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Poker
Books
By Aaron J. Moore
Posted: 4:00 am PDT 2006-09-24 |
Courtesy Of Internet Casino and Poker Room at WagerWeb.com |
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When it pertains to the cottage
industries that have prospered from the recent poker boom, the one reaping the most from
the game's wide-spread appeal is the book publishing business. Teenagers and
twenty-somethings, who otherwise cringe at the concept of reading a book, now regularly
digest new poker titles as much as they download pirated songs onto their iPods. Walk
into any Borders or Barnes & Noble, and you will find just as many books about poker
as you would for self-help or romance.
With so many titles and options available, here is a look at some of the most notable
poker books on the market.
Doyle Brunson's Super System: A Course in Power Poker - A must-have for any poker
player's bookshelf. This 1979 release remains the most influential and best selling
poker title. After he first published Super System, the godfather of poker was
criticized by many within the card community for his decision to essentially sell his
inside secrets to the unknowing masses. The logic was everybody who read the book could
then beat the pros at their own game and in essence water down skilled poker. Of
course, that did not happen and instead helped generate generations of new players who
kept poker alive until its recent rebirth.
Along with Edward Thorp's Beat the Dealer: A Winning Strategy for the Game of
Twenty-One, Super System is the most significant title in gambling/card
related publishing.
Essentially, Brunson lays out the framework for success - play aggressive, utilize
position and force opponents into making tough decisions by raising. The idea of
consistently just calling bets is dismissed as poor strategy.
If you have never read Brunson's book, the first note on your agenda for tomorrow should
be to run out to the bookstore and buy it because just about everybody who sits down at a
table has already done likewise.
Dan Harrington's Harrington on Hold 'em Expert Strategy for No Limit Tournaments, Vol.
1: Strategic Play - The 1995 WSOP champ and 2003 and 2004 final table participant
explains extensively his winning approach to Hold'em. The man with the Boston Red Sox
hat details his method of playing tight but aggressive. He writes that players should
not get involved with too many hands but when they do after the flop, they need to bet
aggressively. He feels a tight persona helps with bluffing.
Not exactly beach-reading material but still a necessary companion for all poker players.
Mike Caro's Book of Tells - The mad scientist of poker's book is one of the best
of the genre. His ideas and words are simple to read, and he uses plenty of pictures
to illustrate how often players give away hands by using universal tells. His thesis
is an important one to remember and to carry around: When a player acts weak, he is
usually strong, and when a player acts strong, he is usually weak.
Ed Miller, David Sklansky and Mason Malmuth's Small Stakes Hold 'em: Winning Big With
Expert Play - A great way to receive an education on topics such as pot odds and
suited connectors. The best aspect of this book is how it is written. It applies
to players of all levels, not just the ones dreaming of a professional career. Small
Stakes is a comprehensive overview of the game that resonates well for part-timers
who most often play during home games and occasional trips to the casino.
Phil Gordon's Poker: The Real Deal - Nothing too heavy here, and the verse is
very lean on hardcore strategy. What Gordon and fellow author Jonathan Grotenstein do
provide is an entertaining overview of poker's history and the current culture of the
game. Don't expect this book to be a treasure chest of winning secrets; look at it as a
fun read about poker.
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