Odds and Ends for the End of the Year

This and that to clear the way for the new year…

Zynga and Heifer, International – I wrote about your ability to donate to a good cause simply by playing free poker on the Zynga site (http://mexinger.blogspot.com/2013/12/poker-means-givingfor-good.html) and I am happy to report that they have reached their goal of $200Billion (in chips) donated, which translates to $200,000 in cash for Heifer.  And since the gift will be matched, that means a lot of goats, sheep, camels, bees, and so forth for deserving families across the globe. 

One thing I like about Heifer is that, to participate, you have to agree to “pay it forward” once you establish your herd.  That means one of your first-born (of the goats, sheep, etc.) are given to another deserving family.  And so it goes.  There’s till time to give at Zynga Poker – see my earlier post as to how to activate your button.

eBook news – My fellow author, casino chip collector, and gambling authority for About.com Al Moe has given me a plug in his latest column.  He writes about making resolutions for the new year – specifically, learning a new game, and that’s where my new eBook, The ABC’s of Craps, comes in (as many casino patrons would like to play, but don’t know how – nice lead-in, Al).  His column is here: http://casinogambling.about.com/b/2013/12/27/new-years-resolution-learn-more-casino-games.htm. 

 

Since I also believe in “paying it forward” it would behoove me to tell you about his new eBook, Mob City (Reno).  If you thought Las Vegas was the only spot in Nevada where the underworld ran the town, think again.  And…they were in Reno first.  It’s available for $2.99 (Kindle) and he also has a paperback version at Amazon for those of you not electronically inclined.  Go here: http://www.amazon.com/Mob-City-Reno-Al-Moe-ebook/dp/B00GM0JCAG/

Last Call for Coupons – You have until Tuesday night to get 20%-30% off all my books at Smashwords.  Go to: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/mexinger

And use the specific coupon code shown below for each book, and thanks!

• The ABC’s of Craps – was $3.99, now $2.79 – Use code HE85J
• The ABC’s of 21– was $2.99, now $2.39 – Use code XF67M
• Be The King! (of Small-Stakes Tournaments) – was $6.99, now $5.59 – Use code NQ65Z
• Let the Chips Fall: A Collection of Short Stories About Gambling – was $2.99, now $2.39 – Use code CX87K

And that’s it for 2013.  It’s been a very good year, and we’ll talk about it next year.  Until then, I wish you the best – may your 2014 bring you peace, joy, and prosperity.

 

Not necessarily in that order.

Tipping the Boys at the Craps Table - a story...

Today, I’d like to take the opportunity to tell one of my favorite Craps stories, as it involves tipping.  I’d also like to let you know that the new book, “The ABC’s of Craps,” is now available on iTunes (as are all my other eBooks).  But there’s a coupon below.  But ya gotta read the story, first…

A business acquaintance (let’s call him “Sam”) met up with me and a few other colleagues and proceeded to take up to Mandalay Bay for a fantastic gourmet dinner.  The entire time Sam told us that everything was gratis, on the house, as he was a “known commodity” here (a high roller).  Afterwards, we went to shoot Craps, and he proved his point by playing nothing but black and yellow ($100 and $500 chips) with a few greens ($25) for the hardways.  Even though I had just received a promotion and a raise, it was all I could do at the time to make the $15 minimum at the table.  I played conservatively, making my meager bankroll last.

It didn’t help that we were at a chilly table.  Sam was getting agitated, as he pushed whenever he won, only to see anything resembling a win evaporate quickly.  His agitation increased when the dealers became sloppy in their chip handling and inattentive to his continual betting the one-roll center bets, all the numbers, anything to recoup his losses.  They were distracted no doubt by two of his co-workers who were younger, bustier, and less clothed than we older gents.

After about 45 minutes Sam had had about enough, and decided to “reward” the boys for their “hard” work.  “Watch this,” Sam said, as he called out, “Half and half on the yo,” and tossed two green chips to the stickman.  This meant that both he and the dealers had $25 each on the next roll, shooting for an 11. 

And the 11 hit, paying off at 16 for 1.

Normally, dealers pick up their tip bets as soon as the “winner” call is made, but once again they lagged…long enough for Sam to shout, “Push it – let it ride.”  Sam knew that he’d screw the boys good, as the odds of the shooter rolling an 11 again were slim. Instead of $375 in tips, they’d get zero.

Of course, the 11 hit again.  This time, the dealers were too quick for Sam’s “Let it ride” call, and diverted their winnings – more than $5,600 – to the boxman for safekeeping.

Sam did get some measure of revenge, as his bet was still out there, and the dealers left it.  And 11 hit again, making Sam’s take a cool $84,000 and change.  I was flabbergasted…and even more so when Sam took his winnings to the cashier’s cage and announced he wanted to pay off, “part of his marker.” 

Yeah - even after his big win, he still owed the casino a few thousand more.  He never said exactly how much more, but I finally understood why dinner was free.

And here’s a final reminder…from now until the end of 2013, you can take 30% off The ABC’s of Craps and 20% off any of my other eBooks.  Go to: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/mexinger

And use the specific coupon code shown below for each book, and thanks! 

• The ABC’s of Craps – was $3.99, now $2.79 – Use code HE85J

• The ABC’s of 21– was $2.99, now $2.39 – Use code XF67M

• Be The King! (of Small-Stakes Tournaments) – was $6.99, now $5.59 – Use code NQ65Z

• Let the Chips Fall: A Collection of Short Stories About Gambling – was $2.99, now $2.39 – Use code CX87K

Dice Control - Do Not Make Me Laugh (and coupon)

So the question was asked – can you really control the dice when you throw them in Craps?  My immediate answer was “I hardly think so,” but a quick check of the literature (aka “the Internet”) finds lots of hits for “dice control.”  Is it real?  My best answer now is “maybe, but chances are (get it?) you can’t do it.”

Many of the hot Craps books center on such techniques.  It’s nothing new – something called the “blanket roll” was around in the 20’s (that’s 1920’s, podnuh), although much of this technique was less “throw” and more “gentle toss with hardly any rotation.”  Into a blanket to reduce the variance.  Yeah, kinda not legal nowadays.

Except, the techniques employed by those who claim dice control isn’t much different.  I am paraphrasing some of the steps from a couple of websites on dice control here…it’s really quite simple:

• Set the dice in a specific configuration before throwing them.
• Stand at the “right” distance from the table’s back wall (and another site suggested that you be “perfectly perpendicular”).
• Grip the dice properly (tight so there is no space between).
• Throw them softly and properly – one site suggested “proper backswing;” another said “with minimum rotation on the perpendicular axis.”
• Make certain that you throw them the same way each and every time.
• Practice, practice, practice.

See?  Simple.  On one site the dice controller said it only took, “…six months of practice before I knew I had an edge and was comfortable going into the casinos to play.”  So if you have nothing better to do between now and June, grab some dice and get busy.

Obviously this isn't a goal for most folks.  I would also add some other knowledge here.  For one thing, there IS a reason that the casino has those knobby bumps all around the Craps table.  To make the dice spin and roll unpredictably, of course.  Another thing – you can’t roll the dice all the time – everyone else at the table gets a chance.  And finally, I had to laugh at one YouTube video showing a controlled throw – they were tossing the dice on what looked like a standard Craps table, but there was smooth carpet along the sides of the table (where those knobby bumps should be).  A little easier to control, maybe?

The thing is, it doesn't take much “control” to alter the odds so that the house loses its edge.  One website claimed that by rolling one fewer “seven” in 50 rolls would be enough to wipe out the house’s advantage.  That’s not a lot…control it a bit more, and you’d have the edge.  If you could do it.  Predictably.  Consistently.  Reliably.

Knock yourself out.

I don’t doubt for a second that there are players out there who claim to control the dice.  I don’t dispute that there are plenty of players who want to learn how to do it.  It makes for a wonderful opportunity – to sell books.  Not me, thank you.

Oh, and coupon - don't forget that from now until the end of 2013, you can take 30% off the new Craps book, and 20% off any of my other eBooks.

Go to: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/mexinger

And use the specific coupon code shown below for each book, and thanks!

•  The ABC’s of Craps – was $3.99, now $2.79 – Use code HE85J
• The ABC’s of 21– was $2.99, now $2.39 – Use code XF67M
• Be The King! (of Small-Stakes Tournaments) – was $6.99, now $5.59 – Use code NQ65Z
• Let the Chips Fall: A Collection of Short Stories About Gambling – was $2.99, now $2.39 – Use code CX87K

Poker Means Giving…for Good.

This time of year, we often think about charitable donations.  Giving is one of the things that makes the holiday season special.  Usually, the idea of tossing your money away at the poker tables is abhorrent.  But this season, you can do it and feel good about it, and it’s all for a good cause.  And it actually won’t cost you a dime.

You may not be familiar with the Heifer International organization.  My wife and I have been involved for a couple of years – last year we gave, as a gift to each other, a share of a sheep and some bees. Not sure what we’ll give this year – maybe a goat, or a camel.

What?  Here’s what Heifer is all about:

Heifer provides communities in developing nations with gifts of livestock, training on how to turn that livestock into a multiplying source of food and income, and education on sustainable and earth-friendly practices.

When their animals reproduce, our partners become donors by giving those baby animals to someone else who needs them. Here at Heifer, we call that Passing on the Gift^®, and it is the ultimate expression of what we believe in. 

And here’s the deal on how you can play free poker and give until the cows come home:

Zynga.org has teamed up with Heifer International to make the world a better place through games. When you play your favorite Zynga game this holiday season, you're making a positive impact on the world at the same time. Now giving is as easy as playing the game!

Your generous donations through Zynga's games will go towards furthering Heifer's mission to end hunger and poverty while caring for the earth. Zynga will donate 100 percent of its share of the sale of virtual goods in eight games, and thanks to a generous supporter, donations will be matched up to $400,000! The funds will be used to further Heifer's work in Malawi and the United States.

When you play Zynga poker, you can pass on a portion of your table winnings (a 15% “toke” for Heifer) just by playing.  And winning, of course.  I’ve given them a little over a $2 million so far.  The goal is to get TWO TRILLION in chips – that will translate to $100,000 for Zynga, and that will be matched with another $100,000.

A word of advice – if you’re playing Zynga poker, be sure to click on the little GREEN button in the upper right corner to turn on the giving function (it's RED when you first see it).  You’ll also get a “LEARN MORE” button so you can read all about Heifer.  See the pix below.

You’ll be glad you played – and gave.  Thanks.

More at: http://www.heifer.org/campaign/zynga.html

More About the new eBook!

Does the world need another book about Craps?  Probably not, though I was never satisfied that anything currently out there meets the needs of the true “beginner.”  Did I need to write another eBook?  Yes – it keeps me off the streets, and maintains my mind’s sharpness.  Well, as much as possible,

I always thought that the poker book – Be The King – might be my claim to fame. It’s a good book, but I had the misfortune of finishing it later than I expected – right after the infamous “Black Friday” that pretty much killed online poker in the USA.  I suppose one might be surprised that I sold any after that, but I did…but I never had the success with Be The King that came with the ABC’s of 21.  So the Craps book followed along in that same vein, and…there are more to come.

I foresee another book about poker, this time centered on home games (since all you can do online is amuse yourself with play money unless you’re lucky enough to live in NV, NJ, or DE.  For now, anyway.)  I’ve outlined another online poker book when/if that becomes a reality again here, and I have an idea for a book on horse racing handicapping (where much of today’s betting happens online, too).  And who knows what will follow after that?

I may not sell a ton of ‘em, but at least two things will be accomplished:

1. I will exorcise this need to put things in writing.  Good therapy, and
2. Somebody might learn something they didn’t know before

Every little bit helps.  BTW...from now until the end of 2013, you can take 30% off! The ABC's of Craps.  And you can take 20% off any of my other eBooks.

Go to: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/mexinger

And use the specific coupon code shown below for each book, and thanks!

·       The ABC’s of Craps – was $3.99, now $2.79 – Use code HE85J

·       The ABC’s of 21– was $2.99, now $2.39 – Use code XF67M

·       Be The King! (of Small-Stakes Tournaments) – was $6.99, now $5.59 – Use code NQ65Z

·       Let the Chips Fall: A Collection of Short Stories About Gambling – was $2.99, now $2.39 – Use code CX87K

New eBook is published - The ABC’s of Craps: a Book for Beginners

It is with great pleasure (pleasure?  I’m giddy!) that I can announce the release of my fourth eBook: “The ABC’s of Craps: a Book for Beginners.”  I considered a title with some sort of play on words with “Craps,” but things got downright scatagorical.  Besides, I've had great success with my blackjack book, “The ABC’s of 21,” so why fix it if it ain’t broke?

This book is geared to the beginning Craps player (or someone who wants to be), and is a very easy-reading guide, complete with illustrations and examples.  And it’s cheap, too – just $3.99.  Available in seemingly every eBook format known to man, at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and soon to be at iBooks (iTunes).

But wait…from now until the end of 2013, you can take 30% off!  And, should you be so inclined (and need extra gifts for special someones…or yourself), you can take 20% off any of my other eBooks.

Go to: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/mexinger

Use the specific coupon code shown below for each book, and thanks!

• The ABC’s of Craps – was $3.99, now $2.79 – Use code HE85J
• The ABC’s of 21– was $2.99, now $2.39 – Use code XF67M
• Be The King! (of Small-Stakes Tournaments) – was $6.99, now $5.59 – Use code NQ65Z
• Let the Chips Fall: A Collection of Short Stories About Gambling – was $2.99, now $2.39 – Use code CX87K 

I'll update the blog advertising pages eventually.  Right now, I need a drink...

I Write Words – Just Not Here

This is kind of an apology for not posting lately, and a press release, too!  Well, the PR is a bit premature, but…the news is (will be) my fourth eBook will be available soon, most likely before the end of the month/year.

It’s why I haven’t posted anything here in a while.  I had two or three ideas ready, and something in me said, “Go ahead and do the book.”  So I did.

It’s the second in what I hope will be a longer series of beginning gambling guides.  The first one – “The ABC’s of 21” – has been doing well, so now I’m happy to provide “The ABC’s of Craps.”  I thought about some cute title with a play on the “Crap” word, but nothing sounded right.  And since “The ABC’s…” worked before, don’t’ try to fix it!

Now, I do have a dilemma…I am re-reading the last draft before formatting, and I am trying to convey a thought of mine without trying to lead the potential reader astray.  Here’s the thing – the book’s emphasis is on how the game is played from a beginner’s point of view (like my previous work in Blackjack and the Poker book “Be The King”).  The other books discussed rules and the basics, and offered strategies.  The Craps book offers a “strategy,” too, but…I can’t provide a “system” or a “method” that guarantees winning…because in Craps, there IS NO SUCH THING.

And yet, that is how most Craps books are marketed.

I know from previous experience (the horse racing software program I wrote in the 90s) that gamblers want “a magic bullet.”  They WANT to be told they can win, win, WIN!  Even if it’s impossible, that’s what they want to hear.  And frankly, what chance (no pun) would my book have, offering instruction, education, and tips for “playing smart,” against a book offering this (actual write ups from four of the top 8 eBooks on Amazon):

• Learn How You Can Turn $100 Into $30,000 In 60 Days Playing Craps.
• BEAT THE CASINO CRAPS GAME is a clearly written manual that explains in detail a simple, foolproof strategy for making a steady profit at casino craps.
• Cutting Edge Craps: Advanced Strategies for Serious Players.
• This is the book that gives readers everything needed to get a real, verifiable edge at the game of craps…their secret Golden Touch technique and give the edge needed to beat the house.

I mean, really.  There is a special place in Hell for people who say there’s a way to “beat” a pure game of chance with a mathematical edge to the casino without mentioning the ONE and ONLY factor that makes the difference between winning and losing:

Luck.

Yes, playing smart gives you a better CHANCE to BE LUCKY, and you’ll LOSE LESS by playing smart, but I’d never claim to offer someone a “proven system” (since there can’t be one).  And for those who claim to be able to control their rolls and make certain numbers come up (the subject on the last book mentioned above)…if I COULD do that, I don’t think I’d find it necessary to write a book and SHARE THE SECRET.  If you get my drift.

So, if you think of a marketing strategy that will make this new book of mine appeal to beginning Craps players without the hype of “win, win, win!” – let me know.  In the meantime, watch this space for the release date (available in Kindle, Nook, Apple iBooks, Kobo, and just about every form of electronic book there is), then go buy the damn thing.

And WIN WIN WIN!  Just kidding.  Have fun.