Favorite Poker Book?

[brokeagain]

Play Poke Like The Pros

[johnbaker]

play poker like the pros is good, i like anything involving Helmouth's advice... i cant believe nobody posted super system yet... even after you get bored of reading the holdem sections, reading about other games is refreshing.

-jB

[eddo31]

supersystem is obviously a classic, and it is amazing how much of the advice in there still works. it is a bit dated, but any cutting edge book from 30 years ago would be.

i like theory of poker and poker essays much better than hold em for advanced players. i'm not really as interested in worrying about specific situations in these books, but understanding the theoretical background of sklansky and malmuth is very interesting and helpful.

high low split for advanced players by ray zee is a pretty solid book. i think it is the best book i have seen for o8b play, much better tha ciaffones at least.

as for poker novels/narratives, i think that big deal and positively fifth street are good, but i couldnt stand poker nation. for general gambling though bringing down the house takes the cake.

[Jackass_man]

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i like theory of poker and poker essays much better than hold em for advanced players. i'm not really as interested in worrying about specific situations in these books, but understanding the theoretical background of sklansky and malmuth is very interesting and helpful.

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Sklansky and Malmuth are great writers of theory but from what i've heard not the greatest players. Sklansky is so wrapped around the odds and everything that he would "make a move" in tournaments and is the biggest rock in the world. Some of the greatest players out there have little education and don't know all the probabilities but know people. So what makes a better player?

[Penguinfan]

Winning Low limit Hold Em by Lee Jones definatly my favorite.

[eddo31]

you know, i didnt really get a whole lot out of play poker like the pros. it is an interesting book, and i think the section on tournament hold em was good, but i thought that everything else was pretty basic.

if you look at hellmuth's record, im not sure that there is really any reason to take his advice on any game but no limit tournament hold em.

[GeoffM]

Eddo, you are right that Helmuth is the no limit tourney guy.

The problem is there are no "premier" O8B players, IMO. It is very hard to find any book on this that would teach me anything I don't already know, or that I can even find a book about it. I'm not a big fan of buying on line, and I have been to 20 different bookstores and they all have the same books, nothing on O8B. Sucks .

[PShabi]

If you were really experienced, it would be a bit basic. However, when I read it, it helped me immensely. It really hammers home the "raise to see where you're at" play and that was missing from my game. If I had JJ and the flop came down K 8 4 and someone bet I would fold a lot or maybe just call, but I was "in the dark" as to what my opponent was holding.

The play helps you know where you stand and takes out some guess work.

[GeoffM]

Amen, excellent book. However I don't like the fact that Helmuth preaches discipline, and then whines on tv when some unknown makes a dumb play and sucks out.

[PShabi]

Yeah, he's definitely a "do as I say, not as I do" type of guy.

[BlibbityBlabbity]

Is it just me or is Helmuth the only pro who has written a book that included a detailed description of how they play and then NOT changed their game at all?

Brunson has said many times he had to come up with a new style of play after Super Sytem came out.

[Kurn]

Oh, man. No offense, but people who follow the advice in his book are pure unadulterated ATMs.

[GeoffM]

LMAO.

Actually, Kurn, I used his O8 limit section only, and it was just to reinforce how I was playing.

[junYUN]

i haven't read his book, but i don't see how helmuth is an ATM

[omahilo]

For O8 too bad Miami John wouldnt write a book... he is prolly one of the best O8 players right now.

[Reel Deal]

I've asked for Sklansky's Tournament Poker for Father's Day... I'll let you all know how it is after I read it.

[Kurn]

<shrug> my admittedly not-first-hand understanding is that in cash games, that's precisely what he is.

[Kurn]

I really hope this is tongue-in-cheek. Hellmuth's book is pretty much useless crap.