....Ken does not seem to have an agenda one way or another; he just calls it as he sees it.... and I wish I had his job.

Included also are some takes on some selected resorts and restaraunts, and he throws in some side-bars (one, in particular, was hysterical - a rant on slow golfers).

I should note that I have played a few courses in Vegas that Ken reviews in his book and I must say that I pretty much agree with his opinions of these.

Seriously, spring for the book if you're planning to golf in Vegas... it's more than worth the price.

Jim

Excellent read -- not a single bogey on the scorecard.

Not only does the book have useful material, it's an amusing read. And the author is not afraid to butcher a sacred cow when the situation calls for it.

A pleasant surprise was all of the up-to-date information on lodging, restaurants, traffic shortcuts and Vegas protocol (i.e. when to tip and not to tip). Strong enough read that even a desultory golfer will find value in this book.

I recommend this book to anyone who plans on spending some coin to play golf in Las Vegas. And if you have played you know how expensive it can be. Well this ultimate guide book might save you some coin. The in depth reviews are witty and well written by someone who is a golfer. Great tips on everything from how to get to the course to where to stay and where to eat. Besides reviews of the courses , the Eagle to Snowman rating system is great too. The book is an "Eagle"!

"It's a very readable book. These are comfortable histories."

--Dr. Otto Ravenholt, Former Chief Health Officer, Clark County Health District, Las Vegas, Nevada

"Annie Blachley's elegantly written Good Medicine offers a compelling look at how the medical profession has changed over the years, but more than that, it presents a fascinating picture of early-day Nevada and of the country and world during the war years and afterwards. Blachley's eye for detail is outstanding. This is one of the best books ever about how Nevada and Las Vegas came to be." --Larry Henry, former political editor of the Las Vegas Sun.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal's 6/7/00 article by Ben Rogers captures what this book is all about; excerpts from his article follow. "It was an era predating Medicare, Medicaid, HMOs and malpractice insurance, a time when doctors practiced the art of healing--a cheaper, simpler and more personal version of modern medicine....The 'Golden Age' of medicine ran from about 1940 to 1990 and was characterized by a more personal approach to patients. 'If you ask people today about their biggest problems with HMOs, they say that they never get enough time with their doctor,' said Blachley, a Nevada medical history enthusiast and author of Good Medicine. 'The majority of doctors practicing today are overburdened by paperwork and restricted reimbursement amounts, all brought about by the powerful medical insurance industry. Doctors used to have time to sit down and become friends with their patients.' Blachley decided against a traditional oral history approach to the book--which she said can sometimes turn aimless--and tried instead to tell a focused tale. "I...made it more of a story, a narrative of their lives,' she said.

"Just what the Doctor ordered. Well written and very informative. But wait - doctors saw the same patients more than once? I guess in the days before HMO's, treatment was less of a gamble"

The Greater Las Vegas Street Guide & Directory is awesome! The map book is the most accurate one of the Las Vegas area that I have ever found.

I've used maps for other cities and this is the most accurate and easiest to read. I will more map makers would do it like these guys.

This is a great set of maps (Map Book) of Las Vegas and the surrounding areas, its easy to use and very up to date, it has all the new communities and is great for looking for new homes as well as any location.

We have just completed an Elderhostel trip around the Grand Circle under Ron's tutelage, and I have reviewed an electronic version of this book (I am in the process of purchasing the paper volume). Ron is an authentic naturalist and a dedicated advocate for the glories of this region which he has explored from corner to corner. He's also a very effective teacher. From an up-close and personal perspective, I doubt that there is anyone better qualified and able to write a book with this title and I recommend it strongly.

My family and I have visited Zion in the past and it is a wonderful place. However, this book is just magnificent!! We are now in the process of visiting many many more areas in which we have not hiked and explored! It is so informative and exciting that I think it is an awesome read and so very helpful in planning our hikes in the park. Anyone who is interested in finding out the many possibilites and adventures that are waiting to be seen, Ron Kay's book is a must have for everyone!!

Amazing! I have made many trips to Zion National Park and this book made it a new experience. I would recommend this to any person wishing to visit the canyons or looking for information about the beautiful area. Ron did a great job on this book; I will use it for many years to come. I never leave reviews, but this has me so excited I think others should experiance Zion with the information this book provides.

Very useful. Lots of information. Will use other Eyewitness Travel series for planning next getaway.

If you are planning to se the wonderful sights of the southwest this is an excellent book. It covers all of the national parks in Arizona and New Mexico as well as Las Vegas. If you are going to just Las Vegas or just the Grand Canyon I would recommend getting the more specific books than these but if you are looking for a regional book it cannot be beat. Highly recommend.

The Southwest USA & Las Vegas travel guide is chock full of informative information, culture, and pictures in a streamline 300 page volume. Although personally, I think Las Vegas should be its own volume, I found the information about the Southwest quite helpful. I particularly appreciated the cultural information included and the fact that website addresses for most sites were included with the information blurb. This is a useful travel companion for those intending to see the four corners area and beyond!

A couple of years ago, after moving to Las Vegas,NEW MEXICO, our local bookstore proprietor suggested I read Howard Bryan's book regarding some of the more violent pieces of local history. I read with interest and disdain how it was that the US Army under General Kearney's command wiped out the village of Los Valles near here and nearly destroyed the Taos Pueblo, "leaving a few houses standing to shelter the women and children." That was in 1847 during the period of "pacification" after the US had defeated Mexico.

As appaling the events at Los Valles and Taos Pueblo were, at least there was a modicum of human decency in US Military Policy. There was a certain respect for the humanity of the native peoples, a desire to provide some protection for the women and children. All that changed in the next 20 years or so as witnessed at Wounded Knee where women and children were slaughtered by the US Army.

We have a beautiful public square known as the Plaza here in "The Meadow City." Bryan discusses the historical fact that public hangings were a frequent event of some degree of entertainment. The executions took place from a windmill in the center of the Plaza. Today a bandstand sits where the windmill executions once occured. As Bryan points out the hangings stopped when one day Las Vegans came to the realization that the executions were having detrimental effects upon the younger generation: children had taken to playing at hangings! What better rationale can we find in modern times to end our current versions of capital punishment?

This is a must read especially for those fascinated with the history of the American West.

I'm a native of this town (born there in 1923) and found Howard Bryan's book an outstanding and worthwhile account. I've recounted some of his tales to people in other states and countries, and encountered disbelief. It sounds too much like a B movie to be credible, but it's all true. In fact, it's understated.

My father had one of the original posters which is reproduced on the back of the jacket, and I can testify it is authentic.

Most people find it hard to believe such a tough town could stay that way for as long as Las Vegas NEW MEXICO did. The original Las Vegas was established a hundred years before Bugsy Seigal the mobster started his air-conditioned, neon-lit palace for city dudes, hundreds of miles away, in the Nevada desert.

The photographs are also historical artifacts of great value.
I recommend the book with great enthusiasm.

This is a very easy reading book, with some of the most compelling short stories (true short stories) of the Las Vegas, New Mexico area, during the 1800 and very early 1900s. You pick up some amazing historical facts... and hear some tales of famous, or infamous characters that simply amaze!

Low cost, easy to read, and gives you several of those "Oh my ...." moments when you least expect them. A great read.Wildest of the Wild West: True Tales of a Frontier Town on the Santa Fe Trail

The Access series are very good and the Las Vegas book is a favorite of mine. When ever I go for business or pleasure, I take the current Access along. I have found that with the multitude of changes the earlier editions help to remind me of Casinos and attractions that are no more. As Vegas continues to develope at an extraordinary pace, I find I look forward to the new release more and more.

Access Las Vegas brings a colorful guide to the subject of the city of light, Las Vegas. With reviews of Hotels and Casinos with resturant ratings as well as a nod to the arts and sciences (Museums), this is one book I will not leave behind when visiting Nevada's most famous city.

Ther are maps that section the city into easy to cover areas and color coding to help distinguish the variety of critiqued locations. Backround and history with many best fo lists by the knowledgable and famous citizens give excellent insights to getting around and geating the most from your visit. Concise examination of the many casino games help the novice may their way through a bewildering array of choices.

All in all perhaps the best book for the money of it's kind. The access line of books are all quite good.

In light of the recent tragedies we have endured, Liza Wieland's novel Bombshell takes on even greater weight and significance as she takes the horrific events of the Uni-Bomber and puts a name and a face to those involved. Like a master painter who unveils more with each stroke, Wieland builds a tremendously suspenseful story which evokes anger, outrage, sympathy and understanding. Told through the eyes of three characters, Bombshell allows us to experience the terrible toll that these events take on individuals as well as society at large. The three different views from the professor, his stripper/wanderer daughter and her step-brother add a personal dimension allowing the reader to linger in the pain and horror of the realization of who is responsible while slowly letting up the shade that allows us, at first, a glimpse and then a full-throttled revelation into the minds of the characters. Is this a story about the abject evil of people who perpetrate such acts or is it a love story in which the professor is performing penance and showing his love in the only way his his skewed perception of reality will allow?

Liza Wieland is an incredible writing talent. She is also a creative writing teacher in a California college and no one need apply the old adage to her about "those who can't do, teach." In fact, I'm really sad that she can't devote 100% of her time to writing. She only has one other novel out, which I promptly ordered. She has some short story collections too. She only has this one novel carried by my public library, which is unusual, as it carries just about everything. All I can say is, thank God for university presses or I guess this wouldn't have seen the light of day. Why was it deemed so non-commercial? Well, it is intelligent and I guess in most media and the arts that puts you in the hole. If you don't want to think, don't want to marvel over certain passages and reread them to fully appreciate them, this may not be for you, especially if you don't like gorgeous, beautiful, virtually poetic prose. If all you like is steamroller straight ahead plot driven fiction, she is not solely concerned with satisfying that reader need. What she does do is create one heck of a story and a cast of characters out of her imagination using one fact from the real world. That fact is that she pretends that the father in the story, who is living like a hermit in the mountains outside of Santa Fe, is the unabomber and that his family members, just like the real life unabomber, are going to be the ones who have to bring him to account. In real life, his brother turned him in to the law. In this account, his daughter is brought into the dilemma by her stepbrother, who is convinced her father is the unabomber and wants her help bringing him in. Jane, the daughter, is a gorgeous young woman, also brilliant like her father, who alternates between being a stripper in Las Vegas and a dance teacher for children, first in California and then in New Mexico. Her stepbrother is a teacher and her father was a math professor at the University of California but has lived as a hermit for years. The story is told from shifting points of view and the most chilling narrative is the father's as you are inside his mind and able to see the brilliance and madness in there first hand. This is a very moving, very touching book, which takes bends in the road in fiction that are wholly unpredictible and an utter delight. The father's relationship with his late twin brother, killed in the Vietnam War, is just one other nuance to the father's story that incredibly richens it. There is a romantic element for Jane's part of the story, an extremely ironic but satisfying one.

The book of wind is the greaest book yet.I mean I love the
whole entire samuri girl book serious.Me and my friends love
it so much we're going to make a little short movie of the first
book.

This book was awsome, just like the rest of the series. Its just so good that its addicting. There is alway something going on it never boring. I can't believe that Hiro would keep such a secret, Heaven needs to learn that everyone has there dark secrets from the past that they just want to forget.