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buck_thunder
07-24-2005, 01:06 PM
Maybe I missed the thread on this one, but I absolutely LOVE this book. Am I missing something? Is this book going to lead me astray?

The guy is an amazing writer. His techniques and approach to the game just seem to be right on the money. I love the fact that he talks about how it doesnt matter how many starting hands or odds you memorize - if you are not playing post flop aggression you will not win in the long run.

GREAT book. Any comments?

Rockatansky
07-24-2005, 03:49 PM
[ QUOTE ]
Maybe I missed the thread on this one, but I absolutely LOVE this book. Am I missing something? Is this book going to lead me astray?

The guy is an amazing writer. His techniques and approach to the game just seem to be right on the money. I love the fact that he talks about how it doesnt matter how many starting hands or odds you memorize - if you are not playing post flop aggression you will not win in the long run.

GREAT book. Any comments?

[/ QUOTE ]

One reviewer has described this book as "Rocks & Rings." (http://www.magicantonio.com/rocks-n-rings.php) I can think of no higher honor.

Mason Malmuth
07-24-2005, 04:12 PM
Killer Poker; Strategies and Tactics for Winning Play (4) by John Vorhaus. Even though this book is written in a very entertaining style, I only felt a moderate amount of the material had real value. Much of the book is a lecture on play your best, stay off tilt, and review your play. But very little is specific enough to lead any reader in any direction. Also, strategies like distract your opponents by talking to them, yell at the football game, and make fake angry phone calls on your cell phone might have a little bit of value if you already play very well, but again I didn’t see much that would lead you towards that goal. In fact, you might discover that following advice like this might “worsify” your game.

buck_thunder
07-24-2005, 04:28 PM
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Maybe I missed the thread on this one, but I absolutely LOVE this book. Am I missing something? Is this book going to lead me astray?

The guy is an amazing writer. His techniques and approach to the game just seem to be right on the money. I love the fact that he talks about how it doesnt matter how many starting hands or odds you memorize - if you are not playing post flop aggression you will not win in the long run.

GREAT book. Any comments?

[/ QUOTE ]

One reviewer has described this book as "Rocks & Rings." (http://www.magicantonio.com/rocks-n-rings.php) I can think of no higher honor.

[/ QUOTE ]

Nice. Now I am just embarassed. Still like the book though.

buck_thunder
07-24-2005, 04:33 PM
I disagree a little here, Mason. I take his goofy antics with a grain of salt, but I like the real meat of his strategy. Not a lot of analytical stuff, but I get a little tired of reading just the math theories of poker. I think this book has a lot of good mental aproaches to the game.

That's just me.

bilyin
07-24-2005, 05:44 PM
I remember the author recommeded that you raise 5 hands in a row (regardless what you hold) to intimidate your opponents. Why don't you try it to see if your opponents get intimidated?.

buck_thunder
07-24-2005, 06:08 PM
[ QUOTE ]
I remember the author recommeded that you raise 5 hands in a row (regardless what you hold) to intimidate your opponents. Why don't you try it to see if your opponents get intimidated?.

[/ QUOTE ]

Why don't you read my reply to Mason and quit asking me stupid questions. Now - I believe I said I take his goofy antics with a grain of salt.

Jordan Olsommer
07-24-2005, 06:52 PM
[ QUOTE ]
One reviewer has described this book as "Rocks & Rings." I can think of no higher honor.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, since Vorhaus ghostwrites Antonio's stuff, he called his own book "rocks and rings".

Not to mention he is the one responsible for first putting that term into print.

Rockatansky
07-24-2005, 06:55 PM
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
One reviewer has described this book as "Rocks & Rings." I can think of no higher honor.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, since Vorhaus ghostwrites Antonio's stuff, he called his own book "rocks and rings".

Not to mention he is the one responsible for first putting that term into print.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the clarification.

Rabid_Hippo
07-29-2005, 02:08 PM
I played with the author for about 3 hours at the Bellagio's 2-5 NL game earlier this year. He sat on my right the entire time and would not stop talking about himself (and his book "Killer Poker"). His play seemed average to me and he readily admited that he's a better writer than player. So, I put a few dollars in his pocket and bought his book because I just had to know ... it's an entertaining read and he is a good writer, but, I agree with Mason on the value of the advice contained in it.

Brad22
07-29-2005, 02:51 PM
[ QUOTE ]
I think this book has a lot of good mental aproaches to the game.



[/ QUOTE ]


That's how this book was recommended on this site a while back. I was told to read it for a better way to look at things. I only read a little of it, and that seems to be right on. Haven't gotten to strategy parts (if there are any, I don't even know).

MagicMan08
07-29-2005, 04:19 PM
I agree I have read his hold em handbook, you can't get much fundamental stuff out of it, but it makes you think about your game as a whole as well as the mental aspects. He covers things you don't often hear or think about, that make sense to poker.

helpmeout
07-30-2005, 02:56 AM
His books are good.

Some of the things he writes is a bit out there but its different.

You dont learn much from reading how to count outs, semibluffing, preflop starting hands etc in every book.

JV brings something different to the table and thats why his books are worth reading

07-30-2005, 03:50 AM
I thought this book was terrible. I read it after having read and studied four excellent poker books and I felt that this book was just one big pep talk about obviously things. If you want to buy a book for writing style I'd like to suggest Middlesex. Or if you want comedy, try Me Talk Pretty One Day. If you want books about poker, then read just about anything twoplustwo. Sure, I'm pro twoplustwo. I became this way after reading the best books on poker and making some good money for the effort.

07-30-2005, 04:19 PM
I agree with everything in this post.