Book Review: In The Money, Strategies for Winning.....

FalkyBones

In The Money, Strategies for Winning Texas Holdem Cash Games
by Antonio Esfandiari.


Pretty Disappointing.
I heard him promoting the book on tv, touting it as giving away
about 20% of the top strategies that separate the big boys from the wannabe's.   

What I learned from this book:

"In no-limit play, knowing your opponent and using position can make you a lot of money"

"If you are playing no-limit, it is extremely important to know your opponents and their tendancies."

"Texas Holdem is a game of position... When you have position you have to exploit the advantage.
You have to take control of the table. You can loosen up your starting requirements."

"Winning players make the necessary adjustments. Losing players do not."

"Remember that the best way to make money is to fold"


I guess i'm ready to turn pro now.

The book is written with a similar style to Eric Lingrens WPT book. 
Big on generalities, short on specifics.  It wont make you a better player
unless you are totally new to the game, and only watched it on tv.
If you are fans of either of these players, its probably worth the $20
to hear the stories of the big time poker lifestyle.  Gambling on anything and everything,
drinkin Dom, slammin whores, and hangin with other poker players.


The book included a dvd of "The Magician's" Chip Tricks
Also very disappointing.  3 chip tricks, one of which is
chip shuffle/riffle.

cadillac

Hey Falky!  (I gotta hear the story behind that name...)

Thanks for taking the time to review this book.  I have looked at it many times in Chapters but I have always ended up buying something else.  The time that you have invested in reviewing it has saved me the price of admission.

So Cheers to you and I will pay it forward.

There does seem to be alot of crap poker books on the market right now.  I know because I have spent the cash on a few.

The first 2 poker books that I spent my hard earned on fell into the crap category:

Phil Hellmuth's Texas Hold 'Em.  Do not buy this book!  It is garbage.  There was no information in this book that I could not find in an hour of surfing internet poker boards.  The only bright spot was a bit about categorizing players styles with animals.  For example: a calling station is an elephant and tight weak player is a mouse....

You can read the rest here: http://www.poker-strategy.org/Default.aspx?tabid=62


Moneymaker : How an Amateur Poker Player Turned $40 into $2.5 Million at the World Series of Poker This was mildly entertaining based on the rags to riches aspect of the story.  Otherwise nothing was helpfull in terms of actual poker strategy.  This money would also have been better left in my bankroll.


Harrington on Hold Em Vol 2  WOW!  I play mostly sit n go's and this books focus is on end game.  It improved my game immediately.  This book is filled with scenarios for you to read, analyze, and then read Dan's take on the situation.  It teaches you how to think for yourself.  Harrington also gives great understanding of how to adapt your game as the blinds become a larger percentage of your stack and how to close when you are heads up.  This Book is Great!!!!

Championship No Limit & Pot Limit Hold 'Em (Championship Series) This book came highly recommended but I was less than impressed with it.  Cloutier is very general in his teachings and the standard theme seems to be Fold, Fold, and Fold.  If you need to tighten your game up a bit just read this book and you'll be a frogs ass when you finish it.  He does give some scenarios like Harrington but they all seem to be based on playing AA, AK, and KK???  As if those are the biggest problems I face!

Anywho... There is a brief glimpse in to my library at this point.  If anyone wants to buy these used from me just send me a PM.  I am selling Helmuth and Moneymaker @ .10c on the pound.  Reach for my Harrington and I'll bite your hand off!!

Let's keep this going!!  I know Harrington 1 & 3 are next on my list but maybe you all can give me some guidance as to what I should buy next!!

Cheers

Caddy

AcidJoe

I'd go with Harrington Vol 1. Great book, and give you a better foundation for what you read in vol. 2. Also Ace on the River is an excellent read. Not much "real" strategy but gives you options as to how to look at situations with examples where you make your bet, raise or fold then flip the page and he says what he did (Or would do). Quite a few non hold em examples too. (stud 7 mostly). I haven't finished Barry Greensteins book so I will give a formal review.

TexLexus

It always warms my heart to hear someome singing the praises of the Harrington books. They are great. But hold on... if people keep recommending them, that's a cut out of my income!! Don't read Harrington!!!!!!!! Buy Poker for Dummies instead.

sharpe88

I think da Magician's book is even less worthwhile than Helmuth's. At least Helmuth has cute animals

Spicol

cadillac wrote:

There does seem to be alot of crap poker books on the market right now.  I know because I have spent the cash on a few.

I was genuinely but pleasantly surprised when I found a poker section in the public library. They won't have the latest but they should have a good chunk of the classics.