Poker for Dummies
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • not so good
  • Excellent start
  • There's not much here
  • Lou Krieger knows poker
  • Good for beginners!
Poker for Dummies
Richard D. Harroch , and Lou Krieger
Manufacturer: For Dummies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0764552325

Book Description

Poker is America’s national card game, and its popularity continues to grow. Nationwide, you can find a game in progress everywhere. If you want to play, you can find poker games on replicas of 19th century riverboats or on Native American tribal lands. You can play poker at home with the family or online with opponents from around the world. Like bowling and billiards before it, poker has moved out from under the seedier side of its roots and is flowering in the sunshine.

Maybe you’ve never played poker before and you don’t even know what a full house is. Poker For Dummies covers the basics. Or perhaps you've played for years, but you just don’t know how to win. This handy guide will help you walk away from the poker table with winnings, not lint, in your pockets. If you’re a poker expert, you still can benefit – some of the suggestions may surprise you, and you can certainly learn from the anecdotes from professional players like T.J. Cloutier and Stu Unger.

Know what it takes to start winning hand after hand by exploring strategy; getting to know antes and betting structure; knowing your opponents, and understanding the odds. Poker For Dummies also covers the following topics and more:

Poker looks like such a simple game. Anyone, it seems, can play it well – but that's far from the truth. Learning the rules can be quick work, but becoming a winning player takes considerably longer. Still, anyone willing to make the effort can become a good player. You can succeed in poker the way you succeed in life: by facing it squarely, getting up earlier than the next person, and working harder and smarter than the competition.

Foreword by Chris Moneymaker, 2003 World Series of Poker Champion.

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars not so good.......2007-01-04

Honestly, this book didn't do much for me. I never got interested in reading it, and just learned by playing and watching poker tournaments on TV.

4 out of 5 stars Excellent start.......2006-03-10

This book is great for everyone who's new to poker, especially casino poker. It explains all kinds of poker in detal and gives general rules on how to win in poker. You certainly can learn all your basics from this book, but I don't think it's good for people who want to learn Hold'em in particular - for that I'd recommend "Hold'em Excellence: From Beginner to Winner" by Lou Krieger. It explains everything in detail. Krieger certainly knows what he's talking about and explains it in a simple, easy to read form.
Poker for Dummies doesn't deal very well with internet poker; it only gives some general advice and the info is somewhat outdated. If you're interested in online poker, it's definitely not for you.

3 out of 5 stars There's not much here.......2005-07-12

I love "Dummies" books and usually start with one when I want to learn something completely new. I have played poker recreationally most of my life, and been a consistent winner--because my competition was even worse than I was. I even won in my sole foray into a card club--because I was lucky. I had never played Hold'em, however. I wanted to learn more than just the rules of the game and get an introduction to some of the theoretical poker concepts that I knew were out there. This is the wrong book for that.

This book is just too elementary for anyone but a total and complete novice. The only "take away" for me was an understanding of what playing tight pre-flop means for Hold'em. The commentary on post-flop play was way too simple-minded.

This book spends too much time explaining things like tournaments, the World Series of Poker, and the Internet. I am still looking for the book I want.

5 out of 5 stars Lou Krieger knows poker.......2005-07-11

it's great that this book assumes that you know nothing about poker, because i knew nothing.

this book is great in helping you think of all the considerations in poker, what the odds are, the groupings of hands, what other players are playing etc, but with a bit of practise, you can make these decisions in a matter of seconds. and practise i did. when i found that lou krieger was host of royal vegas poker, i practised there.

the only aspect that put me off a bit, but was my own shortcoming, not the book's, was the issue of calculating the standard deviations, outs etc. being mathematically challenged, puts me at a disadvantage.

but this is a great book, which is comprehensively basic - as it should be. i'd recommend it to anyone.

4 out of 5 stars Good for beginners!.......2005-03-10

Its good for beginners but its too broad.....it covers a little bit on every poker game and teaches you about bluffing, helped me win Id reccomend it!
Betting on Horse Racing For Dummies (For Dummies (Sports & Hobbies))
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Great Resource!
  • Excellent For Starters
  • And Down The Stretch You Come, With Betting Knowledge
  • Five stars for the target audience: "Dummies"
  • Betting on Horse Racing for Dummies
Betting on Horse Racing For Dummies (For Dummies (Sports & Hobbies))
Richard Eng
Manufacturer: For Dummies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0764578405

Book Description

How to enjoy a day at the races-and bet to win!
The last two years have seen a record number of Americans tune in for climatic Triple Crown races featuring Smarty Jones and Funny Cide; in 2004, television viewership jumped a whopping 61 percent over the record set in 2003, and the Belmont Stakes race itself drew a record crowd of more than 120,000! This easy-to-understand guide shows first-time visitors to the track how to enjoy the sport of horse racing-and make smart bets. It explains what goes on at the track, what to look for in horses and jockeys, how to read a racing form and do simple handicapping, and how to manage betting funds and make wagers that stand a good chance of paying off. Complete with coverage of off-track and online betting, it's just what anyone needs to play the ponies-and win!
Richard Eng (Las Vegas, NV) is a racing writer and handicapper for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, a columnist for the Daily Racing Form, and the host of a horseracing radio program in Las Vegas. He was formerly a part of the ABC Sports team that covered the Triple Crown.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Great Resource!.......2007-08-25

This book has taught me alot about horse racing, and had definitely aided in my enjoyment of the sport and helped me win some money! There are some chapters that are a little boring with unnecessary info.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent For Starters.......2007-06-30

I gave this as a gift to my mother before several trips to the races, and after completing it, I was pleased to find she was doing basic handicapping correctly. This book doesn't get deep into hard-core handicapping, but for most people who enjoy the races as an occasional fun day out, it puts all those numbers in the program or the racing form into perspective... making for a more enjoyable experience! Well done.

5 out of 5 stars And Down The Stretch You Come, With Betting Knowledge.......2007-02-20

With the Kentucky Derby about one week away, it will be like NCAA March Madness where even the casual of sports fans is going to have an opinion on the outcome.

But maybe you will want to take that opinion one step further and place a bet at the local race track or OTB that's simulcasting the race. This book will help you learn the nomenclature associated with wagering on the races and the nuances to betting.

Author Richard Eng guides the reader through the basic bets like win, place and show, but really earns high marks by delving into the exotic bets - like exactas, trifectas and superfectas - where betting the same money as you would on the traditional trio may yield much higher payouts.

The book is not how to handicap races, which is the art or reading a racing form or researching with other material to select runners for your various bets. It purely focuses on understanding what bets are possibly available for the races at your local tracks or on the simulcasts.

And with confidence, you'll be able to march up to the teller and state - for the record - "In race five I'd like an exacta box with with 2 and the 6," just like a pro. And through the help of Eng you will certainly understand it just as well or better than that "expert" who's next in line.

5 out of 5 stars Five stars for the target audience: "Dummies".......2006-11-29

This is a great book for the absolute begginner, first time track experince. For the enthusiastic hobbyist like myself the book only gets two stars.

I thought the pull out cheat sheet in the front of the book was irresponsible, suggesting a sixteen dollar play for the pick 6. I believe two dollars is okay, because it's like buying a lottery ticket, however a minuim of a 128.00 is needed. Anything else is just throwing away money. The suggested amount for the superfecta and pick 4 were off base too.

The book was very hard to read, as it seemed like every chapter the author was just saying the same thing over and over again. Although the book explains to the reader the different types of handicapping methods, it does not teach you how to handicap. Remember the book title is "Betting on Horse Racing" not "Handicapping on Horse Racing".

Now for what I liked about the book. Great glossary and index, something that all horse racing books that I've read lacked. I enjoyed chapter 17, which covered handicapping tournaments. This is something I've never tackled and find interesting after reading. Chapters 19 and 20 covered Harness racing and Quarter horses. I prefer throughbreds because I understand it and find it more enjoyable, but if I ever decide to bet on these types of races I will refer to these chapters. Chapter 25, the ten best race tracks to visit, was also interesting. I'm fortunate to have two of these in my back yard, and in the future I would like to visit the authors other eight picks.

I bought this book after I selected another book and needed to spend more to avoid the three dollars shipping and handling. So factoring that in 10.59 was not a bad price. The amazon advertised 13.59 is'nt bad either, however I would not purchase the book for the suggested 19.99 cover price (not worth it).

In all, good book to have for begginers. Also a good book to have for experinced horesplayers who have non horse playing friends that want to tag along. Much easier to let them borrow the book over night then to have them harrassing you at the track like a little kid with thier questions.

The other do it yourself series KISS and Complete Idiots Guide do not have books on this subject, instead there covered in chapters of other books. KISS Guide to Gambling, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Gambling Like a Pro, respectfully.

5 out of 5 stars Betting on Horse Racing for Dummies.......2006-05-10

I found this book to be just excellent. After being invited to the Kentucky Derby by some folks who own a Kentucky horse farm started in 1867, I wanted to learn more about racing and betting before I went. I was a complete novice, having been to Saratoga several times betting on horses with cool sounding names and always losing. The book goes through everything you need to know about racing and betting. Not only did I win several races before the Derby, but I actually won the Derby with a bet on Barbaro! I made quite a reputation for myself as a handicapper!
Winning at Internet Poker For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Great!
  • YOU WILL NOT BETTER YOUR GAME WITH THIS BOOK
  • Helpful for two beginners
  • A good, if very basic, introduction
  • Buy it to "burn-proof" your online poker debut
Winning at Internet Poker For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
Mark Harlan , and Chris Derossi
Manufacturer: For Dummies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0764578332

Book Description

Take poker online the fun and easy way!

Five years ago, 50 million people were playing poker recreationally or professionally. Now that number is more than 100 million, including a huge influx of young people. Online betting is up nearly four-fold over the past year, with total wagers running over $30 billion. Winning at Internet Poker For Dummies provides the lowdown on the hottest game around, highlighting the best sites and virtual games and showing how to make secure online bets. The book covers setting up an account, securing funds, navigating a basic online poker game, using Internet abbreviations and lingo, observing online poker etiquette, playing popular online poker games such as Texas Hold 'Em and Omaha, devising a winning strategy, and participating in tournaments.

Download Description

The fun and easy way to take poker online Five years ago, 50 million people were playing poker recreationally or professionally. Now that number is more than 100 million, including a huge influx of young people. Online betting is up nearly four-fold over the past year, with total wagers running over $30 billion. Winning at Internet Poker For Dummies provides the lowdown on the hottest game around, highlighting the best sites and virtual games and showing how to make secure online bets. The book covers setting up an account, securing funds, navigating a basic online poker game, using Internet abbreviations and lingo, observing online poker etiquette, playing popular online poker games such as Texas Hold 'Em and Omaha, devising a winning strategy, and participating in tournaments. Mark ""The Red"" Harlan (Santa Clara, CA) is cofounder of CyberArts Licensing, a company working on the next-generation Internet poker room, gamesgrid.com. During the course of his 20-year Silicon Valley career, he designed eBay's bidding schema, was the Human Interface Evangelist at Apple Computer, and wrote the popular ""Notes from the Fringe"" column at InfoWorld. Chris Derossi (Henderson, NV) is also a cofounder of CyberArts Licensing and has been an avid poker player for 15 years. His two-decade computer career includes stints at Apple Computer, where he was chief architect of the Macintosh operating system, as well as ePeople, which he founded, and Trading Technologies, where he was CEO. He has written for many computer magazines.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Great!.......2006-02-08

I didn't think much of this book when I borrowed it from a friend, but after a few pages I had changed my mind. It's a great book that will teach you to become a very good poker player.

1 out of 5 stars YOU WILL NOT BETTER YOUR GAME WITH THIS BOOK.......2005-06-19

First off this is not a 'WINNING AT INTERNET POKER' book...it is a 'EXPLANATION OF INTERNET POKER'. I bought this book hoping to learn something. The first (and I am not exaggerating this) 2/3 of the book has nothing to do with actual poker playing. Throughout those chapters they discuss how to use your computer to choose and download a poker program. I saw that they had a chapter on tournaments. All they do is simply explain the enviroment of the tourney (i.e. how many people are in certain tournaments, how much you have to pay to get into them...) You will not learn any actual strategies or what to do in certain situations. I recommend buying this book if you have never in your life played any poker over the internet. If you saw the world series of poker on your TV and thought to yourself 'hey maybe i can play online' then right at that point this book wouldn't be the worst idea. Let me take an exerpt from the book...page 18 5th paragraph..."If your screen is kind of fuzzy, and you don't normally stare at it for excessive periods of time, you may want to consider upgrading to a new monitor. Gawking at fuzzy images for hours at a time is draining,"...

And if you want more examples of what you are in for buy the book and read the whole thing. Once again to emphasize...YOU WILL NOT BETTER YOUR GAME BY READING THIS BOOK, IT IS A WASTE OF TIME.

5 out of 5 stars Helpful for two beginners.......2005-03-29

I met one of the authors at a dinner, and he was so articulate and enthusiastic about online poker that I became interested in it-although before that, I had never once thought about online poker in my life (seriously). Later I mentioned the conversation to my 77-year-old dad who had been playing "some" online bridge when he wasn't crashing AOL, and he decided to try it. Well, long story short: while I got this book to see what I've been missing all this time, and read it just for fun (and it was fun, too, written with a sense of humor, and full of information), my dad was getting extremely frustrated and starting to hate the whole idea. After hearing him grumble more times than I could count, I went over to his house, sat down with him, and-completely based on what I'd read in this book-got him up and playing comfortably on a site in about an hour and half.(While reassuring my mom over my shoulder at the same time...) He's been playing ever since, but I'm still too chicken, having played a lot more Yahtzee than poker growing up. Anyway, the book was very helpful for two beginners: a non-poker-playing, computer-confident woman and her un-computer-savvy father who's been playing cards for more than six decades.

4 out of 5 stars A good, if very basic, introduction.......2005-03-11

Sometimes when I read--and I use that word with some restrictive license--a "Dummies" or an "Idiot's" guide to a subject, I find myself thinking, "how aptly named!" This book is no exception. However--and really this is what is important--if you're new to online play, this is the book you want to peruse. It's very basic, almost painfully so in some respects, as all "Dummies" books are; but whether you are a neophyte poker player or an expert, this book will give you everything you need to know to begin playing online.

Notice I am not talking about reading the book from cover to cover. As the authors say in their introduction: "Read any chapter at any point. Feel free to skip around." They do a good job of giving the links and naming the sites--playing sites and sites associated with online poker. They explain how you can deposit money and they alert the reader to some of the dangers of online play. They even give advice on how to play. However, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that this might not be the best book to buy if you are interested in becoming a better player. What advice they do give is generally good although not of world class quality.

Here are a couple of examples that the causal player might want to skip:

[First, there's their analysis of a hold'em hand they observed being played at the $3 & $6 level (p. 138). I won't rehash the hand, but will observe that their conclusion that "Player 1 may have had A-K, or a large pocket pair, but dropped the hand when the other players clearly showed the board had paired" is faulty in several places. One, of course, is that the board had not paired. What they mean is that the bet, raise and re-raise action after the flop of 9s 10s Qd indicated that at least one of the players had a queen in hand and therefore had a pair. The fact that Player 1, with 17 bets in the pot, giving him 17 to 2 odds on his money by calling the raise and reraise, did NOT call strongly suggests that he did not have AK, since if he had he would have had two overcards and a draw to the nut straight, which has something like a 40% chance of improving on the river to a hand that could very well win the pot. It's hard to say what he had. It looks like he misplayed his hand. Furthermore, the authors don't give us the full story. At the showdown they reveal that the winner had AQ and won with just a pair of queens and the top kicker. They remark that the site folds the caller's cards because "the runner-up doesn't show." That's correct, but if you are in the hand and refer to the record of the hand that is sent to your computer on sites like PartyPoker, it will show all hands still in play at the showdown, and you could find out what the runner-up had.]

[Another example is on page 190 in the box discussing 2-2 vs. A-K. They say that it's a 50/50 proposition, but then contradict themselves by pointing out what most players know, namely that the deuces are a slight favorite head-up. Then they muddy these waters by saying, "The true odds vary from 50.3 percent versus 49.7 percent in favor of the pocket deuces to 53.2 percent versus 46.8 percent for the deuces, depending on the suits involved." Note that this is quote, unquote. It's a little unclear exactly what they are saying, but trust me the deuces are always the favorite. Their point (apparently) is that if the deuces are in the same suit as the aces, then, should four of either of those suits fall on the board, the deuces will always lose, thereby lessening their small advantage. However since one can never know until the hand is over just which suits the other player is holding, the proper way to figure the odds is to ignore the suits, since the distribution is not only unknown, but evens out over the long run. Furthermore, they are relying on the calculator at Card Player's Internet site, which is a Monte Carlo simulation, not an actual calculation of the odds. For most purposes, a simulation of a few thousand hands is sufficient. However, the real odds can only be figured out mathematically, which nobody these days, it appears, bothers to do. Well, I'm sure David Sklansky still figures his odds.]

These quibbles aside, Harlan and Derossi's book is well worth the investment, especially if you are a total newbie. They cover just about every aspect of the experience that a beginning online player would want to know about. Here's an example of their guidance under the subheading "Grappling with the Psychological Basics" on page 70: "From a psychological point of view, the biggest differences between online play and the brick-and-mortar world include the radical increase in the speed of play and a heavy (mental) disassociation from the money you put in play."

The plain fact of the matter is that when the dollars seem like virtual dollars (although they are not) there can be a tenancy to bluff too much, to play too loosely, and perhaps to play at a higher game than one can afford.

Another good (and very different) introductory book on cyberspace poker is John Vorhaus's Killer Poker Online, which I also recommend.

Incidentally, if you really are a beginner at poker, I recommend you buy a computer game and practice with that for a while, and then--as the authors recommend--play at the "play money" games that the online poker sites offer before you risk any real money.

5 out of 5 stars Buy it to "burn-proof" your online poker debut.......2005-03-05

I started online poker before I had this book, and... call me a dummy... I managed to blow 50 bucks in appallingly short order. I'd failed to understand some fundamentals of how online poker is different from my neighborhood games, and got burned. If only I'd had this book earlier!

The best advice in the book has to do with the psychology of online poker relative to table games. Understanding this is critical for people like me who migrated from neighborhood games to online, because I was totally baffled by the style of play, and its a huge mistake to assume that what one is seeing has to do with an increase in players' skill. This alone can shred quite a few hard-earned bills. On top of that, there are some "gotchas" in the mechanics of internet game play that the book explains (like thinking you're calling $1 when in reality its $100, or playing like a video-game zombie). Buy this book BEFORE you waste your bucks.
Casino Gambling For Dummies (For Dummies (Sports & Hobbies))
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • pretty good book - a small mixed up in the rule of baccarat
  • Down to Earth Tips on casinos
  • Kevin Blackwood is an Expert
  • Great For All Gamblers
Casino Gambling For Dummies (For Dummies (Sports & Hobbies))
Kevin Blackwood
Manufacturer: For Dummies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 047175286X

Book Description

Earn comps and avoid big losses


Bet wisely, beat the house, and bring home the bucks!

Crazy about casinos, but worried about losing your shirt? Relax! This hands-on guide is filled with insider secrets and tips for maximizing winnings and minimizing losses in the most popular casino games --blackjack, poker, craps, roulette, slots, and more. You get the scoop on everything from game rules and jargon to making the best bets (and knowing when to quit).

Discover how to
* Understand the odds
* Develop winning strategies
* Avoid gimmicks and bad bets
* Manage your money effectively
* Gamble on the Internet
* Deal with the IRS

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars pretty good book - a small mixed up in the rule of baccarat.......2007-05-15

I wonder why on page 170, the baccarat rules states that, for example, when the banker's total is 6, then the banker will draw if the player's new total is 6 or 7. The correct version is: the banker will draw when the "player's third card" is 6 or 7, not the "new total". On page 171 though, the table lists it as "player's third card". Incidentally, I found a bug in the Hoyle's Casino 2007 for PC game, with it drawing a card for the banker when it shouldn't... oh well... isn't the rule somewhat important? It is a very basic set of rule... I wonder if we have that sometimes in the casino and nobody noticed.

Otherwise, the book provides basic rules, strategies, and some interesting stories about the various games. It is a pretty good book for beginners, but make sure you pick another one up just to cross reference. Idiot's Guide and the Unofficial Guide also have a good book on casino gambling.

One thing I am sensitive about the book is that it stresses on etiquette quite a lot. Thing like, "don't hand your money directly to the dealer; doing so is a breach of etiquette and brands you as a greenhorn. After you receive your chips, leave them on the table in front of you". Oh well, a "breach"? so serious? I don't know, I just feel that nowadays, we tend to have too much politeness and etiquette and too little true kindness among human beings, so I don't like to read about etiquette for this and etiquette for that.

5 out of 5 stars Down to Earth Tips on casinos.......2007-04-02

I was mainly interested in slots, video poker, & blackjack. Presented good info in an uncomplicated style. Also full of info for practically any other game that may be your particular choice(s). I recommend it VERY highly for beginners or the more experienced player!!!!!

5 out of 5 stars Kevin Blackwood is an Expert.......2007-03-07

Kevin Blackwood is an expert blackjack player who has played all over the world; he is an expert poker player as well. His knowledge of the casino games is profound and this book gives you everything you need to know to go to the casinos and play properly. Ignore the title because you are not a dummy if you buy this book.

You are smart!

Frank Scoblete: author of Golden Touch Dice Control Revolution!

5 out of 5 stars Great For All Gamblers.......2006-07-25

Any new book on casino gambling has to contend with a shelf full (virtual or real) of other titles covering the same material, but in Casino Gambling for Dummies, Kevin Blackwood has done a masterful job of bringing a fresh attitude and informative approach that provides solid justification for another title on the topic. This is the 'For Dummies' brand at its best, tackling all the favorites, blackjack, craps, sports betting, as well as many meta-topics (like dealing with the IRS after a profitable run at the tables) with fact-infused, easy-to-read prose that will entertain and inform. People just entering the neon world for the first time will get as much instructional material as they can handle, from rules of the game to strategy. Seasoned gamblers will reap the benefits of Blackwood's expertise and experience at the felt-covered tables around the world. There is particular depth in the blackjack section, likely a product of Blackwood's long resume as one of the top players in the world. The organization is inspired and the writing is top notch, particularly the chapter on horse racing.
Dummy Up And Deal: Inside the Culture of Casino Dealing (Gambling Studies)
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Brilliant writing and an insiders pov at gambling
  • Talented author without heart
Dummy Up And Deal: Inside the Culture of Casino Dealing (Gambling Studies)
H. Lee Barnes
Manufacturer: University of Nevada Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Sports & EntertainmentSports & Entertainment | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Card Games | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
PokerPoker | Card Games | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Gambling | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Popular CulturePopular Culture | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Sociology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Sports | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
  1. The Professional Poker Dealer's Handbook The Professional Poker Dealer's Handbook
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  3. Blackjack Dealing and Supervision Blackjack Dealing and Supervision
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ASIN: 0874176220

Book Description

The glitter and excitement that tourists associate with casinos is only a facade. To the gaming industry's front-line employees, its dealers, the casino is a far less glamorous environment, a workplace full of emotional tension, physical and mental demands, humor and pathos. Author H. Lee Barnes, who spent many years as a dealer in some of Las Vegas's best-known casinos, shows us this world from the point of view of the table-games dealer.

Told in the voices of dozens of dealers, male and female, young and old, Dummy Up and Deal takes us to the dealer's side of the table. We observe the "breaking in" that constitutes a dealer's training, where the hands learn the balletic motions of the game while the mind undergoes the requisite hardening to endure long hours of concentration and the demands of often unreasonable and sometimes abusive players. We discover how dealers are hired and assigned to shifts and tables, how they interact with each other and with their supervisors, and how they deal with players - the winners and the losers, the "Sweethearts" and the "Dragon Lady," the tourists looking for a few thrills and the mobsters showing off their "juice." We observe cheaters on both sides of the table and witness the exploits of such high-rollers as Frank Sinatra and Colonel Parker, Elvis's manager. And we learn about the dealers' lives after-hours, how some juggle casino work with family responsibilities while others embrace the bohemian lifestyle of the Strip and sometimes lose themselves to drugs, drink, or wild sex. It's a life that invites cynicism and bitterness, that can erode the soul and deaden the spirit. But the dealer's life can also offer moments of humor, encounters with generous and kindly players, moments of pride or humanity or professional solidarity.

Barnes writes with the candor of a keen observer of his profession, someone who has seen it all-many times-but has never lost his capacity to wonder, to sympathize, or to laugh. Dummy Up and Deal is a vivid and colorful insider's view of the casino industry, a fascinating glimpse behind the glitter into the real world of the casino worker.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Brilliant writing and an insiders pov at gambling.......2002-11-04

This wonderful collection of non-fiction accounts on the other side of the table is a true and accurate look at what makes the casinos tick: not the people who come with the money, but the people who take it. Lee Barnes has a gift and it is to conjure so many voices into one cohesive book. It is funny, sad, and terrible. If you ever wanted to know who lives in Las Vegas, read this.

2 out of 5 stars Talented author without heart.......2002-10-20

Though the writer is obviously gifted, and the stories are without a doubt amusing and accurately detailed, the author seems distant from his characters.

The author seems to stay un-involved and to coldly inspect his subjects as though they were fireflies in Mason jars, or butterflies on pins.

The writing is superb, but the lack of involvment in the characters inner workings and lives, leaves these stories sounding like a girlfriend repeating a soap opera in the office, to someone who missed an episode.

I'll lay off with these last words. The author should look into his own heart and write real, breathing characters, not try to bring to life cardboard cutouts. No matter how excellent it is, it must heart. This book does not have heart, though it does have plenty of good writing.
Gambling for Dummies
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • great book
  • Extremely basic, not too much to learn
  • I love Keeping It Simple
Gambling for Dummies
Richard D. Harroch , Lou Krieger , and Arthur S. Reber
Manufacturer: For Dummies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | Gambling | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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  4. Casino Gambling For Dummies (For Dummies (Sports & Hobbies)) Casino Gambling For Dummies (For Dummies (Sports & Hobbies))
  5. Blackjack Bluebook II - the simplest winning strategies ever published (2006 edition) Blackjack Bluebook II - the simplest winning strategies ever published (2006 edition)

ASIN: 0764553607

Book Description

Gambling For Dummies covers the ins and outs of all the popular gambling options such as card games, slots, the lottery, horse racing, bingo, sports betting and more! This book offers you insight into the key rules and strategies of gambling -- plus it unveils the secrets to help you beat the odds. You'll find plenty of tips and advice for dealing with the IRS, as well as minimizing losses and maximizing winnings. Plus, the book also ncludes coverage of gambling in the stock market, popular gambling software programs and internet gambling.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars great book.......2003-12-28

this book was great it helped me so much and taught me how to play a bunch of games im taking it to vegas with me nexttime i go

2 out of 5 stars Extremely basic, not too much to learn.......2003-10-25

The book is so basic that you can not really learn that much.
They teach the game rules but not more than that. It really lacks strategies.
So, if you already know how to play but you want to improve your skills, this is not the right book

5 out of 5 stars I love Keeping It Simple.......2002-04-20

Things are complicated enough. Keep it simple and you'll always seem to win. There is no time to think at the tables. We all want to win big money. Simplicity is the way. This is a great book !
Gambling For Dummies
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Gambling For Dummies
    Lou Krieger, Arthur Reber Harroch Richard D.
    Manufacturer: Hungry Minds
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback
    ASIN: B000UESVC0
    Gambling for Dummies
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Gambling for Dummies

      Manufacturer: Wiley Publishing, Inc.
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback
      ASIN: B000HUJA3G
      Shuffle tracking for dummies
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Shuffle tracking for dummies
        George C
        Manufacturer: George C.]
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Unknown Binding

        BlackjackBlackjack | Gambling | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
        ASIN: B0006QN0X2

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