Blackjack 6-7-8 is Revised; Championship Table Highlights World Series of Poker 1970-2002

This new item, along with a new book from Dana Smith, Tom McEvoy and Ralph Wheeler titled The Championship Table at the World Series of Poker (1970-2002) (184 pages, paperbound, $19.95), highlights some of the newest arrivals at Gambler's Book Shop in Las Vegas.

Blackjack 6-7-8 Version 2003 has an amazing 32 new features. It works on Windows 95 through Windows XP. Some of the more than two dozen new features are: a unique łuse this window˛ feature throughout the software which provides clear information on how to use the particular module with which you are working; 21 wizards to help beginners set parameter to help select a playing strategy for each player or for running a simulation; and this version allows you to run simulations twice as fast as the original.

Additionally, the software contains 1,200 long and short pop-up hints; it allows up to six players in the Play Blackjack mode to be computer players; and it has brief videos, which illustrate card counting. 6-7-8 allows you to choose a bankroll for each player; allows each player to have a different playing and betting strategy and set of point count values. There are 65 playing strategies included plus new options for setting deck penetration. One unique feature was developed by Don Schlesinger (author of Blackjack Attack) which combines the expected win rate and risk associated with the bet spread; it can be computed when running simulations on speed up comparing one casino's game with another or one strategy with another.

Overall, this is one of the best software programs ever for beginners or experienced players who want to develop or improve their skills at the blackjack table.

More than 600 players ponied up $10,000 each last year in the Binion's Horseshoe World Series of Poker. The winner took home more than $1 million. It is one of the most prestigious tournaments of its kind on this planet and has been in existence since 1970.

Who played at the final table, who won, what the final hand was and how much the championship was worth are all documented, with illustrations of the players and the hands, in Championship Table by Smith, McEvoy and Wheeler.

The smart plays, some not so smart, the key river cards, the colorful players, the most consistent, their methods of play and philosophy about playing, winning, losing, competing, shoving in some of the biggest bets known to mankind are all documented by the authors, who answer many a question about this World=class tournament which is perhaps the most important poker event of the last two generations.

You'll be able to see who made the final table and familiarize yourself with the highlights of that year's particular event with some in-depth analysis by the finalists themselves in many cases. Next to the videotapes on this prestigious tournament this is the next best thing to learn about the pressures and the turning points of each year's event.

This long overdue reference helps explain why this is the tournament people have talked about for almost two generations. It's a must-read, a great gift for anyone who loves high stakes gambling, especially poker. Anyone who dreams of turning pro must have it in his or her possession to understand how long the road ahead will be.

(Items reviewed here are available from Gambler's Book Shop (Gambler's Book Club). located at 630 South 11th St., Las Vegas, NV 89101. Use MasterCard, VISA or Discover card (no American Express or CODs please) and your order will be shipped the next working day. Call from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time, Monday through Saturday at 1-800-522-1777. Or use the store's web site at www.gamblersbook.com to order and also view the entire array of 1,000 books, videos and computer software with descriptions and prices. Or ask for a hard copy of the 80-page catalog, sent free and first class. Visit the store when in Las Vegas, located a mile from Downtown, just off Charleston Boulevard a block west of Maryland Parkway. The store was founded in 1964.)