Theory of Poker by Sklansky
I have read a couple books so far...
Killer Poker by Varhaus
Play Poker like the Pros by Hellmuth
Here is what I was wondering, I have heard pro's talking about this book Theory of Poker by Sklansky being a must have. What does everyone think? Should I buy this book, or pass? I hear that this guy really knows his stuff... do you think reading this book would add to my game?
Let me know what you all think...
Killer Poker by Varhaus
Play Poker like the Pros by Hellmuth
Here is what I was wondering, I have heard pro's talking about this book Theory of Poker by Sklansky being a must have. What does everyone think? Should I buy this book, or pass? I hear that this guy really knows his stuff... do you think reading this book would add to my game?
Let me know what you all think...
Comments
Wow.
How about some tips for us nobodies that don't have the apparent natural knack for the game that you possess?
Cheers,
all_aces
ScottyZ will agree, I believe it is his favorite book, as it should be, that it is a must have.
I'm trying to remember if I've read that one...
Hey, have I ever told you about Sammy Jankis?
ScottyZ
The Facts
Fact 1:
Male
Fact 2:
White
Fact 3:
First Name: Dave or David
Fact 4:
Last Name: S________
Fact 5:
Poker Author
Fact 6:
ISBN: 1-880685-00-0
ScottyZ
The thing is that I am a very patient person which allows me too play premium hands.. usually sometimes when I have a big chip stack in a tournament, and am the leader I will play somewhat looser but nothing crazy.
I think I will be buying this book...
And again, thanks for all the replies.
TPFAP is the best tournament book on poker I've seen, although I haven't been able to locate that Sherer book Dave Scharf raves about.
As for HPFAP, this is an excellent book, but the content is more geared to playing against opponents who are reasonably skilled. So as for wanting it read it, it depends what kind of games you typically play.
If you're playing mostly Point Edward 5-10, or lower limits online, you may be better off staring off with "Winning at Poker" by Dave Scharf, and "Winning Low Limit Holdem (2nd Ed)" by Lee Jones. After you're comfortable that material, and are having some medium-to-long term success at low-limit, pick up "Small Stakes Hold'em" by Miller/Sklansky/Malmuth.
After all of that HPFAP is *still* worth reading, even if you stick with the low-limit games. But, a lot of the fancier moves described in HPFAP which can be very effective in more "solid" poker games, may fail miserably at low-limit.
ScottyZ
Are there any good books for No Limit? Most of the books I find are specific to limit poker, and I hardly play that anymore. I find I make more money at NL, and don't get drawn out on nearly as much.
This is a bit of a grey area.
NL is hard. Hard to play, and hard to write poker strategy advice books about.
I've heard all sorts of opinions about the various books that cover NL. The trouble I have found with almost every NL book out there is that they often speak at a level where you can only understand the material if you already knew it. I find myself often wanting more detailed explanations, and more exact strategies.
I'm not talking about things like tables and charts of how to play hands, or algorithms for flop betting. You can't play NL like a robot. But I find I am too often coming across explanations like "you have a ceratin feel for your opponent, so you make such and such play". This is a typical example falls in the category I was talking about: either I already knew how to get a feel for my opponent, or this particular advice gives me no information to learn how to do so.
My favorite is Pot-Limit and No-Limit Poker by Ciaffone & Reuben.
Lots of people love the NLHE section of Super System. I personally never found it very useful.
I've also read "Championship NL Holdem" by Cloutier & McEvoy and didn't like that one either. I felt that this one was *very* much explained at the level where the authors assumed I already knew the material.
IMO, the poker literature could very much use a good *low-limit* NL book. I think the modern (i.e. post-TV poker explosion) NL game is a lot different than the NL game many of the authors who have previously written about NL had in mind.
ScottyZ
As for a No Limit book, I was in Chapters yesterday and saw a new NLH book -- oddly enough it was called, "No Limit Hold'em" by Brad Daugherty and Tom McEvoy. I was ready to buy it until I saw the price tag -- "$38!" Gee Wilikers! I'm going to have to get a solid referral on this one before I buy it. It wasn't very long and had mostly practice hands in it. Can anyone recommend this one?
PhallicPhil
Gaaaaawly, Beav. I generally find the best pricing for poker books on Amazon.ca.
ScottyZ
The one bit I really liked from this book, was TJ's opinions and advice on Pocket Pairs (medium to low) vs Ace-Paint / Paint-Paint cards. He is a big fan of the Pocket Pairs (pre-flop) because (i don't remember the exact wording as I have lent the book to a buddy and he hasn't returned it yet) you already have a made hand. It is the one section where it made my rethink my strategies with these types of card, especially during bubble periods. I still don't play Medium/Small pockets as well as I should/could but I started playing them a lot better after reading this book.
Other than that I agree with Scotty's opinion of the book.
i am from czech republic and i have rare opportunity to get some poker books so i am going to buy three or four. Understand in our republic is no merchant with these titles and if there would be the books would cost twice more than in states.
american girlfriend of my buddy is coming to prague for winter holidays so she can bring them to me.
i am interested in general hold`em concept and i decided that i want one low-limit book and one tournament book and one or two other hold`em books. i`ve read a lot of forums so far to find out what books should i get and now i see it like this: Jones low-limit and Sklansky tournament hold`em. I found that it seems people prefers these two more than Sklansky low-limit and Cloutier tournament. Next i was thinking about Theory of Poker and Hold`em poker for advanced players. Is it worth to buy both of these books or is the substance quite same? I know that ToP is about poker in general but may be the math and theories are in both books same? talking about hold`em. i took a look to the excerpts of all that books at amazon.com but its hard to get real clue from that IMO.
what should i might mention too is that i play with my friends (tiny stakes homegame) and some online poker but only freeroll so far but i am planning to give myself a shot in local cardroom in low-limit for the beggining and there are some small NL tourneys there also. in low-limit i`d like to focus on medium-to-long term profit. so mainly i am now a fan - watching the shows from TV and enjoying every game of hold`em i play. oh and though i am not a math genius i`ve spent a few years at technical university so i have some basic knowledge.
I will extremly appreciate all opinions and advices what you can give me about what books should i get in my case. or some other tips also
Since you mentioned low-limit, Lee Jones' book is great if you'll be playing low-limit holdem cash games. "Winning at Poker" by Dave Scharf is a great book for a new poker player, and I'd strongly recommend this one too.
As for tournaments, I like Sklansky's tournament book the best. However, I also like McEvoy & Daugherty's "No-Limit Texas Hold'em: The New Player's Guide to Winning Poker's Biggest Game". Although you can't really tell the from the title, this book is primarily focused on no-limit tournaments rather than cash games. The latter book may be better suited to a newer player than Sklansky's.
Hold'em Poker for Advanced Players is an excellent book, but it's probably one you can afford to wait on getting, particularly if you are a beginner.
ScottyZ
I have read all the stuff i found on the web what have something to do with hold`em and i saw lederer`s instructional video
And so you think it is worth to read both Sklansky books - theory of poker and hold`em for advanced players? Because i read some post where is written that in HPfAP is quite the same content of information as in ToP just related only to hold`em.
I can give you my opinion on that in a few weeks. I ordered 3 of sklansky's books (Theory of Poker, Holdem for Advanced Players and his Tournament book). I also ordered Caros book of Tells, I'll be happy to share my opinion about all of them when I'm done.