How to gamble at the casinos without getting plucked like a chicken (Paperback)

by James Harrison Ford (Author) "There are many more possible answers to the question: "Why do people gamble?..." (more)
Key Phrases: optimum bet size, payback percentage, house percentage, Wild Royal, Fibonacci Series System, Martingale System (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

How To Gamble At The Casinos Without Getting Plucked Like A Chicken, by James Harrison Ford, gives easily understandable, expert advice on Casino Gambling in a light-hearted manner. It advises readers on which games give them the best possibilities and how to play them correctly.

It covers all major casino games: Blackjack, most Video Poker varieties, Craps, Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Slot Machines, Keno, Big Six Wheel, Roulette, Sports Book, Caribbean Stud Poker, Three Card Poker, Let It Ride, War and several miscellaneous promotional games. It also contains explanations of Gambling Systems, the House Percentage, Probability and Possibility, Gambler's Ruin, and Money Management.

Not only does this book give clear, concise advice on the best games to play and how to play them, it unequivocally points out which games should be avoided so you don't get plucked like a chicken.

From the Publisher

How To Gamble at the Casinos Without Getting Plucked Like a Chicken not only provides expert advice on the correct way to play the popular casino games, but is unique in its honest and realistic assessment of games in which you have no realistic chance of winning.

The combination of practical, honest information and humor makes this book the first of its kind. The author does not pretend that there is actually a proper strategy where one does not exist (e.g. with slot machines), but instead focuses on how to wring the best odds out of the best games. Thanks to the easy-going manner and light-hearted attitude, the reader will not only learn the expert way to play each game, but will enjoy learning while being entertained. Explanations of gambling systems, money management and gambler's ruin are included along with a discussion of the value of Comps.

Casino Gambling is treated as the kind of Entertainment Activity, or hobby, it actually is for the vast majority of those who frequent casinos. Since 25% of the entire adult population of the United States visited a casino at least once last year and since television and media coverage has become standard fare, a good working knowledge of the various games, which are playable and which are sucker games, is essential information for the informed consumer. In this regard, How To Gamble at the Casinos Without Getting Plucked Like a Chicken hits the Jackpot.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: El Paso Norte Press (August 9, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0976072602
• ISBN-13: 978-0976072607
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #326,225 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book: accurate, honest and funny!!!!!, November 5, 2004

By	Richard York - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

How to Gamble at the Casinos Without Getting Plucked like a Chicken is really a great book. It is so frank and honest that at times it is startling. In several places, like in the section about Gambler's Ruin, it is like someone just turned on the light. It becomes absolutely clear why some people win and most people don't. Although the book provides some really basic information, it doesn't talk down to the reader. It reads like a letter from a friend.

The book is worth the price just for the video poker cheat sheets. These tables give you the best play combinations for twelve different video poker games. These would cost more than the book if you bought them separately. For each game, they answer questions like: Should I hold the pair or go for the flush?

At first, the section on Blackjack seems incomplete. It doesn't go into the deep intricacies of card counting, like varying your play as a function of the card count. However, when you think about it, the book gives you enough information for you to be successful without making you work harder than it is worth. Since varying your bet is worth twice as much as varying your play, you really only have to learn one set of best play rules. The book provides you a realistic sense of perspective. It's like that for all the casino games. It tells you what is really important and what isn't.

Even the humor is instructive. On your first reading, it catches you off-guard and always makes or emphasizes a point that is worth remembering. Beyond that, the entire tone of the book makes it clear that gambling is supposed to be fun. You don't have to be a robot to be an expert gambler. It is ok to enjoy yourself and be yourself in a casino. After reading this book, you will know enough to be able to relax and have a good time while trying to do to the casinos what they are trying to do to you.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Real Information and Honest Enjoyment, October 3, 2005

By	Sharon Conrad (Las Vegas) - See all my reviews

"How to Gamble at the Casinos Without Getting Plucked like a Chicken" is really an excellent book for both novice and expert gamblers. Its coverage of casino gambling is comprehensive, honest, realistic and fun.

The section on Gambler's Ruin, is particularly well done. It illustrates how casinos use the mathematics of gambling to grind out a profit and makes the point that "they don't have to cheat you to beat you". The details in this section are essential information for anyone who intends to put money at risk. It is fundamental information for the beginner and a good review and reinforcement for those who already know what they are doing. Basically, the author tries to get his audience to understand that casino gambling can be both fun and profitable, but not a major money maker - unless you own the casino or have a lot of money to start with.

The instructions for the various games are clear, easy to understand and amusing enough to be worth reading, even if you already know how to play that particular game. The numerous charts and tables are valuable resources. They present large amounts of solid information in a very concentrated form - making the book well worth its price.

The author also does a credible job of poking fun at the phony "get rich quick" genre of gambling books, without resorting to naming names. The tongue-in-cheek description of "controlling the dice" and the detailed coverage of the "ways to beat roulette" and "Winning Systems" makes it clear that the author recognizes that greed often trumps common sense.

The combination of real information and honest enjoyment of gambling makes "How to Gamble at the Casinos Without Getting Plucked Like a Chicken" a new classic. This book is a "must-read" for anyone who enjoys the challenge of the casinos.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!, March 9, 2006

By	Michael F. McPartlan (Buffalo, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"How to Gamble in a Casino..." is an excellent, well-written book. Unlike most casino gambling guides, this one does not promise victory at games such as craps, baccarat, and blackjack (without counting cards) like many other books do. Ford splits the universe of casino games into the good, the bad, and the ugly. The only good games are blackjack and video poker. Ford has a simple basic strategy chart and a nice introduction to card counting. He also tells the reader which video poker machines pay more than 100% and has strategy tables for those. The bad games are craps and baccarat. These are games that cannot be beaten, but if bet properly, the house's edge is minimized. The ugly games are roulette (with its greater than 5% advantage for the house on all bets), and many of the newer, faddish games like Let It Ride, Caribbean Stud, and even War.
This book is for someone who wants to go to the casino and basically buy entertainment. Ford tells you how to have a good time without losing your shirt.