4 comments about Powerful Profits From Internet Poker.

1. If you are looking for a good poker strategy book, look elsewhere. I found this book unfocused and full of "filler" material. It gives advice on several poker variants (Holdem, Omaha, Seven Card Stud), but offers nothing ground-breaking or in-depth on any. Most disappointing is the extra material thrown in to "fill out" the book. There is a compendium of cyber terms, explanations on how to use Party Poker and Poker Stars, instructions on how to fund your account, etc. If you are looking for a good poker strategy book focusing specifically on Holdem, I recommend "Harrington on Hold 'em Expert Strategy for No Limit Tournaments Vol 1". I don't believe this book is worth the money for the majority of players.



2. 
   This book is one of those rare gems that you don't often find in poker literature, or poker books. Not only does this book offer important insights on how to handle the online poker boom, but it also provides the means of learning how to find your way through all the pitfalls, and the hype, and get to the real meat of winning.
   
   The strategy portions of this book are particularly important, because they focus on the specific differences between the real-world poker, and the kind of poker being played on the Internet. There are very big differences, and if you don't know how to handle it, you won't be winner. You need to know how to adapt to the Internet poker play, and this book is the perfect way to find that out.
   
   There are many good strategy books out there, most of which are about the "traditional" poker, like that which is played in the real-world poker rooms. This author's other poker book is among them, although that book also sets up the strategies and information found in this one. This book is perfect because it takes you away from the "tired old thinking," such as you might find in some "traditional" strategies, those that may not apply to the 21st century world of online poker.
   
   As a result of this book, I have won more tournaments online in one month than most of the "name" players win in a year. I have won Hold'em freezeouts, rebuys, sit-&-goes, Omaha/8, and cashed-in in over 70% of the tournaments I entered. Furthermore, I learned how to establish online accounts, how to manage them, how to set up a Neteller account, how to avoid collusion, and how to play well in that online world. I'd say that's about as good as it can get.
   
   This is a book you should have, if you want to learn the world of online poker, and be a winner. It's your choice, but to my mind the few dollars you spend for buying this excellent book is well worth it.
   
   Just look at it this way: Spending around $15 for this book made me wins of $1,600 and $1,200 back-to-back in $5 buy-in Hold'em tournaments, and many more wins of several hundred dollars each in small buy-in tournaments. Of course, you can make up your own mind, but I'd say I made a good deal.



3. 
   This book was given to me as a gift. I am really a blackjack player mostly, and so I didn't have much experience with poker. I did play poker several times in the casinos, but nothing serious. I also didn't play on the Internet. But that's all changed now!
   
   At first, I just wasn't all that interested in Internet poker, but after reading this book I found out it's a really good game. What I like most about it is that I can do it from home, and not have to travel to a casino to play poker. But I didn't know much about the Internet poker, and had little clue about how to get going, and how to play, and not be taken for a ride.
   
   After reading this book, all my fears went away. This book shows how to get started, how to find the games and tournaments, and how to play winning poker specifically for Internet poker play. This was all new to me, but with this book in hand I quickly learned the tricks. I was also given this author's other poker book, Powerful Profits from Poker, because in that book I could learn more about the poker games. With both books together, I soon became quite good at this. I won my first tournaments by following the advice in this book, and I have been happily playing ever since.
   
   Since I read this book, and the author's other book on poker, I also read some of the others. While I agree with this author that reading more is better than less, I do want to say that I find Royer's style clear, refreshing, and to the point. He talks about this difficult Internet poker craze in simple terms, and that makes it easy to become a winning player.
   
   I also like that this author gets down to the facts, and speaks about the realities of exactly what it is that you will find when you play poker on the Internet. There is also a nice chapter about the legality of Internet poker, and the author makes it very clear that there are no laws in the USA that in any way prevent you from playing on the Internet.
   
   All in all, this is an excellent book about Internet poker, and the various poker games you find there. If you want to play poker on the Internet, this is the book you should get, and read, and study.



4. Victor H. Royer, Powerful Profits from Internet Poker (Kensington, 2006)
   
   First off: it's well worth noting that this book constitutes an extension of Royer's earlier Powerful Profits from Poker. If you haven't read that one, start with it instead.
   
   Powerful profits from Internet Poker is a companion volume to the earlier book, in which Royer focuses on the differences between brick-and-mortar and Internet poker playing. So if you're looking for general hints, tips, and strategies for poker playing, this is not where to go. If you spend most of your time playing poker on the 'net, though, you may find some things of use here if you're not already well-read on the subject. If you are, you're going to wade through a lot of retread, but that's not necessarily a bad thing; it's often useful to brush up on the basics now and again.
   
   There are three chapters devoted to the three main games played at Internet poker sites, one each for Hold'em, Seven-card stud, and Omaha. (When is someone going to write the definitive book on Crazy Pineapple? That's what I want to know...) Two more chapters are devoted to detailed analyses of PokerStars and PartyPoker, and the interleaved chapters deal with such topics as general strategy tips for Internet poker, poker and the law, etc. (That last is a must-read chapter as the Internet Gambling and Enforcement Act nears a Senate vote, by the way.) You'll see a lot of stuff you've already seen, especially if you're already a student of one or more of the games discussed (as, I would assume, anyone picking this book up is) and/or you already have an account on PartyPoker, PokerStars, or both. If so, just read the stuff that'll be new first, and go back and read the whole book later on, when you have more time. If you're a greenhorn, though, this is a quick and easy overview of stuff you need to know, and is worth your time. ***

1 comments about False Cards.

1. Because of ratings inflation I could have easily rated this book a 5. Its a good book and worth reading. It covers similar material to the 2 Rigal books (Step by Step deception - Declarer, Defender)
   I like that the author gives a frequency of how often certain families of false cards come up.
   
   - Mandatory false cards to confuse the defenders (or declarer AND partner)
   - False cards to interfere with the defenders signaling (Count and Attitude)
   - Deceptive plays - how to steal a trick
   
   A very good introduction to this subject.
   
   Invitation to Annhilation - by Mike Lipkin is a decent book.
   
   Matchpoint Tricks by Axelsen and Dam is a good book on how to steal a trick.
   
   I am about to read Hugh Kelseys Tricky Game

No comments about Bridge Strategy at Trick One.

No comments about The Winning Edge.

No comments about Memory-Aids and Useful Rules Flipper (Master Bridge Series).

No comments about Clever Bridge Tricks.

No comments about Jesus Deck: Boxed.

5 comments about The Man With the $100,000 Breasts And Other Gambling Stories.

1. A great collection of gambling related stories, with strange but likeable characters. Each story is different, but fun to read. Even if you have no knowledge of some of the activities or games covered, the stories are enjoyable.



2. This is one of the many "gambling milieu" books that have hit the scene over the course of the past few years; although, unlike many of the others, Konik's effort features strong writing and a furious pace. Upon finishing it, I took a look at the page numbers because I couldn't believe it was over. It wasn't that it was too short, the real problem was that it was too good. In small chip size pieces, Konik addresses the infamous world of gambling. His coverage is far better than that of the average commentator as he includes horse racing, greyhounds, blackjack, sports betting, and golf hustling within his narrative. To say this one is fascinating is an understatement. A better description is that it will even, dare I say, appeal to the general public--and, indeed, it has. The title essay concerns crazy proposition man Brian Zembic, and it may well be the best of the compilation. After all, how many people become quasi-transvestites for 100 grand? Well, that's the terrain you're in once you open these pages, and you'll be grateful that Konik did such a magnificent job of immersing himself in it.



3. I had heard about this guy a long time ago and finally found this book. After reading the first chapter, I was a bit dissapointed that the story of the man with the $100,000 breasts was over, but to my suprise, the stories just got better. Each chapter tells a different gambling story, which I must say, were all great stories.
   
   I think a lot of people won't read this book because of the title, but it is a shame because the book is that good. I showed it to some coworkers and they thought I was nuts for reading a book about what the title depicts. I tried to explain to one of them how good it was but many turned there nose up without trying it. The one who did try it out read the first 3 chapters and said-- I want it when your done!!!
   
   Very entertaining and unlike the previous review, I think anybody would enjoy this book. You don't have to be a hard core gambler.
   
   One last note- I am not a book reader. I have read very few books, but i have to tell you, I could not put this one down and finished it within a week, reading a couple of chapters before bed each night. I only wish there were more stories!!!



4. Overall I liked this book quite a bit. Very interesting stories, all bite sized and well written. The last half dozen stories are about poker--I'm not a player so these didn't hold much interest.



5. I have probably given this book out as presents to at least a half dozen people since it's release. Although I don't want to jump on the person who gave the book 3*, they were completely missing the point.
   
   This book was ranked #2 on the Wall Street Journal's list of the 5 best books on gambling.
   
   This book opens up with the ultimate risk taker, Brian Zembic. A man who will take a bet on everything, and lives up to it. To be perfectly honest, as mentioned, it only takes up about 10-15% of the book, but I don't want it to take up more. As one of the other 5* reviewers said, the worst part of the book is that it stops.
   
   We read bios on Trump, Walsh, Jordan, and Woods, but here we read "mini-bios" on a differnet style of person. Andrew Beyer, Roxy Roxborough, Archie Karas, Johnny Moss. You read about how odds are made, how blackjack is played, and how comps get you paid. Poker, Horse Racing, Backgammon, Sports Betting, Blackjack... on and on... But don't think its just about this, they are stories that put you inside, and you don't want to leave.
   
   Obviously the book leans towards people who enjoy the art of gambling, but also to those curious about why they don't gamble. My favorite story in the book is the very last one, "The Hand That's Dealt". Konik knows how to paint a picture with words. The story takes place at a poker table, but it's the furthest thing from a poker story.
   
   Overall, without a doubt, Excellent.

2 comments about The Bridge Player's Comprehensive Guide to Defense.

1. I have improved a lot after I got this book. It's very good for advanced players.



2. For Intermediate Plus/Advanced players.
   Perhaps 350 problems in 24 chapters covering all aspects of defense. You will be exposed to many types/categories of defensive problems. Such as:
   
   - opening leads
   - signaling
   - inferences from bidding (shape, HCP)
   - counting the hand (shape, HCP)
   - avoiding end plays
   - 2nd hand High
   - Ducking
   - Giving Declarer a losing option
   - Carding technique (pinning/smother play)
   
   Many of the hands took me several minutes to think about.
   Not that I could do that at the table, but it helps focus you on what the correct thought processes are.
   
   Very worthwhile book

No comments about The Drawing of Trumps and Its Postponement (B-3).