For the last ten years, Winning Low Limit Hold?em has been the reference standard introduction to Texas Hold?em. Experienced hold?em players give this book to their friends who want to learn the game. Recently updated and expanded to include coverage of online poker and no-limit hold?em single-table tournaments, this is the one book that you need to start your hold?em career. "I always thought poker was a game of luck. After reading Lee's book and applying the techniques recommended, it was as if I were in The Matrix. It all came clear to me. I simply saw the truth at the poker table." - Antonio "The Magician" Esfandiari, Winner, 2004 L.A. Poker Classic and 2004 World Series of Poker $2000 Pot Limit Hold'em event. "I wish this book had been out when I started playing hold?em, because it is a great way to learn the game. If you want to put yourself on the path to becoming a top hold'em player, Lee's book is the place to start." - Greg Raymer, Champion, 2004 World Series of Poker.

A big part of poker's appeal is that, at its essence, the rules are same everywhere. For the most part, you play with a deck of fifty-two cards, four suits, and thirteen ranks. The best five card hand takes the money. There are only five combinations of actions: check, bet, call, raise, and fold. The purpose of this book is to provide a uniform set of rules for the most popular poker games spread in public cardrooms. Some rules apply to all games. Some apply to particular games. In deciding upon which rules to use, the rulebooks of nearly every major cardroom in the country have been consulted. Where rules differ, the authors have given preference to the rule that best serves the interest of fairness in the game. While some players and cardroom managers may not agree with all the rules included, it is hoped that the comprehensiveness of Cooke's Rules of Real Poker will result in it being used as a standard in cardrooms across the country.

The stories and anecdotes in this collection have one thing in common: in every case, the contract is 6NT! The first half of the book features the world's finest players at work, tackling all manner of 6NT contracts - some commendable, some truly awful. You will have a chance to plan your play in these contracts yourself before seeing what fate befell the original declarer. The second half of the book contains humorous short stories, featuring many of David Bird's well-loved characters: the bridge-crazy monks of St. Titus Monastery, the nuns of St. Hilda's Convent, and the Rabbi and his entourage. There is further action from Cholmeley School, from the missionaries whose main task in life is to convert the Bozwambi tribe to the Acol bidding system, and even some tales involving Robin Hood, the Sheriff of Nottingham and the much-maligned Sir Guy of Gisburne. Although some of these stories have been published in bridge magazines around the world, none of them have previously appeared in book form.

EXPANDED NEW EDITION A Complete Course in Playing Winning Limit Hold'em No Limit Hold'em has become the glamor game of poker. Yet today's savvy pros know that some of the best low-risk money-making opportunities exist in Limit Hold'em. This complete manual will show you how to consistently beat today's Limit Hold'em game, whether you play on the Internet or in live games. Revised, updated and expanded with over 100 pages of all-new material and over 250 sample hands to bring the lessons to life, this classic text shows you how to win again and again. Step-by-step and hand-by-hand, you will learn: - Which starting hands to play Pre-Flop - How to turn sound poker theory into winning play - Traps to set and minefields to avoid - How to play through the Flop, the Turn, and the River - The odds and probabilities every successful player must know - How and when to bluff and how to pick off habitual bluffers - ...and much more Plus detailed new chapters that include a complete strategy for conquering short-handed games and the keys to playing in multi-way pots. Poker is a fun game, but it is even more fun when you win. With poker professional Matthew Hilger's Internet Texas Hold 'em as your guide, you can master in hours what most players take a lifetime to discover.

BRIDGE GAME SUMMARY Easy Reference & Game Companion Bridge Game Summary provides a brief overview of the bridge game. It is a great game table companion for all bridge players. Need help bidding? Or, responding to a bid? Just check the "bidding" section. Want to know what card to lead? Check "playing the hand" section. Need a reminder of the most popular bridge conventions? They are all there when you need them. Need to know how to write the score and how many bonus points are awarded for a grand slam? Check "keeping the score" section. Bridge Game Summary combines the easy reference of color tables with a brief explanation of how to play the game. It's the best of both worlds for beginners and casual bridge players alike.

This book addresses the thought processes that novice declarers must develop and practice. The carefully chosen examples here will help advancing players to recognize the key features of a bridge hand and take appropriate action.

Martha Frankel grew up in a warm, loving family of diehard gamblers, where her father's poker games and her mother's mah-jongg blended happily with big pots of delicious food and endless gossip. As kids, she and her cousins bet on everything?from which of their Weight Watching mothers would lose the most to who could hold their breath longest underwater or eat the most matzo. But once Frankel left for college and later became a successful entertainment journalist, gambling didn't factor much into her life. She thought her family legacy had passed her by.
In this ?fast-paced and amazingly funny? ("The Times- Picayune") memoir, Frankel traces her love affair with poker, an obsession that didn't hit until her mid-forties. And she was good at poker. Frankel won routinely, whether she was playing in her Wednesday-night poker game or in one of the seedy, out-of-the-way rooms she always managed to find when on assignment. But all this changed when she discovered online poker. It was the beginning of what one of her uncles called ?hats and eyeglasses, ? a term used to describe those times when you?re losing so bad your ship is sinking until all that's left on the water's surface are your hat and eyeglasses. By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, "Hats & Eyeglasses" is a tale of passion, addiction? and those times in life when we almost lose our shirt.

At one time the game was even bigger than baseball. Today bridge is played by more than twenty-five million people in the United States alone, with Bill Gates, a sitting Supreme Court justice, and the guys from Radiohead among its devotees. In this spirited homage, Edward McPherson recounts the colorful history of the game and his attempts to master its mysteries in time to compete at the North American Bridge Championships--despite being barely able to shuffle cards, let alone play competitively. Insightful, funny, and steeped in respect, "The Backwash Squeeze" is an affectionate view of a grand game by an outsider trying to make his way into the inner circle.

It's an understatement to call poker a national obsession, and the World Series of Poker (WSOP) championship represents the game's top achievement. In this exciting history, the authors use first-hand interviews, video footage, and written accounts to craft a comprehensive and highly entertaining account of the greatest tournament in the world. They introduce colourful - and seemingly fearless - characters and chronicle some of the most gut-wrenching and heart-breaking moments, often with millions at stake, to be found in any event of its kind.

Al Alvarez touched down in Las Vegas one hot day in 1981, a dedicated amateur poker player but a stranger to the town and its crazy ways. For three mesmerizing weeks he witnessed some of the monster high-stakes games that could only have happened in Vegas and talked to the extraordinary characters who dominated them--road gamblers and local professionals who won and lost fortunes on a regular basis.
Set over the course of one tournament, "The Biggest Game in Town" is botha chronicle of the World Series of Poker--the first ever written--and a portrait of the hustlers, madmen, and geniuses who ruled the high-stakes game in America. It is a brilliant insight into poker's appeal as a hobby, an addiction, and a way of life, and into the skewed psychology of master players and fearless gamblers. With a new introduction by the author, Alvarez's classic account is "the greatest dissection of high-stakes Vegas poker and the madness that surrounds it ever written" ("TimeOut" UK]).

My friend Mr. Lucky journeyed around the world and through the tunnels of time learning countless poker variations from many fascinating characters. He learned Spit in the Ocean on a freighter in World War II, and Stalin taught him Ruin Your Neighbor in the depths of the Kremlin. Did I mention that Lucky is a tough teddy bear from Bayonne?

I predict you'll love Nostradamus, where a player who guesses the suit of his neighbor's next card takes it from him, and Share Your Hole, where each player picks one of his hole cards to be a mutual card. Then there's Myron, where the pot has a hand, and Yanqui Baseball, where the last hall of fame number to show up is wild.

Mr. Lucky tells lots of funny stories--like how Darwin taught him Man or Mouse, Caligula taught him Butcher Boy, and his hero Babe Ruth taught him about Baseball and life.

This book is for people who play poker for fun It's a bible for poker moms and required reading for college kids. It's already a cult classic OK, so it's a small cult. You can join

"Best poker book I ever read."-Redfew Tomes, 3rd grade

"Best teddy bear book I ever read."-Ima Lyre, Trussme, Mississippi

"Painfully funny."-Lord Howard Hurtz

Prison life has a silver lining for Tim - bridge. An expert player, he finds that his ability earns him unlooked-for respect amongst his fellow-prisoners. This is a bridge novel filled with unusual characters and great deals - and a bridge game that gives new meaning to the term 'cut-throat'!

Review by George C. (author, mathematician, blackjack guru) This book is an enticing and simplified methodology that squeezes every last drop from the KO count. A beginner shouldn't have any problems taking the original KO count and by using the color coded "cool, hot and warm" concepts shown by Daniel to optimize their play. You'll be playing professionally just after reading and applying the concepts that Daniel shows in the first four chapters of the book. I simulated Daniel's betting and playing methodology using both the original KO and his simplifications. The improvement in SCORE was almost 4%. Bottom line is this is a simplification of an already simple system that works well. I've known Daniel for quite some time now and he not only talks the talk but walks the walk. He's made quite a nice haul over the last few years and it's outlined in the book. I highly recommend this book not only for new users but hard-core KO users will find it of interest also.

Something about the Author Mr. Hector L. Cintron, the author of the "Other Side of the Table," was born in the eastern town of Ceiba, Puerto Rico. He started in the Casino Business in 1963 as a Craps dealer. In 1966, he was promoted to Casino Supervisor and kept his way up in the Casino Industry until reaching high executive positions around the world. In 1978 he was hired by Resorts International as a Pit Boss in its new and first Casino in Atlantic City, position that he held for a couple of years, Afterwards, he made a move right in the same area to Playboy Casino Hotel, which offered him a better position. He worked at that Casino until 1985 when he was hired as Director of Casino Operations at El San Juan Hotel and Casino in San Juan, Puerto Rico where he held the responsibility to organize and run the entire casino operation. In 1990, he was offered the opportunity to go to the island of Aruba in the Caribbean, to set up a casino operation for the Hyatt Aruba Resorts and Casino. Mr. Hector L. Cintron, during his 40 years in the Casino Business, has occupied every managerial position within a casino operation. This enormous casino experience gives Mr. Cintron the necessary credentials to write anything concerning the functioning of the Casino Business with an undisputable credibility, and above all, about all kinds of games played at a casino. At the time of writing this book, Mr. Cintron is retired from the industry but, his vast knowledge of what's going on within the casino table games will give you, the reader, and easy way to understand the basics of the gaming cycle, not only from the casinos insides, but from the out's of the player, in this case, yourself. G. Martnez

Why aren't you an expert bridge player? What makes a bridge expert, and why does he or she always come out on top compared to the average club player? No, it's not the ability to execute esoteric squeezes and endplays - they simply don't come up enough to account for the way the experts consistently win against weaker opposition. It's much more basic than that. This book contains a collection of deals that illustrate the difference between the expert player and the would-be expert. These illustrate the kinds of decisions that will come up in every club game, situations in bidding, play and defense where the amateur will often go wrong, but the expert never will. A study of the concepts in this book will take the reader a long way from amateur status towards actually becoming an expert player.

"Behind The Stare" is a book geared for mid-level players seeking to improve their game and their bottom line. The concepts introduced are universal in nature and can be applied to all forms of poker. A poker game elicits an enormous number of behaviors in and around it. By becoming more aware of both yourself and those around you; you can improve your skills by learning where to focus your wits and resources. Review new statistical data about the game, its' players and how live games differ from Internet games. See how this information can help you create a more realistic perspective to the game itself. Discover the relationship between your expectations, your strategy and your results. Explore the social fabric that we are all a part of and how it affects the game of poker. The benefit comes both from improving certain skills while learning not to succumb to some basic instinctual responses. The payback for this knowledge is almost immediate and will last a lifetime.

This is the fifth (and according to the author, the very last - but don't hold your breath!) edition of what is acknowledged to be the definitive book on a convention that every serious player uses. Completely revised and updated from the previous version, this newest version contains even more leading-edge ideas, and is full of examples, quizzes and practice hands. A must for the tournament player. Includes, among many other features: - Why you should play 1430 and 3014 RKB responses, and when - The extensions of RKB: the queen ask, the specific king ask, and more - How to handle voids, as asker or responder - RKB in minor-suit auctions - 60 practice hands for you to bid with your favorite partner This is the only book that explains every facet of one of the most popular conventions in modern bridge. 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 EDUCATION OF A POKER PIGEON Anonymous Secrets Learned from a Life in High Stakes Poker HE LEARNED TO BE A POKER PRO THE HARD WAY. YOU DON'T HAVE TO. The only way to improve your poker game is through experience. And the fact is, few players have more experience than the author of this book, who chooses to remain anonymous (and not blow his cover). In The Education of a Poker Pigeon, he reveals the successful strategy that's enabled him to earn a living for forty years doing what he loves. By playing expert poker while hiding exactly how well you play, you can lull even the smartest players into making dumb and expensive mistakes. Here, Anonymous goes further and outlines the steps that took him from pure novice to poker pro, sharing the priceless lessons he learned along the way. You'll learn: How to detect a cheater. How to manage your winnings. How real game strategy works, in venues ranging from illegal card rooms to the World Series. How to accelerate your game while avoiding the pitfalls that snag so many players. Whether you're seriously contemplating going pro or just fantasizing about it, do yourself and your bankroll a favor and learn from someone who's been there, done that, and lived to play-and win- another day

"Bernard stands out as an excellent teacher of the game. He makes poker more accessible to players of all levels through his writings, radio show and everyday conversations. You will see how his articles convey both his vast knowledge of the game and his passion for the details of play. Additionally, you will enjoy his personal commentary about each column. These comments will give you a very rare, candid look inside the mind of a poker professional. For those of you who are not loyal followers already, I know you will become a fan of Bernard after reading this book ..."
Joe Hachem, 2005 WSOP Main Event Champion

"Bernard is a rare, diligent student of the game. His natural teaching ability draws people to him. His serious, meticulous focus on the finer points of the game has led to his success on the professional poker tour. His future in the world of poker is secure and bright."
Mark Seif, two time WSOP bracelet winner

"A must read for poker players of all levels, as it give you an unusual opportunity to get into the mind of a great poker player and columnist. You will learn something new to better your game with every column you read."
Andrew Feldman, ESPN.com Poker Club Editor

"Bernard has an amazing ability to take complicated tournament strategies and make them easy to understand. To say that he is a master teacher would be an understatement. Whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced player, his lessons will enhance your play and help to increase your bankroll." Linda Johnson, the First Lady of Poker "You play poker. You talk about poker. You write columns about poker. Now you've finished a book about poker. What don't you do?" Norman Chad, ESPNpoker commentator

Originally published in 1897. The author was a famous conjuror who many spent many years perfecting the hundreds of tricks and sleight of hand methods described here. Contents Include: SLEIGHTS: The Double Handed Pass - The Force - The Bridge - The Glide - The Color Change, etc. TRICKS WITH CARDS: Magic versus Mnemonics - The Hypnotised card - Cards Shot Against a Hat - The Demon Envelope - The Obedient Card, etc. PREPARED AND MECHANICAL CARDS: The Changing Card - The Torn Corner Card - The Flap Card - The Conjurer as Marksman - The Envelope Card - The Coin Card - A Mysterious Transformation, etc Contains many explanatory illustrations. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Home Farm Books are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.Envelope Card - The Coin Card - A Mysterious Transformation, etc