52 Ways to Cheat at Poker: How to Spot Them, Foil Them, and Defend Yourself Against Them (Paperback)

by Allan Kronzek (Author)
Key Phrases: luminous readers, luminous glasses, riffle stacking, Steve Forte, The Expert, Luminous Material (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
“Over the course of this plainspoken, often entertaining volume, the reader will learn how to subtly deal from the bottom (or middle) of the deck; various ways to false-cut the cards; methods for colluding with your partners and a range of far more sophisticated maneuvers with rather enticing playoffs.... Anecdotes about such things as cheaters narrowly escaping detection (and, presumably, a whupping) enliven the pages, as do a sprinkling of germane quotes and jokes.... This little book could actually change your life. “
—Kostya Kennedy, Sports Illustrated

“This book has class, depth and covers a mountain of territory....For the price and the depth of material offered, this could be one of the best books of the century on the subject.”
—Howard Schwartz, Gamblers Book Shop

“Provides unique insight into the art of the cheat. In a game where the accumulation of knowledge is paramount, it doesn’t make sense to miss out on this one.”
—Chuck Blount, syndicated poker columnist

“Kronzek’s delightful compendium is a fun and witty guide to the nefarious methods card thieves use to, as they put it, “get the money” – your money. He arms you with the knowledge you’ll need to protect yourself and he presents it with all the verve and snap of a crisply dealt card.”
—Karl Johnson, author of The Magician and the Cardsharp

“A remarkably fresh turn on a very old subject. Without doubt, the first book I would buy a friend who asks, ‘I’m in a weekly poker game. Do you think anyone would try to cheat me?’”
— Jamy Ian Swiss, Genii Magazine

“Once you start reading, even if you’ve never played a game of poker in your life, you’ll find yourself endlessly entertained by the rich history and enticing lore of America’s favorite card game. Of course the book is a perfect gift for anyone who loves poker.”
—Peter Block, Penthouse

“The book is a pleasure to read and study.”
—Martin Gardner, MUM

Product Description
It’s no news that cheating pervades American culture. Americans cheat on taxes, tests, sports and spouses. But the largest arena for cheating may be at the poker table! With an estimated 60-80 million Americans playing poker every week—for the highest stakes ever—you can be sure that not everyone is playing by the rules!

In this fascinating look at the card sharper’s art—from its origins in Renaissance Italy to the high-tech methods of today—deception expert Allan Kronzek reveals 52 of the most diabolical scams ever invented. Topics include codes and signaling systems, hidden cameras and miniature ear pieces, false shuffles, cuts and deals, peeking and flashing, deck and card switches, culling, instant stacks, marked cards, “location play,” the “cooler,” and dozens of other devious devices.

Each chapter zeroes in on a single cheating concept and provides expert advice on how to spot and foil the scam (when possible!). You’ll learn the secrets of shade, flash, and juice—the subtlest marking systems; why cutting the cards doesn’t guarantee an honest deal, how a crooked dealer can stack the flop in hold ‘em, why casino card rooms are not 100% safe, and how cheating crews crush the opposition without marked cards or sleight of hand.

Thoroughly illustrated and researched, and enlivened with historical sidebars, 52 Ways to Cheat at Poker is essential reading for anyone who plays cards for money— or anyone interested in the ingenious ways cheats steal your money while appearing to do nothing at all.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Plume (March 25, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452289114
• ISBN-13: 978-0452289116
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #219,153 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid, interesting, and well-written!, August 2, 2008

By	David G. Schwartz "writer, historian" (Las Vegas, Nevada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Allan Kronzek tackles cheating in poker as a magician and treats the subject with a conjurer's dispassion. This is a relief; if there's one thing we don't need, it's another self-congratulatory, non-falsifiable "insider's" story of how to cheat people. Instead, we get a quick but surprisingly serious volume that manages to feed the reader some history amid the tricks.

The title isn't an attempt at misdirection: after a brief introduction, Kronzek runs through 52 short chapters, each detailing one or more methods of cheating. Generally, Kronzek explains the technique involved, offers notes on historical uses, and closes by telling the reader how he can protect himself. Miscellanea scatter throughout the text, such as reproductions of cheating house catalogs and excerpts from landmark books, enliven the story.

52 Ways is written to be accessible to a novice who doesn't know a shiner from a holdout. But even veteran card mechanics could probably learn a thing or two from this book. Whatever your level of experience, reading 52 Ways will at least help you appreciate the ways that you can be cheated.

That's the rub: Kronzek is honest enough to admit that no anti-cheating tactic is absolutely guaranteed. The final proof is in the pudding: if you find yourself losing one suspicious pot too many, you should suspect malfeasance.

If nothing else, incorporating some of Kronzek's anti-cheating suggestions into your "friendly" home game will, at the very least, raise the bar for cheaters and help to keep honest players honest. You'll also gain a deeper appreciation for the ingenuity with which cheaters have approached poker.

There's only one class of person who I'd warn away from 52 Ways: those that combine a tendency towards paranoia with an overactive imagination. If you're the kind of person who can't browse WebMD because you start imagining you have symptoms for every malady you read about, perhaps this book is not for you. By lifting the veil on cheaters and the innumerable deceptions, Kronzek has made sitting at any card table a supreme act of faith-and vigilance.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A new approach, May 7, 2008

By	Deviled Eggs (New York) - See all my reviews

This book is a pleasant surprise. The author updates all of the standard cheating methods that have been described in the past, and adds many new ones that can be used in Texas hold 'em and other popular games. He also provides a context for the scams, and shows how many go back several hundred years. I doubt that anyone can learn to deal "seconds" or "bottoms" by reading this book, but that doesn't seem to be the intention. Rather, you learn what these techniques are, what they are used for--and there are several surprising uses--and what to look for during a game. The "protection tips" alone are worth the price of the book. It's also a good bedside read. Two chapters and lights out.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must if you plan to run a home game, May 6, 2009

By	T. Tolley (Alexandria, VA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this book as a joke. I was going to give it to a friend and tell him "this was his best chance to become a winner.....ha ha."

Well, there was a local player caught cheating using techniques similar to those included in this book. He took $$$thousands. Not so funny. This book demonstrates the importance of relatively simple techniques (such as using cut cards, plastic cards, always cutting, etc.).

Parts of the book are really dated and are used more for their historical value (and humor). But most of this book is a "must read" for anyone running a home game.