R.U.N.T. - the Really Unusual No Trump Master Point Press author Ken Rexford provides the first authoritative description of the R.U.N.T. Convention. R.U.N.T. is actually a two-way overcalling structure to distinguish a very sound takeout double from a weak three-suited takeout by way of an artificial 1NT overcall - preempting and intervening in the auction safely and effectively. Do you find a 4-3-3-3 hand with three Jacks a reason to sleep, or is this as good a reason to bid as any? You know who you are. Do you secretly enjoy declaring Two Clubs doubled, trying to find a fifth trick before the opponents find their ninth trick, instead of defending a boring 3NT? If you find it amusing to interfere with as many auctions as possible, this book is for you. Rexford introduces you to this effective and proven two-way overcall structure. With more advanced versions of the convention, you can add a very strong option, making the 1NT overcall almost a Multi type of takeout. After all, bridge is supposed to be fun, right?

Texas Hold 'Em Poker Textbook - Mathematics, Probabilities and Odds of Poker - is a book about understanding the mathematics of permutations, combinations, probability rules and odds relevant to playing cards used in creating poker hands, specifically in the game of Texas Hold 'Em. The discussions and charts show the probabilities of your own hand and the probabilities of the hands the other players could have after the deal, after the flop, at the turn, and after the river. Additionally, separate chapters cover the concepts of expected value, poker odds, pot odds, and basic player strategy and tactics. Numerous illustrations, graphs, charts, and tables augment the discussions. The problem sets in most sections ask (and solve) questions of interest for any serious player.
..". I was thinking that I could get lost in this book and never be found " - Deke Castleman, Senior Editor, Huntington Press
"An Incredible New Book & Author" - by George 'The Engineer' Epstein, columnist, Poker Player Newspaper, Parts I & II, Jan. 2012
A great starter book for anyone and enough information of value for the advanced player. So, limp in or ante up and buy this book, it will be one of the more rewarding bets you will make.

In the flop stage, what are your odds of achieving a straight by river and what are the odds of your opponents achieving something higher? If you will achieve the straight, what are the new odds of your opponents beating it in the river stage? How about the full house? How strong is your hand from mathematical point of view and how can you use this information in your play? This is the kind of questions that this book deals with.In improving poker skills, acquisition of information is vital, whether we talk about data a player collects during a specific game or pre-established mathematical facts behind the card distribution, including prediction. Texas Hold'em Poker is a game highly suitable for probability-based decisions. The power of a single card changing the hand hierarchies at every stage is a strong argument that every objective strategy should be probability based and so the card odds should be part of such a strategy. The book is a complete probability guide of Hold'em Poker, covering all possible gaming situations, an improved edition of the bestseller "Texas Hold'em Odds," published in 2004. In this edition, the author focused on the practical side of the presentation and use of the probabilities involved in Hold'em, while taking into account everywhere the subjective side of the probability-based criteria of each player's strategy.The first part of the book deals with the odds of specific card formations, from one pair to straight flush, at every stage of the game, grouped in three large categories: long-shot odds for own hand, long-shot odds for opponent's hands and immediate odds. These odds are collected in tables at the end of each section and, where generating two-dimensional tables was not possible, the compact formulas returning the odds are provided. All tables and formulas are followed by examples of how to use them for finding the desired odds in a specific gaming situation. All probability results were worked out through compact mathematical formulas and not by the use of any software based on partial simulations. The chapter "Operating with and Weighting the Odds" is the main new material added to the first edition and deals with the rules of estimating and evaluating the probabilities of complex gaming events in order to use them in a strategy, by using the odds provided in the first part of the book. When we are allowed to add together the partial probabilities of a union of events for an overall probability and when we are not, methods of approximation and tips of avoiding hard calculations, all have their dedicated subchapters, packed with suggestive examples of application on concrete hands. The author also introduces the concept of strength matrix of a hand, within the adequate mathematical model of the strength of a Hold'em hand, and argues why the strength of a hand should be defined through mathematical probabilities. At this point, he proves that what most of the so-called odds calculators return are not mathematical probabilities and cannot stand as objective strength indicators for Hold'em hands.The last chapter is a suggestive collection of probability-based hand analyses on concrete Hold'em hands that can be generalized to categories of hands having identical results associated.The author is a recognized authority on casino/gaming mathematics and his books are in the official bibliography of the students of several gambling institutes and organizations around the globe. This book is the most trusted and professional source for the mathematical facts of Hold'em Poker, a must-have completion for any strategy book.

This 1944 book of card tricks focuses on simplicity, quick results, a minimum of skill, and audience appeal. Included are: This Card Gets Around, Back Up ; New Ace Control; Military Mixup; Delayed Discovery; Hindu Slop Shuffle; Perfect Prediction; What a Coincidence ; Tell How It's Done; W.W. Color Change; Miracle Discovery; Numerical Discovery; and Instantaneous Four Ace Transposition.

Originally published in 1989, this book quickly became recognized as a 'must-read' for any would-be bridge expert, and has never been out of print. Now, more than 20 years later, the author has revised, updated and expanded it to take into account modern developments in the theory and practice of competitive bidding.

Weak two-bids are well ensconced in the bridge world and are now part of any beginning program of lessons. They are, however, in that class of "most abused" conventions. An understanding of all the important tools that are at your fingertips will serve you well in making these decisions at the table. This book will walk you through the solutions to the problems you meet every day in offensive and defensive situations, delving into the more intricate aspects of the weak two-bid.

Take All Your Chances at Bridge was published in 2009 and has already been reprinted twice. It won the American Bridge Teachers 2010 Book of the Year Award for best intermediate-level book. In this sequel, Kantar presents another collection of play problems for advancing players. Again, the theme is not just finding a good line of play: the trick is to combine as many possible lines as possible to optimize your chances of making the contract. Full of Kantar's inimitable humor and extra tips, as well as lots of good bridge, this one is another sure winner. Eddie Kantar (Santa Monica, CA) is one of the most popular and prolific bridge writers in the world. A winner of two World Championships, and a member of the Bridge Hall of Fame, his many books include Modern Bridge Defense, Advanced Bridge Defense, the hilarious Kantar on Kontract, and of course, Roman Keycard Blackwood. His work appears regularly in many bridge magazines around the world.

The most popular no-limit hold'em cash games are $1/$2 and $2/$5 live games. This book can help you become a very profitable, good player at these levels. Through a clear and easy understanding of tips and strategies, this book can not only help a beginner to learn how to play the Texas Hold'em, but also help an intermediate or advanced poker player to improve his or her skill level. All these winning tips are very practical. The play on the flop is crucial for no-limit hold'em. This book provides general guidance for the play at each different situation on the flop. For many players who are in the transition phase, advice is given to show players how to move from the $1/$2 to $2/$5 no-limit hold'em game, and vice-versa. This book also gives advice on how to play against players with different styles: loose-passive or super-aggressive, and much more. The fundamental skills of this book are for beginners and intermediate players, and the advanced skills are for experienced, advanced players. If you learn all the tips and put them into practice, you will become a better no-limit hold'em player "Dr. Robert Shangguan is definitely a proven winning player in No-Limit Texas Hold'em cash games. You will learn a lot of valuable strategies from his book." Jack Effel, VP of International Poker Operations and World Series of Poker (WSOP) Tournament Director

If your answer is 'YES' to the following three questions, this is the PERFECT book for you: 1. Have you read A Bridge to Simple Squeezes? 2. Did you see merit in the structured approach introduced in that book for executing simple squeezes? 3. Do you feel that in spite of your great effort you are still not finding squeezes? In this book, Still Not Finding Squeezes?, the structured approach is applied to the 39 squeeze examples that David Bird and Tim Bourke created for their book, Test Your Bridge Technique: The Simple Squeeze. These examples will give you the experience you need to include squeezes in your arsenal.

"Bridge Is a Conversation" is a guide to bridge fundamentals for players who already have an understanding of the basics of the game and the desire to improve their competitiveness at the bridge table. The goal is not to teach how bridge systems are built, nor to describe their content, but rather to clarify how to use them the way the best players in the world do and to offer an alternative to simply "playing by the book." You will find the game much more interesting, challenging, and enjoyable than you ever dreamed it could be. The principles in this book are valid regardless of the bidding system used. In sixty years of playing bridge, author Gerard Cohen has observed many games of bridge, and he brings that knowledge to this guide. His observations of how his partners, opponents, and others play that make them outstanding are key to the thoughts included here. He looked for patterns, drew conclusions and developed general concepts that those who haven't reached the top level yet can learn and apply for a chance at competing with the best. Take your bridge game to the next level with "Bridge Is a Conversation."

Andrew Robson, world champion player, teacher and columnist, offers an insider's guide to the game of bridge for more experienced players. Broader in scope than The Times Bridge: Commons Mistakes and How to Avoid Them, Andrew has selected his best columns from The Times, which cover a wide range of themes. By explaining sample deals, aspects of the game are clarified and the reader's understanding of the game improves. Each deal begins with an engaging discourse before moving on to explain the technique. The book assumes a level of experience beyond that of beginner and targets those players as well as social players and club and tournament players. Chapters cover: Partnership: clarification, anticipation, communication. Andrew imparts the secrets of being a successful - and popular - partner. Double Trouble: when to double and when to keep quiet - that is the question. Opening Lead: how can you find the best lead, when you can't even see dummy? Some dramatic deals illustrate how to make the choice. Trick One: how to avoid making a fatal error on the all-important first trick. Finessing Fun: fascinating card-play tussles made simple. Guess Who? Which opponent has the crucial missing card - and why? Spot Cards: making use of all your assets is one secret of the winning player - ignore the lowly eights and sevens at your peril. Never say Never: when to break normal guidelines - and why. Mind of an Expert: Andrew gives away the secret workings of the world's best players. Experts Err: even the best make mistakes. Let's all learn from them. Freaks: we all love wild deals, and here are some of the wildest. Bridge around Britain: some say it's fading. Nonsense - as these deals will testify. Bridge around the world: New York, New Guinea or New South Wales - Andrew considers global bridge issues, and looks at some wonderful deals. Stars of the future: School Bridge, Youth Camp Bridge, World Junior Championships...we feature some of the best young players, and look ahead to a bright future for the game.

Duplicate Pairs is the most absorbing and demanding form of Bridge: a true mental combat sport. Starting with the mechanics of the scoring system, through the key philosophies for success, to detailed tactical advice, esteemed author Paul Mendelson takes the reader through all the steps needed to improve your scores, boost your enjoyment and become a successful Duplicate Pairs player at club level and beyond. In the second part of the book, sit at Paul's shoulder and play a Duplicate Pairs tournament with him, observing the inferences taken, myriad components considered, and decisions made. Paul Mendelson is the UK's best selling Bridge author and his books are sold worldwide, having been translated into numerous languages. He writes weekly for the Financial Times and contributes to numerous magazines. He has also written books and articles on Poker and casino gaming

Over-the-shoulder descriptions of hands played at duplicate bridge by a new author. Wry, amusing and thought-provoking, containing plenty of good bridge, good writing and good fun. For improving and intermediate club and congress players.

This is not a book for beginners, and will not bore you with rehashing things you already know. Some of the topics are somewhat controversial, and as always Marshall Miles urges his own, often original, point of view. Some of the topics discussed include: Game invitations after a raise of opener's major Fast arrival and picture bids When the opponents double a transfer or Stayman Mini splinters Rubens advances of overcalls Playing in the opponents' suit The Kaplan Interchange, and many more. As he often does, Miles ends the book with an "It's Your Call" bidding quiz, with detailed discussion of options and the rationale for his own choices. Marshall Miles (California), though now in his eighties, is still regarded as one of the world's leading bidding theorists. His long and successful playing career includes a World Senior Teams Championship in 2004, and his book How To Win at Duplicate Bridge is considered among the all-time classics on the game.

A famous card expert demonstrates tricks that have left theater audiences amazed, and that card-playing professionals have used profitably. It is not a book for beginners. But these shifts, palms, glides, false shuffles, cuts, fans, steals and spectacular deceptions will help those with basic card expertise reach new levels of performance. Over 300 photos show Buckley's exact hand positions during each move.

I have been dealing and supervising the game of craps in major casino's across this country for over 25 years now. I have noticed that the reason people do not play craps is because they are intimidated by the game's complexity. I have broken down the game bet by bet and explain how each bet will win and lose. Individually! And why! You will learn table etiquette and be able to attack the game at your speed and avoid any embarrassment that may be holding you back from playing. This is a game you will thoroughly enjoy playing. And its not as hard as you might think...

Just about every bridge player in the world has read Victor Mollo's Bridge in the Menagerie, a book that is on any list of the all-time top ten on the game. Towards the end of his life, Mollo penned a number of stories about the same well-loved characters (the Hideous Hog, the Rueful Rabbit, Oscar the Owl, and the rest), but they appeared only in the pages of obscure magazines. Now, for the first time, they are available collected in book form.

Patrick Jourdain's Problem Corner has been a popular regular feature of Bridge Magazine in the UK for many years.

This collection of challenging declarer-play problems has been selected from the best of the material that has appeared in the magazine, and will be welcomed by advanced players.

THIS 146 PAGE ARTICLE WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE BOOK: Auction Tactics, by Bryant McCampbell. To purchase the entire book, please order ISBN 1417905360.

Poker is a game of skill and chance. Some say it is 50-50%, while others say it is 70-30%. You are told to ignore the "chance" element and focus purely on "skill" because it will pay out over the longer run. In time, however, even seasoned professionals find that they have reached the peak in terms of skill - and they resign themselves to just playing their best game. What if you could control the "chance" element in poker? Would that improve your game? This book defines that "chance" component as being composed of luck, intuition, and foresight. Human beings possess a subtle energy field that envelops the physical body. When activated, it is capable of manufacturing luck and producing remarkably accurate powers of intuition and foresight. Beneath the deceptive fabric of everyday reality, energy fields continually wage wars to determine who "gets lucky." Individuals who possess active energy fields will dominate those with passive energy fields. How can you activate your energy field and put it to use at the poker table? This book provides the answers. Author Sunil Padiyar offers an engaging study of both the scientific and spiritual aspects of luck, intuition and foresight. He takes the reader on a riveting journey from the modern theories of Quantum Physics to the metaphysical theories of the ancient Hindu Upanishads (written as far back as in the first millennium BC). Based on his intriguing findings, the author presents practical techniques to harness psychic powers and put them to use in winning at the poker table.

PLO8 poker plays much differently than the No-Limit Hold'em games that most players are familiar with. Because there are only a few specialists who understand how to play the game, most PLO8 players have no idea what they are doing. This book will reveal the secrets that enable these specialists to make so much money and give you the knowledge you need to absolutely crush PLO8 poker games. Even if you are already a winning player, you will learn new skills that will increase your win rate. This is the first book dedicated solely to PLO8 poker. The Expanded Edition has been updated and revised and includes over 50 pages of new content. New topics covered include: -Flop fits -Continuation Betting -Bluffing -Barreling -WSOP events -Rush Poker -And more...