Game of Life/Cards

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful addition to your reading and journey!.......2007-02-13

I read the completed works of Shinn alot and my book is highlighted to death! These cards are a wonderful tool, just go through them and pick an affirmation that most fits your prayers or need and meditate on that, you can take them with you and for me just knowing their there helps.

Powerful and inspired.......2001-12-22

Florence Scovel Shinn has produced the best affirmations I have ever used. After reading her books I realized why other affirmations haven't been effective for me in the past. These cards are a must-have for anyone moving forward in their life.

Average customer rating:

Poker, Gaming, and Life
David Sklansky , and Mason Malmuth
Manufacturer: Two Plus Two Pub.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Getting the Best of It
Gambling Theory and Other Topics
Gambling for a Living
Poker Essays, Volume III
Poker Essays

ASIN: 1880685175

Book Description

This volume is a collection of recent articles written by David Sklansky that have appeared in various publications including Card Player and Poker World magazines. A few have never before appeared in print.

Most of the articles are about poker or gambling. However, David has recently branched out into other areas that lend themselves to his unique style of analysis and some of these essays are contained in this book.

"Poker and gaming" topics include Being a Favorite, Are great Players Born? Talent Versus Discipline, Will Power, The Importance of Position, Never Go Broke, When Time is Not of the Essence, and Is Your Wallet Fat Enough? "Life" topics include What It Is that Makes an Issue Controversial, Coincidences, Some Thoughts on Dying, Legitimate Grievances, and Crime and Punishment.

Book Description

Poker is more than just a card game—it can also help you become a winner away from the gaming tables!

By blending the life lessons of a time-honored spiritual practice with the strategy of this popular card game, you can create a powerful approach to successful play—and successful living. In The Tao of Poker, prize-winning poker player Larry Phillips offers more than 280 rules to bring you to new levels of personal achievement, just when and where you need them most.

Here are some of The Tao of Poker's rules for success: ·Take the long view.
·Once you commit to a hand, play it strong.
·Don't throw in good money after bad.
·If you think you're beat, get out.

Try out these rules and watch your game, and your life, improve. Now you can be a winner at home, at work, and at the casino—wherever the stakes for success are high!

Customer Reviews:

Life Lessons and Poker.......2007-05-13

This book combines philosophy, psychology and poker into an easy to read format that is thought provoking and fun. Does teach a few important lessons to help your game but more so about how to help your life.

Worth Every Cent!.......2007-02-26

I am not a Zen kind of guy and was avoiding this book for that reason alone. I bought it based on the recommendation of another player that I met at a tournament, and am glad I did! Chock full of common sense advice that would take you a lifetime of playing to gain (if then). To my relief it is not some sort of "touchy feely," liberal nonsense book, but real poker wisdom, offered in a enjoyable format.

not worth the time to read.......2006-02-24

keep or buy Zen, dump Tao. This book has nothing much to add.

Deceptively Strong. .......2006-01-23

I was vaguely aware of Larry Phillips and his "Tao" and "Zen" of poker before I decided to purchase them both a couple of weeks ago. As the reader probably knows, Steve Dannenman was carrying Tao around with him during the World Series this year. I will admit that this one isn't going to allow you to finish second out of a crowd of 5,000, but it is chock full of common sense which is exactly what one wants from an instructional guide. Phillips is no cardroom flunky, he is an erudite student who knows a little bit about everything; a renaissance man offering intimate insight on poker and human nature. I must say that several of the rules he offers are not consistent with conventional wisdom, but I agree with Phillips over the others. The notion that hot and cold streaks are the imagination of the individual player is often accepted, but Tao convincingly argues otherwise. Bad luck can last a few weeks no matter how many times you switch seats or tables. An example of his valuable perspective is evident in Rule 166 or the 75% rule. All he recommends here is that you book a win once you give back 25% of it. Those words are very wise and very accurate as greed is the death of every entrepreneur (which is the most charitable way of describing those of us joined at the felt to this glorious game). Phillips is a firm believer that emotions and the mental state of the player are a key variable in terms of who comes out a winner or a loser. Just about everything here is quietly valuable. Few of the things he says will make you exclaim "Wow!" but nearly all of them will make you a sounder player.

Complement your poker library with this one..........2005-01-05

"The Tao of Poker" will transform and mold your thoughts on poker like Sun Tzu's The Art of War does for generals. This is not to say that the author provides concrete X's & O's strategies for winning, but rather illustrates the proper mindset to approach the game. Concepts like mentally focusing, planning, and how to manage your bankroll are introduced. For instance, after big wins in Texas Hold Em tournaments, I often "recycled" my money into higher money games, generally losing it. One of Phillips suggestions is to pocket a certain percentage of any big win, take a walk and come back refreshed. While I think most of the precepts in the book are just common sense to any moderate skill player, the book also advocates a certain philosophy to playing the game of poker, one that is useful from the novice to pro player.

More Hold'em Excellence: A Winner for Life

Average customer rating:

This book won me a major tournament!
Whole Lotta Wisdom to Give.
Very Good Book
Good Limit Holdem Book
Sage Advice from a Long-Time Player

More Hold'em Excellence: A Winner for Life
Lou Krieger
Manufacturer: Conjelco
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Reference | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Hold'em Excellence (2nd Edition)
Winning Low-Limit Hold'em
Secrets the Pros Won't Tell You About Winning at Hold'em Poker: About Winning Hold'em Poker
Small Stakes Hold 'em: Winning Big With Expert Play
No Limit Hold 'em: Theory and Practice

ASIN: 188607013X

Book Description

This is a new expanded edition which goes beyond the basics; it takes you into the mind and decision-making processes of professional poker players by providing solid information and advice on a broad spectrum of sophisticated topics. Krieger covers the importance of proper decision-making; why patience and position are vital; the flop; early, middle, and late position; common mistakes; how to play in loose, aggressive games; tells and much more. Includes the Lou Krieger full color "Start Chart", showing which hands are playable in which situations.

Customer Reviews:

This book won me a major tournament!.......2006-08-22

Just hours after finishing "More Hold'em Excellence," I went to a No-Limit Texas Hold'em tournament and won $550! I definitely feel that this book helped me to win that tournament... and many more since then. I would seriously recommend this book to anyone who wants a well-written book on Texas Hold'em!!!

Sincerely,
Brian "the Sea" Shell

Whole Lotta Wisdom to Give. .......2006-02-03

Yes, the word "wise" might be the best way in which to describe Lou Krieger. He's not only a poker player and a journalist. He's a renaissance man who's spent time studying life in general. His is an extremely unique perspective for a poker writer, and I'm surprised it took me this long to discover him. Before I bought the book, all I knew about him was that he was the face of Royal Vegas poker which is not a compliment as it has to be my least favorite online website ever. Yet here Krieger gives readers a plethora of priceless insight over the course of 36 chapters. They flow together nicely and there's nothing disjointed about the work. I loved his chapter, "American Dreamer," where he makes a compelling case that poker is, in many ways, the essence of America, and he also takes the time to praise free speech and lambaste political correctness-which is extremely needed and one more reason why you should take the time to acquaint yourself with this edition. Another rare element to be found in these pages is the professional poker player quiz in the back. There are 60 some "Yes/No" questions that really put turning pro into perspective. I took it myself and learned quite a few things about my game by scoring it. The only criticism I have is of the hand chart in the back of the book. It's way too LAG (loose-aggressive player) for me. He's got you playing KJ offsuit in any position and that gives me the heebie-jeebies. Maybe if one has Lou's level of skill you can play 8/7 offsuit in late position, but stuff like that would break me. For hand analysis, I would check out Ed Miller's recommendations in Small Stakes Hold `Em if I were you. Although, Krieger has put together one heckuva book and I thank the guy for it.

Very Good Book.......2005-11-27

Excellent Book. Must be read a few times to be fully appreciated. Loaded with great information. Mr. Krieger has a real gift making the concepts understandable. Players of any level will gain something from this book

Good Limit Holdem Book.......2004-05-30

This is one of the 1st books I read when i started playing poker.It's a must read for any one how wants to become a good player.Some of the consepts were a little hard to undrestand for the biginner but it will put you in a right path of beiing a winner for life.You have to read it go play.and read it and play again till you undrestand every thing he was trying to help you learn. I also have to add that it was very easy to read and even when you are an advance player you enjoy reading it......enjoy.....

Sage Advice from a Long-Time Player.......2003-10-13

This book is not for the beginner. Any beginning hold'em book will do for beginning players.

This book contains nothing but good advice in the card room. I've only played in card rooms a few times, but I've won consistently. Kreiger's books contains essays on how to deal with maniacs, table image, table selection -- the sorts of things a non-beginner will find valuable.

If you already know the game and know how to play tight and aggressive, this book is for you. It contains lots of anecdotal advice on how to deal with the situations that inevitably come up in card rooms.

Poker Nation: A High-Stakes, Low-Life Adventure into the Heart of a Gambling Country
Average customer rating:

fun & informative

great book

A good read for traders aka gamblers

Great intro to the world of poker

Fun, interesting and informative

Poker Nation: A High-Stakes, Low-Life Adventure into the Heart of a Gambling Country
Andy Bellin
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Poker | Card Games | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | Gambling | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Popular Culture | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Sports | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Biggest Game in Town

Positively Fifth Street: Murderers, Cheetahs, and Binion's World Series of Poker

The Greatest Gambling Stories Ever Told: Thirty-One Unforgettable Tales of Risk and Reward (Greatest)

Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King, The : Inside the Richest Poker Game of All Time

Phil Hellmuth Presents Read 'Em and Reap: A Career FBI Agent's Guide to Decoding Poker Tells

ASIN: 0060958472
Release Date: 2003-02-04

Amazon.com

Readers who enjoy poker will love Poker Nation, an energetic and obsessive account of America's favorite card game, told with intelligence and panache. Andy Bellin writes in the first person and from the gut, recounting stories about poker fanatics (himself among them) and dispensing advice on how to play the game: "You have to maximize profits through guile and savvy, eke out every last dollar that your competition is willing to lose to you--and, when you don't have the winning cards, flee as fast as possible." Aphorisms leap off the pages: "The worst hand in poker is the second-best one at the table" and "People say the mark of a con is in the details." Whether readers prefer the anecdotes about double-bluffing and illegal poker clubs or the tips on when to hold and when to fold (there's even a table showing the "Chances of Drawing Helpful Cards from a Deck of Forty-Seven Unknown Cards"), anybody interested in its subject matter will find Poker Nation engrossing. --John Miller

Book Description

Journalist and poker fanatic Andy Bellin takes readers on a raucous journey into the shut-up-and-deal world of professional poker. From basement games to the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, you'll look over his shoulder as he learns to count cards, read a legendary player's body language, hang in there when the chips are down, and take his beatings like a man. Even if you don't know the difference between a flop and a river card, Bellin keeps you in the game with his portraits of the colorful players, dreamers, hustlers, and eccentrics who populate this strange subculture. Along with learning what goes on behind the scenes in illegal poker clubs, you'll get great advice on how to play Texas Hold'em, today's game of choice for big-money players.

Download Description

Customer Reviews:

fun & informative.......2006-09-06

This book reminds me of another good poker book, All In by Jonathan Grotenstein & Storms Reback. It a little bit of many different things. There's poker advice, poker history, biographies, poker stories, and humor. It's a great book for someone who wants to learn a thing or two about poker but doesn't just want to read strategy books like Super System.

great book.......2006-07-28

If you ever wondered if the world of poker is for you, read this book! most poker players will never set at the million dollar game(or table) - most poker players have to grind it out hour after hour - this book tells you all about that world!

A good read for traders aka gamblers .......2006-03-24

I dont play poker at all. I picked this book up with the intent of improving my stock, currency and commodities trading under the premise that professional poker players and traders are two of a kind. Despite my ignorance of poker, I find this book a real page turner covering not only poker skills and tactics, but its addictive and even devastating effect on life of many poker players. It's very interesting and informative. The author's writing skill is excellent. No matter whether you like poker or not, if you are interested in reading fascinating stories, you will be very satisfied.

p.s. As per whether it will help my trading, a little bit, I must say.

Great intro to the world of poker.......2005-09-09

"Poker Nation" is the perfect introductory book for those new to the game, especially if you've just started getting into the 2005 World Series of Poker coverage. It's more of a series of anecdotes, musings, and observations than it is an Xs and Os how-to guide, so you won't get overwhelmed by the technical aspects of the game. Bellin's personal style of writing conveys all the highs and lows that poker can entail, and does so in a humorous, self-deprecating manner. If you're like me and rarely read books from cover-to-cover, you might be surprised how much of an easy read this can be.

Fun, interesting and informative .......2005-04-19

This book is a little difficult to categorise. It is not really an autobiography, it is not a poker 'how-to' manual although it does provide some interesting insights. So what is it? It seems to be a book about deciding to write a book.

Andy Bellin has a simple, easy to read prose style. The book proceeds at great pace mixing personal experiences and anecdotes very effectively, providing an interesting and illuminating insight into the world of poker and addiction. I was gripped from the first chapter and read the book very quickly. It is often funny, sometimes chilling and slightly scary but it always holds your interest. It is also thought provoking as it prompts readers to consider their own attitude to gambling and addiction in general.

Recommended.

Flying Rubberneckers: High Flying Fun for the Airport and Plane (Rubberneckers)

Average customer rating:

keep them busy

Flying Rubberneckers: High Flying Fun for the Airport and Plane (Rubberneckers)
Matthew Lore , and Mark Lore
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Cards

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Social Skills | Issues | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Rubberneckers Jr: Fun for Backseat Travelers
Rubberneckers: Everyone's Favorite Travel Game
The Cranium Ultimate Book of Fantastic Fun & Games: Share the Fun with Family and Friends (Cranium)
Miles of Smiles: 101 Great Car Games and Activities
Are We There Yet (Backseat Books)

ASIN: 0811855066

Book Description

From the creators of the outrageously popular Rubberneckers and Rubberneckers Jr. comes a nifty new card game to beat the boredom in the air and at the gate. Flying Rubberneckers offers an opportunity to turn an airplane trip into a fun game, and gives the traveler the chance to stop and notice what's going on all around in the terminal and on the plane Sure to make time fly!

Customer Reviews:

keep them busy.......2007-07-12

This is a great idea for flying travelers. My kids (10&7) liked it a lot.

Average customer rating:

Good tool for therapy

Chicken Soup for the Soul

Manufacturer: U.S. Games Systems
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Cards

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Gifts | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

A 2nd Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul: 101 More Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit (Chicken Soup for the Soul)
Chicken Soup for the Soul (Chicken Soup for the Soul (Paperback Health Communications))
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living Your Dreams
The Success Principles(TM): How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be
Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul: 101 Stories

Product Features:

ASIN: 157281389X

Product Description

A beachcomber saw a man walking along the shore, throwing back starfish that had washed up. "There are thousands of starfish on the sand," the beachcomber told him. "You can't possibly make a difference." The man picked up a starfish and threw it out to sea. "Made a difference to that one!" he said. How do you make a difference? To whom does it matter?

Customer Reviews:

Good tool for therapy.......2007-06-08

I am planning on using these cards in therapy to pose existential questions. They can be used to build a relationship between therapist and client at the beginning stages of therapy. They are also of good use with teenagers (or anyone) who may have an "attitude" about therapy.

Poker as Life: 101 Lessons from the World's Greatest Game (Esquire Books (Hearst))

Average customer rating:

A good book about life not poker
TERRIFIC BOOK
You don't have to love poker...
Four Aces
A bit different

Poker as Life: 101 Lessons from the World's Greatest Game (Esquire Books (Hearst))
Lee Robert Schreiber
Manufacturer: Hearst
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Best Hand I Ever Played, The: 52 Winning Poker Lessons from the World's Greatest Players
The Tao of Poker: 285 Rules to Transform Your Game and Your Life
The Poker MBA: Winning in Business No Matter What Cards You're Dealt
No Limit Hold 'em: Theory and Practice
Phil Hellmuth Presents Read 'Em and Reap: A Career FBI Agent's Guide to Decoding Poker Tells

ASIN: 1588164616

Book Description

The rules of poker are a lot like life--and who better to deal the winning hand than a dedicated player who has learned many of life's most important lessons at the poker table?

Poker's the rage, thanks to televised tournaments and Internet show-downs, but Esquire has always been a few steps ahead of the curve. And in Mr. Schreiber, Esquire has found the right guy--a major player in cutting-edge theory and real-world experience--to write the book on Poker As Life.

Where else but at the poker table can you discover all in one place the principles of finance (money management, risk and reward); mathematics (probability and odds); sociology (getting along with disparate , sometimes odious, personalities for the good of the game); literature (playing by the book); and, above all, psychology (in which the perceptive, intuitive, and observant student of human nature will usually be materially rewarded). Poker As Life is a primer for success. If you lie but never cheat, play the hand you're dealt, and make your own luck, then you'll never go bust.

As a bonus, there are dozens of entertaining and edifying life lessons provided by poker pros and other famous folk.

"Guessers are losers"--Amarillo Slim

"I stayed up all night playing poker with tarot cards. I got a full house and four people died."--Steven Wright

"In the long run there's no luck in poker, but the short run is longer than most people know."--Rick Bennet

"Nobody can forsee what will please the critics. Every artistic activity is, and always will be, a poker game."--Marlene Dietrich

Lee Scheiber supported himself through college via his poker wiles. He's played every variation extant (he even invented a few) at every stakes level, from penny-ante to no-limit. In his only tournament experience, he outlasted world champion Scotty Nguyen, an account he chronicled for Fortune Small Business, one of numerous publications in which he's shared his poker-related wit and wisdom.

"Poker as Life" is a valuable book, and not just for poker buffs. As those who live by its precepts could surely tell you, this little tome...is an even better handbook of practical philosophy--how to get somewhere in a world in which, whether you like it or not, many of life's winners approach each day as a new game."

--www.headbutler.com

Customer Reviews:

A good book about life not poker.......2006-07-03

If you are looking for a book to improve your poker game...this is not it. If you are looking to understand life as a whole...this may be it.

TERRIFIC BOOK.......2005-08-18

This is a terrific little book...filled with gems of game wisdom that carry over to "real life. Highly recommended!

You don't have to love poker..........2005-08-11

You don't have to love poker to enjoy this book. I'm a mediocre player myself and will never confuse a card game with real life, but this book is so damned readable -- smart and provocative and memorably snarky -- that I savored it the way I'd savor the conversation of a wise, battled-tested old pro in virtually any walk of life. The hundred chapter epigraphs alone are worth the price of admission and constitute, taken together, a nice little primer on the game.

Four Aces.......2005-08-09

This is a wonderful read--brisk, blunt, sarcastic, witty, even a little nasty. But, at all times, extremely well written and engaging. It not only offers the reader valuable tools to psych out other poker players, but also provides a playbook for out-foxing all those troublesome competitors, foes and rivals that we encounter in life. Highly recommended!

A bit different .......2005-06-15

All of the other poker books I've read up to this point have focused on a combination of gameplay and history. Poker as Life is the first to address the rest of the world in table terms.
I am the type of person who finds it strange if someone doesn't gamble, and even stranger if they don't play cards. For me games of chance hold a special place in my heart and have taught me much about myself and others. The author of this book must feel the same, because in the 101 rules that make up the book he outlines the inalienable truths you learn when the chips are down.
Most people who are new to poker probably only have the stuff on TV as a reference, and that's a shame. Poker as Life gives you a glimpse of the beauty of the game and just what it can teach you.

Burning the Tables in Las Vegas: Keys to Success in Blackjack and in Life

Average customer rating:

ONE GREAT BOOK
Should You Buy the Second Edition?
Ian Andersen is the best!
High-roller fact and fantasy
Excellent book for the aspiring counter

Burning the Tables in Las Vegas: Keys to Success in Blackjack and in Life
Ian Andersen
Manufacturer: Huntington Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Blackjack Attack: Playing the Pros' Way
Professional Blackjack
Blackbelt in Blackjack : Playing 21 as a Martial Art
Theory of Blackjack, Sixth Edition
Knock-Out Blackjack: The Easiest Card-Counting System Ever Devised

ASIN: 0929712846

Book Description

In the mid-1970s, Ian Andersen wrote Turning the Tables on Las Vegas, the classic book on casino comportment. As the first book to broach the all-important consideration of how to get away with getting the money, Turning was the book that launched a thousand blackjack careers. After its publication, however, Andersen disappeared from the scene. Where did he go? The answer is spelled out in this long-awaited sequel, Burning the Tables in Las Vegas--Keys to Success in Blackjack and in Life.

Since 1976, Andersen has been perfecting his personal program for success in blackjack, poker, and other of life's games. His technique combines elements of mathematics, psychology, and mental and physical well-being to create a never-before-disclosed approach to winning.

Burning the Tables in Las Vegas addresses virtually every aspect of blackjack advantage play: game selection, longevity, tipping, employee relations, guises, disguises, false identification, credit, comps, risk, heat, dress, demeanor, and diet. Andersen also explains how emotions, such as guilt and anger, and skills, such as discipline and interpersonal competence, can affect your prospects for profit.

Peppered with fascinating anecdotes and stories from Andersen's forays into the great casinos of the world, Burning the Tables in Las Vegas takes you on a vicarious journey into the rarefied realm of the high-stakes blackjack pro--and shows you what it takes to be one.

Customer Reviews:

ONE GREAT BOOK.......2006-04-01

HE'S A GREAT PLAYER AND A GREAT WRITER! HE'S TRULY A WORLD CLASS PLAYER. A GREAT BOOK TO READ AND TO OWN!

Should You Buy the Second Edition?.......2003-12-20

What's new in this second edition of Burning the Tables in Las Vegas? Mostly Chapter 9 on Green Chip Play. If you have a copy already, it's probably not worth it to buy the new edition, but you might want to borrow a copy to read this short new chapter on low-roller betting. In a nutshell, Andersen tells you how to win with $25-$50 bets, but don't expect to make a living at it.

Andersen spends about half the book talking about the mechanics of blackjack, and only the first few pages cover the basics. The rest is strategy and tactics, and he brings Stanford Wong along to add his expertise. The other half of the book covers topics that are not specific to blackjack, but are just as important: history, psychology, money management, risk management, health, demeanor. It is difficult to say exactly how much of a professional gambler's success is due to playing well and how much is due to people skills, being alert, reading a room, and staying healthy.

This is an up-to-date book that takes into account the way casinos operate today, not twenty years ago. Andersen adds a lot of what should be common sense to the nuts and bolts of playing winning blackjack. You probably don't need someone to tell you not to piss off the dealer (or even shoot them a disgusted look when you're losing), but it doesn't hurt to be reminded. Especially by a proven winner.

Ian Andersen is the best!.......2002-09-17

There are simply no other players quite as experienced as Ian Andersen. Even if you are not interested in counting cards, his experiences make for great stories and wonderful anecdotes. If you are serious about card-counting, then this book will pay for itself with the Ultimate Gambit. This book is perfect for your first trip to a casino as well as the experienced card-counter.

High-roller fact and fantasy.......2002-09-13

Ian Andersen is an entertaining writer as well as a longtime high-stakes professional blackjack player. With his latest offering, "Burning the Tables in Las Vegas," Andersen has attempted to update his classic from the '70s, "Turning the Tables on Las Vegas," and make it relevant to today's game. The results are mixed. "Burning" is a good read for sure, with many fascinating vignettes about life in the high-roller fast lane, as well as quite a bit of useful information for pros on how to survive and prosper in an age of high-tech casino surveillance. But, all that aside, it still left me wanting. Andersen may write about blackjack with the entertaining talent of, say, a Bryce Carlson, but he lacks the solid mathematical knowledge of a Carlson, or a Wong, or a Schlesinger to back it up. For example, with his so-called "Ultimate Gambit," he is all too happy in the name of camouflage to reduce his edge to not much more than half a percent, and then throw even more ev out the window with fairly large bets at craps and other negative-expectation games. His whole approach smacks of a certain lack of appreciation for the harsh realities of variance and standard deviation. Don't get me wrong, "Burning" is a very good book, and I think serious bj players will find it enjoyable and useful, but in the real world of professional play--high stakes or otherwise--it laces in a little too much fantasy with the facts to rate five stars.

Excellent book for the aspiring counter.......2002-05-29

I am new to card counting and after reading this book - I feel like I have a whole new perspective on playing blackjack as a business. There is so much good information here. I would recommend this book a a must-read for anyone interested in counting as a business or just for fun!!

How I Became a Life Master Playing the Weak No Trump

Average customer rating:

The title should be "Erics personal Bidding System"
worth it, a very good read...
Try the Andy Stark Book on the Weak No Trump

How I Became a Life Master Playing the Weak No Trump
Eric v.d. Luft
Manufacturer: Gegensatz Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Weak Notrump: How to Play It, How to Play Against It
My System: The Unbalanced Diamond
Cuebidding at Bridge: A Modern Approach
Things Your Bridge Teacher Won't Tell You
The Encyclopedia of Card Play Techniques at Bridge

ASIN: 096551790X

Product Description

A comprehensive exposition of the Kaplan-Sheinwold bidding system, incorporating up-to-date aggressive methods. Advantages of this Aggressive Weak No Trump bidding system include: (1) A greater proportion of limit bids and a higher frequency of bids in general, improving communication between partners. (2) More accurate low-level descriptive bids, making it easier during the auction to envision the probable play of the hand and to find your best contract. (3) Increased use of preempts, making it more difficult for the opponents to find their best possible result in a competitive auction.

Customer Reviews:

The title should be "Erics personal Bidding System".......2006-12-09

I bought this book because I read Sabine Auken's "I Love This Game" which is dynamite. She uses the Mini No Trump (10-12). I wanted to learn more about it and the title of this book made me think it would be useful.

Unfortunately, this book is Eric Lufs personal Bidding system.
Most of the book is on all aspects of his system, Bergen Raises, "Funny Raises", etc. He does have some material on the weak NT, but not much. Not how to use it effectively, with examples. I feel I was midlead by the title. A better title would be "This is my own bidding system, I use a lot of Martry Bergens stuff, oh, by the way, I use the weak No Trump"

What are Eric Lufs credentials that I would be interested in his personal system? He describes himself as an Intermediate level player. He's never won a Regional, let alone a National Tournament. Why would I be interested in his take on Bergen Raises or in his system when I can read Marty Bergens "Better Bidding With Bergen". At least Marty Bergen has won 10 national titles and has the experience and expertise to suggest useful conventions.

If you don't like Bergen, there are books by Max Hardy, Mike Lawrence, and Marshal Miles. These guys have serious experience and played in top flight competition.

I got little out of the book. I will try the other one "Weak No Trump" by Andy Stark.

Maybe Eric is a great guy in person but he's not someone I'd care to play with.

worth it, a very good read..........2006-12-03

This is not a book for bridge snobs. Luft does not pretend to be a great player. But he is a pretty good bidding theorist. He's an average player and his audience is other average players who hope to get better. His general suggestions about aggressive bidding are in tune with Marty Bergen, Larry Cohen, etc.

Luft has a light, friendly, conversational style. Some of his claims are hard to swallow, but he knows that, and is frank about it. Some of his stories are hilarious. His tips for wannabe experts are worth taking seriously, whether you play weak NT or not.

This is a very entertaining book. You don't have to believe what Luft says about bridge to enjoy it.

I especially like the book's emphasis on trusting and respecting your partner. Luft comes out very strongly against masterminding auctions. I think he would be a fun guy to play with.

Try the Andy Stark Book on the Weak No Trump.......2006-11-27

I first read Andy Starks Weak No Trump and wanted more. That book is a good introduction, but half the book is devoted to NT responses / runouts / defense. I wanted a book on "How a weak NT will affect your contructive bidding".
For example with a 12-14 NT, your 1 Club and 1 Diamond opening bids tend to be stronger, no longer those 12 HCP 4432 balanced hands. They may have 15-17 HCP and/or a longer minor suit. How does that affect your constuctive bidding? How does it affect the opponents overcalls?

This book devoted very little to that, and overall it offered me little of what I was looking for.

It was mainly about the authors personal set of favorite conventions, which don't interest me at all. [Note: the author describes himself as an Intermediate and a Life master]. I wanted a book mainly on the weak NT, not a homegrown system. There are plenty of other books (like Washington Standard) for that.

- It includes various responses to NT and run outs (just like the stark book). I prefered the coverage of Starks book.

I disagree with the authors tone and hand evaluation. He lectures on the benefits of the Rule of 20, but then doesn't apply judgment.
- his definition of a weak 2 is having any 5 card suit. That great if you can play like Marty Bergen, or have Larry Cohen as your partner. Or if your opponents are not made aware of this and are taken by surprise in a set of short contests, like 2-3 hands in Duplicate.

- He says he would never play with someone who wont open the hand below 1 Spade or 2 Spades:

S: J x x x x
H: x
D: Q x x x x
C: A K

While that meets the rule of 20, the 2 long suits are dreadful.
Switch the hands to:

S: A K x x x
H: x
D: Q J x x x
C: x x
And I too would open that 1 Spade.
There is more to hand evaluation than just counting HCP or initial losers. The texture of the long suits is critical.

- I disagree with the author about the value of some conventions.

- I didn't like the authors attitude, I would never want to play with someone like that. A partnership doesn't require clones, it requires agreements and understanding.

The book didn't meet my expectations and I returned it.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books