5 comments about Fundamentals of Poker (Fundamentals).

1. This is an okay primer, but there's not enough to it.



2. This book will help you start your home game. It has the rules and basic strategies for the major games. It won't make you a pro but its very effective for such a small book and a small price. You could not expect much more from a 75 pages booklet.



3. Cover to cover, this book will take you about an hour to read. It has good *basic* poker information. If you understand the basics of 7 card stud and hold'em, then there's not a lot of info in here. It breezes over some odds and gives some basic strategy pointers that are VERY conservative (which is good for keeping beginners from being slaughtered when they first take part in a game), but it is mostly "high level" info about the games. It covers other variations of poker as well, but in even less depth.

   All that being said, I bought it because it qualified me for free shipping. Shipping would have been about $5, the book was $6, so I essentially spent $1 on the book - it was worth the $1. It's worth the $6 if you want a basic primer to get you started - simple to read, easy to understand. But, if you plan on trying to develop your game, there are other books that will give you the primer as well as give a little more depth (not for $6, of course...).




4. Well, the time has long passed since I needed a book like this, but I think Malmuth and Loomis have put together a concise, efficient summary of what poker is with novices in mind. They cover all of the basics and that's about it which is why they dub it the "fundamentals." It won't have any value for advanced players though. Specifically, I liked the General Advice and Poker Etiquette questions best. They were thoughtful and unique in my opinion. Also, a lot of players nowadays are like me and really only play Hold'em. With that being the case, they may profit from the 15 page summary of stud offered here should they ever decide to play it. A shorter overview is put forth for Omaha as well.



5. The "Fundamentals of Poker" is a great book for begginers. It gives the basic rules of different games (hold'em, omaha, omaha h/l, stud, stud 8) and the basic strategy for you to beggin at micro limit games. I'm a Hold'em player and this book helped me to start playing omaha, razz and others

2 comments about All-in.

1. All-in is a terrific follow-up to No Limit. I can't wait for the next installment in Denn's story.



2. This author has shown the ability to be a fine writer. I bought this book without realizing it was part of the Young Reader program. Not to worry, some writers do their best in that genre. Carl Hiassan comes to mind.
   
   First of all this is more of a novella than a book. The plot is fairly obvious. If it had been fleshed out into a real book there is a novel sitting there.
   
   This one is mostly bones and little meat.

5 comments about Amarillo Slim in a World Full of Fat People: The Memoirs of the Greatest Gambler Who Ever Lived.

1. In a way it's fitting that the most entertaining poker book ever written contains total detail about the most dramatic game of poker ever played, by the greatest card man of the twentieth century. I'm talking about the truly legendary, Thomas Austin "Amarillo Slim" Preston. His amazing book, Amarillo Slim In A World Full of Fat People, is for poker what the BBC's Top Gear is to motoring: funny, wicked, informative and entertaining. If Jeremy Clarkeson is reading this, that wipes out any future poker debts I might accrue!
   
   In the early nineties, Slim was invited help launch the Casino de Caribe in Cartagena, Columbia by casino boss Lynn Simon. Amarillo was flattered to be asked at this late stage in his career only to discover that he would be playing some of the deepest untaxed pockets in the world:namely, the major drug lords of the Columbian cartels. Playing poker for the very highest stakes is nerve racking at the best of times: now just imagine that you're about to have a showdown with Pablo Escobar, probably the most feared cold-blooded killer on Earth. Turns out Pablo just wanted to be friends and show Slim his mansion, his zoo and that he was in charge of Columbia. Once this had been established, Escobar's helicopter dropped Amarillo back at the Caribe. The tall Texan then proceeded to financially disable some of the deadliest Cartel bosses, under protection from a Swiss style physical safety agreement, which they honoured under pain of death from Escobar. Apparently Pablo himself didn't fair well at poker against the card playing cowboy, leaving the Columbian poker challenge to come from his under bosses, who lost the equivalent of 'a week's supply' to the six foot four American.
   
   By the third day the physical safety agreement broke down when one of the Cali Cartel bosses decided to shoot a disloyal girlfriend with a pump action shotgun about a yard from where Amarillo was standing. This should have been Slim's signal to catch the next jet home to Texas but he readily confesses to a liking for danger and besides, a quote from the man himself betrays another reason to stay: "I'd never seen men with more money and less brains than these drug lords." The cowboy stayed and rounded up a mountain of cash before high-tailing it back to cattle country.
   
   In the lives of most card players, the above true story would stand out as the most remarkable of adventures, but trust me, to a man who had won a million dollars by the age of 19, played poker with two Presidents and driven a golf ball over a mile, it was just one of many.



2. This book is really funny but it isn't going to teach you anything really about gambling and poker. He does give a few pointers, but it is basically the story of his life and what a story it was. It is a very easy book to read and enjoyable for anyone who likes gambling.



3. Amarillo Slim in a World Full of Fat People is a autobiography of Slim focusing (unsurprisingly) on his gambling exploits.
   
   The upside of this book is that it's very entertaining & well written. For a lot of people, that may be more than enought it make it worth their time. The gambling yarns contained within are some of the most incredible I've seen in print, and I'm a fan of the genre.
   
   Unfortunately, there are serious issues of Slim's honesty and integrity surrounding this book.
   
   The first, and more minor, issue is that the book is largely assembled from Slim's previous "Play Poker To Win" and Holden's "Big Deal," often taken nearly word for word from those sources. Not only is this a bit of a raw deal for readers who already have those books, but I'm a little curious why Holden is credited and quoted for some of the sections he wrote, but others masquerade as Slim's voice. I hope nothing dirty is going on here plagiarism-wise, but I'm suspicious.
   
   The second, more serious, issue, is that this is a self-flattering autobiography by a man of very questionable morals. There's no doubt, reading this book, that Slim thinks quite highly of himself. But his actions don't exactly support his opinion. He's a self admitted gambling cheat and liar. In fact, the allegations of cheating go far beyond what he admits to in the book - the depth of his association with Johnny Moss' dirty card rooms and and various mechanics on the Texas circuit was not discussed. Worse yet, there's good reason to believe that Slim is a pedophile. He was arrested on three charges of indecency with his 12-year old granddaughter in 2003, apparently confessed to police, and then plead guilty to reduced charges. His wife divorced him over the incident. Sources in the poker community say that Slim maintains his innocence and claims it was a scheme by a faction of his family to get a hold of his money, but that doesn't explain the confession.
   
   Final Verdict: I WANT to like this book, but a good book glorifying a bad man looses a lot of its luster. In light of that I can't bring myself to like Slim, or his book, nearly as much as he likes himself.



4. Fast read on a fast pace of a fast life. Amusing and entertaining, and probably educational if you pay attention. The lessons aren't presented as such, but if you follow the pattern of his betting, you learn not to get sucked into a bad deal. Not going to win a Pulitzer, but a great light read if you like biographies, poker, Texas or characters. He makes Huck Finn look like an altar boy.



5. This was a very entertaining book. The stories in here will keep you interested from the beginning all the way to the end. It is written in colorful language and allows you to kind of get inside Slim's head. It is a short 264 pages filled with wild stories of how Slim would gamble on almost anything and win. You may not agree with everything written in these pages but you will definitely get a few laughs along the way.
   
   Slim talks about human psychology and what role that plays in gambling. One of his sayings is "never make a bet unless the bet is already one." And through these pages he reveals his secrets to doing just that. I think there are a number of useful things that anyone could pick up and find useful in their own lives from some psychology to a number of bets that anyone could make others that could almost be guaranteed winners. One of the last things Slim says is, "making peace with yourself is the first thing a winner must do."
   
   If you have any interest in the mind of a gambler and like outrageous stories involving risk then I think you will enjoy this book.

5 comments about No-Limit Hold'em Hand by Hand: Learn to Beat the Ultimate Poker Game (w/DVD).

1. I have many MANY limit books and a good number of NL books so this is certainly not the first OR last NL book I will purchase.
   
   What I like is that this explains hands and how to play in certain situations that other books miss. The price tag is perfect as a fill in book between many of the higher prices books that are loaded with info but somethings get to technical.
   
   I guess you could call this a beer and pretzel book. You don't have to sit down in a quite room and study it, you can pick it up and look at hands and see how OTHERS play.
   
   From a limit player that has played over 1 million hands of limit and am switching - it's a perfect fill in book.



2. Hi,
   
   I have read almost 12 books on Texas Hold'em and I believe this is one of the best. If you play five to ten hours a month and have less then one year under your belt, this book is for you. It's easy reading and has many real hand examples that will have you saying wow! I never thought about that. It will give you more confidence at the table then you had before reading this book.
   
   The video disc that comes with this book is another great idea by Neil Myers. It shows and talks about many items in the book and gives you a different mode of learning other then straight reading.
   
   I fully recommend this book.
   
   
   Michael Shasho
   
   p.s if you google my name you will see that I am an active Hold'em player



3. The book covers some basic hands. There is nothing earth shattering in Neil Myers' commentary on the hands. The DVD is mind numbingly boring and unwatchable. It seems to cover the same hands he goes over in the book.



4. I have read many, many books on poker. I think Neil's book on no limit is one of the best. I have read Sklansky and all the others who go way beyond most people's comprehension of material. Usually I just ended up more confused with a whole lot more info than I needed to play competitive poker. Let's face it, most people are not playing at these guys level and don't need all the confusion. Neil shows how to play everyday poker with real everyday players, most of which will know less than you after reading his books. Practical,down to earth playing advice that will get you a lot more wins. I also highly reccommend his book on tournament play that has already got me further in most fast structured tourneys that I play online. Looking forward to more from him.



5. I found this book to be a great addition to my poker library. Not only does it go over important situations that you run into every day in NL hold'em but it gives you specific in game situations and then grades you on your responses. Highly recommended.

5 comments about Poker Nation: A High-Stakes, Low-Life Adventure into the Heart of a Gambling Country.

1. "Poker Nation" is the perfect introductory book for those new to the game, especially if you've just started getting into the 2005 World Series of Poker coverage. It's more of a series of anecdotes, musings, and observations than it is an Xs and Os how-to guide, so you won't get overwhelmed by the technical aspects of the game. Bellin's personal style of writing conveys all the highs and lows that poker can entail, and does so in a humorous, self-deprecating manner. If you're like me and rarely read books from cover-to-cover, you might be surprised how much of an easy read this can be.



2. I dont play poker at all. I picked this book up with the intent of improving my stock, currency and commodities trading under the premise that professional poker players and traders are two of a kind. Despite my ignorance of poker, I find this book a real page turner covering not only poker skills and tactics, but its addictive and even devastating effect on life of many poker players. It's very interesting and informative. The author's writing skill is excellent. No matter whether you like poker or not, if you are interested in reading fascinating stories, you will be very satisfied.
   
   p.s. As per whether it will help my trading, a little bit, I must say.



3. If you ever wondered if the world of poker is for you, read this book! most poker players will never set at the million dollar game(or table) - most poker players have to grind it out hour after hour - this book tells you all about that world!



4. This book reminds me of another good poker book, All In by Jonathan Grotenstein & Storms Reback. It a little bit of many different things. There's poker advice, poker history, biographies, poker stories, and humor. It's a great book for someone who wants to learn a thing or two about poker but doesn't just want to read strategy books like Super System.



5. Ok, this book is a lot of fun to read, especially if you are a serious poker player, But can anyone explain this sentence to me from page 209? : "The petty crooks . . . are, in actuality, nothing more than the low-level criminals they turn out to be." Sorry to be pick out just one sentence, but this makes absolutely no sense at all. I would expect a professional writer, with an editor and proof readers to help him, to do avoid this sort of thing. Am I wrong?

No comments about Winning Strategies for No-Limit Hold'em.

5 comments about The Video Poker Answer Book.

1. THIS IS A GOOD BOOK FOR THE BEGINNING VIDEO POKER PLAYERS AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ARE AT MORE ADVANCED LEVELS. THERE ARE LOTS OF GOOD INSIGHTS INTO SUCCESSFUL PLAY AT A LARGE VARIETY OF VIDEO POKER GAMES. HOWEVER MR GROCHOWSKI DOES NOT GET INTO SUFFICIENT DETAIL TO ANSWER SOME OF THE ADVANCED DECISIONS THAT MUST BE MADE BY ALL VIDEO POKER PLAYERS. FOR EXAMPLE AT FULL PAY DEUCES WILD WHAT IS THE BEST STRATEGY (BASED UPON EXPECTED VALUES) IF ONE IS DEALT THREE DEUCES WITH TWO 3'S?, TWO 8'S?, TWO 10'S?. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE BEST STRATEGY IS TO KEEP THE FIVE OF A KIND UNLESS IT IS FIVE 3'S THROUGH 9'S? MR GROCHOWSKI DOES A GOOD JOB OF CRUNCHING THE PROBABILITIES AND PRESENTING EXPECTED RETURNS ON DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS, BUT IT MIGHT BE EASIER TO REMEMBER IF THERE WAS A CHART THAT ONE COULD TAKE WITH TO HELP WITH THE DECISION MAKING AT THE MACHINE. HE DOES PROVIDE A WRITTEN LIST RANKING THE HANDS WHICH HAS TO SUFFICE. ALL IN ALL THIS IS A WORTHWHILE BOOK FOR THE MONEY.



2. Of all the video poker books I have read and reviewed in my gaming columns, John's book ranks right up there as one of the best. Whether you are a novice player or have some experience playing video poker, you will become a much better player after reading his book. John's Q&A format also makes it easy for the reader to grasp key points and his recommended strategies & explanations on how the machines work are right on the money. Trust me - you will not be disappointed. Highly recommended for players who want to learn how to play & more importantly how to improve your chances of winning. Henry Tamburin....



3. Most people, including me, know how to play video poker machines and what cards to hold in a play. The real problem comes when you double your play to get the most payoff, and that's where the real strategy is needed.
   This book is good for someone who is just starting to play and understand poker, but is not helpful at all when you already understand the game, odds and strategies and need to maximize your payoffs when doubling your game.



4. I have very little confidence in this book, primarily because of the glaring error in the fourth paragraph on page Xiii of the Introduction. What am I to expect from the rest of the book. If the auther cannot state the basic premise properly, I have very little confidence in the accuracy of the details in the remainder of the book. He states, "The days.....for Jacks or Better games that pay 9-for-1 on full houses and 6-for-1 on straights,...."



5. I purchased this book to gain some knowledge for Double Double Bonus Poker, and I was really disappointed. So what if DDB Poker only has an EV of 98.981%? I like the thrill and excitement of the game.
   Paymar, like so many others could care less about DDB Poker, and the book is written as if you were in a PHD math class. What a disappointment for a DDB Poker player!

5 comments about World Poker Tour(TM): Making the Final Table (World Poker Tour).

1. Some people complain this book is a lot of fluff and not much substance. But I disagree. Where this book really shines is as a component in your knowledge of tournament tactics. Combine this with "kill Phil", and the three volumes by Dan Harrington, and what you have are the gears you need to win. You always hear about the need to shift gears in order to win a tournament. Well these three books are definitely first second and third.
   Harrington on holdem gives a rock solid foundation, Phil's book takes that up a notch and exploits the slightest advantage of each hand. His tactics will win hands that otherwise would most likely lose at the river or be folded preflop. "Kill Phil" is the book that explains the only defense against people like phil. So by reading all three you get a great understanding of just exactly what is going on at the table on any given hand.
   Also, I think anyone who keeps making the money but never wins can benefit by having read this material. It reiterates over and over the strategy and necessity to win, not just survive. Distinguishing between the two is subtle yet monumental.



2. Erick takes you into different ways to play No Limit Tournament Poker. It is a great book for the advanced player as it shows different ways to take down pots. A must for the intermediate player who wants to take their game to the next level!



3. I will not recommend this book to anyone as it doesn't have much content in it. For serious players, I recommend Dan Harrington's books.



4. Lindgren's book is a refreshing departure from the majority of what you find in hold em literature these days. There's very little "thou shalt and shalt not" type of instruction. Instead you get to basically sit back and listen to a great, aggressive, small ball player share his thoughts on how the game should be played. We're not falling asleep in the classroom while the professor points at charts and graphs. It's almost like the book draws us into a conversation with one of the best hold em players alive.
   
   I would rate it 5 stars, but just a little more actual strategy and specific moves in certain spots would have been nice. You do get the feeling that Lindgren is aware of how much information he is divulging, and is careful about not giving away every secret here. He is giving you a push in the right direction, but then expects you to find your way from there. The poker math section at the end is informative and well-written, but the list of WPT winners is highly unnecessary filler.
   
   One word of caution: this style of play and the moves associated with it are completely lost on novice and/or bad players. If you play micro limit tournaments, or even in the first few levels of higher buy ins, do not attempt to play this way as you will most likely end up becoming the "donk" you were trying to outplay.



5. This book was very dissapointing. With a key message of 'play to win, not to survive', i've just given you every piece of information I gleaned from this rant. If you are into hearing a guy gloat about how he plays to win and thinks he is teaching you valuable insights, then this book is for you.
   
   The content covered is so light on that any insights are quickly lost. There are no in depth explanations of any of the concepts Lindgren presents. The whole thing seems to present as an egotistical drop out frat boy, that managed to work out how to be a successful poker player (well done for that) but is no where near able to write a decent instructional poker book.
   
   The book is written in a way that is meant to build your ability to win, by taking on qualifying in satellites, the various stages of the tournament, the final table, heads up and then how to spend your winnings (a house in vegas with no less than 6 plasma TV's). Lindgren also continually refers you back to previous chapters where you supposedly learnt valuable insights and somehow are a WPT millionaire.
   
   This book has no substance. If you want to learn better poker, try the Harrington on Holdem series, if you want to learn to be more aggressive try Gus Hansens, Every Hand Revealed.
   
   The WPT sponsored advertisement that this book is, complete with out of date WPT information on highest money winners etc, is not worth it. Don't waste your time.

5 comments about Championship Omaha (Championship).

1. This book is perfect for the experienced poker players who want to refine their skills. Not recommended for beginners.
   
   Take it from multiple-pro-tournament winners T.J. Cloutier and Tom McEvoy: Starting hand selection and flop reading are the two most important skills to develop for becoming a good Omaha and Omaha Hi-Lo Eight-or-Better player.
   
   They give you lots of example hands and flops, and explain what to avoid ("danglers") and what to seek out ("Acey-deucey").
   
   A little jargony, but the detailed information as well as Cloutier's hilarious old-school stories make up for that.
   
   It really helped me understand the various incarnations of Omaha and gave me a fighting chance against my buddies on poker night!



2. There is very little information available about the games of Omaha and Omaha high-low-split-eight-or-better (O8 for short) so this book is a rare find. The content is very straightforward and to the point, covering different forms of Omaha well. But it is not just a dry reference book, it was very entertaining. Which is good, it helps to keep you interested, focused and learning. I recommend this book to anyone looking to learn the game, or even just to improve their game.



3. The ideas are good and clear.
   Will improve your Omaha game.
   
   Highly recommended.



4. I've been playing poker for sixty years but had never played Omaha. After reading this book I went online (Ultimate Bet)and was amazed. If you like Omaha online buy this book!



5. Omaha is rising a lot in popularity. Good Omaha players can benefit a lot from the recent influx of Hold Em players. Most general poker books have a chapter or two on Omaha but this book in particular will really help you improve your Omaha skills, be it Limit, PLO or Hi-Lo. It will show you how to defeat weak Hold Em players who overplay their aces and by proving hom important the old saying is: Tight is Right, Tighter is Better. This is not a book for the beginning poker player but those who have played for a few years and want to learn to play at a higher level will benefit from this book, I can definately recommend it.

5 comments about Killer Poker Online: Crushing the Internet Game.

1. I believe if you learn one thing from a poker book, then its worth it. Here its not very clear that I can learn one useful thing from the book. Mostly because the hours you spend reading it, a seriously player woudl've made money instead of wasting time reading this book. Most of the stuff in this book isn't wrong, its just useless. The most important concepts lie somewhere in the zone of "online, tilt hurts you more because if you go on tilt for half an hour you play about 12 hands at a casino but online you play 50 or more hands, so it's much more harmful." If you dont know things like this or haven't thought about it (by the way the reverse is true, if you're running good and on your A game you also get more hands in online while in your optimal zone), then this book may well be useful to you, but it wont be the book it's made itself out to be.



2. Lots of the information I consider true but obvious or not actionable. Other parts I don't agree with. For instance, he's pretty negative about playing multiple tables and those that do. He never tries to back this conjecture up with any statistics or experiments.
   
   It's clear that the author considers on-line play to be a lesser from of poker, an imperfect simulation of Brick & Mortar play rather than a game of itself. Having really started on the internet myself, I find this perspective (while not exactly wrong) jarring. I don't, for instance, consider the lack of physical tells to be a defect.
   
   There's much discussion about tracking your opponents through notes. Vorhaus wrote this edition in 2003. In 2006 there should be some coverage of software tools (pokertracker, etc.) to help in this process.
   
   The section about preselect buttons is good, though not news to experienced players.
   
   If you're an experienced player making a first foray into online poker, there are a *few* helpful hints. As an alternative, I'd suggest reading rec.gambling.poker, fullcontactpoker, or 2+2 forums. They're more informative and up-to-date.



3. This book is intended for the amateur poker player that is new to the online poker world. You should know the basics of poker, and have some experience playing for money first.
   
   If you are a decent table player and seem to be consistenly losing in the online game, this is what you need to read. He covers online pitfalls that the table player may be unaware of, covers great online tells, and how to exploit them. What to watch for when analyzing a new poker site, and so on.
   
   He does over analyze a few concepts, but I believe that is intended to burn it into your brain.



4. This book is a JOKE. It is BY FAR the worst poker book I have ever read. In fact, I don't even think it's fair to call this book a "poker book" as the book does not contain one sentence about poker strategy- not one! It basically consists of such useless advice as: "Concentrate when you're playing in a game," "Don't play drunk," "Pick a good user name," "Don't play tired," "Keep notes on your opponents,"If you get bored then do something else while you play but don't get too distracted" etc etc etc. Vorhaus also attempts to be funny throughout the book and his sense of humor is really annoying and very corny. I had a great deal of difficulty forcing myself to finish reading this book but I figured since I paid for it, I might as well force myself to complete it.
   
   How this atrocious book found a publisher is beyond me and how it has enjoyed any level of success is just mystifying. Vorhaus has actually written a sequel to this book so I have to assume that there is a market for his awful work which I just cannot understand.
   
   Do not spend one cent purchasing this book as you will be sorely disappointed. Invest your money in Matthew Hilgers excellent book if you want a solid manual for playing Texas Hold 'em on the internet- that book will give you the information you need to "crush the internet game." With Vorhaus's pathetic rag you won't be crushing anything; you'll just be kicking yourself for wasting your money.
   
   I would like to give this book zero stars but unfortunately Amazons rating system doesn't go that low.



5. I'm a fan of John Vorhaus, but this one isn't his best!
   I expected some more methodology specifically around technique such as early and late position approaches to areas like tournament play and that is not what the books about.
   Killer Poker Online is big on overall strategy with an emphasis on online sites ,security and 'tells' in general.