5 comments about Secrets of Professional Pot-Limit Omaha.

1. this dude talks about hands he has played throughout the entire book, quite possibly the worst book ever written



2. If you buy into cash games for the minimum and want to reduce your risk, while raking in large pots, this book is for you. Rolf has written a unique approach that is really quite informative. It takes a real commitment to his strategy for it to work, but in the long run I am sure it works well. Even if you don't use this specific strategy, the book is worth it because it covers a lot of groundbreaking areas that other Omaha books haven't touched and it is well written. I haven't pulled the trigger yet on his strategy, but I learned a lot about the reasons behind a successful Omaha strategy. Well done Rolf.



3. A fresh view on pot-limit omaha, a must read for everyone seriously interested in the game. Helps you understand the strategy of shortstack play perfectly.



4. Ok folks, up front this is not a how to book. Actually there is very little information in this book about starting hands, semi bluffing ect. This book is more about Power Plays. It is about using betting to lure in the action, controlling the pot, and most of all: understanding a great players use of logic rather than pure aggression. Rolf goes through hand scenerios that he has been in, in specific types of games.
   
   For Example: He tells of his time playing in a loose aggressive game in Vienna and how he was able to develop a systematic approach in beating this particular game. P.S. It is fascinating to read.
   
   His style is very erradic but once you read a few of his "Tales from the Felt" (as I call it) you begin to comprehend why he plays these hands a certain way in one game and completely different in another type of game.
   
   If you are an intermediate player I would still say you should read: Jeff Hwangs, Pot Limit Omaha book first and then read this one. Because the concepts in this book are advanced and you must have a clear understanding of the game to fully grasp the ideas and plays in this book. If you don't you will loose alot of money attempting these Power Plays.
   
   On a Personal Note:
   
   I play Omaha hi/lo Ring Games at my local casino and there are moments when I can understand these plays and incorporate them into my game and they have helped me get that extra value for my hand that I could not get before.
   
   Hope this helps!
   
   - George Johnson



5. Having read these reviews, I thought I'd better give my sad opinion too, since most of the reviews miss the biggest point.
   
   Unless you are an advanced Omaha player, this book is not for you. If you don't have an exceptional understanding of the game, the stuff Rolf writes will go right over your head. God help you (and your bankroll) if you try using it in money games.
   
   One reviewer is right in saying to read Hwang first. Ciaffone would be another good choice.

5 comments about Poker for Dummies.

1. Its good for beginners but its too broad.....it covers a little bit on every poker game and teaches you about bluffing, helped me win Id reccomend it!



2. it's great that this book assumes that you know nothing about poker, because i knew nothing.
   
   this book is great in helping you think of all the considerations in poker, what the odds are, the groupings of hands, what other players are playing etc, but with a bit of practise, you can make these decisions in a matter of seconds. and practise i did. when i found that lou krieger was host of royal vegas poker, i practised there.
   
   the only aspect that put me off a bit, but was my own shortcoming, not the book's, was the issue of calculating the standard deviations, outs etc. being mathematically challenged, puts me at a disadvantage.
   
   but this is a great book, which is comprehensively basic - as it should be. i'd recommend it to anyone.



3. I love "Dummies" books and usually start with one when I want to learn something completely new. I have played poker recreationally most of my life, and been a consistent winner--because my competition was even worse than I was. I even won in my sole foray into a card club--because I was lucky. I had never played Hold'em, however. I wanted to learn more than just the rules of the game and get an introduction to some of the theoretical poker concepts that I knew were out there. This is the wrong book for that.
   
   This book is just too elementary for anyone but a total and complete novice. The only "take away" for me was an understanding of what playing tight pre-flop means for Hold'em. The commentary on post-flop play was way too simple-minded.
   
   This book spends too much time explaining things like tournaments, the World Series of Poker, and the Internet. I am still looking for the book I want.



4. This book is great for everyone who's new to poker, especially casino poker. It explains all kinds of poker in detal and gives general rules on how to win in poker. You certainly can learn all your basics from this book, but I don't think it's good for people who want to learn Hold'em in particular - for that I'd recommend "Hold'em Excellence: From Beginner to Winner" by Lou Krieger. It explains everything in detail. Krieger certainly knows what he's talking about and explains it in a simple, easy to read form.
   Poker for Dummies doesn't deal very well with internet poker; it only gives some general advice and the info is somewhat outdated. If you're interested in online poker, it's definitely not for you.



5. Honestly, this book didn't do much for me. I never got interested in reading it, and just learned by playing and watching poker tournaments on TV.

5 comments about Kill Phil: The Fast Track to Success in No-Limit Hold 'em Poker Tournaments.

1. For those that say this works in on-line SNG's, don't buy into the hype. It doesn't. I tried it in one table, 5 table, and 10 table SNG's and cashed once at a one table out of 5 tries and NEVER at the 5 or 10 tables. I play mostly low buy-in tourneys ($5 and $10) and people are too loose when you finally play a hand.
   
   Generally you only play hands when you are down to medium and low stacks, when the criteria to play a hand are relaxed. By then, you are one of the small stacks and the large stacks will find it easy to call you. If you do happen to get a playable hand early, even if you follow the 1/6th rule and don't go all-in, its still uncommon to get a call because you've already established yourself as a tight player.
   
   Lastly, if your strategy for winning tournaments is to win a bunch of coin flips, think about your odds. The odds of winning 3 consecutive coin flips are one in eight. You'll need to win a lot more than that to have any kind of success. You need to have a better strategy than going all-in every time you play a hand.



2. I found this book very interesting. Not a bible, however, an interesting read that may well help me in future, I don't think it's the ultimate info, but another piece of artillary!
   
   Like all 'how to' books, no one, no one would give up 'the nuts' of a system. They would keep it too themselves!



3. The first time I used the strategy in this book, I won a 180 player tournament. Hard to argue with those results!



4. While reading this book, the reviews, online message boards, and playing constant online tourneys, it has occurred to me that there's a very important concept here. Namely, is there a mathematical basis for going all-in anytime you deside to play a hand?
   
   I can see how these ideas were derived. For instance, suppose I have AK, and you have QJ, well since the status quo is for me to win, if neither of us improve, I'll win. On the other hand, IF you pair Q or J and I don't pair A or K, then you'll win. The same is true whether or not you hold 8 5. Also, obviously, if either of us draw to a straight or a flush we'll win, but if we both do, I'll win. And so on.
   
   So, I can see how there might be some logic to going all-in with 8 5 as easy as one would go all-in with AJ. But here's where it comes back to reality. Even though it's true that if no one has a pair we both have the same odds of pairing something, that doesn't mean that the better hands won't win in the long run.
   
   It just throws a giant monkey wrench into the picture in the short run.
   
   So, what's the moral of my message? This book presents a legitimate point describing a way to try and win a tournament. Whether or not it works is debatable, so go ahead and try it if you like.
   
   I think the better players will come out on top anyway, and shouldn't be so quick to condemn this method.



5. I found the information contained in Kill Phil useful & productive.
   It can provide another weapon in the arsenal of a serious poker player.
   No system of play can substitute for hours of practice, lots of reading,
   and constantly striving for improvement in your game. I experimented with Kill Phil in the recent WSOP Ladies circuit event in Tunica and went from placing 27th last year to placing 18th this year. Aside from the basic Kill Phil system, the book contains advice & a tournament overview
   from two people who have been there. Of the many poker books I have read,
   I found this one very worthwhile!

5 comments about Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King, The : Inside the Richest Poker Game of All Time.

1. This book is a must-have for any poker player or enthusiast. It's an awesome story of the biggest cash game in the history of poker! It takes you inside and behind the scenes of a poker game which very little people were privileged enough to see. Michael Craig, the author, is a regular writer for several leading poker magazines, including Card Player magazine (where he first broke the story). He was the only journalist allowed to get close to the action. He does an excellent job in giving you the most accurate details of the game. He introduces the players as they assemble to take on their wealthiest opponent ever, Texas billionaire Andy Beal. It's full of surprises, colorful characters, and of course, drama. You won't want to put it down once you start reading it. I bet on it!!



2. Michael Craig does a great job of mixing reportorial style with novelistic pacing. He tells the story of Andy Beal, a very rich man even among rich men, whose motivations for taking on the greatest poker players in the world by definition transcend the money. At the same time, he raised the stakes for the heads-up hold 'em games to levels never before seen -- even among the highest stakes players who joined financial forces to accept the challenge. Craig also gives insight into the "gambler's mindset" -- that itch that sits in the mind of anyone who gets off in a casino -- as it applies to the game of poker. This is the most interesting part for me, as poker is the only widely spread casino game where the house's advantage is 100% but capped (in other words, they charge a fee or "rake", rather than making money off of a statistical advantage). Thus, Poker combines the skill and gambling -- which is why it attracts some of the brightest people you will find in a casino. Michael digs into this phenomenon, both in his interviews of Beal and of many of the successful players who played against Beal.



3. This book was very interesting and hard to put down. It talks about a lot of the poker pros that live and play in Las Vegas and L.A. And is a good insight into some of the highest stakes poker games in the world. If you ever wanted to know what it would be like to be a high stakes poker player you should read this book. It is also very interesting to read about what goes on behind the scenes in the high stakes poker rooms in Las Vegas.



4. This is a great book, I believe for a poker player although someone who wants insights into the High Stakes world would also enjoy it. It was absolutely riveting and it was extremely difficult to lay it down. An exceptionally fast read. I would recommend the book wholeheartedly. The ending was a bit off with the author forcibly interjectedly himself into the story. I found that trivial and quite unnecessary.



5. In some ways this could be considered a story about negotiating terms and conditions - these factors were key in determining the outcome of "the game". Very interesting backstories about some of the players that appear at so many final tables of big tournaments.

4 comments about Tournament Poker: 101 Winning Moves: Expert Plays for No-Limit Tournaments.

1. This book is excellent! If you want a tool-kit of plays and how to use them to win a poker tournament, this is great.
   
   First, most of the plays in here are new to me. There are some things I was never sure what to do. Like medium pairs. Do you call, raise, re-raise? This book explains what to do with these hands, when to do it, and why. The why makes it easier to recall in the middle of a game.
   
   Second, the way the book makes you think about how to play a hand is very clever. For example, I played tight at the start of an event and now I realize that's a mistake. I never wanted to move all-in and now I know that's a mistake. I also thought tight-aggressive play is the answer and yeah, wrong again..
   
   
   Third, I put this Tournament Book to the test the past week. I thought I was a pretty good player since I usually got to the bubble and either just missed or made the money. After reading this book, though, I often find myself with a big chip stack so I don't have to worry about the bubble. Going to the final table this week, I've been the chip leader twice.
   
   I may regret this review, but this book has already made me a much better tournament player. It's simply a great tool-kit of plays that will make you a better player.



2. I had the honor of reading the manuscript to this book before it was released. Mitchell had contacted me through my personal poker blog and asked if I would like to review his up and coming book on tournament hold'em and I couldn't refuse!
   
   I read the book cover to cover two or three times and thought to myself "these tips could never work" as I was trained to be a tight-aggressive player based on the works of Harrington and Sklanksy. However, I put my pride aside and decided to try about 15 or so of these awesome moves in my upcoming tournaments. Things turned out to be fantastic with the awesome preflop moves I used from this book! Also, the subjects on c-bets has really helped me be super aggressive on the flop, even when I didn't hit any piece of it. I have since played 47 tournaments, placing in the money in 13 of them, and took down 7 of the them!
   
   Bottom line: If not for this book, I would not have made it very far in the tournaments I have played in. Harrington on Hold'em is still the greatest series of books in my opinion, but if you really want to up your game and mature from the kids to the big boys, read this book.



3. This book is one of the best , I have seen or purchased almost every poker book available.The only way it could be improved is if by magic the
   pages turned into full motion video. Highly Instructive, Informative and Interesting, what more can you ask of a book.



4. I had intensely studied the books refered to as the "poker bibles" yet I had been continuously finishing on the bubble in major tournaments. After reading "Tournament Poker: 101 Winning Moves" I finally had my first breakthrough and finished in the money in a $1500 No Limit Hold'em Event at the 2008 WSOP. The ideas in this book were key to my getting there. If you are looking for success - and the ideas missing from the poker bibles - then this is the book for you. Thanks Mitchell!

5 comments about Winning Low-Limit Hold'em.

1. One of the first poker books I ever bought, six years ago, was the first edition of this book. Now it has been updated a couple of times and has definitely improved. The preflop standards are pretty tight, and this will pay off under the proper conditions.
   It seems that limit Hold-em games are slowly dying out online. They seem to be tightening up little by little, as well. But if you take advantage of the best rakeback programs (where you get a piece of the rake, whether you put money into the pot on that hand or not), and if you play tight preflop as recommended in this book, you should make a solid income with very little risk. I originally built my bankroll using the advice in this book, but have switched to the no-limit sit and goes now because they are so juicy. Limit tables are tougher to find now, especially during non-peak hours. Still, if you are just starting out at poker, and want to build your bankroll with minimal risk, I suggest you buy this book. But buy the most recent edition! There have been substantial changes.



2. This is a solid book on poker. The book assumes that you know how to play poker - and focuses on teaching you the strategies to use to beat opponents. Everything you need to know is here - in an understable form. I recommend this book.
   --- Glenn G. Thater - Author of 'Harbinger of Doom'.



3. In a sea of poker books this stands tall as the best introduction and strategy to the most popular poker game of them all Holdem.
   
   This book is the first step on the journey to becoming a winning poker player.



4. Read this along with Warren's book and you'll have most of the basics for low limit HE down pat. Play solid hands from the back and let the sheeple donate their cash to you. Also prepare to be drawn out on a whole lot!
   Low limit players bitch about all the "suck-outs", but that's what gets you paid after a few thousand hands even out the luck factor. Just be ready for variance and lots of it when you start out. If you can't stand the swings, try chess....or play higher, where a raise means something (at least that's what they tell you, until they play the 40-80 at the Commerce).
   You'll be a good tight player once you put this book's advice into practice, but you'll still be a long way from truly solid. Until you can shift gears hard and fast, you won't ever run over a game like you should when you're running good.
   Start out here, though, and you'll be well-prepared to get to the next level or two. Then you'll learn to read players well, or go broke. Simply playing tight only goes so far...but you need to be good at it before you move up.



5. I started playing Texas Hold 'em about a month ago. I consistently lost money until I started reading this book. Now I'm winning consistently, and I'm only halfway through it. I don't mind the term "low-limit" being considered synonymous with "beginner-level," because that is what I am. I play 10¢/20¢ tables online right now. I "graduated" from 1¢/2¢, then 2¢/4¢. Next month I hope to hit the 25¢/50¢ tables.
   
   The point is that I haven't deposited a penny from my bank account since I began reading and applying the words of Lee Jones.
   
   The two best pieces of advice I could possibly give to a new player are to read this book, and never sit at a table with more than 10% - 20% of your money. If you can't afford to lose and have another five or 10 chances to play again another day, you're giving your money away to people like me. This may mean playing for pennies (like I do). Don't feel low-class. Let the bad players build your bankroll to prepare you for the big tables -- not your paycheck.
   
   I guarantee I will re-read this book enough that I'll want another copy -- so I just placed one in my Amazon cart. I hesitated to write a review at all -- thinking that I could only help other people take my money. Then I realized that there are already a ton of positive reviews, and I'm still winning barely a month into the game. So if you're smart enough to actually read a book instead of watching tournament play for your poker education, good for you. I hope to see you winning at the next table over.

5 comments about The Poker Tournament Formula.

1. Phil Hellmuth Presents Read 'Em and Reap: A Career FBI Agent's Guide to Decoding Poker Tells



2. March 5, 2008
   
   I first discovered this book in my local library . After I had taken it out twice I bought a copy of my own . I took it with me when I went to Las Vegas in December, 2007. I entered 13 tournaments and cashed in three of them . In almost every case I built up my chip stack rapidly and early and, true to Snyder's own observations, I only got in trouble when I preceived I had a good hand and was chasing it . I made enough money on the trip to pay for 5 night's stay and travel from my home in Saskatoon, Canada . This book sets out principles and strategies in a clear manner . I was not able to form a clear strategy by reading any of the other leading poker books I have collected . The concept of entering the pot with a raise if you are the first in is excellent advice and I can now see why it works . The position play strategy has been a revelation . I knew before that postion was important but I did not previously have a plan for my local tournament; now I do . I recently won a 39 person $ 60.00 buy-in tournament in my city . One of the other players observed during play that I was playing by the book entering the pot with 3 times the big blind (many of the others wanted to limp in) . Little did he know which book I was playing by ! My hands were well disguised as I raised with strong and weak hands (based on position) alike and I did not have to show a bluff . AS I did not play most of the hands I would say I was perceived as a tight, perhaps lucky player . I have had other players fold pocket kings and pocket queens to my bluffs !
   
   There are always going to be detractors to the concepts in the book but I am not one of them .
   
   I am eagerly waiting for Arnold Snyder's follow up book which is supposed to be available in May, 2008 .



3. Being a avid poker player since 2003 I have experimented with differant types of tourney styles and recently put poker tournament formula to the test,against a variety of other styles including,gus hansen,dan harrington,a generic consertative aggressive approach,and my own hybrid style say to speak.
   I was not biased in any style as I have all the books on each player.I played 10 $5 multi table tourneys using each style on ultimate bet.I kept up with each win and loss on microsoft excel.Here are the results:
   All styles were in the negative except 3 styles which were positive they are Gus hansen positive $30.00 Dan Harrington positive $122.00 and poker tournament formula positve $243.00
   I know this is only a 10 tourney test and really about 100 games should be played out to get a more accurate account,but those were the short term results.To be honest with you my fellow poker players I started out as a Dan Harrington Disciple,but it always felt like something was missing no sizzle to the steak so to speak.Poker tournament formula definetely fills in that gap.Also I generally feel more comfortable playing the PTF system than harringtons due also to the fact that it is actually more simply to follow and laid out for you practically in the book as with harringtons you have to piece it all together.Only more test will tell but this style is definetely looking good for the small fast tournaments.



4. I call this book an 'underground' poker classic because it is deeply underappreciated in the poker world. I write a monthly column for one of the largest poker magazine, and in my opinion, it is the single best book for explaining winning tournament strategy...AGGRESSION. The reason aggression is the winning strategy is that a hold'em players greatest weapon at any time is Folding Equity. Meaning your ability to control your raises, and the probability your opponent will lay down their hand. The main problem I see is that the aggressive style does not fit everyone's personality, but if you want a crash course on tournament aggression, this is the book for you.



5. this author teaches some very interesting concepts that defy most the other advice you'll run across. My game has vastly improved due to his stratagies. Big Stuff... and a must read for all NL Holdem Tournament players, new or experienced!!!

5 comments about The Mathematics of Poker.

1. Got this on a recommendation. It's been a while since I've used my brain to this extent. I've read other reviews saying that you don't need much math to get through it - don't believe it. I'm only halfway thru the book - there are nuggets of information, and hopefully some very useful info later on...but it's the type of book one would likely have to read a few times to get the gist of it. Unless you've got a math brain like Jesus Ferguson. Recommended to a certain extent.



2. I bought this book thinking it was going to contain analyses of poker. It does not. Let me repeat that. IT DOES NOT. What it does contain are analyses of simple poker-like games, the optimal strategies of which are easily determinable by anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of game theory. The authors, after wasting your time with simple, near obvious results then proceed to draw no useful conclusions applicable to the real game of poker as played for real money in the real world. But if you think having it on your bookshelf will make your poker library complete, then buy one today.



3. As an engineer, I was very excited to start reading this book, then as I started to read, I realized I was in serious trouble. I am the type of player who loves to read strategy poker books, (i.e Harrington on Hold Em, Theory of Poker) but this book in my opinion cannot teach you much about strategy because most of the math presented in the book is very abstract. The authors tell you in the first few pages that if you want to question the material or better understand the material you should refer to a math text because they don't want to scare readers away. However, it is the fact that they cannot present each mathematical truth in detail which causes the book to fail most readers who do not have a mathematical background. If a book could show you how to make the right play in a 3 handed poker game with a simple calculator as opposed to setting up multiple equations using graphs with several variables to accomplish the same goal, a reader would probably go with the calculator.
   
   Overall, the book is very well written and presents great examples of mathematical proof of why a certain play is correct and why others are not correct. If you love mathematical proofs, poker, and working out equations, then you'll probably love this book. However, the book, in my opinion, uses very complicated equations to prove what many poker players probably already understand in a simpler, more straightforward context.



4. When it comes to the everyday poker player this book gets ZERO stars!!
   But - the title does say The Mathematics of Poker. and if you look at it as A complex math book with poker as it's subject then this book gets FIVE stars. unless you're working on, or have, A college Math degree then this book is not for you! The books you should read instead are "Texas Hold'em Odds and Probabilities" by Matthew Hilger - or "Killer Poker By The Numbers" by Tony Guerrera both of these books are way more practical!!!



5. I bought this book and that was a big mistake. The beginning of the book was fine to me. Because almost everything was explained well. but, the more I read into the rest of the book, the more headaches I got.

5 comments about Elements of Poker.

1. A different point of view.
   Excellent complement of classical litterature about Poker.
   
   One of the best book on the metagame with "the poker mindset"



2. I don't know what the other readers searched in this book but I was looking forward an improvement in my game. Instead this book is all about words and discussion on poker world but NOT about poker strategy itself. I've recently bought about 15 poker books and this was by far the worst of them. Please save your money.



3. I actually went to the author's website before purchasing the book, and found many of his poker 'phrases' quite clever. I went into the book with the mindset of being entertained and I figured if I could glean a few nuggets of wisdom regarding playing poker, it would be worth the investment. Sadly it proved to be not entertaining at all. I have read over 50 poker books. I enjoy the topic and obtaining different perspectives is always enjoyable.
   
   When I was finished with this book, I just had a blank stare on my face. It neither entertained me, nor improved my game. About the only two things that stuck with me from the book were: 1) The author is a poker coach, and 2) don't tilt as much.



4. I helped edit the manuscript, am listed in the thank yous, am a friend of Tommy's, and was coached by him in 2001 before he started charging. So there's my conflict of interest but this is independent truth:
   
   Elements of Poker is the best-written poker book on the market by a wide margin. It is truly a delight to read.
   
   Many players with good A games go broke because they either rarely play their A game or their C game is so bad that their A game doesn't matter. Most people study poker to improve their A game, and most poker books are written towards improving A games. EOP is more about improving your C game, reducing tilt, and overcoming poker pain. If you're not into those things don't buy it. If you are, Elements of Poker is a fine read.
   
   Matt Flynn
   Co-author, Professional No-Limit Hold 'em.



5. There are some books about poker psychology, or, more specifically, controlling your own psychology when dealing with the tilt-inducing parts of poker.
   Tommy Angelo's book is different since it doesn't just tell you not to tilt (like, duh) but gives genuine ideas about what to do when you do (and you will). Also, the chapter on meditation is unique and still highly practical.
   
   Also, Tommy has a wonderfully creative writing style which makes the book just a joy to read.

3 comments about Practical Poker Math: Basic Odds & Probabilities for Hold'Em and Omaha (Ecw Press).

1. Finally, a book that makes odds, probabilities and expectation easy to understand. The book is well written and the math is easy to follow. Also, it is the only book I know of that deals with the odds in Omaha. Well worth the money!



2. I started playing poker with some friends about 1 1/2 years ago. After going through a learning curve I was winning more than I was losing. I then thought I'd try online poker and found that the caliber of players was higher than I was used to and realized I needed to improve my chances. I happened upon Pat Dittmar's book Practical Poker Math and thought I'd take a look at it. I'm a computer professional and the book struck a chord with me because it's very logical. It also doesn't get so complicated that you lose interest and put it aside. After putting some of Dittmar's ideas into play I soon found I was holding my own with the online players. As I get more disciplined about sticking to the math and not letting my adrenaline carry me away I'm winning more and more. This book has paid for itself many times over.



3. This is the second book I have read about poker odds and the first I could understand. It is easy to understand, easy to read and best of all I have been winning more since reading it. Well worth buying.