5 comments about Texas Hold'em Odds.

1. there are only very long equations and nothing else!
   buy this book only if u r interested in the exact prbabilities.



2. This book is all about the math. There is no strategy discussion, and it is ridiculous to think you that you would memorize all the information in this book. If you are interested in how odds are calculated, you might find this interesting. Otherwise, I am not sure what you will get from it.



3. This is a very messy book that is very hard to follow. I can't imagine that the information in here will be of any use to any poker player at all! Maybe a poker software developer could use some formulas from it but I pretty much doubt that anyone would want to work with this book anyway. The book is actually organized but the layout, language and information in it is so bad put together that you probably will give up before you find what you are looking for anyway. This is by far the worst poker odds book I've read.



4. I'm seeing a lot of reviewers hammer this book as being useless to players who are not very mathematically oriented but would still like to improve their knowledge of probability and odds. And I understand that 100 percent. That is not the proper audience for this book.
   
   This book is much more geared to someone that has some college level math and/or computer training and wants a foundation on which to build a comprehensive probability system. It is useful for that because the author has presented a unique way to construct poker odds from the bottom up.
   
   The book not only evaluates the probability of achieving any made hand based on what is in one's own hand, but also gives a method for calculating adjustments as the common cards appear on the board. No other individual source I have come across does it this way. Even the Wikipedia entry for "Poker probability (Texas hold 'em)" reverts back to the traditional outs-based approach found in many other books. That is useful to many players, but it does not give you much flexibility to further model the game outside of that framework.
   
   My only problem is that the formulas are not built up to display very well and at certain points the bigger ones resemble a source code dump (Fortran?). I have tried keying them into my VB compiler and have uncovered at least one or two errors. Most of the formula results are helpfully distilled into tables, though the full house and two pair tables are too multi-dimensional and can only be reproduced programatically.
   
   As for myself, I am a programmer with economic math training who got this book two years ago because there was simply nothing else comparable on the market. Books by Yao and Hillger, while having valuable insights on strategy, all revert to the traditional outs-based exposition of probability and odds.
   
   One of these days the poker world is going to start producing elegant ways to crunch down odds and probabilities into the kind of simplified playing techniques that transformed blackjack (e.g., Hi-Opt styled point-based systems). If used the right way by the right audience, this book could contribute to paving the way for that breakthrough.



5. Even if I see some reviewers complaining about the heavy load of math, this book contains vital information any player should take into account for a professional play. While all other good books on Hold'em strategy presents the math involved only through a statistical approach (and this is normal, since their writers are not mathematicians), this book treats the entire mathematical model of the card distribution in Hold'em, covering all possible gaming events through compact formulas and probability results. And what is great is that the results are organized in tables for those who are not math inclined to pick them by skipping the math parts. So I think Barboianu's book is the best completion for any kind of strategy book.

4 comments about Mr. Lucky's Favorite Poker Games.

1. I admittedly know the Author. A brilliant individual, with a background including a perfect SAT score and an Ivy League education, but also a proclivity to occasionately deviate far from the Numbing Path of Normalicy. Mr. Maricic once created a number of short comedic films that are legendary in the Northeast(ok,a dozen or so towns in Northern NJ). His work, always hilarious but smart, now extends to the written word.
   Mr. Lucky is a hybrid collection of absurdly entertaining "new" Poker Game creations. These (primarily) 3, 5 and 7 card poker games are tied to, and strung together via, a consistently funny recounting of episodes taken from global wanderings of a seemingly quaint and innocent little bear named Mr. Lucky.
   Mr. Lucky, however, also happens to possess a thinly submerged and rather iconoclastic personality, which is often exhibited as he becomes tangled up in historic world events and mingles with an assortment of renowned historical figures on the world stage.
   The large quantity, high quality and historical satiric content of the poker games presented in Mr. Lucky is accompanied by a precise and user-friendly sets of playing instructions for each game or set of games.
   If your group's Poker Night has lost some of its thrill, or gotten a bit too serious or routine for your taste, consider employing Mr. Lucky to re-inject the genuine freshness and collective inanity that originally colored those sessions....those great times that uniquely belong to old and new friends who don't take themselves too seriously.



2. It makes you laugh at history, politic and life all at once
   
   I wonder when he will have a card game about the Foley scandel.
   
   I would love Maricic to publish a weekly card game based on the big news story of each week. It would make doonesbury seem out of touch
   
   After having read it I passed on to people in my office they all thought it is one of the most hilarious views on life, history and politics.



3. Steve Maricic hits the jackpot with Mr. Lucky's Favorite Poker Games, a highly entertaining and informative read that weaves a Forrest Gump-like (or for the more artistic, a Zelig-like) trip through the late 20th Century with an A list of poker games that would dazzle even the most jaded Vegas or Knights of Columbus Casino Night dealer. Maricic's Gump is Mr. Lucky, a World War II merchant mariner from Bayonne, NJ who just happens to be a teddy bear. Don't let that fool you into thinking this is a kid's story - Lucky is a wry, albeit goofy, observer of the social and political scene who gets to test wits with such historical figures ranging from Communist stalwarts Fidel Castro and Nikita Khrushchev to their polar opposites Winston Churchill and Ronald Reagan. Lucky may be a blue collar guy from Jersey, but armed with Maricic's witty, inventive and imaginative voice, he is more than a match for those he meets along his journey.
   
   With Lucky's travels as the backdrop, Maricic deals one winning hand after another as he presents an incredible collection of poker games. Some of them are familiar favorites, but Maricic goes way beyond the predictable, by bringing to light dozens of oddball, offbeat games with catchy titles like Gruesome Twosome, Bedsprings, Yanqui Baseball and Seven Card Myron. A filmmaker, librarian and teacher, Maricic skillfully brings these disciplines together in this book. The games are well-spaced throughout the narrative so not as to overload the reader; they have clear, easy-to-follow instructions; and are cleanly presented in simple graphics. Maricic introduces his work with a chapter on poker basics, and closes with an expansive glossary to complete what has to be one of the most original and entertaining books on poker in years.
   
   Long before there was the World Series of Poker, Celebrity Poker, On Line Poker, Amputee Poker and the rest, there was Neighborhood Poker, played by close friends who used the cards as a backdrop to stay in touch, discuss sports and politics and simply have fun. Mr. Lucky's Favorite Poker Games reminded me of those neighborhood games. However Maricic puts forth such a creative work that I wouldn't be surprised if one night in the near future, I turn on ESPN and see, live from the Cruise Ship Terminal in Bayonne, Steve hosting the first ever Mr. Lucky Poker Tournament! Bedsprings, anyone?



4. An excellent selection of innovative games.
   The cover graphic is extremely creative,
   as is the concept of this little teddy bear
   and his friend Steve.
   A delightful experience.
   I suggest that you buy a copy for each member
   of your poker-playing circle of friends and family.

1 comments about I'm All In: Lyle Berman and the Birth of the World Poker Tour.

1. Lyle Berman was born into a family that had moderate success in a very niche market: leather products, especially coats. He learned the business from the ground up, helped his father build the business, sold it, bought it back, merged it, sold it again and used the proceeds to build wealth for his family.
   
   Along the way he learned the art of the deal and the rush he got from that paralleled the rush he got from playing high-stakes poker. The two came together the first time when he became the outside agent who became the driving force that launched Indian Gaming. He accelerated gaming in Mississippi when he recognized that the need to be "offshore" on the Mississippi Gulf Coast did not necessarily mean on a boat, and he used barges to create bigger, glitzier, and more hypnotic casinos than would otherwise be possible.
   
   The two "rushes" came together again when the timing was right to create the World Poker Tour. From concept to product to launch--The World Poker Tour came together in a series of meetings that at first made the probability of it going anywhere seem unlikely. But Lyle's connections and experience put the pieces together to launch a product in a niche market that was ready for something new. The details make for fascinating reading.
   
   What also makes for fascinating reading is Berman's candor about what success costs. While he doesn't dwell on it, he does acknowledge that his drive for business success also laid the seeds of personal failure in his marriages and the impact it had on him and his children.
   
   Armchair Interviews says: Well worth reading--especially for the person who is willing to read between the lines for life lessons that can be learned.

No comments about Lawyers' Poker: 52 Lessons That Lawyers Can Learn from Card Players.(Book review): An article from: Trial.

4 comments about Championship Tournament Poker (Championship Series).

1. I was expecting something a bit more detailed and better than Slansky's Tournament poker book. Unfortunately I was let down. There's not much "advice" nor many concrete examples. Instead we're treated to a few anecdotes and a spare "key concept" here and there. I'd spend my money elsewhere.



2. I don't know who this book is supposed to be for. Certainly not someone who wants to learn any of the featured games. It's assumed you already know the games well. Certainly not anyone already playing much tournament poker. Perhaps the delusional player who is just starting to play in tournaments and wants to play in every available event at once. The book is just silly. There are a grand total of 20 pages on no-limit hold 'em for example, and most of those are repetative. In other words, Tom easily could have put 10 pages that say the same thing into the fine book he co-wrote with T.J. Cloutier. The "advice" mostly consists of Tom rephrasing the very problem you probably wanted answered. In the brief section on strategic concepts, for instance, Tom repeats in several different sections the need to stay calm and guard against making errors based on personal dislike of an opponent. He says things like take a deep breath after a bad beat (well, duh!). What he doesn't say, are things like how to adjust your play if you've got a very aggressive player to your immediate left (which is useful to know). He says things like "The champions know when to push a marginal hand and when to back away from it," but makes no attempt to try to quantify how or when they know this. So it isn't very helpful. The chapter on playing poker as a business is probably useful, except it's only useful if you're good in the first place and if you are you aren't reading this book, you're saving your $30 and playin poker with it. There are much better books out there and unless you are going to run right out and enter tournaments in every event, pick up a book that deals with the game in which you want to excel and stick to that. The stuff in here you can find in articles on-line, or figure out playing poker on-line.



3. More like a diary of some of Tom's successes (and he has had many) but only a few anecdotes. Buy one of TJ Cloutier's books (or Slansky's) for much much more insight.



4. I've read over 30 poker books in my lifetime and this is by far the worst I've come across. Tom types plenty of words but effectively says close to nothing when it comes to strategy -- you know, the whole reason anyone might make the mistake of purchasing this hunk of waste. What he does say is either obvious, redundant, or both. Tom reiterates to us the need to try to stay calm after a bad beat. Brilliant! You'd think there must be a great deal more depth to this in the actual book, but there's honestly not. He also advises us not to make a play based on personal feelings against a player. How insightful! And therein lies the problem. There's not a single piece of insight to be found in this book. Do yourself a favor and pick up any poker book but this one. It's pretty clear that TJ Cloutier was the brains behind their previous joined effort. This is just Tom trying to cash in on as little effort as possible. I tried to use it as toilet paper, but it didn't do a great job in that regard either. Worthless

4 comments about Video Poker: Play Longer with Less Risk.

1. I have read Ms. Costa's new video poker book and found it quite interesting. After reading her tips and tricks on playing video poker, I thought why not give it a shot. I live in Las Vegas so what better place to try it out. I must say I was optimistic when she described some of the little tricks other avid gamblers do especially when it came to holding three cards for about 30 seconds and the majority of the time the fourth one will come up. I can't tell you how many times I have tried this tip and actually got the fourth card. This is amazing and especially helpful when you get those four aces with a kicker. I have been leaving the casino with their money. My husband laughed the first time I did it and told me it would never work and just looked at me when the four of a kind appeared on the screen. Now I notice that he is doing it with success. I also try and get the noisest machine on the line and the ones closest to the door. Now, if I can only take Ms. Costa's advise and know when to leave a machine and take my $$$ with me. Thumbs up on this book.



2. If you've NEVER played video poker, this is a great starting place for tips and very basic strategy. Some of the statements the author makes are along the lines of; "I've heard that machines can be programmed to give better hands to lower bets." These make for interesting anecdotes, but not much in terms of substance. However, the author provides good information for introductory strategy that will definitely save the novice player money. In a book of this nature, I think it is essential that there be information on which machines are statistically full-pay machines and which are not. For instance, if a jacks or better machine pays 9 to 1 for a full house and 6 to 1 for a flush, perfect play over the long run will yield close to full paybacks, while a machine that pays 8 and 5 to 1 respectively, is only a 94% payback machine. This information is critical if you want to play for very long, but isn't found in this book.



3. Costa's system really works. After reading this book, I went to the casino, tried it out and came home a winner. In addition, the book was easy to read and very entertaining. I highly recommend it!!



4. I always had a good time at the Poker machines; but in the past not only have I NOT won, I've never been able to make my budgeted funds last as long as I'd like them to. What fun it was to take Carol's tips to the casino and try them out. Not only did I play longer, I took home all of my money, and some of "theirs" too. Even if that might not happen every single time, these new techniques just make the trips to the casino a lot more fun. Woo-hoo!

5 comments about World Poker Tour(TM): Shuffle Up and Deal.

1. This book is a fair primer on poker on it most basic level, but chances are if you're buying the book, it's because you've been watching WPT and are already familiar with the game to some extent.
   
   If you're really a beginner, this book is a fast read and will get you started, but please don't end your education here. There is very little in this book on theory, and important topics, if addressed at all, are not covered in depth. There are a few good stories, and there's plenty of advertising reminding us to watch WPT on TV and, of course, to play poker online at the site that Mr. Sexton endorses (and in which I believe he has some ownership). He reminds us over and over how GREAT it is to win! NO DUH!
   
   If you really want to learn about poker and take your game to the next level(s), get your hands on anything by Sklansky. Read them all. Cover to cover. Twice. Then again. It will take a long time to absorb it all, but it will be worth it. When you do, you'll then have to decide what style of play is best for you. For example, I found it discouraging that Mr. Sexton advocates the "fit or fold" strategy on the flop, only to read Sklansky tell us that "fit or fold" is "terrible advice."
   
   Buy this book if you must (it's a light read that you can knock out in an afternoon), but know going into it that you're not even scratching the surface of what poker is all about.



2. If you don't know the rules and are interested in poker, this book is for you. Even if you are experienced, it is a fun read. Just don't expect to learn anything new.
   
   The extra dvd is very well put together and great for someone just starting out.
   
   If you really want to learn poker though, pick one of the many other books considered "must-reads"



3. This is a good book, mainly for people above the raw beginner level, but still below the intermediate level. A lot of good observations about the differences between tournament poker and ring games. Probably a little "over the head" of raw beginners.



4. If you are a poker player, then this is a good book to read. It has everything you need to become successful. If the book doesn't do it for you, then there is a DVD that could really help your game.



5. How did they take something rarely televised and make it have more viewers than most basketball games? This book talks about the business plan, the financing, getting casinos to grant them exclusive rights to TV poker, how they mention the casino at least twice in each show, how they use the 16 cameras and graphics to make you feel like you are a player at the table. I loved learning that sometime they redo the commentary 3 times to make the show more exciting. There are bios of some of the early WPT veterans. There are inside stories about playing home games with stars in Hollywood. Did you know that Mike Sexton was able to be a pro poker player playing in cash games six nights a week in North Carolina? I always thought that poker pros had to be near a casino. I feel that these stories are worth the price of the book. This book is a good intro book for beginners, but more experienced players will not learn any poker strategies. However, you should consider reading this book for the stories and for the insights into starting an international sporting organization from scratch.

No comments about Secrets of Short-handed Pot-Limit Omaha.

No comments about How I Raised, Folded, Bluffed, Flirted, Cursed, and Won Millions-and You Can Too.

No comments about Poker 24/7: 35 Years as a Poker Pro.