The first in John Grochowski’s series of “Answer Books,” published in 1998, covers blackjack, roulette and video poker in a fun quiz format that uses multiple choice, true-false and match game questions. If you don’t want to take the quizzes, that’s OK – just skip ahead to the answers, which read as mini-essays on the games casino people play. Included is everything from history of the games to little tidbits and trivia and basic strategy to get the most out of your play.

“Grochowski know his stuff. The questions are well thought out (there are really some excellent questions that test your knowledge), the answers concise, and the advice he offers is right on the money. Any player, no matter what the playing level, will enjoy reading the book and learning a hell of a lot about these casino games.”

-- Dr. Henry Tamburin, author of “Blackjack: Take the Money and Run,” “Craps: Take the Money and Run” and other books on gaming.

SOLD OUT

Newly revised for 2005, The Slot Machine Answer Book sold out of its original printing in 1999. Grochowski takes his quiz format to the slots. What was the first three-reel slot machine? Where do reel symbols such as bars and fruits, still in use today, come from? If someone has just hit a jackpot, is that a machine to avoid? Are there ever situations in which players can gain an edge on the slots? All that, and much more, is covered.

“If slots are your passion, then you’ll find The Slot Machine Answer Book is a must-have top-of-the-line resource for understanding what those infernal machines are all about.”

-- Best-selling gaming author Frank Scoblete

Originally published in 2000 with a second printing in 2004, The Video Poker Answer Book has plenty of fun facts about the rise of video poker – and lots and lots of strategy advice. Unique among video poker books, The Video Poker Answer Book focuses on how strategy changes with the different pay tables we see in casinos.

It’s easy to find a strategy table for “9-6” Jacks or Better, but how must we adjust when the best our casino offers drops the full house and flush payoffs to “8-5,” “7-5” or “6-5”? A wide array of games are covered, including Bonus Poker, Double Bonus Poker, Double Double Bonus Poker, several versions of Deuces Wild and Joker’s Wild, and much more.

“When I read The Video Poker Answer Book, I was amazed at the amount of even rather complex information that he covered in such a simplified form. Why, I bet some people learned a lot without even realizing they had been studying!”

-- “Queen of Comps” Jean Scott, author of “The Frugal Gambler”

If you're looking for fast-paced excitement, just follow the cheers and jeers of players winning or losing together. The noise will lead you straight to the craps table. But how do you separate the good bets from the bad? Do combination bets cut the house edge? And what does an ancient game called Hazard have to do with this, anyway? The Craps Answer Book will have you rolling in no time.

“The book is thorough, well-researched and well-written, which is true of all Grochowski's work. When you see Grochowski's name on a book, article or speakers' symposium (and whether you know how to pronounce that name or not, it's Gra-house-key), you know you are in for the very best in gaming information presented in a palatable and highly enjoyable way.”

-- Frank Scoblete

A collection of John’s newspaper columns originally published in 1994 and ’95, Gaming takes you through his mix of essays, questions from readers and quizzes on topics ranging from blackjack strategy to roulette systems to compulsive gambling.

Editor Walter Thomason brought together some of the top experts in gaming to lend their advice on all the most popular casino games – Frank Scoblete on craps, Henry Tamburin on roulette, Let It Ride and Caribbean Stud, Alene Paone on baccarat, John Grochowski on blackjack and much more.