Is this guy for real?

[Finrod]

So after listening to Wiggy's podcast interview at the Gambler's Book Store site, I thought I might listen to a few of the other podcasts there. BTW I enjoyed Wiggy's interview.

Because Craps is a game I find very entertaining and at least the house edge is reasonable, I thought I would listen to the podcast featuring Sol Kirschner. I was hoping I might learn something.

Not only did I not learn anything, I think this podcast interview would only serve to cause people to decide to NOT purchase his DVD.

He claims to have been gambling for 52 years. I have no reason to doubt that, but I can't imagine those 52 years have made him a better gambler, based on all the comments he made.

Listen to what he says about why blackjack is a bad game. He is clearly completely uninformed in this regard.

Listen to how how decides where to play craps. Definately a +EV strategy (Not!).

Listen to what he says about never betting on the "non-pass" line. The what? Yes the "non-pass" line.

Listen to what he says about the key to success in craps is all in the betting. Of course you have to buy the DVD to get that info, but it smells like a progression system to me.

I guess the only comment I agreed with was his comment about staying away from hard way bets.

Everything else he says just makes me think he knows nothing about what he is talking about.

But maybe he can sell a few DVDs anyway

[Norm]

Gambler's Book Store has long been a source for some great books. Unfortunately, it has also long been a source of terrible books. I guess they can't be blamed as they could never stay in business by only selling good stuff. They've only barely been in business for years as it is. Always disturbed me though.

[WRX]

Any store with such a huge selection on how to handicap the ponies is going to lose a lot of people a lot of money!

All right, those aren't necessarily bad books, and yes, GBC has carried a full selection of bad books on blackjack and other casino games. The GBC, in its glory days, aimed to be comprehensive in what it stocked, something that I applaud. I believe that if time is not a constraint, you should read all the books, even the bad ones. A bad book can contain, somewhere within its pages, the germ of a good idea. And it's great training to read books, apply your knowledge and experience, and sort out what's logical and what isn't. I don't think that the book on blackjack or any other casino game has yet been written that doesn't contain some error or misguided idea. Part of becoming a great player is learning to spot when even the mighty go astray.

[MidniteToker]

Gambler's book store is in the business of selling books, not educating APs. Sure, you may be able to find a nugget in an otherwise bad book, but just imagine the opportunity cost of not spending that time with a good book, of which there are surely enough that we can't possibly have read them all.

Now if there was an easy way to sort wheat from chaff when you don't have the knowledge of the subject, we'd be set...