Customer Reviews:
Best Detailed Hold'Em Book Out There.......2007-09-21
We Bought all Three Harrington on Hold 'Em books and I'm still reading through the first one. There are real examples that you can read through and decide if the way you would play them matches how they should be played. He'll tell you precisely why the hands should be played that way. I can't wait to read the next two. There are excellent insights into starting hands, playing against aggressive players...well you just have to get the book to find out all the goodies inside. I have many other books on poker already (Super System I and II, etc.) but this book by far is the best one out there for No Limit Hold 'Em. Especially if you want to refine your play. I'm an advanced player but this is great for beginners too. It brings you back to basics. Enjoy!
Great book! Don't buy this if you are going to play against me........2007-09-17
This book has really helped me improve my game. It is very thourough, and gives you example hands with detailed explainations as to why you should play them a certain way. Don't read this if you want to stay mediocre in your Texas Hold-em game play.
Harrington on Hold'em Vol 1.......2007-09-16
Helpful, essential; valuable information. Not boring or hard to read, but delightful, enjoyable, easy to read, understand, and apply. One of the best books available.
Excellent Strategies.......2007-09-08
Few players rape the tables as brutally as Harrington. In this valuable book he 'tells em as they is'. Standard strategies like the 'San Andreas Meat-grinder' (perfect for unloading double buffers into an end-zone packed with natural flankers) and the 'Chicago Steamer' (a honey-trap that could leave your opponent fencing against a semi-Lazarus) are explained with great attention to detail. He also has plenty of cavaliar gambits for more experienced snipers to deploy. Although the 'Fibonacci Fallout Shelter' may be too complex to smoke out an amateur cave-jacker, he claims that you can use it against pros to rotate the step of a goose-dance. Just DON'T try to detonate a Dutch grenade with it- use the 'Tallahassee jail-break' instead! My favourite is probably his slant on playing the 'Kentucky Monkey' (the best racket to reverse the polarity of a south-bound pot). Although there is the danger of being drowned in a mud-slide before the penultimate flipper, it usually guarantees the chance to fire a clockwork shotgun into the flood.
PS. I haven't tried my hand in any tourneys yet, but I did beat the rest of the Redhart family once- after I decided to go all in before the flop (with an unsuited 4 7) and pulled a straight.
The best no limit tournament guide.......2007-09-01
Dan Harrington and Bill Robertie take you step by step to show you how to become a winning no limit tournatment player. Their secret lies in the problems at the end of every chapter to show you exactly how a no limit tournament is played. Their style is easy to read and understand (providing you have a basic knowledge of poker) and the attitude is open minded and thoughtful of the reader. You will learn a lot from these books. Books? Yes, you will need the entire set of three volumes to fully understand the concepts that Harrington and Robertie are trying to teach you. It will be well worth the investment. The final volume (III) gives very concrete examples of the playing styles of many of the pros you see on TV as Harrington tries to get into poker thoughts of the champions of this game. I am only getting better because of Harrington on Hold'em Vol. 1,2 and 3.
Book Description
For today's poker players, Texas hold 'em is the game. Every day, tens of thousands of small stakes hold 'em games are played all over the world in homes, card rooms, and on the Internet. These games can be very profitable — if you play well. But most people don't play well and end up leaving their money on the table.
Small Stakes Hold 'em: Winning Big with Expert Play explains everything you need to be a big winner. Unlike many other books about small stakes games, it teaches the aggressive and attacking style used by all professional players. However, it does not simply tell you to play aggressively; it shows you exactly how to make expert decisions through numerous clear and detailed examples.
Small Stakes Hold 'em teaches you to think like a professional player. Topics include implied odds, pot equity, speculative hands, position, the importance of being suited, hand categories, counting outs, evaluating the flop, large pots versus small pots, protecting your hand, betting for value on the river, and playing overcards. In addition, after you learn the winning concepts, test your skills with over fifty hand quizzes that present you with common and critical hold 'em decisions. Choose your action, then compare it to the authors' play and reasoning.
This text presents cutting-edge ideas in straightforward language. It is the most thorough and accurate discussion of small stakes hold 'em available. Your opponents will read this book; make sure you do, too!
Customer Reviews:
excellent for a specific situation.......2007-09-20
Two + Two consistently publishes outstanding poker books, and Small Stakes Hold Em is no exception, so long as one understands the basic premise. This book is not a general guide to hold em, it doesn't cover tournaments or beating top level players - it is specifically written to help the experienced player target the beating of weak, often passive, usually loose players at the smaller tables, and nothing else. Although the authors make this point several times, it bears reminding and keeping in mind. You will not beat good players using the starting hand, pre or postflop play, or betting guidelines presented in this book.
That said, you are looking at a pretty typical Sklansky book. Sklansky does not insult the intelligence of the reader; he assumes the reader is already a decent to good player, familiar with Hold Em play and general strategy, and is not entering his first live game, but wishes to maximize his profits at that game instead. His advice is detailed, well explained, and when counter-intuitive, backed up by some persuasive reasoning. There are charts and tables, all kinds of hand breakdowns - most likely these are best NOT memorized but used more as a way of organizing your approach to the game situation. Rigid play will lead to losses, even at games well stocked with fish. And there are lots and lots of such games available, both online and live.
Not all small-stakes games will fit the profile as here defined - the reader/player will need to use his own judgement about passive/aggressive and loose/tight every time he plays - but when the circumstances are right, Sklansky's book is all about calibrating your game to extract the maximum advantage. And as such it has value and belongs on a poker players bookshelf.
Loose against Loose.......2007-09-06
I'm a long time player and started playing online a little while ago. So to get the feeling for online Poker I thought I'd start with small stake tables until I know my way out and then play my usual higher stakes games.
After a short while I realized that small stakes table are just horrible to play and that I need to adapt my game to the new situation. I went out and buy the book of Sklansky about how to play small stakes... after reading the book carefully and trying to follow most of his strategies I must say that I'd better have lost my money at a table than for the book. My new table experiences would have been more valuable.
What Sklansky suggests is actually to play loose against loose players! I've been playing for many years now and my tracks show that I'm pretty tight, solid and aggresive but since this strategy doesn't seem to work very well at small stakes online tables, I thought being open minded and reading about new ways would pay out. I know now that playing my usual way doesn't pay out as much as I'm used to at tables like that, but I also know that the way they explain how to play doesn't pay out at all but makes you even loose more money...
Most Likely better for Casino play.......2007-08-30
This book is quite good but I think most of the advice is more applicable in brick and mortar rooms where the action is more loose. Many of the examples in the book are games in where the pot odds are favorable to chase all your draws but that isn't the case even in games as low as .25/.5 limit online today. If you can find loose games then this book would probably be a very good addition to your library
Best Book on Limit Hold 'Em.......2007-08-16
I own several poker books and this is the one that I reference most often. Sklansky might be the best poker author of all time and his Theory of Poker is a must read for any serious player. Limit, and particularly low limit poker, is an entirely different game from No-Limit and the techniques that work well in no-limit often fail miserably in Limit. Don't buy the claim that you'll ever be able to earn a substantial income playing low limit, but diligently applying the concepts presented should result in + play. Low limit is a chase game for many and you need to have a rather thick skin to endure the many bad beats that you'll endure by playing correctly. Many players seem to have no clue that a three-flush after the flop should usually be thrown away if the only plausible out is to connect suited runner-runner. You'll want to chew on the table when your flopped 2 pairs gets caught on the river by the runner-runner chaser, but you need to endure! If you think that you'll be a successful player in low limit by using the bluff as your principal technique, think again. Bluffing works on occasion, when timed correctly, but you can't depend on your opposition to make rational folds. A recent example from one of my hands that pays off for the opposition: I was playing 3-6 limit with a kill pot. I was dealt pocket aces and raised. There was a raise and re-raise capped making the bet $24 pre-flop. Incredibly, 5 players stayed in. The flop came Ace - 5 - 8 rainbow, giving me a monster set of aces. An early position player bet, there was a raise and I re-raised. 4 players were still in the bloody pot! The turn card was a 9. More raising and the field was now down to 3, the pot was huge, but I didn't see how my pocket aces could lose. The river comes up a 7. You guessed it, I lost to a straight. The bozo called pre-flop with J-6 offsuit all the way up to a $24 bet, calls raises to the river and hits runner-gutshot runner and he wins a $240 pot! There's no justice in low-limit hold 'em. You may as well learn to live with it!
Poker Book.......2007-06-28
This is a very good book. I have added th book to my poker libary.
Book Description
This new work, directed to intermediate players, contains more than 300 bridge hands, plus tips on strategy and play psychology.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent for Beginners with experience.......2007-02-16
To get anything out of this book you need to have a litle practical experience first. A pure Novice will not get as much out of the book.
With several months experience, you will appreciate this book a lot more. Its slow going, but thats necessary because this is a technical subject. After reading it, you will forget quite a lot of it. Try reading it again a year later. Then it will sink in much better.
For thiose who gave this book a bad review becaus eit was too advanced for them - the problem is with you, not the book. You are not yet at the level to use this book effectively. To read this book as a novice/weak player will not help so much. You need the experience to give you a frame of reference.
After reading this book you can advance to the harder books like teh Card Play Made Easy series and Mollos Card Play Technique.
magnificent and effective teaching material.......2006-03-29
Root's book is concise and effective, there is no superfluous flowery statements in this book and everything presented here is what you need to winning bridge.
A polished book, you will like it, but be sure you have some very basic bridge knowledges before reading it!
Too many examples, too little explanation.......2006-01-22
The book covers a great deal of material, but it was a bit disappointing regarding the explanation of certain plays. It is certain very thorough as for examples, it offers a very wide view of possible holdings and explains very well why a cartain play works in that circumstance, but doesn't explain which guidelines to follow to decide when to adopt such a play. The material covered is though very much, and anyone that thinks he/she could derive the rule from the example, would find the book very plesurable. On the other hand, if you wanted a really good book by Bill Root, try Commonsense Bidding and Modern Bridge Conventions. I haven't read his book on defence, but that looks promising as well
Another winning effort by Bill Root.......2005-09-27
"How to Play a Bridge Hand" is the definitive primer on declarer play. No, it does not teach advanced play technique like backwash squeezes or smother plays. What it does is provide a novice to intermediate player an overview of every aspect of dummy play. The discussions attempt to identify every common card play situation, and the quizzes reinforce this material. If it seems dry at times, that's only because Root apparently wanted to pack as much teaching into as little space as possible - and he succeeds admirably.
This is a must-read book for anyone wanting to begin to improve their dummy play.
Akin to chewing sawdust.......2005-05-21
I am a newbie, here, but having read a bit of this book and Watson's one, I have to say the following: both are excellent books, but both suffer from extreme teaching mentalities. This one is terse, you have to expand the text and analyse it; Watson's book on the other hand spoonfeeds the reader who has to condense and summarise everything in it.
Root's book is dry but effective; be prepared to really work out the examples not just the quizes and you will end up with another book of your own notes; in the end, you really learn the topic.
Also, some person here complained that this book is not for a beginner; I am a beginner. This book has prerequisites which are covered in the free software supplied on the website of the American Bridge Association (ACBL?). Once you go through that teaching tool, you are ready for this book, no problem.
I highly reccomend this book. Terse, focused to the point at hand (ha, ha), it is dry reading, but highly effective if you decide to expand on the text on your own on the margins.
Do not read it passively.
Book Description
Widely regarded as the world's best poker player, Johnny Chan has been beating the highest buy-in tournaments and big money cash games everywhere for the past twenty years. Because he worked his way up to the top of the poker world by starting in the smallest games, Johnny is the perfect person to teach you how to do it. Whether you are a beginning or intermediate player, this book will help you on your way to expert status. All of the popular casino poker games are covered in a clear and easy to understand fashion.
Win just one extra pot and this book will have paid for itself!
Customer Reviews:
Play like Chan (would be nice).......2007-03-30
This is the best beginner/intermediate book that I have seen. It covers all the popular poker games of the day plus general tips on all the games and how to play at a Casino. John also discusses some of the great players he has played against. I must mention the paper is excellent (no cheap stuff here) and the illustrations (photos?) of the cards make it very easy to use. Highly recommended
Wide-ranging strategy guide by a poker pro.......2005-11-07
This a beautifully produced, pricey paperback covering the poker games that Chan plays. Of course, he doesn't just play, he wins big. By my count, he's won ten WSOP events.
The book is something of a scrapbook of poker photos, with strategies on many poker games: basically stud, omaha, both high and high low, as well as limit and no-limit Texas hold'em. He describes his thinking as a hold'em hand progresses -- very useful.
By the way, there is little math in book, so if you're looking for the clearest expression of pot odds, implied odds, look elswhere. (For a book that leads you safely through the odds jungle, see Weighing the Odds in Hold'em Poker by King Yao.)
Remember the list price is $30. The qualiy paper and color photos cost more. In fact, even the hands are shown in color photographs.
This is a worthwhile book with insights from a successful player, covering too many kinds of poker to be the ultimate in-depth guide to any one of them. Yet it scores in readability way above the serious classics by Sklansky, Malmuth and others.
It's not the best first book on poker as it's too advanced for a beginner, but it may well be the best second one.
Fantastic.......2005-09-22
Saw this book on amazon.com and figured, what the hell, I'll buy it and see what happens. Got it a week later, read the section on limit hold em first, since that's about the only game I play well, and was surprised my gameplay was very different to what was mentioned. After reading it and trying out the different techniques, I was pleasantly surprised to see my profits increasing. Well worth the price and the time to read. Have since read through the other sections and am finding myself getting some good earnings in Omaha and 5 card stud as well, although 5 card stud is a bit tricky.
I definitely believe this book is good for beginners and advanced players alike. Well written, easy to read, clear illustrations and excellent presentation overall.
An in-depth discussion of card-counting or related mathematical methodology.......2005-09-12
A solid "how-to" guide co-written by the highly-regarded poker player Johnny Chan, whose titles include 2002 WSOP Match Play NLH Champion and 2003 WSOP No Limit Hold-em Champion among many others, Play Poker Like Johnny Chan: Book One Casino Poker is a simple guide to poker basics for players who are out to win. Chapters discuss general poker concepts for the uninitiated, and the rules and favorable versus unfavorable situations for many poker variants including Limit Hold-em, Seven Card Stud, Eight Or Better Stud, Omaha High, Omaha Hi-Low, and No-Limit Hold-em. Some background information on tournaments and internet poker is included, as is general (and very sound) strategy advice for the would-be career poker player, as well as a mentions of famous and skilled individuals Chan has played with. Notably absent from Play Poker Like Johnny Chan is any in-depth discussion of card-counting or related mathematical methodology; it is primarily an introductory guide to give the reader a hands-on understanding of game mechanics as well as the importance of the professional mindset. Chan's key rules - keep playing when you are winning, stop when you are losing, stay to an environment where you feel comfortable, take a vacation from poker when you need it (never try to win the money needed for a vacation from poker when you need one, that's a certain way to burnout), and discipline yourself to move back down to smaller tables when you're losing at big tables - are vital and should be taken to heart by all prospective professional poker players. Full-color photographs illustrate this handy primer, which is printed on glossy paper.
Good Beginner's Poker Book.......2005-08-09
This book cover the basic rules and strategies of different poker games. Personally, I did not find this book very useful partially due to my participation in many tournaments and cash games weekly.
All in all this book is nice to read, great for beginners, and printed on nice material, but I would not recommend for intermediate poker players. However, if you are often beat in cash games or tournaments then this book may be useful.
Book Description
This book will show you:
Why certain video poker machines offer the highest potential payback of any games in the casinos
How to recognize games that offer over 100% payback
How to avoid the deceptive short-pay machines
How big a bankroll you will need in order to have any desired chance of hitting a jackpot
How to evaluate the contribution comps and promotions to a game
and most importantly . . .
Precision Play - how to quickly and easily make the optimum draw to maximize your win rate — without having to memorize long tables.
This new second edition introduces Dan's Attractiveness Index and contains information on games that were introduced since the first edition was published.
Customer Reviews:
Video Poker:Optimum Play.......2007-01-31
I was very impressed with the amount of good info packed into this book.
Excellent guide for the player.......2007-01-13
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.
A solid title worthy of any video poker player's consideration.......2007-01-03
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.
Mastering Video Poker is not easy !.......2005-03-03
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.
Book has good info but tough read........2004-03-25
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.
Product Description
Roy Cooke has been beating the hell out of poker games since 1972. His Card Player Magazine column is pokers longest continuously running commentary. He was a pioneer in the Internet Poker Industry. His rule book has become an industry standard. He is a champion for players rights, fighting harder than anyone for more protection against cheats, especially online. Real Poker II contains all his Play of Hand columns from 1992-1999, and is widely considered an essential on any poker players bookshelf.
Customer Reviews:
For limit holdem players, not for No Limit holdem players.......2007-05-22
the book is the reprint of a number of articles published by the author over time. It is well written, and the information is definitely of high calibre. It is however best used by limit holdem players; as no limit holdem strategy differs widely from limit strategy.
With that proviso in mind, i think those interested will find their dollars recieve fair value from the author.
Playing Poker Hands.......2007-03-20
I have added this book to my library and the book is very good and a fine addition to my current library.
The best of WInning Play of Hand columns in poker.......2006-04-27
REAL POKER II: THE PLAY OF HANDS offers up a winning set of his Play of Hand columns from 1992-99. From right and wrong plays and misreading to deciding when to call, REAL POKER II: THE PLAY OF HANDS is for avid players who would be better.
The Play of the Hands will improve your game.......2005-03-23
In each chapter, Cooke focuses on one hand. He lays out the scene, how the hand played out, and what his thought process was on each hand.
His goal is to make as much money as possible on his winners, and to lose as little as possible on his losers (a good goal).
While sometimes he may come across as a bit of a know-it-all, this is an invaluable book that addresses many of the issues poker players face at the felt, including Pot Odds, Implied Odds, how to play in loose games v. tight games, short-handed v. full games, and more.
Each chapter is about 3 pages, making this an ideal book for those who don't often have large chunks of time to devote to reading.
If you play Limit Hold 'Em and want to make more money, buy this book, put it in your bathroom, and read one chapter a day. Your game will be better for it.
Book Description
Focuses on basic concepts of play of hand. Bidding tactics reviewed.
Customer Reviews:
Audrey Grant is Trump When it Comes to Bridge!.......2007-03-23
If you are new to bridge I highly recommend purchasing all four of Audrey Grant books in the ACBL Series... CLUB, DIAMOND, HEART AND SPADE. She is unquestionably the best bridge teacher for a novice. In layman's terms she is able to explain and unravel the mysteries of bridge. If you begin with the club book and progress through the series as they increase in difficulty... club, diamond, heart and spade you will be able to teach yourself how to become proficient in bridge painlessly. Her books are written in lesson formats... and they are used by many people who instruct bridge classes i.e. adult ed. Buy one... I'm sure you'll add the other three to your library. I also highly recommend her "Bridge at A Glance" pocket guide which is a quick synopsis of bidding and the appropriate respones thereof. I bought many bridge books before I stumbled upon Audrey Grant and wish I had found her books first! Good luck!
Being Revised.......2006-05-14
This is an elementary book on Play of the Hand. Watson's Classic Book on Play of the Hand is much better. This book is part of the ACBL Beginner Series and has bidding reviews. The ACBL has finally realized that their bidding system in the Club Series and Diamond Series is outdated. The books are being rewritten. I would wait until the new edition is published and only buy this book as part of a class taught by an ACBL Certified instructor.
Book Description
Phil Hellmuth, Jr., the "Tiger Woods of Poker," demonstrates exactly how to play and win––even if you have never played poker before–– the modern games of poker, including: Texas Hold'em, Omaha, Seven–Card Stud, and Razz.
Play Poker Like the Pros is the perfect introduction to the world of poker, including tournaments, home games, and Online play as Hellmuth begins by laying how to set–up and play the games and then moves on to basic and advanced strategy.
Phil teaches exactly which hands to play, when to bluff, and when to raise, and when to fold. In addition, Hellmuth provides techniques for reading other players and avoid "going on tilt"–––poker speak for staying cool under pressure. There are also special chapters for advanced players on how to beat Online games and an inside look at tournament play.
Download Description
"
Nine-time World Champion of Poker Phil Hellmuth demonstrates exactly how to play and win -- even if you've never picked up a deck of cards -- the modern games of poker, including: Texas Hold'em, Omaha, Seven-Card Stud, and Razz.
In Play Poker Like the Pros, poker master Phil Hellmuth, Jr., demonstrates exactly how to play and win -- even if you have never picked up a deck of cards -- the modern games of poker, including: Texas Hold'em, Omaha, Seven-Card Stud, and Razz.
Phil Hellmuth, Jr., a seven-time World Champion of Poker, presents his tournament-tested strategies to beat any type of player, including:
- The Jackal (crazy and unpredictable)
- The Elephant (plays too many hands)
- The Mouse (plays very conservatively)
- The Lion (skilled and tough to beat)
Play Poker Like the Pros begins by laying out the rules and set-up of each game and then moves on to easy-to-follow basic and advanced strategies. Hellmuth teaches exactly which hands to play, when to bluff, when to raise, and when to fold. In addition Hellmuth provides techniques for reading other players and staying cool under pressure. There are also special chapters on how to beat online poker games and an inside look at tournament play.
"
Customer Reviews:
strategy.......2007-08-15
A great overview and basic skill training and up to advanced learning. Well worth the money because this book will improve your skills no matter what level you already play on
Not a Bad Beginner's Book. The Author's a Wind Bag........2007-05-30
Phil Helmuth is as annoying in his writing as he is around a poker table. The book is part infomercial for various preferred casinos and web sites, part instructional manual for novice to intermediate players, but mostly a vehicle for Phil's ego. Hardly a page goes by without Phil reminding us what a great poker player he is. A psychologist could have a field day w/ his overinflated ego. As far as the content on poker play goes, it's better than most books for novices on the subject.
GREAT BOOK!!.......2007-04-26
I read some books about poker but this one is simply great.it tells you how to play to be successful and i really enjoyed it. i recommend this book for every player. When you will read it you will really be a better player!!
Horrible.......2006-10-11
Do NOT buy this book. I made that mistake but you don't need to!
This book doesn't really teach you anything significant. Phil talks about how much he has won and how good he is and shows you some animal pictures sitting at a internet poker table. Then on the next line he says that you should read the other players body language. Over the internet?! He doesn't even know what he's talking about.
Phil is Great.......2006-09-20
Yes he's great. He wins alot and is possibly one of the best Hold'em players of all time. I dont know if he did it on purpose but he basically tells you just enough that you understand he can do it but he doesnt offer any help on 'how' to do it. I think maybe he doesnt want to actually help anyone get better at poker. He just wants to advertise he's awesome.
He says things like "then you have to figure out how to win the most money" after building up a whole story of a hand that you are going to win.
Sklansky and Harrington books tell you HOW to get the most money into the pot when you are going to win.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent No-Limit Cash Book.......2007-07-17
This is an excellent book on no-limit cash play.
Chapter 1: Analytic Tools, for example, begins with the following question: suppose you have A K, raise pre-flop, and have N opponents. (e.g., N = 1, 2, 3, etc.) Supposing these opponents hold two random cards, what is the probability at least one will hit an unpaired flop? Table 1.1 is the first of many great tables in this book, and it tells us that N = 1 means it's 65% likely nobody hits, up through N = 9 => 1% likely nobody hits.
Then Tony asks: Suppose you make a 2/3 pot continuation bet: how many opponents can you have before this bet is no longer profitable, assuming your bet is called/raised if and only if an opponent pairs? Answer: N = 2 is slightly profitable, and N > 2 no longer profitable. This example ends with the author critiquing his own assumptions (e.g., that players will call your pre-flop A K raise with two random cards, play back iff they hit one pair or better, etc.) and cautiouns that all such models should have their assumptions questioned.
As an objective conclusion to this review:
If you play any form of no limit hold `em, then even if you happened to disagree with every single piece of strategy advice Tony gives (making you a tough critic indeed :) ), the probability reference material alone will still make buying this book for $11 a profitable decision.
- Collin
Author of Sit 'n Go Strategy
Quality Analysis by someone who clearly has a deep understanding.......2007-03-14
If you really want to train yourself to be able to critically analyze the situations you enter during a game (probably more critically after the game is over when you're at home with some more resources on your hands) you can really use the information that Guerrera provides you as a valuable learning tool to form your own deep understanding of the game.
Product Description
From the first turn of the card to getting out of a foreign country with a suitcase full of cash, BLACKJACK BLUEPRINT is the most comprehensive book ever written on learning to play blackjack for profit. This book covers everything from basic strategy to counting cards, from maximizing potential going solo to playing on a blackjack team. Casino comps, tournaments, location play, shuffle tracking, playing in disguise, outwitting the eye in the sky, and other advantage-play techniques--it's all here. Best of all, the techniques you learn in BLACKJACK BLUEPRINT can be used part-time as a money-making hobby, just as author Rick Blaine has used them for years while pursuing a career in finance.
Customer Reviews:
Few Better Books to Learn About BJ Basics.......2007-07-07
I'm reading "Blackjack Blueprint" for the second time.
It is an impressive tutorial and practice guide for
anyone seriously interested in learning to play blackjack.
Similar to Revere's classic work, Mr. Blaine explains the
basics one must learn to get an advantage playing the game.
Then he offers practice drills designed to ingrain those
basic skills/info, so the new BJ player can perform at a
level to compete with the casinos.
The last half of the book introduces related topics like
BJ tournament play, casino critters, comps, shuffle tracking,
team play, camouflage, etc. All interesting topics for aspiring
advantage players.
Blackjack Blueprint is among the best introductory books on
advantage blackjack play that I've read. It compares favorably
with Revere's and Wong's books, and is more up-to-date.
I don't hesitate to recommend it, and am happy to own it.
Blaine Knows His Game.......2007-03-01
Rick Blaine is a blackjack expert who understand all aspects of the game and can take you step by step through many of the problems and experiences that savvy blackjack players encounter. His information is diverse and valuable. What is just as important is that he writes in a way that is easily understandable to even average players. He has a wealth of knowledge and this book shows flair and insight. Whether you become an advanced card counter or a super-astute basic strategy player, gaining more knowledge is important to become the best player you can be. This book gives you plenty of knowledge.
Frank Scoblete: Author of Golden Touch Dice Control Revolution!
A Must Have!.......2006-11-11
I read this book quickly at the bookstore the other day and was thouroughly impressed. I prescreen my blackjack books now due to the sheer number of them and that most of them are recycled and crap. This, however, was truly an exception. This book takes the beginner from the very basics of the game, to basic strategy, card counting, and money management, all while explaining how to get away with it in a practical enviornment. Add in anecdotes and a special section of putting together a team, and you have yourself a unique and refreshing reference guide. I particularly liked the added drills that were included with this novel. Definately one of the better of the blackjack book genre.
Well rounded.......2006-09-20
There are a million card counting books out there, most of which offer a more thorough examination of card counting than this one does. But then again, for most of us, 300 pages about the minutae of card counting may be a bit much.
What this book offers is a quick but sufficient introduction to basic strategy and card counting based on Stanford Wong's Hi-Lo system, which is pretty easy to learn. Blaine spends a chapter on teaching the reader how to count, and then another one on how to adjust to a true count. Subsequently, he shows how to tailor your play (and betting, of course) to the count.
The card counting portion takes up less than half of the book. Some of the rest of the book may or may not be interesting to some readers. The sub-title of the book is "How to Play Like a Pro...Part-Time", but much of the remainder of the book is more "professional" in nature. There is a section on zone tracking as well as a LOT of stuff on team play.
I am not a professional card counter. In fact, I read the book based mostly on curiosity and the desire to perhaps play at a slight advantage at low stakes on Vegas trips. However, I still found the section on team play interesting on its own merits. Blaine kept a diary of a team and its successes (or in this case, failures). It was nice to see that Blaine didn't sugar coat things and included a section on how even at an advantage, negative swings are inevitable at times.
If you're planning a trip to Vegas, the book is definitely worth a read. Pick it up a few weeks beforehand and give the card counting tips some practice and I think it'll be more than worth the twenty bucks you shell out for it.
Something for everyone.......2006-07-22
I've read several books on Blackjack, as that is the only game I enjoy at the casinos. This one definitely added to my knowledge. Seems like it has something for all levels of players. I particularly liked the list of things that inexperienced counters do (but shouldn't). I found that I do most of them (sigh). Knowing this now should help me to advance my game and cover. The sections on team play weren't relevant to me, but still interesting reading.
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Harrington on Hold 'em Expert Strategy for No Limit Tournaments, Vol. 2: Endgame
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