5 comments about Internet Poker: How to Play and Beat Online Poker Games.

1. I've purchased 5 poker books in the past few months and this is by far the poorest. It's Texas Holdem section doesnt go beyond pre-flop play - literally! No advice on what to do after flop, on turn, at river. It comes with a free CD which, from what I gathered, promotes an online poker site. My guess is that they are marketing the site. No real content in book.
   
   (...)



2. Although the author is a well known, don't expect an advanced treatise on onlie play. What this is, however, is a good nuts & bolts guide for online play. Great for beginners and intermediate players who have want to transition from live to online play. Also servers as a good beginner's guide to limit Texas holdem. 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!



3. This book may be useful for someone that has absolutely no experience with online poker but in no way does the book seriously address how to "beat online poker games." It briefly discusses the rules of the most popular poker games and the mechanics of online play. The book is more concerned with discussing table etiquette than poker strategy. The title is very misleading.



4. if you are a Mac comuter user or do not have access to a PC, don't get this book!
   
   75% of this book requires that you have a Windows PC to follow the disk and makes the book completely useless it you have a MAC.
   I bought this book online, and no where does it have a disclaimer saying this book is worthless if you don't have a PC.
   
   This book is more of an info-mercial for Wilsons Turbo Poker.
   
   I wasted my money on this book.
   It would have been nice if the author had at least framed the Q&A so you didn't need the Disk to follow what he was talking about.
   
   I'd give it a zero if I could!



5. ....will the reading of this book improve your game, personally as a semi Professional player that has participated in the WSOP, I would urge all new players to start off just playing for play money. To improve your tournament play you should play freerolls. If you find yourself, hitting a place, then it is time to play for real money online, not before.

No comments about Card Games 30 of the World's Greatest Card Games Explained Step-by-Step.

3 comments about Casino Gambling for Fun and Profit: Second Edition.

1. Reviewed by Kirkus Discoveries: "A clinical psychologist turned professional casino gambler reveals the secrets of his success.
   
   For some, gambling is an obsession; for others, it's a recreational hobby. For those, like the author, who fall somewhere in between, there are ways to minimize losses and maximize success while enjoying the simple act of playing different games. Crowder focuses his advice on casino games such as blackjack and video poker, games that allow smart, controlled gamblers to make gains in the long run. He walks would-be gamblers step-by-step through basic strategy, which he defines as "the best possible play of any given dealt hand based on the player's hand and dealer's up-card in blackjack, and the cards dealt in video poker." He also presents his personal "cycle strategy," a method of gambling that helps curtail losses while still allowing players to take advantage of hot streaks. In addition to a few math lessons and some number crunching that provides evidentiary support for his advice, the author also provides particularly helpful sections that discuss the fringe benefits of gambling, such as player's clubs, cash back, coupons, comped rooms and meals, drawings and more. He contends that even on unlucky gambling trips, taking advantage of these offers can offset losses and even turn net losses into gains. The author's enthusiasm for the subject matter is palpable, though his lengthy descriptions of his own gambling trips, while occasionally enlightening and entertaining, generally detract from the otherwise direct flow of the book. While casual gamers aren't likely to be as interested in reading the book as they are in getting to the craps table and taking advantage of the free drinks, the tips and strategies presented here will prove highly useful for those looking to profit from trips to the casino.
   
   Indispensable for serious recreational gamblers."



2. I read Dr. Crowder's previous book; "Casino Gambling for Fun and Profit" and I thought that book was well written, easy to understand and very usefull. I do enjoy gambling, however I am not a professional gambler. This 2nd Edition is a perfect addition to the 1st. Included in this edition, that was not in the 1st, were a few other very popular video poker games; Bonus Jacks or Better, Double-Double Bonus Poker and Bonus Poker Deluxe. Dr. Crowder does a great job at explaining the play and the strategy of these games.
   
   This book is a must have for all gamblers be they professional or recreational.



3. Dr. Crowder's earlier edition of this book was the first book on gambling that I purchased when I became interested in playing video poker. That was several years ago and several royal flushes later I can attest that his approach to gaming is "right on the money." Crowder not only gives sensible, direct advice to new gamblers, but his views on money management and making the most of comps, coupons, and special offers are of interest to even those of us who have gambled for years. He also has a unique way of spinning a yarn, which makes his personal anecdotes pleasurable to read. A must buy for any gambler or anyone thinking about some casino fun.

1 comments about DRAW POKER ODDS: The Mathematics of Classical Poker.

1. Any variation of poker is highly predisposed to probability-based decisions, including draw poker. This book covers completely the mathematics of this game. It is full of formulas and probabilities listed in tables, from where they can be picked according to the desired situation. It practically holds all the numerical returns of a software! Great job.

4 comments about How to Win No-Limit Hold'em Tournaments.

1. Of the 10-15 poker books I have purchased, this is easily the biggest waste of money. The practice questions were fit for a 3rd grader and I can honestly say I leared less than nothing. I take that back, I learned that I know a little about poker already.
   
   Save your money, purchase dan harringtons books instead.



2. Got to agree with the other reviewer(s), if this had zero starts, that'd be my rating.
   
   I'd like to encourage Tom to continue writing, as his articles published in well know trade magazines are quite good.



3. I've been playing poker since 2003, and I've faired pretty well. I realize that I still have a lot to learn, but I've won a few local tournaments and made some money here and there.
   
   I purchased this book to accompany me on a business trip last year, and I had not really got very far through it. Recently I picked it up and started to work my way through the book. I got about half way through and realized that this book is by far the worst poker book I've ever read. Actually, I think I read one that was slightly worse, but this is darn close.
   
   In the last section I was reading that professional players use advanced math and clever calculations to figure out if they are getting the right pot odds to make a call. Now I already know that, and have for some time. In fact watching poker on TV will teach you that. Heck I even know how to do this math in my head. But for some reason this book neglects to cover these skills.
   
   Having read this fact I began to realize that this book tells you that stuff is going on, but gives you no tools to realize how to do it yourself. It's like saying, "Tiger Woods hits the golf ball with tremendous accuracy and power, allowing him to drive the ball great distances and more often than not he gets it to land very close to the pin. You will want to do this too if you expect to win a major golf tournament."
   
   The book is full of pearls of wisdom like this. I came here to read the other reviews, since I have only read half the book. But unless the other reviews are wrong, and the back half of this book is completely different this book is a total waste of time.
   
   I suggest you read the Harrington on Hold'em set of books if you really want to do well in a tournament. The only thing this book might be useful for is letting a newbie player know that poker is harder than it looks. Of course it won't tell you how to improve, merely that you need to.



4. Tom McEvoy is well-known as the one-time WSOP Main Event champion and author of many poker books. The question surrounding him is it quantity over quality? Considering the less-than-stellar reviews of many of his books, it seems most people think it's the former.
   
   This is the first McEvoy book I purchased and read cover to cover. I will agree with his critics that his advice is often too simplistic and gives the reader no sense of context. When he advises that a top NLHE player learns all he can about the math of the game, but offers no insight into that area, one is understandably left wanting.
   
   However, if you had nothing but this book to use as a framework for developing a strategy for micro MTTs ($10 and below), I think you would find yourself being very successful. By simply following his starting hand suggestions, utilizing position, and implementing the key concepts and plays from the "playbook" chapter, you will be far ahead of probably 90% of any field in these tourneys. The problem arises once you are in the money and must be a master of push/fold/call in just the right spots, a highly crucial aspect of tourney play that is hardly addressed.
   
   In other words, McEvoy's "How to Win" will get you into the money fairly regularly, but to close the deal you will need experience that only another source or, even better, actual game play can provide. If you are new to the game and play low stakes tournaments, I definitely recommend this book as it will help you beat your opponents, against whom fancier playing strategies would be completely useless. Once you get ready to move up to higher stakes and better competition, you will be ready for something a little more advanced like the HOH series.
   
   In short, I think this book is great for new tournament players or those playing the micro MTTs...not so much for anyone else.

4 comments about Handbook Of Winning Poker.

1. After watching the recent movie "Rounders" I was inspired to take up and learn poker. This book gives full rules, how-to-play instructions, and good strategy for ten different games. It also includes general definitions and poker information, a glossary of terms, and insight into bluffing and psychological aspects of the game. After an hour of reading up on Texas Hold'em I ended up tripling my profit on my first home six hour session.



2. After reading this book I didn't get even one thing out of it. there are much better books out there try the others.



3. Dreadful advice coupled with lousy pop psychology and too much fluff. The author crams 10 games into one tiny book and gives them all short shrift. This book will wind up costing you far more than the cover price.



4. My background: I have been playing poker for about 20 years, but only seriously (for money) for the last 2 years or so.
   
   The negative reviews of this book seem to be written by people that were expecting too much from this book. It is a flawed book but there is some excellent advice and strategy in this book that is superior than some of the other "major" poker books that are popular right now.
   
   One example of this is his section on money management. He discusses a stop-loss approach similar to what Wall Street investors use when they make a big score. Since I read this book I have been employing a version of this advice in my games and have noticed a marked improvement in my self control. It is much easier to walk away ahead when you've decided ahead of time exactly how much you're willing to win.
   
   The strategy sections on the various games are admittedly a little thin, but not bad at all for a beginner. My advice would be to read this book first and then graduate on to the current boooks that deal with more advanced strategy.
   
   Overall: pick it up used or at the library if you can, it's worth reading once.

2 comments about Blackjack for Winners.

1. The author gives a different approach to winninng at blackjack. Scott Frank presents the CORE System to counting cards in an easy to understand way. I really enjoyed the book and found Scott's theories to be helpful. I used the strategy in Vegas and actually won.



2. excellent book, very interesting system.

5 comments about Big Deal: One Year as a Professional Poker Player.

1. To me this book was like pocket sevens, you feel bad throwing it away, but it's really not worth your time. Interesting at times, some good stories, but not all that great.



2. Big Deal is a vivid, charming tour many famous poker venues and events around the world through the eyes of a full-time writer and wannabe pro. Mr. Holden is quite skilled as a journalist. Through his description, one really feels like they are there in Malta as rain causes the roof to crumble. He has a strong eye for important and interesting details. Many of his quotations are invaluable and the book flows like words from the mouth of Amarillo Slim. The narrator has his own issues but one cannot help but be sympathetic towards him and cheer for his doomed attempts in becoming a poker legend.
   
   The book will completely appeal to dreamers on every continent who wish to avoid spending the rest of their days working for the man (or mam as the case often is nowadays).
   
   His trip to the psychologist and brief discussion of the psychology behind gambling was enlightening. I learned from his "shrink's" perspective and welcomed the alternative hypothesis concerning what makes people gamble. Saying it's simply masochism alone is in no way a universal explanation.
   
   As a narrator, Holden unfortunately introduces some politics into his text. He exudes smug anti-Americanism in spades. (Yawn...) He appears to think the majority of us are uncouth and disinterested in the finer things of life although his friend Eric Drache obviously belies his stereotyped impressions. He makes digs about Margaret Thatcher and embraces the foppish left-wing notions of many in the English elite but there is no substance behind his snarky comments. Holden intentionally describes some hick at the table as predictably being a Republican. Southerners are also a target and to think, just because a gambling event in Louisiana was cancelled, that nothing has changed in the south in 150 years time is absurd, flawd, and deeply prejudiced.
   
   He notes that many poker players are right wing, but why they are is the crucial angle he refuses to explore. All poker players are capitalists by definition--whether they admit it or not. Maximizing profit is why we sit at the table. Those who play should be opposed to redistributionist schemes. True social justice is about keeping what you've earned which is what poker is all about. Oh well, such mindless political asides are not representative of the whole book but they are annoying enough to keep me from giving it five stars. Otherwise, good show London Tony!



3. Holden emulates Alvarez with this book.
   Holden writes about trying to make it as a player for a year, culminating in playing in the World Series and chronicling that event in the way Alvarez does in BIGGEST GAME IN TOWN.
   Holden does a competent job. As you read the book, you'll be entertained, even though the narrator is not always incredibly like-able.
   If you haven't read BIGGEST GAME IN TOWN, get that one first. If you have already read the Alvarez, then BIG DEAL is worth checking out.



4. Anthony Holden gives us a look inside the globe-traveling world of high stakes poker as he chronicles his one year attempt to make a go of it as a professional poker player. His perspective is that of a well-educated british journalist, and this comes through with a score of literary references as well as with some self-deprecating wit.
   
   For the aspiring serious poker player, the book is interesting, but not necessarily helpful in guiding one's poker-related career goals. In fact, it's not so much a "How to" as a "How NOT to." Over the course of a year, Holden is obviously playing well, as his various near-money finishes demonstrate. However, he also makes a series of poor decisions, and the biggest financial moments of the year are predicated on luck and fluke rather than on skill.
   
   Playing jet-lagged and inebriated, habitually turning to the blackjack tables as a way to rebuild lost funds, Holden nails huge pots when he shouldn't, as when he catches one of two sevens in the deck to take down a big score against Johnny Moss.
   
   Conversely, he is busted out of two consecutive World Series of Poker tournaments by being extremely unlucky, falling to a "three-outer" each time.
   
   The book is generally interesting and exciting to read, although I would have liked fewer digressions into the history and culture of poker, and more information on the mechanics of the solid play that gets Holden rolling on a poker cruise.
   
   This book will teach people a lot about poker, without teaching them about how to play better poker.



5. It's a worthwhile read if you love playing poker. There's plenty of tall tales, crazy hands, and interesting psychology. However, Holden's style drags a bit in the later chapters, and his dry English prose is a bit dull at times. Overall, a good gift for the literate poker nut.

3 comments about Getting Back in the Game: Finding the Fountain of Youth in Cyberspace.

1. It is a wonderful read:
   
   funny
   warm
   endearing
   smart
   uplifting
   motivating
   human
   
   and it doesn't matter at all if you are into poker or not... what so ever.



2. If you like poker, you're going to love Lona's book. But you don't have to like the game to admire the dame, her philosphy (She has a Ph.d in the subject) and her elan! Here is a woman who's found a way to grow old with panache! You may get some valuable tips from her, about poker, family,LIFE! Good for you, Lona Rubenstein! Mekerr



3. What is a borderline recluse/retired professor/grandmother doing on an exotic cruise with a bunch of POKER fanatics?. The answer is a story of personal insight seasoned generously with humor. High quality paper and a good readable typeface make this romp enjoyable as well as TRULY FUN to read.

No comments about Showgirl Adult Cards: 54 Models, Plastic Coated Playing Cards.