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Rake in the chips with
these books on poker
Mark,
I got into a friendly low stakes poker game with
friends. I absolutely
loved it, though I did not understand some of the
different games and
rules. I need you to recommend a beginner poker book,
one that explains
checking, raises, and the different games. A poker for
dummies book, if
there is such a thing, is what I am looking for. Any
recommendations
will be helpful. Mike S.
Dear Mark,
Do you have any recommendations for general books on
poker and Texas
Hold’em specifically? Donald M.
There is such a book for dummies, Mike, and surprise,
surprise, it’s
called Poker for Dummies. Because one of its authors is
Lou Kreiger (I
am a longtime fan of his witticism and knowledge), I
give it an
enthusiastic thumb's up. Poker for Dummies will show you
systematically
how to bet, bluff, and play your way to the top, from
seven-card stud,
to Omaha, to Texas Hold’em. Read it Mike, and you’ll be
a dummy no
more.
Now Donald’s question forced me to sort out, then
categorize my entire
gambling library. On Texas Hold’em alone, I have 37
books. As one who
believes that getting just one tip from a book makes it
worth more than
the price of the book itself, it was tough to choose
amongst them a
half dozen that would take you from Beginner to Winner.
These six books
will certainly give you an enormous edge at your weekly
game; even make
you a competitive tournament player.
HOLD'EM EXCELLENCE by Lou Krieger:
Lou Kreiger's Hold’em Excellence makes my list as an
entry-level
favorite for fostering poker skills at Texas Hold’em.
Whether you are a
beginner or seasoned tournament player, it is loaded
with expert tips
on almost every page. This book would be a good starter
on your World
Series of Poker journey.
THEORY OF POKER by David Sklansky:
Considered one of the top general poker books of all
time, it should be
on every want-to-be poker players’ bedside nightstand.
This book will
definitely help you understand the logic and principles
of skillful
play. If you want to go into the head of the most
skillful players in
the world, I highly recommend this book.
CARO BOOK OF TELLS: THE BODY LANGUAGE OF POKER by Mike
Caro:
If you are serious about winning, you will realize that
most profits
come from being able to read you opponent. Caro’s book
is designed to
help serious players recognize other players “tells.”
This book teaches
you how to interpret tells, such as subtle shrugs,
sighs, shaky hands,
eye contact and much, much more.
Once you have mastered the basics, the three expert
level books below
are probably the best books ever written on poker. They
will certainly
take you to a much higher level of play, possibly even
the final table
of a major tournament. These best-of-the-best tomes
contain expert
level advice from the most highly regarded
authors/players in the
world. I only wish I had read them years ago as a
substitute to my
poker school of hard knocks education.
HOLD’EM POKER FOR ADVANCED PLAYERS by David Sklansky &
Mason Malmuth:
SUPER/SYSTEM (A Course in Poker Power) by Doyle Brunson:
CHAMPIONSHIP NO-LIMIT POT LIMIT HOLD’EM by T. J.
Cloutier & Tom McEvoy:
There is enough information in any of the books
mentioned to make a
winning player out of anyone willing to study and apply
the concepts
they learn in them. If you can’t find any these books at
your local
bookstore, try the Gamblers Book Club (GBC:
800-522-1777) or their
online bookstore: www.gamblersbook.com.
Online Gambling quote of the week: I like to play poker with
politicians.
They’re easy to beat. Sometimes in poker it’s smarter to
lose with a
winning hand so that you can win later with a losing
hand. Politicians
can’t accept that.” Robert Redford, Havana (1990)
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