304 pages
List Price: $29.95
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Championship No Limit & Pot Limit Hold 'Em (Championship Series)
by Tom McEvoy, T.J. Cloutier
Spotlight Reviews
Great once you cut off the fat., December 2, 2004
Reviewer: M. Lenhart "yeltzen" (Pittsburgh, Pa United States)
I purchased this book because it's one of the few that discusses specific strategy in No-Limit tournaments (it also addresses Pot-Limit Hold'em, but I don't really know how many people use that style for Hold'em... Omaha and Stud, maybe, but not Hold'em, usually). Now, before you all buy it as the definitive gambling guide to winning your buddy's weekend $15 buy-ins, just be aware that this book is addressing high-stakes tournaments against tough opponents who are thinking the same way you do. Most home games involve people who want to gamble and have fun. This book isn't for those kinds of games.
The book turned me off at first. McEvoy and Cloutier spend many pages talking about their wonderful careers and, as great as they may be, I'll buy a biography if I really want to know. Eventually, they get to the good stuff. Now, they continue to throw in personal experiences, which work a lot better as examples of strategies rather than "look at me I'm great" chapters.
Cloutier is a very tight tournament player, a style used by many players because it works. Because of this, he only goes into detail about playing premium hands: AK, AA, KK, QQ, JJ, TT, and KQ. He doesn't bother much with other hands that most people play because he doesn't feel that they hold much value when the betting gets so high. This might seem a little narrow-minded, but Cloutier does such a good job breaking down how to play each hand that you won't even notice. If you don't know how to play any of the above hands after reading this book, then you have problems.
Unfortunately, some of the other sections involve a lot of, "oh, this is real important", but how to do it is never addressed. For instance, Cloutier stresses over and over again how important it is to "read" your opponents and pick up on their tendencies so that, when they raise, you know exactly what they have. However, he never really explains how to do this. No tips or anything, just "hey, make sure you observe your opponents". I think we all know this, but we need guidance as to what the best approach is to gaining this information. Many hands never make it to a showdown, so you need other methods of reading players. My assumption is that you can either do this naturally, or you can't. Cloutier can, and very, very well.
One good thing Cloutier does is keep a strong, consistent theme throughout his section, emphasizing the need to protect and build your chips over time, not in one hand. Amateur players seem to have a hard time understanding this, instead they try to double up every time they get a half-decent hand. Cloutier's super-tight style might be a turn off to some, but he shows you why it works. You don't have to follow it, but you can't argue with the results.
Overall, definitely pick up this book if you plan on playing in tough tournaments. It's a hit-or-miss style that many people won't find particularly interesting, but those who want to play at a high level will find the advice invaluable.
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110 pages
List Price: $19.95
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Hold 'Em Poker
by David Sklansky
Customer Reviews
*** Hold'em Poker Books Don't Get Any Better Than This ***, January 11, 2005
Reviewer: Richard York
"Hold'em Poker" by David Sklansky is about as good as poker books get. This is not a Johnnie-come-lately effort trying to cash in on the new found popularity of Hold'em Poker. This is a solid classic that has been around for a while.
Even though this book has some age on it, the odds and probabilities in Poker haven't haven't changed, and neither has the value of this book. If you are going to play Hold'em for money, this is an essential book.
This is an fundamental background work, necessary homework for serious Poker players. It is not a simple, entertaining read. It contains real information that requires serious consideration.
Failure to read and understand this book will put you at risk of being a "producer". One losing session will cost you many times the price of this book.
Great beginners guide!, December 3, 2004
Reviewer: Real Poker Advice
Holdem Poker is a great beginner's guide to limit Texas holdem. Sklansky is recognized as the authority on limit play. His straight forward technical approach in this book not only teaches you the fundamentals, but this book alone can make you a winning player! This is the most popular game being played online, at casinos, and in local card rooms. Learn this game and you can make a living anywhere in the world, online or live!
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332 pages
List Price: $29.95
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Hold'Em Poker for Advanced Players
by David Sklansky, Mason Malmuth
Spotlight Reviews
If you play hold'em for money you should read this, October 10, 2003
Reviewer: Rick Van Hazel (Phoenix, AZ)
When I first bought this book i wasnt technically an advanced player. I understood the game, the rules, and many plays from just playing poker a lot. The problem with Hold'em is no matter how many books you read, you are destined to loose hundereds or thousands of dollars in the process of your Hold'em education. We have books like this one to give tips on how to cut down on the cost of your education. Honestly, if you're a regular player at the game of Hold'em you got to have this book for your collection. I say collection because all Hold'em players have a book collection :)
Must reads:
David Sklansky's - Theory of Poker
Doyle Brunson's - The Super System
The absolute must of them all
= Mike Caro's - Book of Poker Tells
This book gets more in to detail of things to do in certain situations or variations of Hold'em than it does about basics of the game. I really dont think anyone is going to get lost buying this book and being a beginner. You at least need to know what the basics of the game are, which can be learned by watching the World Poker Tour or World Series of Poker on TV. What David goes into more are Low limit, high limit, loose games, tight games, etc. and tips on what to do in certain situations against many or few opponents.
I cant really say too much more that hasnt been said in all the other reviews. There is a lot of good info in this book. The bottom line is, for this game you must be as educated as possible about every kind of play there is. If you learn one thing in this book that will gain or save you a pot that you wouldn't have walked away with, then it has most likely paid for itself right then and there!
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330 pages
List Price: $24.95
Buy new: $16.47
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The Psychology of Poker
by Alan N. Schoonmaker
Spotlight Reviews
Understand your opponents (and yourself). Win big!, July 24, 2004
Reviewer: Daniel Kessler (Farmville, VA)
The strength of this book is in helping you understand why you play the game (it may not be what you think), and more importantly, why your opponent is playing. Understanding motivations can help you understand and predict the actions of your opponent. In poker, knowledge is power, and this book will help you to win pots you may have folded, and lay down hands when you are beaten. The chapters on various playing styles are especially important. Following Dr. Schoonmaker's tips during my first trip to Vegas helped me to get out of the way when beaten, and jam the pot when I had the best of it. Thanks Dr. Schoonmaker for helping make my first casino trip a profitable one!
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