Omaha eight or better high-low split (Omaha/8 for short) is a form of poker that continues to grow in popularity -- surpassing every other form of poker except Texas hold'em. Omaha/8 has much in common with Texas hold'em, but there are significant differences too. As a result, better players stand to make a significant profit in the game.

While dozens of books have been written about Texas hold'em during the past two decades, precious few have been written about Omaha/8. This book is an update to the hugely popular and successful "Winning Omaha/8." There are new chapters covering material that has never been discussed in any form of poker literature and the previous material has been made current to keep up with the game's latest developments. "Mastering Omaha8," which is both a reference and a tutorial, is a much needed and useful tool for poker players interested in improving their Omaha/8 game.

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

Italian card games are fun and a great cultural and socializing experience. Italian Card Games for All Ages will help you become familiar with Italian cards and with some of the most popular games played today in Italy. This handy reference will introduce both the beginner and the advanced card player to fun, century-old games, including traditional games for large groups and simple children's games. It includes how to play: - Briscola - Scopa - Tresette - Sette e Mezzo - Bestia - Cocincina - Faraone - Miseria - Petrangola - Scartino and some fun and simple children's games. Every game can be played using a standard deck of 52 cards, but if you wish to have a truly Italian experience, get a deck of regional Italian cards and have some fun A glossary and small Italian-English dictionary are included.

An in-depth 'over-the-shoulder' look at top-level bridge. While describing almost 200 deals that he played in World and European Championships, one of the world's best players, Boye Brogeland, discusses bidding and cardplay, as well as his approach to the mental side of the game. A fascinating glimpse into the thought processes of a champion bridge player, as well as a look at state-of-the-art bidding methods, some of which are described here for the first time. Boye Brogeland (Norway) has won both the World and European Championships, and is a regular participant in North American tournaments. David Bird, who lives near Southampton, England, has written more than 100 books on the game. Despite spending much of the year travelling, he still finds time to write new stories every month for a host of magazines around the world, usually featuring his best-known characters, the monks of St. Titus Abbey. He is also a regular commentator on BBO broadcasts of top-level competitions.

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.

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 book comprises 50 problems in declarer play and defence for the beginning player, presented in approximate order of difficulty. The emphasis is on planning the play at the first trick. The idea is to present bridge hands as the reader would encounter them playing at the table. Unlike in a textbook, where topics are introduced systematically, there is no clue as to what type of play is required. Experienced players recognize certain standard situations without having to work them out. This does not apply to novices who spend a lot of mental effort on them. The aim of the book is to get novices to develop their recognition of these situations.

Poker is much more than knowing the right strategies; it's also knowing how to actualize those strategies. The game is full of losing players who know how to play, yet can't seem to induce themselves to consistently make the right plays.

"Black Friday" and the current state of the U.S. economy have changed the sub-culture in which we live and play. The dynamics of the poker world have drastically changed. Internet poker is not the cash cow it used to be, thereby changing the face of live poker. The games got tougher as Internet pros gravitated to the live action, the only action they can currently find. A player looking to become a major winner in live poker this involves changes in skill sets and mindsets. For the B&M players it involves adjusting to the skills and styles of former online players.

The Internet game and the live game, though related, have very different fundamentals, not to mention all the innumerable different nuances. And, because there are fewer weak players, every

James 'SplitSuit' Sweeney is a highly respected poker coach in the online poker community and have coached hundreds of students.
His brain child, Dynamic Full Ring Poker, is very well-received in the community and is universally lauded as the go-to poker book for ground-breaking strategies.
YOU WILL LEARN:
How to correctly run monster bluffs ... SECRETS REVEALED on page 277
How to hand read better by following CardRunners coach James "SplitSuit" Sweeney's hand reading tactics ... See page 110
How to estimate your opponents' hand ranges in a few seconds ... Go to page 107
How to exploit your opponents and their likely holdings ... SECRETS REVEALED on page 179
How to profitably c-bet, lead, raise, float, double-barrel, check-raise ... Read page 125
How to profile your opponent in a few seconds ... Go to page 22
How to 3-bet and 4-bet like a huge winner ... SECRETS REVEALED on page 57
How to interpret board textures ... See page 315
How to use pot geometry and stack-to-pot ratios (SPR) to CRUSH your opponents' strategies and bankrolls ... SECRETS REVEALED on page 109
And that's just the tip of the iceberg. There are more than 100 advanced tactics covered, all proven to work under the Las Vegas bright lights, the New York underground games, the internet, the college dorms, the kitchen home games, and much more.
You "don't" need advanced math "or" a high IQ to crush poker.
You need the right strategies and that's exactly what Dynamic Full Ring Poker delivers.
Order today. Our winning circle awaits you

Want to begin teaching bridge, but aren't sure where to start? This comprehensive and easy-to-follow teacher's manual was designed by the authors of We Love the Majors, Mary Ann Dufresne and Marion Ellingsen, to compliment their reader-friendly beginner's book. The teacher's guide contains six complete, detailed lesson plans, including hand diagrams, that teachers can easily customize to suit their students' levels of "interest and experience." This guide puts all the information you need to share your love of bridge right at your fingertips!

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?

This book will teach you how a professional poker player analyzes the facial expressions, body posture, physical gestures, and verbal statements of opponents in a live poker setting. Besides cataloging the most meaningful behavior, this book also gives a mental framework for thinking about and remembering poker tells. It also contains other tips on general poker psychology, including methods of deceiving and manipulating opponents, and methods for becoming "unreadable."

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.

An Honors Book from Master Point Press. Author Ken Rexford has developed an intriguing new approach to overcalling 1NT openings that may revolutionize this area of bridge. If you are unhappy with Cappelletti, DONT, Brozel, and the like, this book introduces you to a new approach for tackling the opponent's 1NT opening, with an entirely new way to handle one or two-suited hands. Can your current approach tell partner whether you have a strong or a weak overcall at the two-level? Can you tell partner which suit of your major-or-a-minor is longer? Can you identify the specific minor with your major, again at the two-level? All of these are possible using Ken Rexford's methods. Imagine describing more hands than the Woolsey defense handles, all with easy but novel methods that fit (unlike Woolsey) into the ACBL's General Convention Chart! You can also use these methods to improve your response structure to your own openings and in other auctions. Imagine hearing a Four Diamond overcall of partner's Two Clubs opening and being able to describe any one suit at game or any two-suited holding, all without giving up a cooperative double. Impossible? Not with this new technique. Can you show one or both minors and slam interest after a 2NT opening, and tell partner which specific minor you have, at the three-level? Yes, using Rexford's methods.

The Ultimate Edge, by Mark Billings, tells the little-known story of four men who became instrumental in changing the face of contemporary professional blackjack, winning the admiration of players the world over, and the disdain of casino bosses everywhere. Through traditional narrative and detailed examples, deep technical insights, and his own instinct for the game, Billings tells a compelling tale of improbable friendship, cutting-edge blackjack, and good old human obsession. In The Ultimate Edge there is something for everyone: the general reader, blackjack enthusiast, or even the professional gambler. Mark Billings' book reads like a novel, teaches like a textbook, and entertains like a good Hollywood movie. Told with wit and filled with insider secrets known only to a select few of blackjack's elite, The Ultimate Edge recounts the gambling adventures of four unique men you will not soon forget.

"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."

This book investigates the underlying logic of the game of Bridge, and how this logic dictates the bidding structure found during the game.

Making Sense of No Limit Hold'Em 3rd Edition: Adaptations

Ken Rexford's first book, Cuebidding at Bridge: A Modern Approach, took on the topic of Italian cuebidding, primarily in the context of a 2/1 Game Force system. However, he noticeably skipped the topic of cuebidding after a strong 2 opening. With this new book, we now know the reason, and his answer to the Big Problem. This book describes an exciting new approach, using TWO strong openings (2 and 2 ) to define PATTERN, in such a way that you can actually describe both opener's and responder's hands effectively, and even cuebid intelligently. In many ways, this approach is even better than Precision! Could you imagine agreeing spades at the two-level after a normal 2 opening? How about having no problems with 4-4-4-1 hands, or hands with both minors? Ken Rexford's method lets you do that and much more, allowing you to use cuebidding, relays and pattern bidding on strong hands as effectively as Precision players, but in the context of what is essentially a normal 2/1 GF or Standard system.

This book is the complete package when it comes to No Limit Hold'em. Filled with starting hand strategies, NEW poker theories, professional secrets, reading your opponents correctly while making the proper adjustments against them, advanced concepts on position, money management, poker math and odds, tournaments vs. cash games and how to be successful in both and so much more. No matter what level you play at you'll find something new to improve your game.

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.

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.

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.