Last-Minute Gift Ideas--A Book For Gamblers

Sometimes a simple item geared to a person with specific interests or needs can be the perfect gift during the holidays or as a birthday gift. When it comes to the last-minute shopper, the perfect solution to the lack of time and the need to find that special gift, here are some suggestions that can save the day:

The Last Honest Place in America by Marc Cooper (Paradise and Perdition in the New Las Vegas) (248 pages, hardbound, $24.95). A top writer with a yen for the unusual, history and offbeat attractions goes beyond the glitz, writing about the founders and the movers and shakers of this one-of-a-kind city, including a look at men like Benny Binion, Moe Dalitz, Steve Wynn and Meyer Lansky, along with flamboyant Mayor Oscar Goodman, the impact of 9/11 and why the city has a solid grip on its own future.

You've Got Heat (The Vegas Card Counting Adventures of (a) LV Pro) by Barfarkel (231 pages, paperbound, $21.95). It's clearly a strange name for anyone--but really, it's the nickname or codename. of a top card counter (also known as an "advantage player") who began his career with a $2,000 bankroll and has since moved up to bigger stakes. In diary-style, he explains secrets of the top players; how teams operate, the places he's played, the dealers, players and characters he's encountered and the moves he made, while informing us of great places to find a good meal, places to avoid and how his bankroll fluctuated while he tried to avoid detection by surveillance personnel. Any wannabe card counter should read this easy reading, in-depth guide.

The Poker Player's Bible (How to Play Winning Poker) by Lou Krieger (255 pages, hardbound, spiralbound combination, $21.95). The author, who penned Hold 'em Excellence and the sequel, More Hold 'em Excellence, here presents one of the most beautifully-illustrated and understandable basic books on five of the most popular forms of the game (hold 'em, Omaha, Omaha eight or better, seven stud and seven stud eight or better). With color illustrations, excellent analysis, strategy ideas and overall good advice, it's the perfect learning guide for the novice. It contains an index, a glossary of terms, sections on concepts like bluffing, odds, position, overcards, slow-playing, reading your opponents, free cards, it's a fine tutorial and ready-reference, for home game player or one ready to make the transition to a casino card room.

Dogs Playing Poker (2005 Calendar) ($11.95). This is both a gift item and collectible with the great art of C.M. Coolidge used for each month. Dog-loving poker players, art aficionados or just a plain beginner with a recreation room for the regular Friday night game will appreciate this perfectly-timed calendar.