Gambling Wizards: Conversations with the World's Greatest Gamblers [Paperback]

Richard W. Munchkin (Author)

Book Description

Series: Gambling Theories Methods | Publication Date: April 2003

Get into the minds of the greatest gamblers of all time with this 2002 release from Huntington Press, Gambling Wizards by Richard W. Munchkin. Read in-depth interviews with eight masters of the games. Learn how they think, how they play, and what made them successful.

The interview subjects include: Billy Walters (sports betting), Chip Reese (poker), Doyle Brunson (poker), Mike Svobodny (backgammon), Stan Tomchin (backgammon and sports betting), Cathy Hulbert (blackjack and poker), Alan Woods (blackjack and horse racing), and Tommy Hyland (blackjack).

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Richard W. Munchkin is a writer, producer, and director of film and television. He lives in Santa Clarita, California, with his wife Nelia and sons Nicholas and Alexander. Richard has been fascinated with gambling since childhood and had a winning trip to Las Vegas once in 1987.

Product Details

• Paperback: 306 pages
• Publisher: Huntington Press (April 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0929712056
• ISBN-13: 978-0929712055
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #313,314 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read book for aspiring pros and curious readers, January 15, 2004

By 

Andrew Bloch (Takoma Park, MD United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gambling Wizards: Conversations with the World's Greatest Gamblers (Paperback)

Gambling Wizards is a must read whether you're aspiring to become a professional gambler or are just curious about what makes real pros tick. The book contains advice more valuable than any gambling "secret." You will learn from their successes, but more importantly, you learn from their mistakes without having to make them yourself. Read how some of them stumbled at first and went broke (perhaps multiple times), and then went on to make millions. Learn what's most important in being a great gambler -- there are a couple of things much more important than being the greatest player and playing perfectly. Best of all, you read it straight from the point of view of the players themselves, not distorted by an author's agenda.

Even seasoned gamblers, like myself, will benefit from reading the book, by reinforcing important ideas. I for one wish I could have read this book years ago -- I definitely would have made a lot more money.

Andy Bloch
(former blackjack player and professional poker player with 2 World Poker Tour finals)

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favourite gambling book (out of more than 50!), February 21, 2005

By 

Fredrik Engel - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gambling Wizards: Conversations with the World's Greatest Gamblers (Paperback)

This book has made me more money than any "How-to" book. The first time I read it, it was "only" entertainment. I thought "This was a really funny book, but I did not learn much". However, it was amazing how often I come to think of one passage or another while contemplating how to bet! I kept re-reading it, getting very useful hints on what to look for. It is now two years ago since I first read it and I got another one of these "flashbacks" while reading Ziemba's paper om horse betting markets. I though "Didn't they mentioned this in Gambling Wizards?" They sure did - along with one expert telling you why the PhDs model is flawed! All in all, I have been reading over 50 gambling books and this has given me the most help along the way - even though it is not even a "How to" book! My highest recommendation. Get ready to be both entertained and educated.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Do not expect secrets revealed, January 8, 2004

By 

obediah (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gambling Wizards: Conversations with the World's Greatest Gamblers (Paperback)

"Gambling Wizards" is a compilation of interviews with gamblers who are the best in their field. Covering sports betting, blackjack, backgammon, horses and poker, Munchkin assembles an impressive array of talent to fill the content of his book.

Do not expect the masters to reveal their inner gambling secrets. The professionals will not keep out information that will jeopardise the small edge that they possess.

Do expect to see some of the attributes that are necessary to become a successful professional gambler. The traits that are necessary are much the same as in any other profession. You need skill, hard work, persistence, a healthy appetite for risk and of course a little bit of luck.

Slightly alarming is the frequency with which the protagonists of the book go from being broke to being a millionaire and then back again. Although trivialised in the book, when a professional gambler goes broke it often represents damage that is irreversible. Nevertheless, each person in the book has character attributes worthy of emulation.

A good read for historians of the game and those who wonder what it is like to be a professional gambler.