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Thread: Frank Scoblete's new book

  1. #1
    I'm now reading Frank Scoblete's new book, which was written with three co-authors, and combines some of the more popular casino games including video poker, Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo (which is really a game for thinkers), and Pai Gow poker. He calls the book "Everything Casino Poker."

    I've only read a few pages, but I scanned through some of the sections and it has a lot of practical information.

    You might say that four different games combined into one book might mean there isn't much depth for any particular game, and that might be true. But if the sections of the book hit the "high points" then quality will make up for quantity of pages about these games.

    What I think is interesting, is that indeed these four games are "grouped" in the minds of casino players. Many poker players also play Pai Gow and video poker. And those who play Texas Hold'em have tried their hand at Omaha though the art of Omaha seems to be with older players who have spent many more years in card rooms than the new crop of hold'em players that popped up in the last decade.

    By the way I just finished reading Frank's book "The Virgin Kiss" and I wrote about it in the "Media" forum.

  2. #2
    I did have a fool proof system for Pai Gow Poker---no kidding--being serious. Years ago at the Flamingo they let the player be the bank each time around the table. I was usually the only player to take advantage of that. But the system was that I cheated. For those unfamiliar with Pai Gow, each hand played consists of two hands--a 5 card hand and a 2 card hand, and you have to beat the bank on both to win. One rule---your 5 card hand had to be better than the 2 card hand. For example, if you had 6,6,K,xxxx, you had to use the pair of 6's on the 5 card hand and the King high for the 2 card hand. Late at night, the actual dealer never paid attention if I was bank, and to avoid a loss, I would use the pair for the 2 card hand. I felt no guilt.

    I should point out that the rules also state that if you do that--you lose both hands. Never got caught.

  3. #3
    Wow, you cheated.

  4. #4
    yeah--but I went to confession

  5. #5
    Is it any different than taking advantage of a weak dealer that flashes the hole card or any other cards as they are being dealt?

  6. #6
    That might be a good idea for a book: "Cheating In A Casino -- Scams You Can Pull Off."

  7. #7
    Short book--that's the only one I know-lol

  8. #8
    I just breezed through the first 114 pages which made up the sections for playing Hold'em poker and Omaha at live casino games. As I thought the chapters are made up of succinct tips and basics: how does betting start, what are blinds, what are the winning hands, how to play Omaha split pots, how do you buy in to a game, even what to do when you want to take a break. Some of the tips about playing poker actually come from years of experience and in the book you get those years of experience in fewer than a couple of minutes of reading including when to change your seat and where it's better to sit after you get a reading on the other players and their betting styles.

    Experienced poker players will say there is "nothing new" here but for new players it really is a good, basic guide for how to play. It would be better for a new player to use this book for starting to learn about poker than for using Doyle Brunson's mammoth Super System book which is a bit more complicated in its presentation of the games and strategies.

    Next is Pai Gow -- a game I've played a few times... and only a few times.

  9. #9
    Can we see the resumes of all 3 of these supposed "co-authors" please, and may I have the e-mail addresses & telephone numbers of each of them so I can verify that they are actually who you say they are and did what you said they did?

    Silly, right? Well, this is the same idiotic set of questions arci's been asking ever since he read that I did pay 3 mathematicians (BTW, one is in China, one's in Germany, and the third is in the UAE) $1500 apiece, to review what I developed. At first, I couldn't tell if he was jealous of my strategy, or just upset because I've lived in China, Germany, and spent my US Gov't career in the ME, when he's been nowhere and really, as you can tell by how many forums he lives on, he has zero acquaintances or friends--and now never will.

  10. #10
    I completed the book... well not exactly ALL of the book since the giant section on Video Poker is a game-by-game discussion using pay tables and strategy guides. I thought the Pai Gow info was interesting about banking the games and how to get a group of friends to "take over" the table and put yourselves as bankers against the casino.

    Discussion about comps and using comps and casino promotions to add value to payback or return on games is also helpful and a good reminder for everyone.

    I thought that the charts and tables for the various video poker games were plotted nicely and the info is clear and concise. Also the commentary cuts to the chase and I really appreciate the info on "variance" with a rating for each of the games.

    Overall, this is a really good book for new casino gamblers who want to play intelligently. For those of us who already know the games, there are a few vital pieces of info in the book that we need to remind ourselves about, and there are a few pieces of info that are helpful that you might not already know. I thought the percentage/ratings for video poker variance was excellent and I never saw those stats before.

    And I just want to say again that the info on playing live poker -- especially how you should interact with other players at the table is priceless and comes from years of experience playing -- so this info can help everyone. Number one point: never tell a bad player how to improve his game.

  11. #11
    Thank you, Alan. I am glad you enjoyed the book. A lot of sweat and more sweat went into it. For your readers, if any are interested in a free copy the first 10 people who write me at fscobe@optonline.net will be sent one. I would think "free" is one of Alan's Best Buys!

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