5 comments about Ghosts at the Table: Riverboat Gamblers, Texas Rounders, Roadside Hucksters, and the Living Legends Who Made Poker What It Is Today.

1. Good read - I recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of poker from the early days of riverboats and gunslingers through the Texas/Southern Circuit of the mid 20th century to Vegas and now the world. Wilson weaves a good tale of the changes in the game through time, illustrated with numerous stories about events that actually happened but seem too fantastic to be true.
   
   In researching this book Wilson visited many locations and interviewed many individuals that were pivotal in poker's path from the riverboat to today. And his portrayal of location adds significantly to his story. If you've read T.J. Cloutier's books you will recognize some of his favorite stories. And if you aren't familiar with the role played by Benny Benion in making Vegas the center of the poker world the section dealing with Benny's career should be an eye opener though his portrayal as a rather one-dimensional character simplifies a bit too much. Players familiar only with today's casino-based antiseptic game and who've never awakened to find a knot on their head and their pockets empty after leaving a game the winner will gain a new perspective from the hijacking stories. These stories alone are worth the price of the book.
   
   If I like the book so much then why only three stars? Maybe it's because I know too much. For example on page 76, in a discussion of games in Odessa, Wilson writes of "nearby Graham" - well, Graham is about 250 miles from Odessa, and in the the middle of the last century with narrow two-lane roads "nearby" is hardly the proper adjective. Google Maps estimates the trip today to be 4 hours, 16 minutes. Based on my experience the last time I made that drive they're about on target.
   
   And on page 93, in an apparent quote from Sailor Roberts, Wilson writes: "'This was the toughest place I've ever played in,' Sailor says. 'There were forty of us that hung around together there and, apart from Sailor and me, they were all either dead or in the penitentiary by the time they were thirty-five.'" Accuracy of the description of the Fort Worth stockyards area and Jacksboro Highway in the 30s through the 60s is not in question. However one does have to question whether Sailor referred to himself in the third person as well as in duplicate. I'd swear I've read that quote before but with it being attributed to someone other than Sailor Roberts. Wilson does not cite a source, but may have been quoting from another source such as Brunson, perhaps in "My 50 Most Memorable Hands". Since Roberts departed this planet long before Wilson began his research for the book it is obvious that the attribution to Sailor is an error.
   
   Taken as a whole I do recommend the book. I'd give it five stars if my ignorance level were slightly higher. Can't do that though! I'd have much preferred to see this product after being worked over by a more knowledgeable editor.



2. "The wild weird money world of professional gamblers is illustrated with stories from the riverboats to Vegas. Your own way to learn all about the World Series of Poker but for the price of this book instead of the ten thousand dollar buy in."



3. a must have book for anyone who has the slighest interest in poker or gambling. a really great book!!



4. Wilson starts his book with a helpful preface that divides poker into four ages: the initial frontier stages, that lasted from the game's introduction to the US to the closing of the frontier, which in poker terms correlates with the last mineral booms in the 1890s/1900s.
   
   The second age starts much later, with the heyday of the Texas road gamblers in the 1950s. This is a short era that is followed by the Las Vegas era, which symbolically began with the first World Series of Poker held at Binion's Horseshoe in 1970.
   
   The final age of poker is the current boom, fueled equally by television and the Internet, which most people would date to 2002.
   
   It's a good division, though it neglects the "rank and file" of poker in some ways. The thousands of backroom poker games that sustained the "sport" during the first half of the 20th century, for example, are nowhere here. There's good reason for that-they were mostly undocumented, and little heralded. For good reason. There is nothing exceptional or heroic about them. But history is rarely exceptional or heroic.
   
   The book properly begins with Wilson checking into the Bullock Hotel in Deadwood, South Dakota, and learning that a real ghost lives there-the spirit of Seth Bullock, the original proprietor, who frequently shows his disgust over the current staff's lassitude by shaking the odd plate or turning on a random blender.
   
   That's when I realized that the ghosts of the title aren't a metaphor: for Wilson (and for poker players) the legends of the past really are ghosts, who still have an incorporeal presence and can still do us harm.
   
   As Wilson admits in the preface, this is not an exhaustive history of poker as a historian would write it, chronological narrative interspersed with hard-won quantatative data about numbers of card decks sold, arrest for poker-playing, and the like. Instead, it's an impressionistic journey-literally-through the past and into the present of poker.
   
   Wilson's strategy is to revisit the scenes of past poker greatness, from Tombstone to Texas to Binion's Horseshoe, and through research, interviews, and observation, try to recover what is lost. Luckily, many of the figures of the last three eras are still alive, and those that have passed on are survived by friends, rivals, and associates. There a real richness of detail here, and no matter what your previous knowledge of poker, your insight into its history will be enriched Ghosts at the Table.
   Two sections that stand out are Wilson's conversation with Amarillo Slim, probably the most controversial poker figure in its modern era, and his investigation into the disappearance of 1979 WSOP champion Hal Fowler.
   
   Wilson's writing on Slim has a balance that is rare-most people either love or hate the lanky rounder-and the facts that Wilson's unearthed about Fowler, while in the end a bit underwhelming, are a neat bit of detective work, and show an inquisitiveness that's too rare in most students of the game. Ditto for his questioning of the Johnny Moss/Nick Dandalos proto-WSOP 1949 match, which has attained apocryphal, if not mythic status.
   
   One of Wilson's strengths is to integrate the present of poker into its past. The reader really sees how today's players slowly took control of the game from the legends of the near past. In the future, historians will be grateful for such an immediate account by a knowledgeable observer of the earliest days of online poker, and of the proliferation of poker in Europe.
   
   As an active narrator, Wilson himself becomes a character in the book. This has the potential for disaster-should the writer show up as a swashbuckling hero, the reader might be turned off by the braggadocio. But Wilson appears as an honest, curious, student of the game, who's taking a trip and bringing a few close friends-including you, the reader-along with him. He's the foil to some of the game's legends and rising stars, driving Amarillo Slim's ranch and listening to his act, seeking out Bobby Hoff in a California card room, and almost invisibly eliciting recollections from other poker icons. When he does step into the frame-in the book's coda-it is for him to try his luck at the 2007 World Series of Poker. Since he's humble without being self-effacing, the reader can't help but root for him.
   
   Don't view this as a narrative-see it as a collection of stories told to you as you're driving down a dark, endless Texas highway (or English road) on the way to your next big game. If you are a poker player or are just curious about this quintessentially American game (and its ghosts) you should definitely read Ghosts at the Table.



5. WELL WRITTEN, EXCELLENT PICTURE OF POKER SINCE THE 1800S. VERY ACCURATE WITH PLENTY OF NEW MATERIAL.

5 comments about Zen and the Art of Poker: Timeless Secrets to Transform Your Game.

1. I have been playing poker professionally for a little over a year now and have read all different kinds of poker books. But this was the first one that really took into the importance of your mental state. If you want to read a book that is going to give you statistics and odds this isn't it. If your looking for something that is going to make you think more about your innerself and others at and away from the table this is a must read. By the way- I have never written a review before but I felt that this was a must for the serious or even part time player!



2. This is a great book for the beginner to middle player skill level. It starts off like it may be for advanced players but with its redundant reminders of how to play certain types of hands and what to do in case scenarios it drills it into the player. Making it much easier to retain the information.



3. This is the one book that I can read time and time again, and always learn something new depending on where I'm at in my poker career and my life. It's not a poker instructional book by any means. It's about you and who you are at the poker table -- but really, it's about who you are in your every day existence.
   
   If you like to look inside and make yourself a better person, then this book addresses core issues that can help you excel. Let's face it, life is poker and poker is life. Larry Phillips encapsulates this beautifully. It will help you play better and it will help you live better, if you are willing to do the work and look at yourself honestly.
   
   It's a quick read with much thought provoking insights on just abou every page. It is written very well.



4. This is not the best book to buy if you are just learning how to play poker (try Sklansky or Harrington), but if you are an advanced beginner or intermediate player, this book offers a whole new approach to the game that will radically improve your play. Most beginning players find themselves playing too many hands, and with disastrous results (hitting top pair with a weak kicker, or hitting second pair). This book's advice (Poker Rule #3) is that "If you've been folding a lot, for a long time in the game, and you're starting to think that maybe it's time you got in a played a few hands again... Keep folding." It counsels patience, emotional detachment, and selective confrontation. In a world of big egos, players on tilt, and WPT wannabees, this book will help you find a calmer, more profitable path.



5. Im not a big fan of poker books. They tend to be very dry and difficult to apply the specific theories to the game. This book is simply explains another way to look at the game. It is very easy to apply to the game after reading. It is mostly a book about folding and how to fold well. When youre folding well, youre playing well. Folding well implies betting well. The book states this much more clearly. Overall a great book for any poker player.

5 comments about The Complete Book Of Hold 'Em Poker: A Comprehensive Guide to Playing and Winning.

1. I found this book while reading Matt Matros' "The Making of a Poker Player". Matros has this book as one of the seven he recommends unequivocally. Had it not been for Matros, I would not have known of Gary Carson's book.
   
   This treasure of a book seems to be hidden from the general poker public. I play online exclusively, and I've asked various tablemates about the book. Almost no one seems to know about it. This is an absolute hidden gem, so superior to anything else out there.
   
   The book is not for the complete beginner. In fact Carson himself recommends starting with Lee Jones' "Winning Low Limit Hold 'Em" or Ed Miller's "Getting Started in Hold 'Em". But, after having read and maybe reread one of those two, I'd suggest diving right into "The Complete Book of Hold 'Em" and staying with it for about a year or so. I don't see the need for any other book of poker instruction during that time, except perhaps Carson's own "Casino Poker" in which he introduces most of the different games of poker. (If you just have to read something else, I really like John Feeney's "Inside the Poker Mind" and Roy Cooke's "Real Poker II".)
   
   Well, what about Sklansky, Malmouth, Ciaffone, Hellmuth, Krieger et al? Nope, you don't need any of them. For at least a year, Carson's book is plenty. In fact I would recommend strongly against them, since they could confuse the rock solid foundation you are building with Carson.
   
   What makes this book so good? That is not easy to answer. Carson involves himself with the reality of playing poker; it's a situational approach. He does not fit the game into one single theory. He takes multipe perspectives. He admits it's not an easy, cookbook style (that's what Jones and Miller are for), but it is the only completely honest one. This is a new way of thinking that is levels above what the other poker authors are writing. Other reviewers who have liked the book say how it has changed their thinking, their approach to play; it does if the student puts in the time for study that is required. He will not be spoonfed. He will have to think. But what a difference it will make at the tables!
   
   The book is revolutionary. Why it is not better known, why I had to find it by such a roundabout route, is beyond me. But when you find out it exists, Matusow (my hero) would call you a donkey not to buy it. One other plus which I don't think is trivial in poker literature; Carson knows how to write.



2. The only thing I don't like about this book is the title. This is a great book for limit holdem cash games. It is applicable in online or live play and would be helpful if the game were tight or loose, passive or aggressive. In fact, one of the great strengths of the book is how it helps one evaluate the table and play according to who is actually there and not according to how some group of players were playing at a $40/80 table in Las Vegas in 1978.
   
   The emphasis on table selection and on flexibility in play makes this a valuable tool for increasing ones profits or even for the beginner. Rather than giving formulas (formulae?) Carson gives guidelines for thinking about situations. The tables of starting hands that he provides should be taken with a grain of salt, as he says himself.
   
   But enough of Mr. Nice Guy, why did I call it incomplete?
   
   1: He only touches on big-bet Holdem, No-Limit and Pot-Limit. The advice he gives on it big-bet is very good. In fact some of it is extremely valuable. However, it is only a splash in the very lage pond. This is understandable because the NL boom had not arrived at the time the book was released. NL tourneys were common but cash games all over the country were still overwhelmingly limit.
   
   While understandable, it is a shame becuase NL has become more important as the months go by and because Mr. Carson has been a succesful NL cash player and knows what he is talking aobut.
   
   2: His tournament advice is also brief, not inspired and not worth mentioning. If all you want to do is play tourneys, the book is worth the low price but that's about it.
   
   So why do I give it five *s?
   
   Because my hourly rate in the LHE games at Foxwoods, which was already good, doubled in the few months after I read this book and absorbed its ideas.



3. This is one of the best Texas Hold'em books out there. Gary has an interesting way of looking at the game that is thought provoking. His insights can make you a better player, but I suggest trying to digest the material here slowly. It is easy to misunderstand or misapply the concepts here. Like any other good poker book, this is a book that you should study, rather than just read.
   
   There is very little discussion of the specifics of pot-limit, no-limit, spread-limit, and tournament poker in this book. The book does discuss these topics, but those chapters are thin and seem to be added as an afterthought. Nonetheless, much of the material is applicable to any form of Texas Hold'em, once you understand it well. It does seem that Gary is primarily a limit Hold'em player, or that he was when he wrote this book.
   
   Also, Gary Carson is an active participant of the Usenet group rec.gambling.poker. Gary has clarified some of the concepts in his book on this public forum.



4. Having read and studied most of the more popular books available on the subject, I bought this book with a view to getting a different perspective, rather than any hope for new insights.
   
   Upon reading it I was more than pleasantly surprised by the content. It has to be one of the best books I've read on the subject.
   
   Like most of the reviewers, I wouldn't recommend it as a first book for someone wanting to learn hold `em. Some of the views expressed in the book are unconventional and not appropriate for beginners. However, barring the complete novice, I can wholeheartedly recommend this book as one of the top 5 most useful books I've read (and I've read quite a few). Not because of it's groundbreaking suggestions, but rather this book is genuinely aimed at getting the reader to think about why he should make a particular decision. It helps the reader to think like an experienced hold `em player, rather than providing a set of rules for play in specific circumstances.
   
   For instance, in his chapter on seat selection, when he recommends that you sit maniacs to your left (contrary to most authors who recommend the opposite), it comes after a discussion of the varying perspectives or `theories' of poker. According to Carson, most authors focus on the fact that `poker is a game of incomplete information'. In his view, however, the `poker is a game of strategy and deception' theory is more appropriate when making this particular decision. "You get very little extra information from having a maniac on your right, but having him on your left expands your tactical playing options tremendously".
   
   There is no false pretence that this is the only book you will ever need on hold `em. In fact the author provides frank reviews of the more popular hold `em books with honest opinions on their value.
   
   Whether you agree or not is irrelevant; rather it is the thought process that matters. This is a book that will definitely help develop your thought on the game of hold `em poker.



5. The book is a guide...
   U cant go wrong!Great for the green and the experianced player!
   Get it.

5 comments about No-Limit Texas Hold'em: A Complete Course.

1. Read this book if you don't understand Pot Odds, Implied Odds, and Expected Value. These sections are 'nut and bolts' and very direct. Many books over emphasize the odds with two cards to come (all-in after flop) but this book explains things 'more' correctly. Yes, overall this book is just okay (3 stars), but the first sections are invaluable and actually make this book a "must read" for those who do not understand the basic math ideas behind NLHE. I will probably purchase any follow-up books.



2. this is the last poker book i've bought and read. my game matured and plateaued a few months ago, especially regarding low limit no limit holdem. i wasn't really getting ahead, and all my plays were becoming predictable. my plans for poker wealth were being thwarted well, this book took me to the next level.
   
   tonight, i just had my best night of holdem. my best win. over $500 in about 3 hours. nobody could put me on a hand all night! deception is key and the author explains how to use it.
   
   thanks, Angel
   
   D



3. This is absolutely the best book in the world for 1-2 and 2-5 live NL games with a 100 blind capped buy in. Period. It's not for online, it's not for higher stakes, and it's not for uncapped games. For the standard low limit NL games spread in B&M, this is the best. Anybody who doesn't think so is probably playing a style with a winrate less than half of what I or Angel make.



4. I had the opportunity to take Angel's course while living in Las Vegas so the book only helps reinforce concepts I learned in his group seminar 3 day course.
   
   Angel's the kind of guy you may have to see "live" in person to truly appreciate, although his book does a good job of demonstrating his knowledge.
   
   The guy has totally mastered the "low limit no limit" game.
   
   If you want to play at "no limit" tables where buy-ins are limited to no more than say $300, then BUY THIS BOOK and MEMORIZE IT.
   
   Players at low limit no limit have a totally different mentality. Angel has figured out that mental approach and will help you capitalize on it.
   
   I've said enough. I actually wish Angel hadn't published all of his secrets in this book!
   
   (p.s. stop complaining about the title--you can't judge a book...)



5. Turned the game arround - simple easy to read and accurate
   will work if you want it

5 comments about Positively Fifth Street: Murderers, Cheetahs, and Binion's World Series of Poker.

1. This is a very unique book that tells many stories in one - the murder trial of accused killers of Ted Binion, Jim's own sensational poker run, and mixed in is lots of tidbits of poker history and player profiles. Overall, it is pretty good, but could have been better were it not for too many tedious pages of personal history, minutia of the tournament, and philosophical digressions that had me yawning. A good quarter of this 400 page book just wasn't all that interesting to me. On the other hand, in reading other sections, I found that I couldn't put it down.
   
   Overall, getting through the tedious sections was made worthwhile by not only his great tournament story, but a real education on the history of the game, and where it is at present. BUT, if you bore easily, this may not be the book for you.



2. If you look at the reviews for this book, you'll see a wide range of opinions. From 1-star all the way up to 5-stars. I believe the reason for the wide range is because the book cover and descriptions (including the back) fails to manage the reader's expectations. Similar to many other reviewers, I expected a book 100% about poker and related topics. However, it's really 60% about Ted Binion's murder, and 40% about poker. I did realize that Binion's murder was a topic in the book, but I though it was just a backdrop for the poker story. The murder almost dominates the book. If I had that 60/40 expectation I think I would've enjoyed the book more. So i penalize it 1 star because it didn't meet my expectations. I also subtract 1 more star because the author goes off-topic way too often. Other reviewers rant on how off-topic the book goes, so i don't need to again. 3 stars.



3. For decades, I went to the World Series of Poker as a side-game player and a writer. Like so many, I played mostly and wrote a little. All the writers I met over those years just have to be jealous of James McManus. He played well and made the final table and the big bucks AND he wrote a best-seller about it. I am a poker writer, but I do not pretend to have a fourth of the skills of the eloquent Mr. McManus. He is the Dean of American Poker Writers. England has some fancy wordsmiths. This book is not just for poker players. It would make a great gift for anyone. McManus throws in the saga of Teddy Binion, to boot.
   Johnny HughesTexas Poker Wisdom



4. McManus has taken several plot lines of varying interest and wrapped them into one messy book. The real-time WSOP diary part of the book is outstanding--funny, gripping, and a great way to live out every small-time rounder's dream vicariously. It's well worth the price of the book. The rest of it... I wasn't nearly interested enough in McManus as a personality to enjoy the insights into his poker-playing youth, and the coverage of Ted Binion's weird life could have been cut without me missing it.
   
   At half the length, this would have been a positively five star book.



5. An amazing book. Somehow the author is simply telling the story of how he played in the World Series of Poker but also weaves in all of the following:
   
   - Murder
   - Adultery
   - The history of poker
   - The history of cards
   - The history of Las Vegas
   - The mob
   - What constitutes "cheating" on your wife?
   - High ethics
   - Discussions of game theory
   - His own family tree
   
   And just about everything else. All of it in brilliant prose that makes it fascinating.
   
   At the same time he brings you to the poker table and you feel the tension of re-raising TJ Cloutier with the author. I felt sick a few times as the author described playing pocket jacks aggressively.
   
   If you love poker or gambling or marriage or reading or life, read this book.

5 comments about Middle Limit Holdem Poker.

1. If you're somebody who's used to the graphic presentations of cards and hands in many of the Two Plus Two books then you might be initially disappointed upon opening Middle Limit Holdem because this edition will never be confused with a Power Point presentation. However, if you're looking to learn limit or substantially improve your game, then this is definitely the manual for you. The authors created over 300 pages of densely packed information which was broken down into 40 logical subtopics. What they offer here is an old school approach to the game which is both low in reflexive aggression and low in variance, and, for me, anything which decreases variance is totally welcome. I'm not one of those reviewers who thinks that certain styles are obsolete as I find that differing viewpoints enrich my game. Personally, I'd place Middle Limit Holdem in between Ed Miller and Lee Jones in terms of the type of play it advocates. If you don't know limit, then I recommend learning it as increasing proficiency across the strains of poker can only thicken the bankroll in the long run.



2. Very good poker book for middle limit. Takes it to another level.



3. I have added this book to my current libary and think that the book is a fine addition.



4. The book is quite enjoyable to read and discusses how to play 400 typical hands that arise in everyday poker.
   The discussion is very logical and teaches you how to think properly on every betting round. It advises you on how to get the most value out of your good hands and to minimize losses when you are beat. When to value bet on the river, and when to check raise, etc, etc.
   I can't say that I picked up a tonne of tips from this book, but it did revise a lot of good principles that I already knew.
   To a weaker player than myself you could pick up a lot of good tips.
   The rules set in this book can't be applied to low limit games with weak players who play totally illogical, it is written for middle-higher limit games. Thus only 4 stars



5. Jones and Warren can take you from 1/2 to 4/8, and this book from there to 40. I've read dozens and dozens of others since, but this is still the most solid, readable, understandable and above all practical of the bunch.
   There are very few truly useful guides to the mid-limit games; this one stands highest in my estimation. The dissections of various hands and the decisions involved are far more complex and intelligent than most. You need to have played a lot of hold'em to really grasp some of the subtleties presented here, but when you have and do you will be ready to really mix it up with some of the world's better players.
   I also enjoy Ciaffone's writing, very direct and transparent and to the point.
   This is a book any good player would do well to re-read once a year. It makes you think about your moves and reevalauate your style, which is a must if you are to keep progressing.
   Thanks to Bob for writing one of the best books available for the limit player who is ready to tackle the tough competition. Then again, sometimes the bigger games have some mighty weak players, and if your bankroll can stand the variance you might find the advice in this book to be worth a few thousand times its purchase price.
   When it comes to value bets on poker books, this one is a winner.

5 comments about Blackbelt in Blackjack : Playing 21 as a Martial Art.

1. Arnold "Church of Blackjack" Snyder is one of the best blackjack writers I've seen. His book takes you from beginning counting strategies up until the advanced ones that will bring you in for the win! This book helped me big time in the casinos, even after I could already play the game.
   
   He even gives good camoflauge advice so the casino won't be able to tell you're counting the cards. I have two editions of this book, the newest one is of course the better but the first was what helped me. I recommend this to anyone who wants to learn a more advanced counting strategy for casino play. It will definitely help you.



2. This book is so informative. I am learning the ins and outs of the game of blackjack. Also, the price was much less that going to the store to buy. It was shipped in a few days and I am very pleased overall.



3. good book written by a great person who had a lifelong experience in counting.



4. A must for any blackjack player book collection ,The Very "Instruction manual" like writing style is more tedious than learning the full indices for Zen count.
   Not enough shuffle tracking information, perhaps this is done purposefully.
   If your looking for a blackjack book , then do not even consider not getting this book.
   Definitely not a "fun" read but a somewhat necessary read.



5. This was a very good book that explains several techniques and has a lot of depth concerning how to use one's bankroll when playing blackjack, but most of the information provided is found in free internet websites, except for the management of bankroll, which I found very interesting and effective.

5 comments about Online Ace: A World Series of Poker Champion's Guide to Mastering Internet Poker.

1. Scott Fischman is a guy who was once a dealer who went on to win a couple of World Series of Poker bracelets including one for the HORSE event. This interested me. (Yes, I used to play basketball and remember Bob McAdoo of the Lakers who was a deadly shot at HORSE, about whom it was said--by Michael Cooper--"You do, McAdoo.") But I digress.
   
   HORSE in poker stands for Hold'em, Omaha hilo, Razz, Stud, and stud Eight or better. It's spread in some clubs, but you can almost always find some limit games at PokerStars and other places on the Internet. A round is played of hold'em and then a round of Omaha eight or better, then a round of razz, which is stud lowball, and then a round of regular stud and then stud hilo, and the cycle is repeated. You have to be a pretty good all-around player to be successful at HORSE, and anybody who can beat that game regularly earns my respect.
   
   This book, like many others published in the wake of the TV- and Internet-turboed rise of poker, is directed at beginners or near beginners. The "Mastering Internet Poker" in the subtitle is justified however because Fischman reveals a lot about his overall approach to the game of poker, especially his psychological approach. For Fischman the most important psychology in the game is self-psychology.
   
   There is plenty of strategy presented throughout the book and some explanations given on how to play various hands in various situations; but mainly Fischman concentrates on his overall approach to the games. In a sense this is a hybrid book: part "how-to" and part "how-I-did-it."
   
   Fischman is not a deep strategic master of the game or a mathematical whiz. He is a "by the seat of your pants" player with a wealth of experience both online and in the brick and mortar clubs. His advice on tournament strategy, especially online Sit-N-Go's is excellent. He divides the tournament, one-table or otherwise, into three "seasons," the beginning when blinds are small relative to stacks; the middle, when the size of your stack begins to dictate decisions; and the endgame, when many or most decisions will involve all your chips and your tournament life.
   
   In the "beginning" he likes to "look for spots where I can safely--or as close to safely as poker allows--double my stack. Otherwise, I've got no business being in the hand." (p. 71) In the middle he likes to start making small raises often with the idea of picking up the blinds from his now very careful opponents. In the endgame, Fischman becomes super-aggressive. One excellent idea of his is that near the bubble when many players start to play very carefully you can steal a lot of pots. He believes that in Sit-N-Gos you should aim to finish first, not just in the money because of the big difference between first place money (usually 50% of the prize fund) and third place (usually 20%). So he advises, don't be afraid of finishing fourth and out of the money. A first and a fourth are better than two third-place finishes.
   
   Also interesting is Fischman's take on "multi-tabling" online. He believes that playing several tables at once not only allows the expert to win more money, it allows the expert to get into the zone and become "the Robot," as he calls himself when he is just one with the decisions, one after another in front of him on his computer screen. His idea is that because multi-tabling is so demanding on your attention it forces you to focus. You don't have time to worry about bad beats or time to over-analyze. You are a Robot, focused, decisive and unemotional. Yes, you miss subtleties and some opportunities, but you don't try to do too much and you go with your first instinct which is often right.
   
   Fischman tends to the superstitious, which of course is NOT recommended. However he justifies it from a psychological point of view by noting that if something makes you feel confident that will help you win. So it's okay to depend a little on that lucky shirt, and yes it may very well be the case as you drive into the club and see all those license plates with the poker hands on them, "KAA 555," etc., that yes you ARE going to be lucky today!
   
   Some of Fischman's recommendations on how to play specific hands in specific situations go against the grain of the conventional wisdom. But here again I found his ideas interesting. Sometimes he seems clearly "wrong" or maybe just doesn't make himself clear. For example on page 125 he writes about tables being broken down later in a tournament as players are eliminated. He notes that he doesn't like being moved to a new table after having made some rebuys because "I want to have the chance to win back the chips I have lost. I can't do that if the players I've been kind enough to 'loan' my chips to are suddenly scattered throughout the tournament. There's nothing worse that rebuying 10 times, having your table broken down, then finding yourself at a new table where no one has purchased a rebuy."
   
   Unless I'm missing something, this seems plainly illogical because it doesn't matter from whom he wins chips. He still has the same number of chips and the same relative chance of winning the tournament. I think what he must mean is that while losing those chips he picked up some valuable information about those players and now can't use that information.
   
   What is obvious from reading this very readable book is that Scott Fischman is one heck of a good poker player and that his strength is in his overall approach to the game, some of which comes shining forth from these pages. I think both experienced players and beginners will find something of value here.



2. ****1/2
   This was my second poker book and first online book. I have been playing off and on for about 7 years now and this book has helped my game tremendously, specifically online, but not exclusively either. Scott gives you a lot to think about during the game and also helps you to think on different levels and how your emotions and mind come into play whether playing online or live games. There were many excellent tips and anecdotes from well know pros as well, both online and brick and mortar. There is a great pace to the book - it is a very quick and easy read. Lastly, another nice feature is the multitude of pointers for sit-n-go's, tournaments, and cash/ring games!
   
   The only drawback might be the lack of mention of odds in general, which do play a large part in poker, but that should be a given anyway. This can be learned from many other books anyway. I highly recommend this book to just about anyone, beginners and advanced players alike. You will certainly become a better player with all of the great strategies and insights provided. And, in turn, hopefully you can make much more money! Best of luck always!



3. Not a bad book, it does have a lot of useful tid bits inside the pages, but the book will not really challenge your thinking and insight to the game. If you're a beginner this book may be a useful read, but if you've been playing for a while and past the beginner stage, you might want to look at some other more in depth material.



4. Not one worthwhile idea in this book. For beginners try Lee Jones..Intermediate..Mat Hilger and advanced Harrington. They are worthwhile books. Tis one is not!



5. WOW DICK COOK... do you even know what you are talking about? I thought this book was insighful and well thought out. It covered several different angles for beginers. This is who the book is aimed for. This book is not directed toward the more experienced players. Well done Mr. Fischman, well done.

5 comments about The Professional Poker Dealer's Handbook.

1. I'm a student right now in poker school and this is the book we are using for class.
   
   It covers everything from the proper mechanics of "pitching" (dealing cards the proper way), flops, sidepots and controlling the table.
   
   I've read the book multiple times. I highly recommend this to prospective poker dealers and even long time dealers that have developed some bad habits in their game.



2. Have you always dreamed of being a Poker Dealer?
   If you read and study this book, it is only months away for you. My husband was told to buy this book by our Casino Poker Supervisors. He was told to read it three times and then study and practice what is in this book. He has been playing poker most of his life but this book helped him turn his hobby into his job. He worked only 4 days as a Poker Dealer and now he is a Poker Supervisor and Dealer. This book helped him learn the skills to fulfill his dreams and it can do the same for you.
   Become a Poker Dealer with this book by reading and practicing what the author Dan Paymar give you. His tools really work. Good Luck.



3. I got a job as a poker dealer and had have a few errors that weren't quite covered in my "introduction course" by my employers, plus I wanted to be as professional as I could so I decided to buy this book.
   
   The overall structure of the book is somewhat confusing since you can find repeated lines all over the book, and several subjects are covered in several chapters so you can't really know all you need to of, say, blind structure, until you've read most of the book. This however is not that bad since you are most likely to read the whole thing in a couple of sittings. I actually read it in 2 days during breaks right at work.
   
   The obvious lack of illustrations is also a bit of a problem but the explanations are clear enough.
   
   There are some problems that you will find frequently during your job that the book leaves to the floorperson's decition and gives no information as to what their call might be, it would've been nice to know some options on those subjects.
   
   In spite of these issues, the book is excellent at procedures and gives you the tools to be a true professional, my performance has improved a great deal and the players really appreciate a professional dealer.
   
   Overall the book is great, I have it as a reference and when problems arise that need understanding by the players we can actually take the book and show the proper procedures.



4. This item was in amazing condition and shipped extremely quick. I can't ask or anything better. Wish every order was like this. Thank you!



5. The title of my review is a quote from the book, which I gave to my son as a gift for his 21st birthday. He's very happy with it and has already read most of it. The quote is one he took from the book which really spoke to him...practice doesn't make perfect...it makes permanent. Essentially, practicing the WRONG thing won't make you perfect, but it will make a permanent behavior. Since my son's goal is to be a professional dealer, this was a perfect match for him!

5 comments about Getting Started in Hold 'em.

1. I have read four books on holdem poker and this has the best and most understandable format of any of them. I would recommend it to all beginners and to most intermediate players also, that are interested in improving their game.



2. I agree with the reviewer that said that this book has replaced Lee Jones' book as the best introductory text for beginning players. Where I differ from most reviewers is in the idea that this is only a "beginners" book. I disagree. This book is great for anyone who plays poker including advanced players in that it acts as reinforcement for concepts we know but sometimes forget or ignore. It basically explains advanced concepts in a simple way and for that reason it is valuable to anyone. I remember that even though I was already a winning player when I read this book, it still improved and strengthened my understanding of concepts such as pot equity, the danger of hand domination, importance of aggression and so on. If I had a close friend just starting out in hold 'em, this would be the first book I would recommend to him, followed by Millers other classic, "Small stakes hold 'em- Winning big with expert play."
   
   Great book, you can't go wrong with this one.



3. I have played poker for years, but Hold'Em is a very different game and Ed Miller's book Getting Started in Hold'Em is an excellent introduction. Other books I've bought seem to assume the reader already has some experience at Hold'em, but I was looking for information before sitting down to a game. Without condescending, Miller explains the game in detail and shows the differences in analysis and strategy from other poker games.



4. I've got this book in my bag right now. And I've bought over 20+ poker books; a half-dozen DVDs; and plenty of poker magazines.
   
   I'm rereading it to review some of the NL cash concepts...which one reviewer ridiculed...but I thought it made alot of sense...essentially its NL short stack cash strategy...play tight and put your stack in the middle with premium or very good hands. I like that he admitts...this probably won't make you the most popular guy at the table.
   
   In other parts of the book...he goes over the concept of pot equity in an easy to understand fashion...which I still appreciate. After you read this book you're either aware of....or refreshed on...some very solid poker concepts/principles.
   
   The NL tournament section is short...true. Nothing remarkable. But still useful for a beginner. I looked at it more as an add-on than anything else.
   
   good luck



5. I bought this book at the same time I bought "winning low limit" by lee jones. Had previously read ITH by mathew hilgger, but lee jones's text is so great in the way it presents strategic information, I now prefer it to ITH.
   As for this book, I have no idea what the people who say this is a great introduction for hold'em are talking about.
   The presentation is confusing, the book contains a lot of fillers with little valuable information. Rules of hold'em aren't that complicated that requires the extensive chapters on reading the board as this necessarly comes with experience and doesn't take that long.
   As for strategy, I admit Miller is a bit more agressive than lee jones(which depends on the stakes you play in) and does present very valuable ideas, but I think the presentation is less than functional for complete begginers, for whom this book is intended.
   
   It is a cheap book...in all ways possible.