5 comments about Internet Texas Hold'em: Winning Strategies from an Internet Pro.

1. Teaches the ins and outs of poker and will help any beginer improve his game. The flop chart is the best asset,follow it and it will help eliminate alot of beginer mistakes. not for advanced readers, but if you are an advanced player Middle limit poker by ciaffane is the best book out i feel for the advanced. This book and the ciafane book are the only two poker books you need if you are beginer or play poker at all. Has turned around my bottom line dramatically



2. The book contians standard information, is written somewhat blandly, and doesn't reveal anything the myriad other poker books have already covered.
   
   I do like the cover though.
   
   I went to the bookstore specifically for this book, but was rather dissapointed when I looked through it. So, take my review with a grain of salt, b/c I only spent approximately 20 minutes reading through the various chapters.



3. The boom in online poker has brought with it an equal boom in how-to handbooks for internet players. The problem is that they're all pretty useless, for the very simple reason that:
   
   Internet poker = real life poker - tells.
   
   Save for some marginally informative behavior like speed-of-play (and you don't have to be a poker genius to figure those out yourself), decisions in online poker are never based on tells, which actually reduces the complexity of the game and makes internet poker an excellent tool to learn the game: it's one less thing you have to worry about.
   Therefore, you really don't need a handbook on internet poker, any good Hold'em strategy guide (like Sklansky's Hold'em Poker and Hold'em Poker for Advanced Players) will teach you all that you need to know.
   That said, Matthew Hilger's book is a good guide for beginning players and offers some handy charts on starting hands and probabilities.
   If you're just starting out and you've never read a book on Texas Hold'em, you might as well begin with this one, but if you've already studied the game, you'll find nothing new here.



4. For those claiming that this is a beginners book, I say you must be quite confused about what constitutes "beginners" material when it comes to the discussion of Limit hold 'em. Also, for those who claimed the book is "boring," why do you buy poker books? To be entertained? NO! You buy them to learn how to win at poker. They are instructional manuals, not bedtime Wilbur Smith novels!
   
   One of the questions that needs to be asked when considering whether a poker book is merely average or exceptional is; "Could I read this book and nothing more and become an excellent, winning poker player?" In this case the answer is a resounding "YES!" Lets just be clear, Hilger is very successful middle to high limit player and this book provides the knowledge to play anywhere from low to middle and high limit games. Almost all of the hand examples in the book are taken from actual hands played at 20/40 or 30/60 games! I personally would go so far as to say that this is a better book for even the middle limit player than either "Hold 'em for advanced players" or "Middle limit hold 'em" which are considered by many to be the two best books for the mid to high limit hold 'em player. (It is my humble opinion that both those books are somewhat overrated. Of course I'm only a low limit player so what do I know? :)) Some might say that is blasphemy but I've read all of them and that's my opinion.
   
   Hilger does a fantastic job explaining the conceptual ideas behind each topic in very basic language, he then provides several very clear hand examples to illustrate the concepts at work coupled with very solid reasoning explaining the logic and thought processes behind each play. Finally, he provides a comprehensive summary at the end of each chapter that really sums up the meat of that chapter. He covers everything one needs to know to play a winning game of hold 'em and does it in simple language that is easy to understand.
   
   This is a great book and is almost as good as what I consider the best book on Limit hold 'em- "Small stakes Hold 'em" by Ed Miller and co. As in the case of SSHE, the only thing missing from this book is a chapter on shorthanded play but hey, you can't have everything right?
   
   Five stars and easily one of the top 5 books on limit hold 'em on the market today.



5. I try to pick up something new from each poker book I read. As I am a new student to the game, I have found the starting hand chart found in this book to be extremely helpful. The chart lays out what hands you should play from what positions, and under what conditions (unraised/raised pot).
   
   But beyond this chart I have to agree with Bartman_9 in that internet poker is pretty much live poker without tells. There were a few pages of specific internet related material and internet tips here and there but not much at all. If you want to play serious online poker and you are somewhat of a beginner, then this book would be a good cold call, however don't expect it to impart an online silver bullet. You can't go wrong with this book, 3 stars.

5 comments about Penny Arcade Volume 4: Birds Are Weird (Penny Arcade).

1. The fourth, full-color collection of strips from the popular webcomic series Penny Arcade, Birds Are Weird continues the tradition of utterly irreverent, largely video game-themed humor. Due to severe cursing and the occasional phallic reference, Penny Arcade is not a comic for young children or the easily offended; and yet its humor has that irresistible effect. Bonus sketches, short text vignettes and a paragraph of extra commentary for virtually every strip enhance this anthology, offering new insights into Penny Arcade's random madness even for readers who have already seen the strip's archive online. "'Yeah, so I was looking at iPods today. I thought about you.' 'Oh yeah? Pretty great huh?' 'Oh yeah, real good. Then I got it up to the register, came to my senses, and bought a thirty dollar discman instead.' 'Yeah but the iPod doesn't skip.' 'Neither does this. It's cushioned by about three hundred and eighty dollars in cash.'" A sidesplitting collection and great gag gift, especially for the technogeek generation.



2. This book was great! Jerry Holkines never lets up on the wit factor. Laugh out loud!



3. As with the last three volumes, this book delivers exactly what it promises: a year's worth of side-splitting, laugh-out-loud comics. Holkins' writing is, as always, uncompromisingly witty, and Krahulik's art improves every year.
   
   The only noticeable improvement to the compilation would be a little extra material in the rear of book. The full color, full page art included in the previous volume blew me away, and it would be nice to have something that breathtaking in all of their publications.



4. This collection of the Penny Arcade comics covers an entire year of their work. While they don't do story arcs very often, the work included is still fantastic, and introduces some of there newer repeat characters.



5. I had read Penny Arcade now and then in the past, but didn't follow it on a regular basis - then while browsing the comics and manga section of the bookstore, the title of this volume just jumped out at me, as I am a cockatiel owner who loves birds in all their weirdness.
   
   The title of this book (even though the contents have little to do with birds :) ), plus my passing interest in Penny Arcade, and great love of video games made me decide I needed this book. And I enjoyed it thoroughly. I love the art, I love the gamer humour, I love Gabe's Appendix... in short this book is a lot of fun. Highly recommended for fans of gaming and Internet culture. I plan on collecting the rest of the volumes in the very near future!

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5 comments about Video Poker: Optimum Play.

1. The book has really good information. The problem is that is painfully boring to slog through. I have noticed an improvement in my VP playing. I am playing longer and not losing as much still in search of that magical royal.

   It took me over 2 weeks to get through this book and it is only 200 pages.




2. This is an excellent book. It details the steps necessary to become an expert player, a professional player of Video Poker.
   
   Optimal play is NOT perfect play. Mastering a trade is not easy. Discipline and practice are the watch words of all good Video Poker players.



3. I strongly suggest any fledgling video poker player read this manual to learn the basics of the odds and strategies necessary to conquer the casino video poker machines. An excellent basic, introductory text, Paymar also sells video poker training software and strategy cards that are a must for the budding or even serious player. I contribute much of my success at the game to the precepts in this book.



4. Paymar's book is pretty much the definitive handbook for video poker play today. He discusses every factor involved in beating theoretically beatable games, and at least stretching your dollars and getting the most out of your play in the rest.
   
   Dan disects each of the most popular games in detail, as well as multiple variations of each, and some of the older machines you might still run across. Each is subjected to computer payback and play analysis, and this runs to quite some length (and strictly speaking is not necessary reading). He streamlines all of this information into shorter hand flowcharts on how to play each hand to maximum potential, something which comes as quite a relief after going through his exhaustive and detailed optimum play discussion.
   
   Further, he delves into just what the stats mean. If a game is technically beatable over the long run, what does that tell the player? Well, it means frankly a full-time career of playing video poker, all day every day for months, at almost unbelieveable speed and rapidity and of course with perfect unerring accuracy. It is not easy or simple, and I can't even imagine that it would be fun. Moreover, one's potential edge in even the very best game, with the best payback, is so microscopic, that the fluctuations in the player's bankroll, even with only slight statistical blips, are huge. Don't even think of playing full time at a quarter machine with less than $50,000 to start. His advice in this area is depressing but honest and frankly about the most important stuff in the book.
   
   If the only thing this book does is to show the reader how to shop for a 'good' game and refuse to play short-pay ripoff games, it will be well worth the money. If your play improves as well, that's a bonus. Regular video poker players will benefit by reading this book.



5. I was very impressed with the amount of good info packed into this book.

No comments about Wii For Dummies.

5 comments about Beginning Game Development with Python and Pygame: From Novice to Professional (Beginning from Novice to Professional).

1. Here's my Pro/Con Opinions about this book:
   Pros:
   - Very easy to read.
   - Great examples that actually work
   - Chapters 1 & 2 give a great intro to python, so this would actually be a good book if you've never touched python before (but did have some programming experience)
   - Lots of info using pygame+opengl
   - A lot of examples use his gameobjects library, so a lot of the grunt-work coding is available to use already.
   
   Cons:
   - My biggest complaint is the lack of discussion on Sprites. Pygame is really a 2D library, and I think he left out a lot of very important information by not discussing how the Sprite class can be used.
   - Only cursory discussion Sound. If you're writing a game and just want the basic sound effects and/or background music, this is ok. However, if you want to do something really interesting with sound, you'll need to dig way beyond what this book offers.
   
   Overall, I think the book is worth getting unless you've already done
   a few significant projects using pygame. It's definately an Intro
   book, and it does a really good job giving the user an idea how to put
   a project together.



2. I wanted to write some simples game for my 3 yr. old son and looking for starting point as I don't know anything about Game programming. I am halfway done reading the book and so far I find this book very useful. The chapters are well laid out and I feel encourages to read page after next, unlike some 500 pages books that goes too far to make one sleep or loose interest. I am assuming some advance game programmer may expect more but a novice like me found this book very helpful and I found the information that I was looking. I think both me and my son will make some use of the money spend on the book



3. I have to say up front that I fit the "Novice" part of the title for this book, but if the book is really intended for such an audience then my review may be helpful for those in the same situation... What I am a Novice at is Python and Device driven programming. Although this is really a very good AND much needed book for the much under documented Pygame library, it missed an excellent opportunity to provide a novice level tutorial in "device driven" programming as supported by Pygame. Although it is possible to muddle through to an understanding (much as I did) by thinking through the implications of the example code, it leaves a lot to be desired to provide a working basis for a real "Novice". As an example, the need to know the function of the lines of code "while True:" combined with "pygame,display,update()" and what they mean about the code that lie between them is really crucial to getting any code using the library to work at all. Although this is addressed to some extent, I found quite a bit of experimentation (on my part) necessary to discover what code needed to be included in this loop and what did not... I hope Mr. McGugan , with his excellent writing skills and obvious enthusiasim for this kind of work, will soon provide us with a second edition that will provide us with more insight into how Pygame actually works, so we won't be programming by rote...



4. I bought this book for my son a few weeks ago. He likes the book and finds it helpful. But the book is falling apart at the binding. Very disappointing.



5. Ch3-6 provide a nice introduction to the basics of writing simple programs in pygame. The example code in these chapters was clear and effective at demonstrating the particular topic. Overall this book was helpful to me in developing a pygame centric design flow for the programs that I am writing.
   
   I would recommend this book to help in jump starting your understanding of this useful python module.
   
   Bryce Himebaugh

5 comments about Resident Evil 4 Official Strategy Guide (PS2) (Official Strategy Guides (Bradygames)) (Official Strategy Guides (Bradygames)).

1. The Guide for RE4 is a beautifully rendered one, covering all the places things hide, all the ways to combine items, and how to get every detail out with regard to outfits and the oddity of "other" weapons. The first time you play it you could probably use this, too, but only if you want to make one run at the game and only if you need it to fast-forward all of the puzzles. The problem with this is that a guide is simply a guide and, in the end, RE4 is player-friendly enough that you won't need it. You might need to find out about what to beat to get something bizarre, but there are things in game that allow for everything else.
   
   First, the merchants in the game are really useful and they sell maps that highlight out all the treasure. While this doesn't tell you how to combine everything, you can simply keep all your odd little items and try combining them until you manage a priceless artifact. Second, you can look at the guns and see how they "stat up" to figure out what you want. The guide give advice that works if you want to edge up from one weapon to the other, but some of the weapons are pretty playthings and their use is what makes the experience unique. Third, this is the friendliest game as far as enemies are concerned, and you should be able to beat anything with a little practice and a few lucky shots. The same can be said for the puzzles - none of them are really difficult and finding out stuff on your own makes you feel strong. Finally, just play through the minigames in the game, kick it up and beat the game more than once, and power up your weapons all the way and see what you end up with.
   
   So, you really don't need a guide and maybe you know it. Still, if you have to have one because you just need it or if you are buying this for someone who you might think needs help, it thrives here. This book is sexy, too, and I was impressed by the quality of the maps and the excellent care taken by the designers of the walk-through. I am of the opinion that a walk-through is either (1) a compulsive need to get everything or (2) a way to even the playing field. If you need either one of those, this is a golden ticket out of Las Plaga land. If not, you know how to run and gun.
   Regardless, try to run the game first! The play-through is exciting when you have no idea what to expect AND you are better than you think. I wish i could wink when saying this, too, and add "trust me" for good measure. Resident Evil 4



2. A friend introduced me to Resident Evil 4, and after several gruesome deaths during the course of the game I thought that maybe I should by the walk-through book. I first purchased one from a differant company, but found it to be unsatisfactory, and looked for and located a copy of this Bradygames version, which I have been extremely pleased with. The information and maps provided for game play are excellent, to the point where you can be totally prepared for what's around the next corner if you decide to read ahead, or you can just forge ahead, and then go back and read in the book where you messed up after you die, and do it better the next time. Some people might think it spoils the game to be prepared before hand, but it can easily make the game more enjoyable, and this walk-through definately makes it more so, if you decide to play that way. It's an excellent resource, and a definate must for any serious player.



3. I got this for my daughters friends birthday. She loved it ! It helped her get through the game.She said it was one of the best strategy guides she has ever gotten,very detailed.



4. The book helped me find all items and find ways to kill all the boss's and tells you how to unlock all characters. I loved it
   
   Luke Ross



5. One of the best walkthroug books i have ever bought , i'm a fan of bradygames , they always make the walktroug without unnecessary spoilers , and this one is like all the others straight to the point , have all the informations you need and has a neat poster to ^^

5 comments about Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (Prima's Official Strategy Guide).

1. Very good product. Fast delivery. AAA+++. Please leave me positive feedback, if it is allowed.
   
   Thanks. God is good.
   
   Martha in TN
   sngwrtrme



2. Every time I looked in this guide it made me want to play it, but unfortunately I'm not very far. That's because my skills in this game aren't good. I did manage to get from the Vulker base to creating my own light saber. I do think you should get this cheat book. It helped me get through an area when I couldn't do it on my own (in the sewers on Teris). But above all, it's a good cheat book.
   K. (8 years old)



3. Great product, really helpful and also very cheap for mint condition A++



4. Despite the beliefs of others, I believe this guide is actually helpful. Of course, the guide is not going to pass the game for you, you have to do that yourself. More or less, this gives you an outline of what you need to do, you just have to be smart enough to comprehend what it is that they are telling you. All one should need when playing these games is to know the answers to the most difficult puzzles. If you cannot accomplish something on your own, then Knights of the Old Republic isn't for you, so look elsewhere.
   
   Of course, with everything, there is also some faults, but then everything can't be perfect. The maps are helpful to guide you to where you need to go, especially on Dantooine. From what I've seen, there are times when the guides can be wrong. They also sometimes use pre-production graphics which you look forward to and then are let down. That is practically it.
   
   One should look at these guides basically as outlines. For the most part, outlines help you learn and remember things, but they are not going to teach you everything on the subject. So learn to deal with what you've got.



5. I am one of those completist gamers who likes to get everything available the first time through the game; therefore, a strategy guide is usually an absolute must for me. Unfortunately, there is a wide variation in quality, and this one leans pretty heavily towards the lower end of the spectrum. Don't get me wrong, it's still useful, but on the whole it feels sloppy and thrown-together, rather than comprehensive and helpful.
   
   One of the things that really mars the presentation is how badly organized it is. The walkthroughs are relatively helpful, but oftentimes a crucial bit of information that was mentioned previously is left out, leaving you to flip back through trying to find it. Another problem is that the guide was apparently written for a beta version of the game - it talks about gameplay and story elements that aren't available in the game itself and leaves out others that are. Taken as a whole, it just feels like it was done in a hurry by someone who wasn't paying attention.
   
   On the whole, the guide does work, but I wouldn't recommend purchasing it - you can find much better-organized and more thorough collections of the same information for free online. It's far from unusable, though, so it'll work if you need to have something nearby for reference and don't own a laptop computer.

5 comments about Pokemon Poc Pokedex Vol.2: Prima Official Game Guide.

1. I'll make this review short and to the point, for those of you who are already familiar with the games and seeking a Pokedex to make your life easier as you play through Pokemon Diamond/Pearl. Here's a rundown of this guide, its qualities, and its shortcomings.
   
   THE GOOD:
   
   -VERY EXTENSIVE IN ITS INFORMATION. This guide doesn't just list and picture the Pokemon, you also get evolution charts, lists of the attack the Pokemon learns, stats, and even the learnable TM/HM moves. Locations of the creatures in Pearl and Diamond are also included.
   
   -DOESN'T JUST COVER THE SINNOH POKEDEX. This guide covers each region's Pokedex and the various Pokemon from each region you'll be able to get your hands on after you beat the Elite Four, both in your own game and that you're able to trade from others. There are detailed entries here for Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh Pokemon alike.
   
   -A LIST OF EVERY ATTACK IN THE GAME AND ITS FUNCTION/TYPE/EFFECT/ETC. This is very handy to have around as you progress through the game and have to make decisions regarding what attacks you choose to keep, and which ones you don't.
   
   -PICTURES FOR ALL REPRESENTED SPECIES. You get art for each Pokemon featured in the guide, as well as an in-game screenshot for both the male and female forms, if applicable.
   
   THE BAD:
   
   -NOT ALL OF THE POKEMON ARE INCLUDED HERE. The title says ALL of the Pokemon are featured here, and that's a lie. The three "event" legendaries of the Pearl/Diamond generation, Shayman, Darkrai, and Arceus, are inexplicably excluded from this guide! I'm appalled that these Pokemon were not included here, especially considering this guide is supposed to cater to the Pearl/Diamond generation.
   
   -NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION ON HOW TO GET NON-NATIVE SPECIES. For the Pokemon that you'll have to import from an older game, the guide gives NO INFORMATION on how to get these in their respective games. Instead, they simply say "import at Pal Park." That's it. No additional information. If you want to learn where to get them in their respective old games, too bad. You're going to have to dig out your old guides.
   
   -NO PICTURES PROVIDED FOR THE SHINY VARIANTS. Not a big deal, but it would have been nice to have pictures of these rarer versions of the creatures provided.
   
   THE VERDICT:
   
   If you're a big-time Pokemon gamer and you want a detailed list of species, this is a handy guide to have, but it's plagued by its shortcomings. If you can find it on sale for a good price, go for it, but don't shell out full retail for it.



2. This book is pretty straightforward. It is a pokedex... It has all the pokemon from the game. THe index in the front is handy. I can't find any fault except the print is microscopic...



3. My son loves it, he can look up all of the pokemon cards he already has



4. The product was in brand new condition and exactly what I was looking for. Extremely satisfied!!



5. My son loves this book, he is now the hero amongst his Pokemon friends. The book is printed on high quality papers and easy to use to flip through the pages. Excellent value all round.

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