Powerful Profits: Winning Strategies for Casino Games

Rating:
Summary: The Brave World of New Thinking and Great Wins
Review:
The author of this wonderful new book has done what none have before. As he so succinctly puts it in the Postscript: " ....I have here offered something new. I have gone out on a limb, so to speak ... " (page 263). Both are pretty gutsy positions by this Author of so many great books on casino games and casino gaming.

Something new. Well, that is certainly what he has done. The author has here provided a series of new methods for several casinos games. His position on these new methods is pretty clear. As he writes in the Preface: "What I am offering you in this book are not "systems". They are "methods", and there is a difference. In the past few decades, the word "system" has come to mean something "bogus", or something which "assures a win if done that way." Neither description is what applies here, to what I am offering. What I have devised are "methods", and this simply means that these are vested in a thorough understanding and application of not only the games, the game rules, the mathematics and statistics, but also the realities of the actual casino games as they are really played, as opposed to merely the theory behind them." (Page XVII).

His position throughout this book -- as well as all of his other books -- has always been that the mathematics of the games are an excellent guideline, and are an important part of your playing expertise. But he has also stated that in the Casinos of the 21st Century, players who wish to become profitably successful should, and must, use a new variety of means to accomplish those goals. The author also makes it clear that this won't be easy. As he again writes in the Preface:

"I don't know you, and I can't possibly know how skillful you are, or can become, what your levels of knowledge may be, how experienced you are in the casino games and casino lifestyle, how emotionally stable you are, how financial stable you are, and a whole slew of other existential and personality traits I can't possibly know, or anticipate, but all of which will have a direct impact on your ability to make money with these methods. To be successful using these methods will require you to reach a level of expertise, knowledge, ability, skills, physical strength, mental agility, financial stability, emotional levity, good acting, and a great amount of personality, and all of it pleasant, gregarious, and friendly at all times when "on the job." "

Out on a limb. Well, that's true. The author himself admits that, as I have already stated earlier in this review. Nothing that is so new is ever offered without risk. It is always open to a slew of criticisms, primarily from people so mired in the "old was of thinking" that they simply cannot understand the paradigm and perspective shifts that allow such new methods to function as designed. Some become -- shall we say -- "not nice" about their limitations and tend to try and destroy the good works done by such far-thinking innovators as the author of this book. Once such person appears to be M. McGinnis, who posted that review just below.

I cannot disagree more, Mr/Ms M. McGinnis. You are obviously one of those persons who, as the author writes, is not able to be " .... successful using these methods ..." because that " ..... will require you to reach a level of expertise, knowledge, ability, skills, physical strength, mental agility, financial stability, emotional levity, good acting, and a great amount of personality, and all of it pleasant, gregarious, and friendly at all times... ". While I respect your right to be so negative, perhaps you could at least try to understand the enormity of the effort that the author undertook to even publish these methods, knowing full-well as he did that persons such as you will slam his work so hard.

"Can't please everyone, so you gotta please yourself. " This is from the song "Garden Party" by Ricky Nelson. It sums up both the great work by this author, as well as the unfortunate dilemma he faces when trying to showcase something new. We all should respect him for the efforts, regardless of whether we are able to understand what we was trying to tell us. If we fail to understand it, then the fault is in us -- not in him, or his book. His visionary writing is making those tired, old, strategies for casino games shine in a new light, and gives new hope to those players who are able to "get it."

This is a great book, full of the author's own life, struggle, and insight. Even if you don't want to play in the way that he recommends, do yourself a big favor and read this book. It will at the very least open your eyes to the possibility of looking at the same old things in a new way.

Rating:
Summary: Casinos love this book
Review: First of all, any book that suggests that a casino game with a house advantage can be beaten with any system must be regarded with suspicion. This book makes such claims, and in addition argues that the math performed by countless statisticians does not apply using his strategy.

The author's recommended strategies are poorly worded, and make little sense even after he explains them. My favorite example is after he describes his blackjack system where you raise bets when you lose a hand and decrease bets when you win. He then argues that this system works because you lose less during a losing streak and win more during a winning streak.

I'm still trying to figure out exactly how that one works....maybe if I turn the book upside down it will make more sense.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Resource For Advanced Strategies
Review: This book contains advanced methodologies for the most popular casino games, including blackjack, craps and slots. These advanced methods are usually not traditional. But they are based upon logical ways at looking at each of the games, as well as the author's many years of professional experience. I found the book to be a great addition to the existing literature. The methods were explained very well and made alot of sense to me. Experience gamblers should definitely study what's in this book. Those who don't have basic knowledge of the games such as blackjack and craps should read the author's other books that focus on those games (Powerful Profits From Blackjack, Powerful Profits From Craps, Powerful Profits From Slots, Powerful Profits From Video Poker, etc.). I found the information in this and the other books by the author refreshing in originality and usefullness. Serious gamblers should examine what the author has to say because there might be something useful that can be added to your own strategies or methods.