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

New
Illustrated
2008
$22.53

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.

Synopsis

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.

$22.53

Quantity

20+ in stock

More Information

Format: Illustrated
Pages: 208
Edition: Illustrated
Publisher: Penguin
Published: 31 Jul 2008
ISBN 10: 0452289114
ISBN 13: 9780452289116

Media Reviews

aThe book is a pleasure to read and study.a
aMartin Gardner
aProvides unique insight into the art of the cheat.a
a San Antonio Express News
aA remarkably fresh turn on a very old subject.a
a Genii Magazine
aProvides unique insight into the art of the cheat. In a game where the accumulation of knowledge is paramount, it doesnat make sense to miss out on this one.a
aChuck Blount, syndicated poker columnist
aKronzekas delightful compendium is a fun and witty guide to the nefarious methods card thieves use to, as they put it, aget the moneya a your money. He helps arm you with the knowledge youall need to protect yourself and he presents it with all the verve and snap of a crisply dealt card.a
aKarl Johnson, author of The Magician and the Cardsharp
aA remarkably fresh turn on a very old subject.... Without doubt, the first book I would buy a friend who asks, aIam in a weekly poker game. Do you think anyone would try to cheat me?aa
aJamy Ian Swiss, Genii Magazine
aThe book is a pleasure to read and study.a
aMartin Gardner, MUM
aOften entertaining...and rarely dullathis little book could actually change your life.a
aKostya Kennedy, Sports Illustrated
aThis 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.a
aHoward Schwartz, Gamblers Book Shop
aProvides unique insight into the art of the cheat. In a game where the accumulation of knowledge is paramount, it doesnat make sense to miss out on this one.a
aChuck Blount, syndicated poker columnist
aKronzekas delightful compendium is a fun and witty guide to the nefarious methods card thieves use to, as they put it, aget the moneya a your money. He helps arm you with the knowledge youall need to protect yourself and he presents it with all the verve and snap of a crisply dealt card.a
aKarl Johnson, author of The Magician and the Cardsharp
aA remarkably fresh turn on a very old subject.... Without doubt, the first book I would buy a friend who asks, aIam in a weekly poker game. Do you think anyone would try to cheat me?aa
aJamy Ian Swiss, Genii Magazine
aThe book is a pleasure to read and study.a
aMartin Gardner, MUM
aOver 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. a
aKostya Kennedy, Sports Illustrated
aThis 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.a
aHoward Schwartz, Gamblers Book Shop
aProvides unique insight into the art of the cheat. In a game where the accumulation of knowledge is paramount, it doesnat make sense to miss out on this one.a
aChuck Blount, syndicated poker columnist
aKronzekas delightful compendium is a fun and witty guide to the nefarious methods card thieves use to, as they put it, aget the moneya a your money. He arms you with the knowledge youall need to protect yourself and he presents it with all the verve and snap of a crisply dealt card.a
aKarl Johnson, author of The Magician and the Cardsharp
aA remarkably fresh turn on a very old subject. Without doubt, the first book I would buy a friend who asks, aIam in a weekly poker game. Do you think anyone would try to cheat me?aa
a Jamy Ian Swiss, Genii Magazine
aOnce you start reading, even if youave never played a game of poker in your life, youall find yourself endlesslyentertained by the rich history and enticing lore of Americaas favorite card game. Of course the book is a perfect gift for anyone who loves poker.a
aPeter Block, Penthouse
aThe book is a pleasure to read and study.a
aMartin Gardner, MUM
?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 p

Author Bio

Allan Kronzek is a magician, writer, and educator. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Sorcerer's Companion: A Guide to the Magical World of Harry Potter (Broadway Books, cowritten with his daughter Elizabeth), and the acclaimed A Book of Magic for Young Magicians - The Secrets of Alkazar. He performs and lectures on the history of conjuring at schools, colleges, libraries and museums. He was a student of the crooked gambling expert Frank Garcia.