Warren's New Omaha Poker Book; Cincy Kid; Horse Sense by Sugar Arrive at GBC

21 May 2003

By Howard Schwartz

Some poker experts believe Omaha hold'em poker will be the hottest game of the century‹even surpassing the popularity of Texas hold'em. Yet the question persists daily -- "What have you got new on the game of Omaha?" Ken Warren, who also wrote the Winner's Guide to Texas Hold'em Poker, has now penned Winner's Guide to Omaha Poker (215 pages, paperbound, $19.95) and it's just what a lot of people are looking for.

Warren, now living in Kansas, has a dozen solid chapters in his book, covering the game's basics, including betting limits; an explanation of the two-card rule (you get four cards in your hand, but can play only two of them); what the small blind and big blind mean; what the "flop" and the turn and the "river" card are and how Omaha differs from Texas hold'em.

Chapters cover reading your hand for high or for low or in a hi-low game. One of the key sections is a small but powerful one, titled Omaha Odds, with a table showing Omaha Drawing Odds from a Deck of 45 Unseen Cards; a table showing Omaha 8 or Better Odds‹the Odds of Making a Low After the Flop. One important section examines Hand Selection (guidelines and tips) while a major chapter looks at Outs (the number of cards which will help your hand. For example, if you have two hearts and get two more on the flop, then there are nine hearts or nine outs that will make your flush).

The book has a chapter called 4l Tournament Tips and there's a smaller, final chapter examining Internet Casinos and Internet Poker Rooms.

This is a book sure to trigger an increase in Omaha players -- with many hand examples, nicely-done larger than usual type and clear analysis.

The book The Cincinnati Kid by Richard Jessup has been around 40 years. Like the book, the movie with Steve McQueen as "The Kid" became a classic. For some players today, it's the reason they got interested in the game of poker. Of course The Game was five-card stud back then‹today, it's hold'em.But this novel, with its characters, "inside stuff" and special language or poker terminology, remains a must-read even today. The climax -- the final hand, with, for those days, big money on the table -- is controversial even today. But like fine wine, it must be tasted and appreciated by those who have never encountered this special world of professional poker players.

The book, in and out of print for more than 25 years, is available again (152 pages, paperbound, $14.95).

For very special people, who love thoroughbred racing, in particular, the history and flavor of the game, from the 1930 to late 1950s, a picture book titled Horse Racing: The Golden Age of the Track (with photos by Bert Morgan and an introduction by Bill Barich, who wrote Laughing in the Hills), is now available. The 140-page hardbound sells for $24.95. There are photos of the rich and famous including Bing Crosby, Elizabeth Taylor, Babe Ruth, Jackie Kennedy (as a child); Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Eisenhower and George Raft. But it the horses, the jockeys and the races, caught by a master photographer, which are spotlighted in this work. The great Man o' War; War Admiral, Whirlaway, Native Dancer, Count Fleet are all here. The finish of the classic 1938 Match Race between winner Seabiscuit and War Admiral is shown. All photos are black and white, but with great clarity and impact. How did they dress in those days? How tough-faced were the jockeys? What did the old toteboards or bookmaking setups look before the modern-day operations took over?

Morgan, who died in 1986 was official track photographer for the New York Racing Association.