Not So Ugly Deuces Strategy by Dancer; Squire's Classic Roulette Book Now at GBC

6 August 2003

By Howard Schwartz

Video poker players have been waiting for Bob Dancer's new title A Winner's Guide to NSU (Not So Ugly Deuces) Wild (115 pages, 8x11 paperbound, $16.50) ever since he announced it last year, and that title, along with How to Win at Roulette (221 pages, paperbound, $9.95) by Norman Squire, long sought-after for its intelligent approach to the game, are now on the shelves of the Gambler's Book Shop (Gambler's Book Club).

The NSU Deuces Wild title, written by Dancer with Liam Daily contains seven major chapters, covering a multitude of topics‹but all very valuable to the dedicated, hoping-to-be-informed player. (By the way, if you're wondering where NSU (Not So Ugly) Deuces got its name, the authors explain that Skip Hughes created it on the spur of the moment ³to differentiate it from the Ugly Ducks name given to the multitude of games available with significant advantages in favor of the casino. This is the only version of Deuces Wild that is found with a return of 16 for 5-of-a-kind and 10 for a straight flush, and is sometimes referred to simply as ³16/10² or ³16/10 NSU. The expected return on this game is 99.73%.²)

The book examines the pay schedules of the game, its streakiness and the four levels of strategy. Moving to the beginner strategy, it offers overriding principles and general principles, examples and practice sessions material. The Recreational Strategy, also known as Level 2 compares NSU with Full Pay Deuces Wild, again offering strategy examples and a practice session.

On Level 3, the Introduction to Basic Strategy, the authors look at Suited vs. Unsuited Cards; Insight Straights; Straight Flushes among other areas; followed by a Basic Strategy Table for NSU and Pseudo NSU; followed by fine turning for general principles, basic strategy examples and a practice session.

On Level 4, you'll learn about penalty cards; ³when vs. ³with²; obscure penalty card considerations; square, curved and curlicue brackets, with an advanced strategy, exceptions, examples and a practice session for NSU.

You'll learn what to hold, what to discard, what gives you an edge, what helps the casino. It's a special book, on various levels, allowing the truly dedicated fan of these machines to fine-hone his or her skills. You would do well to have a colored high-lighter handy, because some points are so important, you'll want to find them immediately, as you read, absorb, synthesize the information, then develop a mode of remembering and applying this valuable material as you play.

I wonder if Dancer and Daily have done more than anyone might expect in developing a strategy to find profits in this game. Get in on the goodies while you can‹I fear casinos might eventually eliminate these machines, as they do all games where they believe someone has struck gold and is being quiet about it.

How to Win at Roulette by Squire has been out of print for many years. It was a book many people learned to appreciate after it went out of print for some strange reason. I guess they took it for granted‹then they saw how few books intelligently covered the game and yearned for the good stuff again.

Originally published in 1968, it was a hit in Great Britain and anywhere roulette was popular. Squire had impressive credentials, including senior instructor at the School of Croupiers in London. There are some references to shillings, pounds and pence (old-style English money), but don't let that throw you‹it's the material that includes a comparison of the American wheel to the French version, and explanation of the various bets and systems which might be employed which make this book special.

Squire explains the Insurance Bet; Systems for Beginners; the Alembert Method and its variations; the Paroli; betting single numbers; the Single Dozen; the Split Martingale; Flat Stake Play versus Progressions.

The book contains some of the best material ever explaining why system,s which seem to work, produce disaster when they fail and how the law of averages comes into play along with the House maximum.

Anyone planning to attack this game on any level, seriously or recreationally, would do well to have this book in his or her arsenal of information.