Caro's book of Poker Tells

[ariesone]

When someone asks my opinion on poker books to read, I always give them four: Super Systems, The Theory of Poker, Championship No limit/ Pot limit holdem and Caro's book of Poker Tells. Judging from some of the comments on an earlier poker tells thread, the art of poker tells must be pretty laughable to many of today's new age players. I was actually surprised about that. Maybe it was just the sample size, but I do know what I read. I am reasonably new to this site, but I have read quite a few posts. I can't remember any discussions regarding poker tells until a few days ago, but there is always much discussion regarding hands that were played live. Tells just never enter into those discussions. I believe a good tell is worth one thousand mathematical equations. And I can't believe David Sklansky would say it is all math all the time. (But I would love to hear from him or Greg Raymer on this subject.)
So I guess my question is, do most players today believe mathematical analysis has made identifying tells a waist of time?

[Mason Malmuth]

Hi ariesone:

In Harrington on Hold 'em: Volume I Dan Harrington speaks favorably of the Caro tell book. So that should answer your question.

Best wishes,
Mason

[SoBeDude]

So I guess my question is, do most players today believe mathematical analysis has made identifying tells a waist of time?

Whats more important in a world-class race car, having wheels or having an engine?

Or put another way, which is faster; a race car with a great engine and no wheels, or a race car with great wheels but no engine?

Both the numbers and reads are needed for overall good play. They don't interfere with each other, and in fact complement each other quite well.

-Scott

[SpeakEasy]

[ QUOTE ]
So I guess my question is, do most players today believe mathematical analysis has made identifying tells a waist of time?

[/ QUOTE ]

Not at all.

[quinn]

1. Yes, poker is all math in the long run.

2. Tells just change the variables. You can almost say tells are variables in and of themselves.

You can never have a 100% read on anyone (unless you see their cards). But you might make a guess like this:
There's a 60% chance my opponent has AA.
There's a 20% chance my opponent has rags
There's a 20% chance my opponent has AK or a big pair, but not AA.

So then, you could incorporate these guesses into an equation to find the best EV play to make.

[Dawdy]

Maths will make you a long term winner thats a fact.
Reading players in conjunction with maths will make you rich.

Caro's book is my 2nd favorite poker book.
Useless for online play. I found it paid for itself immediately.
I gotta admit I was sceptical, esp when I saw the pictures that look straigh out of a 70's porn movie but .. and this is the amazing thing, players do the exact expressions and actions shown in the book! It still amazes me, every time I look left its like opening Caro's book.
If you havent read this and you are/want to play face to face poker go buy it NOW.

Dawdy