A Post About My New Book, an Ad, and a Bonus

The Bonus is at the bottom of this post, or just go here:
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/mexinger

Yes, I wrote another eBook.  About horse racing.  What?  A book about Horse Racing?  Aren’t there like about 500 of them? 

Yes there are, but only four of those 500 deal with horse racing online.  No, really.  I looked it up.  And frankly, I didn’t think much of any of those four.  Nor did anyone who bought one, apparently.

The fact is, horse racing is going through a bit of a revival – thanks to American Pharoah, the first Triple Crown AND Breeder’s Cup winner ever.  Well, there’s more to it than just that…and in my opinion, we have the Internet to thank for it.  There are several online sites that act as your personal bookie, giving you a box seat on tracks all across the country, and around the world as well.

Setting up an account with these sites, known as ADW sites (Advance Deposit Wagering) is easy.  Learning to use the betting pad is easy, too.  Handicapping the race to bet a winner…yeah, that’s a little tougher.  But it can be done, and I’ll show you how.

Granted, I scratch the surface here.  There are tons of books about handicapping, about speed, pace, class, angles, form and consistency and finding longshots and frankly, everyone has their own theories.  Some work.  Some don’t.  That’s what makes this game so damn much fun (and profitable sometimes).  It’s a little like poker, in that it’s easy to learn and difficult to master.

Unlike poker, doing it online is legal in most of the country.

You might not know, but I cut my teeth in the gambling world at the track.  I’ve been following racing since I was 10 or 11.  My Dad used to take me to the harness tracks in Michigan on the nights when Mom didn’t want to go with him, or we couldn’t get a babysitter for my brother.  Did I know what I was doing back then?  Actually, a little bit – I was always good at math, and so I found it a challenge to look at the past performances and try to figure out which horse was the fastest of the bunch, and I was amazed that if you were right, they’d give you money!  Of course, I couldn’t legally bet, but after I started repeatedly saying, “I had that one…I had THAT one, too,” my Dad took a bit more interest in my handicapping prowess.  For a while, anyway, and then he went back to his old routine and I found girls more exciting than horses and drifted away from racing for years.

I got back into it in the 80s when we moved to Idaho, and there was a track at the fairgrounds, just about a mile from our first house there.  It wasn’t long before I discovered thoroughbreds and quarter horses and the joy of handicapping.  And winning.

In the 90s I created a database program to do some fairly sophisticated analyses of races, based on speed figures and trend lines (trying to calculate who would run better than their last race, and who would falter).  It sold pretty well, even better with the upgrade that allowed you to download information via the Internet rather than enter it by hand.  Alas, it was based on a DOS system and when Windows 2000 was released…well, that was the end of Mike’s Handi-Man.

And when we bought the ice cream parlor, racing (and spare time) went on the back burner.   When I did get a little extra free time, I got involved with the online poker boom.  Then came Black Friday.  Throughout all of this I kept my horse racing account active, but I didn’t do much with it until I got tired of waiting for poker to be “legal and regulated.”  I even started programming a new version of Mike’s Handi-Man in MS Access (still not as good as the old one, sadly…but it does pick ‘em pretty darn good).

Then last year, American Pharoah and the launch of the revolutionary DerbyJackpot made me all excited for horse racing again.  I also realized that, like poker, horse racing was trying to get new fans involved using the Internet.  Like other types of gambling, people WANT to get involved, but they’re afraid to try if they don’t know what’s going on.

Hence, the need for a beginner’s guide to online horse racing. 

And since my ABC’s of _____ series (craps and blackjack) has been “fairly successful” (by my standards), a horse racing book of the same nature was inevitable.  If you’ve considering getting into “horse futures” as I call it, it’s a nice, simple, straightforward introduction to the sport and to handicapping.  My hope is that it gives you a taste, saves you a few lost quid, and and “whets your appetite” for more. 

That’s what all those other books are for.

OK, now here’s the advertisement.  And the bonus!

If you’re like me, you’re tired of waiting for online poker to be legal everywhere again.  But there IS a sport where you can wager legally online, and, it’s a skill-based sport, too.  Horse racing.  Yup, you can watch, wager, and win with the nags online – and I’m here to help you do it.

My new eBook (number five if you’re counting at home), is The ABC’s of Online Horse Racing:  Watch – Wager – Win!

This book is geared to the beginning horseplayer (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 iBooks (Apple), Google Play, Kindle (Amazon), Nook (Barnes and Noble), Smashwords, and others.

But wait…for the next few weeks, 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 here: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/mexinger

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

The ABC’s of Online Horse Racing – was $3.99, now $2.79 – Use code BB22W

Also:
The ABC’s of Craps – was $3.99, now $3.19 – 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

Hurry, this offer ends March 11 (when I go back to my real job at the ice cream parlor).

Why Wellington (and Sheldon) Fear the Internet

Last week’s chump-riddled op-ed by former Denver Mayor and current Adelson flunkey Wellington Webb has been torn apart elsewhere by Dan Cypra and Michelle Minton, but I had a slightly different angle as to why it sucks.  And to explore this, I must ask you to compare iPads and oranges…

Basically, Webb thought those who would gamble on the Internet to be “chumps” because it was so AVAILABLE.  He made some of the worst analogies, saying that "Allowing internet gambling is like having a fast food restaurant in your living room."  He also made the comparison to alcohol (Sheldon took the drug reference at G2E), saying that it was like having an alcoholic live in a bar 24/7.  So the idea is this – having something more accessible, even if it’s the same type of thing available in a slightly different mode or delivery system (and specifically one you don’t own) is a bad, bad thing.

So here’s MY analogy, specifically as it relates to the Internet’s effect on how people deal with money.  Let’s look at the Internet’s impact on books.

Back in the day, books came in lots of sizes, colors, and genres, but they ALL came in print and they ALL came from something called a “bookstore.”  You went to Borders (I used to shop at the original store in Ann Arbor – a favorite childhood haunt), or Barnes & Noble, or the local bookstore (remember those?), or even one of the many used book shops around, and you paid your money and took your book home to read and enjoy.

And then, in 1994, Jeff Bezos created the PokerStars of books – Amazon.

My memory is a little rusty, but I don’t remember any legislation introduced that would ban people from buying books online.  I do remember many in the industry who thought Amazon had a snowballs’ chance in a Vegas summer of making it.  And here we are.

But our question pertains not to Bezos’ billions, but to the general public.  Did having access to the Internet and Amazon (and then bn.com and all the others) mean that suddenly  millions of books flooded homes across the country, and that wigged-out nerds, already processing sci-fi thrillers at a pace of two per week, overindulged to the point of paper-cut exhaustion?

Hardly.  If you know anything at all about the publishing industry, it’s that book sales have been flat for a long, long time.  Yes, more book titles are PUBLISHED today than in years past, but sales volume remains about the same.  And despite the creation of the eBook, the total number of sales (actual number of books, not dollar amounts) is in decline.

So despite increased access, the public’s behavior didn’t really change all that much, and no one had reason to fear online booksellers from creating a well-read citizenry, putting books in everyone’s hands every day.  But there WAS change - with the introduction of the eBook, it did change they METHOD some got their reading fix.  We can’t say, “Adieu, print…it was a good run (of more than 550 years),” just yet, but certainly eBooks are set to take over as the dominant method of reading…and soon.

Check out the graph from the link… 

THIS is what Sheldon fears.  Not that everyone will be gambling 24/7, but that the same level of gambling will go on…and that some of it will go on online.  And given how many other industries have seen paradigm shifts because of the Internet…music, movies, money, marketing, mail, media,..hell, that’s just some of the “m’s”…it’s a no-brainer that online gambling will nibble, then bite, into the billionaire’s share.

We’ve seen it back before Black Friday.  Sheldon saw it, too.  That’s what he’s afraid of, and that’s why he sends out his minions to spread fear-mongering drivel across the land.

Because he’s the one that is scared.

What I Need is a Good Book Review

I have no right to be in such a pissy mood. 

Life is good, and today was evidence of it.  We made a large deposit from the week’s activity at the ice cream parlor – lovely weather and the tail end of Spring Break gave us (another) record weekend.  It was another sunny day at the beach.  I avoided getting called for jury duty AGAIN (only two more weeks to go). 

And you know those articles that claim that millions of Americans have billions of money on hold for them in state escrow accounts, and all it takes is a simple search “to find your missing money?”  I did that, and today I got a $127 check from the State of Louisiana for an electricity deposit at a home I rented…22 years ago.

Life is pretty damn good, but not perfect.

The warm weekend weather exposed another problem with the store’s new air conditioning unit.  Contacting the manufacturer answered my questions but raised a more troubling issue (which might necessitate litigation…an unhappy thought).  The sun left and turned to clouds and rain, meaning I’ll miss tonight’s lunar eclipse.  I forgot to post something funny today at 4:14 4/14/14.  And I still have two weeks left to get out of jury duty perform my civic responsibility in Circuit Court.

So despite the overwhelming good over the bad, I’m in a pissy mood.  And I know what will help: a good book review.  That is, a good review of one of my books.

Here’s another area where life is good – sales of my books.  The last two months have been great – on Apple’s iBooks, phenomenal (the best ever).  The new book, ABC’s of Craps, is now my second best seller (behind ABC’s of 21) in just three months.  I’ve sold books in the UK, France, Germany, Belgium, Mexico, and Australia (where I believe they speak a form of English, too).  I believe I’ve hit my stride (I’m no Stephen King, or Mike Caro, but I’m happy - and profitable).

But reviews?  Lately, kinda sparse.  As in, nada.  Spärlich.  Clairsemé. Nothing.

So to make me feel a bit better, how about dusting off the old laptop and writing a five-star review of one of my books (assuming you actually bought it, of course)?  Don’t be a I-didn’t-buy-the-book-but-he’s-a-friend troll and lie – if you bought any of my four eBooks on either Apple, Smashwords, Amazon, or Nook (yes, I have sold a few there…surprised me, too), go do your own civic responsibility and toss our 30-50 nice words about my book and don’t forget the five stars.  And if I actually gifted you one of the books, you owe me, and don’t forget the five stars.

On the other hand, if you haven’t bought any of the books, I won’t unfreind you.  That’s not how this works.  That’s not how any of this works.  But go buy one.

 

Oh, and if you happened to buy one of the books and didn’t like it, have a pissy day.

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.

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

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

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.

Bad Review - What To Do? Learn From It!

When you interact with the public, everyone has the same goal - to be loved (or at least, liked a while lot).  In my “real job” our ice cream store is reviewed constantly on TripAdvisor, Yelp, UrbanSpoon, etc., and we have the good fortune to usually garner 4 or 5 stars almost all of the time (partly because the spousal unit makes absolutely incredible ice cream).  As a writer, I look forward to reviews and always hope that they are favorable.  Until recently, that’s been the case, but I just received my first 1-star review.

I have to be careful here.  With the ice cream store, we do get the occasional lousy review, but because there are so many others that are 5-stars, I figure that one of two things happened:

1. They got the wrong store (happened twice).
2. Their expectations were out of whack with what we’re all about.

Now, let me explain #2 - we’re a small, simple ice cream shop, mostly cones and dishes.  Sometimes folks want something different, say, a banana split, or they want two half-scoops because they can’t decide on a flavor, or they want a flavor we don’t make (like Cookie Dough or Gramma’s Cake batter).  So when a potential customer comes in and asks for something we don’t have, they can either (a) go to one of the other shops in town, or (b) get pissed at us because they expect us to have it and dammit, that’s just not right and every other store in the world has it and why can’t you do this, and so on.  I am amazed just how upset people can get over ice cream, and I’ve learned that in the 21st Century, some people decide to get upset and “get even” by writing bad reviews.  The ultimate, online, “That’ll teach the son-of-a-bitch.”

Now, again, I have to be careful, because I really believe that the individual who purchased by book of gambling short stories is sincere in his opinions, and opinions are never wrong.  The fact behind them might be, but the opinion stands on its own.  However, I believe that like my ice cream 1-star reviewers, this individual’s expectations were out of whack.  Thing is, I don’t know how he got ‘em.

In his short review, he says, “I expected detailed stories from the tables and got nothing.”  I have no idea how he got that expectation.  The write up for the book states, “This is a collection of short stories and articles that I have written over the years about poker, gambling, and the like.”  The book is actually… a collection of short stories and articles about poker, gambling, and the like.  The book has a “Look Inside” feature which displays the first 10% of the book, including the table of contents.  Only ONE of the stories is about poker, though, ironically, it’s the one in the sample.  The others cover slot machines, craps, horse racing, risk, and gambling in general.  The table Of Contents isn’t perfectly clear about this, but it also doesn’t say that all the stories are about the tables.  And since one can read SOME of the first story, one might get an indication as to how interesting (or not) the writing is.

One thought - perhaps he saw that I wrote other books on poker and blackjack, and just assumed…and you know what happened when you assume…

I don’t know if he’s purchased any of my other books - the other reviewer (who gave it 5-stars) did, and he loved the other two books, too.  Chances are the 1-star reviewer won’t buy any others.  No surprise.  Hopefully, the next eBook he buys he’ll use the “Look Inside” feature and get a better idea what he’s purchasing.

So what the “Learn From It” part of this post?  Well, obviously, I learned that I’m not headed for any book awards in the near future (but I knew that).  The real “learning” is another way to apply the “missed expectations = dissatisfaction” equation - to poker!

I’m still coming up with a bunch of examples as to how a player can make costly mistakes because of poor expectations at the table, but for now, here’s one:  When you play online, what’s the first thing you learn about your opponents? 

Let me re-phrase that - what’s the first bit of information you learn about your opponents?

Answer: Their screen name and (if they have one), their avatar.

Can you really “learn” something from this information?  Sometimes, but you usually ALWAYS develop an expectation from the info. What is your assumption about an opponent with these screen names and avatars?

DOOM69XXX

Miss Kitty

Card Shark

Let’s just take the first one…chances are, you’re thinking this opponent is male, young, and aggressive, perhaps foolishly so (big bets, all-in, reckless).  You’d be surprised (and perhaps, a bit poorer) when you learn that he plays conservatively, smart, and the only time he goes all-in is when he has the nuts.  You get the idea.

BTW, I always assume that the second player shown above is also male and young, trying to pass himself off as a woman.  As for the third one…what do you think?  Drop me a comment. 

Or a bad review.

This and That, and a “Brief Hiatus”

Posting has been sporadic of late, and unless something unforeseen happens, this might be the last post until September.  It’s always difficult to explain our situation here, as we work in a seasonal tourism environment that means we are 24/7 (little exaggeration) until Labor Day, and we STILL have to fit in our regular life cycle patterns around the adventures at the ice cream parlor (like eating, laundry, etc.).  Playing poker and writing about it are far down the list…so with that, let me clear my system of a few things I’ve been wanting to discuss…
 

OREGON IS SAFE FOR POKER…FOR NOW

I posted information previously about the attack on Oregon Card Rooms.  Word is that the bill has been tabled and will not come up for a vote this year, after a raucus hearing where the only “pro” (read: anti card room) speakers were folks who ran card rooms…in Washington.  Nothing subtle here.  Many players spoke out against this nonsense at the hearing and in the press, and for now, the card rooms survive (though some of the rules may be re-written, which many believe is OK).  Me too, even though I’ve yet to set foot in any of these rooms.  Yet.  Someday, when I live closer to Portland.  And have more time.  Soon.

YOU CANNOT WIN BIG IF YOU DO NOT BET SOME

In what limited play I’ve been involved in, I see more and more trapping where players refuse to make even the smallest bet while holding the nuts, waiting for others to bet and then re-raising them.  In small stakes affairs, only the super aggressive (and foolish) are going to toss money out there, and if you haven’t identified them yet, you’re losing money.  Sure, if you have two of these guys at the table who will overbet the pot on a small pair or ace-high, check.  But if you have Meekrats who only bet with the goods, you can’t trap in this fashion.  You think:  If I bet now, they’ll fold and I can’t win a big pot.  I say:  But if you don’t BUILD the pot now, you won’t win a big pot either, AND you give everyone a chance to catch up to your hand (few hands are always the nuts from flop to river).  Yes, you’ll get outdrawn sometimes, but you’ll know when to fold if that happens. But having a great hand and not betting is costing you money.  Stop that.

YOU CANNOT WIN AT ALL IF YOU DO NOT BET AT ALL

If you’re in a hand where it seems as if no one has anything, and the only way you could win the small pot is to act as if you caught the last card…why aren’t you betting?  Unless you’re last to act, that is.  This is when such a play nets nothing – either you have the best hand or you don’t, and you’ll know which when everyone either (a) folds or (b) you get raised.  But if you’re in any other position, and no one shows interest in the pot, toss some money out there – sometimes.  If nothing else, you’ll learn who likes to trap by not betting anything (see above), and you know how to deal with those monkeys.

FINALLY, THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO BOUGHT MY BOOKS

Sales seem to be in an upturn in two areas – foreign purchases of the poker book (because it’s legal there), and purchases from all over of the blackjack book.  I will make an effort to include more blackjack posts in the future, but for now…I found a great new place to practice – “The Blackjack Casino” on Facebook.  Fairly realistic, different casinos with different rules, and if you’re my friend I can send you chips (and visa versa).  Link here:  https://apps.facebook.com/blackjack-casino/

That’s all for now – have a great (and profitable) summer.

A new - LOCAL - place to buy my ebooks

There has been much written lately about the decline and fall of local bookstores (as they battle Amazon and Wal-Mart...and, of course, ebooks).  There was an article posted online today from our local Business Journal about 5 stores that closed up in the NW region this year.

However, the GOOD NEWS in the article was about those stores that continue to thrive, including Seaside's own Beach Books.  Not only are they expanding their store to new, larger digs, they are also stocking ebooks through Kobo.  And, as luck would have it, all three of my tomes are available via Kobo.  Therefore, to shop local, go here: http://www.beachbooks.indiebound.com/.  You can do a search on my name (EXINGER) and buy like crazy.  I get less this way, but...we do keep some $$$ locally, and that's ALWAYS a good thing.

2012 Year In Review – ME Edition

It’s been about a year since I started this blog, and since I only have one more day left in this year, and since everyone else seems to be doing a “year in review” kind of thing, allow me to talk about this blog and me for 2012…

In short, it was a pretty good year.  I did not post as often as I expected I might, but I think most bloggers either do it (a) more or (b) less than they plan.  I knew that summer (tourist season) was a no-go, but I expected more of me in the shoulder season and the off-season, but life got in the way.

Speaking of the tourist season, we had a great year at the ice cream parlor (our best yet), so there are no financial worries (well, no major ones) going into 2013.  We have our five year plan in motion (work until “retirement”) and it’s coming along nicely.

The major purpose of the blog was to promote my writing, and in turn, to promote the poker eBook, which became “the eBooks” which is one reason blogging was less than optimal.  When poker remained “unauthorized” in the US in 2012, I quickly put out two other non-poker eBooks, fearing that there would be a very small market for a poker book than concentrated on online small-stakes tournaments.  I was half-right.

The poker book (buy it to your right, if you haven’t already) is still my best seller, and I have high hopes that, once the US actually has an online small-stakes tournament market, it will do better.  The short stories and the blackjack book are doing as well as I expected (the short story book was #1 on Amazon for gambling short stories for a while).  I never did get as many reviews as promised, though the ones I did get were complimentary.  More would have helped sales, too.

Oh, and for those of you who can’t decide among Kindle, Nook, and a tablet, here’s my report as far as what I’ve sold – Kindle is #1 partly because I’ve promoted it the most.  Apple iBooks takes the #2 spot, and Nook – in a word, “meh.”  Hell, I’ve sold more books in the UK via Amazon than I’ve sold in the US on Barnes and Noble. I’ve also sold books in Germany and France, for those of you keeping score.  Pretty happy about that (especially since I did not translate it, and never expected to sell anything there).  Canada and Australia, too (I hear they also speak pretty good English).  Irk irk.

What’s ahead for 2013?  I have two more eBooks planned (one, on the horses, and the other on craps).  I might not get the chance to write them, as I am also considering re-releasing the horse racing program I had back in the 90’s.  I’ve modernized it to work in Windows (yes, it was DOS-based using FoxPro, a so-much-better-than-Access language it’s not funny).  I had success in the BRISNET tournament (just missed the money – 16^th out of 3000+), so I think I’ve got the formula down (it was more lines of code in FoxPro, but it worked so much better than Access queries and VB).  It still needs to be more user friendly.  We’ll see.  And of course, there’s this blog.  No promises, although I do want to continue the short exercises that we started in December. 

School will be back in session next week – see you then, and Happy New Year.

And go give the book a review (any of them) if you bought one in 2012.  And if you didn’t – well, you know what to do.

I’M NUMBER ONE!

I wasn’t going to say anything about it, and then, doing a random word search, I discovered something worth talking about, so…I’ll talk about it.

I wrote another book.

Actually, to be accurate, I wrote most of it “a while ago.”  “Let the Chips Fall” is a collection of old short storied I wrote back in the 90’s during my care-free freelancing days.  Most of them were published at one time or another (though I think I was only paid for one), and one (amazingly, not published) actually won an award.  From a casino.  For $1,000.

That’s not a misprint.

Anyway, I released it in eBook form last month, to no fanfare, just to see what would happen.  Today, in checking Amazon.com’s Kindle books, I did a search for “gambling short stories.”  Guess who was at the top?

C’mon, guess.

Here, try it: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=gambling+short+stories&x=0&y=0

Anyway, I’ve sold some books.  Here and in the UK.  It’s only $2.99.  And, I’m not telling which story won the $1,000 prize (from Cactus Pete’s Casino in Jackpot, NV).  Though if you buy the book and ask me, I’ll tell.

Anyway, exciting news for me.  Thought I would share.

Nice review (via email)

A customer sent me an email about the book (Be the King!), and since her said I could, I am posting (most) of the review here.  Nice guy ('cuz he said nice things about the book).

Mike,

Your book "Be the King (of Small-Stakes Tournaments) was recommended in the Iron Duke Forum and I want to thank you for writing it.
I haven't finished going through the entire book but so far it has been very helpful.  I especially like your Starting Hand chart. It makes it easy to find a starting hand to see if it is good enough to play.
I was also interested in Expected Value and did a search. I found a listing of Expected Value Poker Hand Rankings for Texas Hold'em on the Tight Poker web site. 
Most web sites show the starting hands in a line form of Category listing (Cat 1, Cat 2, Cat 3 etc.) and I am used to using those. I went through your Starting Hand chart and compared them to the EV listing from Tight Poker.
To make a long story short, I made a line chart using your catagories lined up by expected value from the listing from Tight Poker. I have both your chart and the line chart that I made on a spread sheet which I use to help me make decisions on starting hands if I have a doubt.

Bottom line is that I am trying to learn this game that I love to play in order to make it more enjoyable by making some money while doing what I love to do. Your book is helping me to do this and I greatly appreciate it.  -- Table Name: Ninja2042

The reviews are (not) in…but soon…

Now that I’ve had a chance to catch my breath (never easy during the holiday season), I’ve been doing a little shameless self-promotion getting the word out about the eBook.  OK, it’s part promotion and part self-flagellation, in that I’ve been contacting various poker blogs, poker sites, poker magazines…anything and everything poker (almost) to tell them about the eBook and to solicit reviews.  My ego can take it - and I really do want to know, good or bad, what people think of it.

I do know, like so much in life, that “people will think what they want to think” regardless of whether they’re right or not.  Those of you who ever had me for a teacher know about that.  Of course, you also know that I’m a big fan of trends - if some people think one way and some think another - this can leave room for some doubt.  If EVERYONE thinks you’re an ass…they just might be on to something. 

Hopefully those who review the book will remember my target audience (the novice and the nervous) and find that I’ve provided enough information to justify the $6.99 price.  In addition, I hope they’ll notice the material is provided in an easy-to-follow manner to encourage people to actually READ the damn thing and then follow through on what it says.

I had a phone interview with a reviewer earlier today.  Al Spath gave the book a read (already!) and provided me with some good insights (and some credit).  I am hopeful that others will do likewise.

If, for some reason, you are a poker writer, reviewer, or other poker dignitary that I somehow left off my mass mailing, and would like a copy of the eBook for review, contact me at the email address:  mike dot exinger at gmail dot com - specific format (.pdf file is easiest for those without a Kindle or Nook), and give me an idea when and where you’d review the eBook.

Oh, and if you bought the eBook (bless you), feel free to post a review at the site where you bought it (though I think they’ll let you post a review at Amazon even if you bought it somewhere else, hint hint).  Don’t lie, be honest, be fair, and remember that I know where your kids go to school.

eBooks got samples!

Just a quick reminder to those of you thinking about buying my eBook (or any eBook for that matter).  Most (if not all) eBooks come with a "sample" feature.  This feature varies from vendor to vendor (Amazon has the infamous "look inside" while Smashwords allows you to actually download a portion of the book designated as "sample").  The length of the sample varies from author to author (I've given about 15% of the book in the sample).  It's a great way to see if you really want to spend the $$$ for the book - I recommend it. 

I also recommend buying my book.   Duh.

Why an eBook? Let me count the ways…

A friend asked me why I decided to publish “Be the King” as an eBook, especially since I don’t own a Kindle or Nook or even a cell phone!  The main reason is simple - the book is geared toward online play, and younger poker players, and THEY are most likely to have such devices (or consider utilizing an eBook) and hence, duh!

There are other reasons…because of the special nature of the book (poker tournament strategies), the market for same would be…small (this isn’t something you’d expect to see in a mass-market publication from Random House).  The expense (to me) to get it published in PAPER would be considerable, provided I actually COULD get it published.  Not to diss my own writing skills, but this isn’t the first book I’ve written.  It IS the first one to see the light of day by being published, however.

In fact, I plan to take portions of that unpublished tome (on gambling) and publish them (updated, of course) as eBooks.  And that’s another advantage of eBooks - they can be updated!  Ain’t technology grand?

Now I still don’t own a device, but I have equipped my computer with the Kindle for PC, and I’ve downloaded a few books to “get the hang” of reading this way.  You can teach an old dog, etc. etc.

So why buy your own book?

This isn't just about ebook publishing, but for ANYTHING you put your name on (or your boss's name).  Review it.  Don't just assume that everything went "as planned" because it rarely does (see my story below).  Before the below occurred, I thought about two other such cases (not mine, thank you).

1. There was a local art sale where I went to the website to review the items, and all I saw was the red X (as in, no picture).  I noticed that the link to the pictures all began "C:\PROGRAMS\FRONTPAGE\..."  So, when I contacted the gallery host, I was told "It looks OK on my computer."  I asked them if they were looking at the Internet, or how it was created in their FrontPage program (this was a while ago).  "Oh....yeah, I can't see it either."  They never bothered to check the web, but only looked at it on their computer (and of course, all the pics were there!).
2. I was a beta tester a long time ago for a video content producer.  When I signed up, I only had Internet access at work, and so the video looked great...just like they said it would.  Because we both were using T1 lines.  Two months into the project I finally got a 56K modem set up at home, and   it   was   much   s  l  o  w  e  r.  And they couldn't understand why.  because THEY had never tried it on a phone line.  When they did...they  also  saw  that  it     w a s     m..."  Well, y'know.

At the ice cream shop, we insist that the clerks go out to the lobby every so often to make certain that the displays look like they're supposed to look.  And you can't tell by being BEHIND the counter, so we toss 'em out in the lobby.  That works.

So make it a habit to check your work like the rest of the world checks it.

OK, the book is back on for sale

Well, mostly.  This isn't the "immediate" process it seems to be.  I still haven't been able to take it OFF bn.com yet, let alone put the corrected version back on.  Amazon should be up shortly, and Smashwords (the main site) seems to be All-OK.  We'll see. 

To be 100% honest, I still have some issues, but it doesn't look like it's with the book format, in that I think the PC version of Kindle works differently than the device, so I should just shut up now.  OK.

Book is on hold!

I said previously that I would explain why I bought my own book.  Here's one reason - to make certain everything came out as I expected it would.

It didn't.

I have a bit of a problem with the format, and so...I am suspending publication until I get the %*&$! thing fixed.  No idea how long that will take.  Sorry.  It appears that the book still shows in some sellers' locations.  Working on THAT, too.  Maybe I am too old to be messing with this new technology.  Dang.

More news later as it becomes available on most of these stations...

The ebook (MY ebook) has arrived!

I will no doubt squawk about this repeatedly over the next few days, I am THAT excited.  After a lot of work, editing, and learning all about new eBook formats (I have opinions now that I did not before), I have FINALLY published my first eBook!  Here’s the details:

TITLE: Be the King! (of Small-Stakes Tournaments)

SUBTITLE: Poker strategies designed for the novice and the nervous
WHAT’S IT ABOUT:

If you’ve seen Poker tournaments on TV, you’ve seen amateurs and poker-unknowns battle it out with top professionals for millions of dollars.  If you’ve played poker online, chances are you’ve played for much, much less than that.

This is YOUR strategy book.

 

All the top strategy books have worthwhile information and are great for top-line players, but for the rest of us (the small stakes 90%), we are in need of something a bit different, because the conditions at those $10,000 buy-in tournaments don’t exist in our $5 Sit ‘n’ Gos.  So in the vein of “it takes one to know one,” a winning small-stakes Hold ‘em player (and gambling writer) shares insights as to how you, too can “Be the King” (of small stakes tournaments.

 

This easy-to-read guide is specifically designed for “the poker novice and the nervous.”  It contains real-world ideas and strategies to so that players can play aggressively (but not like a maniac), understand opponents’ thinking (and lack thereof), and make the final table.  And win!

If you’re going to plop down what this book costs in entry fees without a second thought, why not “invest” that money instead on a way to actually win some of your money back?

Be the King!

So where do you get it?  Here’s the main link: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/112456

The book is in ALL formats - Kindle, Nook, etc.  There’s also a .PDF version and an .HTML version.  In other words, no excuse not to whip out the old card and spend $6.99 for a quick education on small-stakes poker tournament strategies.

You can also do a free preview (of the first part of the book) here, so what ARE you waiting for?

No doubt I will put up a permanent ad on this site once I learn how...