4 comments about Learn How to Win at Texas Hold 'Em Poker for 5 Bucks (Learn for 5 Bucks).

1. This is a 60-page overview of Texas Hold'em that surveys all aspects of the game from starting hands to postflop play and when to bluff. It discusses pot odds, bet odds and implied odds. There's a table in the back with the odds for your hand improving based on the outs you need. There's even a few pages about tournament play.
   
   It's standard stuff, but distilled down to essentials and graphically well-presented.
   
   So why only 3 stars?
   
   The book is filled with typos. Cards are described in the same sentence as spade [the symbol] and "s" -- but both things refer to the spade suit. (And "s" could well mean two starting cards of any one suit.)
   
   On page 32, he explains that you _should_ call when you do not make your queen-high flush. Huh? I've been folding my missed flushes.
   
   As Straham proclaims on the cover, the book is only "5 bucks." Maybe he should price the book higher and employ a proofreader.
   
   P.S. After seeing that the glossary --incredibly -- is not alphabetized, I wish I had given the book only two stars.



2. I agree with the previous reviewer, and pricing this book a few bucks higher to get a proof-reader would have been well worth the money.
   
   This book is littered with typos.
   
   Every few pages, I have to stop and try to figure out what the author meant to say. An example would be:
   
   Page 24
   "...Say you have J and 10 facing one opponent on the turn. You have an outside straight draw with a board of 2 5 8 Q and only the river card left to make it. Any 8 or king will finish this straight for you..."
   
   I may be new at poker, but even I know you'll need a 9 to finish that straight, and a king will be worthless. Of course, he had typo'ed the board cards with an "8" instead of a "9", but this is just one of the many examples of the confusing and annoying mistakes you're sure to discover in this book. I would encourage you to search further throughout amazon, and deeper into your pocket book, for -- simply put -- a better book.



3. Ditto the other two reviews on this book. I thank my lucky stars that I kept my $5 in my wallet and borrowed this from the library. I give my co-reviewers A LOT of credit for sticking with this book - I quit reading after about page 15. I found no less than FOUR typos/incorrect statements on ONE page. My favorite botched advice is, early in the book, that: when holding a low pair [3's] and hitting a set [trip 3's] on the flop, one should be very wary of a pair of overcards on the board (in this case, a Q on the flop, and then another on the turn), because even one Q buried in an opponents hands will cause his trips to beat yours. Oh yeah? Last I checked, when holding a set and having the board pair-up, I've now got a FULL HOUSE! I think that beats 3 Q's!! Sheesh!
   
   This book is god awful. The typos are brutal, and the flat-out wrong advice is even worse. Don't waste your time.
   
   Buy (or borrow from your local library) Brunson's "Super/System," or any book by Caro or McEvoy. These guys are seasons pros, and know what they're talking about - so you will, too. ;-)



4. I wanted some basics to get into $5 dollar single table tournaments online and it worked for that. You will definitely need something more advanced as you progress into higher limits and this will not be useful for 'free' games.
   Take two things from this book:
   1. The starting hands based on position
   2. How to calculate the 'outs' (a nice chart in the back of the book)
   Adjust your starting hands based on your willingness to take risks and understand your outs based on the chart in the back. The rest is pretty basic and as everyone has stated thus far there are a considerable number of mistakes.
   If you are going to buy another book watch the poker tournaments on T.V and find a player you most enjoy watching play, that you trust and that wins and go buy his book. There are no books that will teach you everything and there is no template for perfect play.

No comments about The Only Poker Book You'll Ever Need: Bet, Play, And Bluff Like a Pro--from Five-card Draw to Texas Hold 'em.

No comments about WPT WORLD POKER TOUR (OFFICIAL POKER RULES FEATURING TEXAS HOLD'EM, 1ST EDITION).

1 comments about Maran Illustrated Poker (Maran Illustrated).

1. Enhanced with the technical expertise of professional poker player Ken R. Auliffe (Editor of the "Canadian Poker Player" magazine), Maran Illustrated Poker from the Maran Family is an profusely illustrated introduction to the major varieties of poker card games including Seven Card Stud, Omaha, and the wildly popular "Texas Hold'em" in both limit and no-limit forms. Readers are taken through the psychology as well as mathematical aspects of poker whether in home games or tournament play. Providing a knowledgeable perspective and an illustrative pictorial representation of diverse hands and game play situations, Maran Illustrated Poker carries its readers through poker essentials, as well as offering tips for comfortable playing in a casino card room, an online poker room. The critically important subjects of tells, bluffing, table position, and so much more are covered in detail. Maran Illustrated Poker is very strongly recommended as a truly invaluable and "user friendly" reference for all poker players, be they novice or expert, amateur or professional.

5 comments about The Intelligent Guide to Texas Hold'em Poker.

1. This is one of the most readable books on Hold'em that I've encountered. It has clear logical explanations of Hold'em fundamentals. The mathematical tables are very useful, and the books is filled with valuable reference and resource information. I'd recommend this book to anyone getting started in the game as a good all around guide for Hold'em.



2. This book was written for newer players that want to develop and extend their game. It contains a section discussing the different types of games that you might run into. The examples and simple suggestions on how different styles affect the game are great for the new player.

   The best part of the book is the tables that give you the correct pot odds for your bet. They are great to commit to memory until you can calculate the odds yourself. I found that expected value and calculating pot odds are important in lower limit games and having these tables helps your stack from shrinking.




3. This was a very Enjoyable Book. It provided important and useful concepts about the game of Poker. I learned new concepts, which identified some leaks in my game. Leaks in your game can come from anywhere!!! Leaks can originate from lack of aggression, overcalling raises, misreading opponents and any other number of ways. So this book helps. Many people look at poker the wrong way. They think to win they need to do all of this super fancy plays and mindblowing stunts. Well folks...there are not that many options in poker...you fold, call or raise. So its really hard to do thinks that will just fool your opponents all the time. To win at poker it is mostly limiting your mistakes and getting all that you can from winning hands and minimizing losses on losing hands...that's it
   Ive been playing for about 5 years now and love the game. Ive read many poker books and found this one to be very good. So I would suggest you buy this book and maybe a couple others and get to playing. There's really no excuse anymore - since anyone can access the internet...



4. I picked this book up and leafed through quickly. I should have taken more time. I have about 6 or 7 poker books so I think I have a pretty good perspective on what is helpful and what looks like somebody trying to turn a quick buck.
   
   Where do I begin. In a nutshell the author touches on most of the basics; pot odds, probabilities, starting hands and some strategies for turn and river play. But it's all cursory and even if you're a beginner and you should really be learning the basics of learning the difference between good starting hands and trash. Whereas every decent poker book will discuss at length which combination of starting hands should be played and which should not (as well as when) the author spends about 2 pages discussing maybe one of the most important considerations for a beginner.
   
   
   The cover says "includes detailed instructions for Online Poker". Listen to me, you will not learn enough from this book to be successful at online poker. The online poker section is a bit of a joke really.
   
   About 60 pages of this 175 page book are devoted to a glossary and a list of internet poker sites as well brick and mortar poker rooms.
   
   If you already know the basics I would recommend any books by Sklansky, Malmuth or Kreiger. I especially like "Small Stakes Hold 'em" by Sklansky and Malmuth. I also liked Lou Krieger's "Hold 'Em Excellence"
   
   Pass this one up. There are just too many good books out there than to waste your time with this.



5. The fact that the cover of this book has a chessboard on it shows that the author clearly has no understanding of either game. If you think I'm joking then just look--the pieces are in an illegal (and ridiculous) position! And wouldn't we all be big winners if royal flushes came as often as he'd have you believe.
   
   Mr. Braids may have a PHD... well I think we all know what that stands for.

1 comments about Uncle Chester's Texas Hold'Em Secrets.

1. The poker advice in this is sound, but there are no big secrets as the title suggests. The author endorses classic, tight-agressive strategy. However, the thing that sets this book apart is the humor. The chapters: "Every Man for Himself" "Poker Etiquette" and "Messing with your Opponents" are particularly funny. I've never had so much fun with an instructional manual. The glossary in the back of the book is excellent, perhaps the most comprehensive I've ever seen on the topic. The only criticism I have is the section on poker odds is simplistic and may not be satisfying to the more mathematical player. Overall, a fun and informative read.

2 comments about 2005 Wild Woman's Guide to Texas Hold 'Em Poker.

1. I have never had the nerve to sit down at a Texas Hold 'Em table. I read this book on the plane in route to Las Vegas. It is clear, informative and a must have before you ever sit down at the table. It eliminated any intimidation that I would have had.



2. I had a trip to Las Vegas planned and everybody told me texas hold 'em was the game to play. The Wild Woman's Guide gave me all the basic info I needed to learn how--after reading it I couldn't wait to hit the tables. Great presentation with lots of fun pictures throughout!

No comments about Hold 'em Poker for Advanced Players.

No comments about Phil "Tiger Woods of Poker" Ivey (Superstars of Poker; Texas Hold'em).

No comments about Cruising with the World Poker Tour Boot Camp.