Books about gambling, massive search

[Guido]

I've done a massive search for book about gambling but especially about Hold'em Poker. I've read a lot about most books but about some I'm not sure (Question marks). I don't have a good idea how good they are. I want to buy books which are just fun to read (like bringing down the house) OR they must have something extra than the books I already have. I don't play any tournaments and I only play Hold'em so I'm not asking for your opinion about these kind of books. When it's a great story I would like to have it too.

Here are the books I have:

Hold'em Poker for Advanced Players by David Sklansky and Mason Malmuth
Hold'em Poker by David Sklansky
Winning Low Limit Hold'Em by Lee Jones
Theory of Poker by David Sklansky
Bringing Down the House by Ben Mezrich

The books I want to buy so far:

According to Doyle Doyle Brunson
Amarillo Slim in a World Full of Fat People: The Memoirs of the Greatest Gambler Who Ever Lived A.S. Preston, G. Dinkin
Poker Essays by Mason Malmuth
Poker Essays II by Mason Malmuth
Poker Essays III by Mason Malmuth
The Man with the $100,000 Breasts: And Other Gambling Stories by Michael Konik
Funny Money by James Swain
Grift Sense by James Swain
Loaded Dice James Swain
Sucker Bet by James Swain
Poker Nation: A High-Stakes, Low-Life Adventure into the Heart of a Gambling Country by Andy Bellin
Gambling Scams: How They Work, How to Detect Them, How to Protect Yourself by Darwin Oritz

If you think one of these books isn't worth reading please let me know.

There are a couple of books of which I think I shouldn't buy them because they are about gambling but completely different games or it doesn't contribute anything because it's already covered in the books I have. If you think I should read/buy one of them please let me know.

Books I shouldn't buy:

A History of Playing Cards by Catherine Perry Hargrave
According to Hoyle by Richard L. Frey, Edmond Hoyle
Beat the Dealer by Edward O. Thorp
How to Win Games of Chance by Kenneth Dickkerson
Casino Gambler's Guide Allan N. Wilson
Fundamentals of Craps by Mason Malmuth and Lynne Loomis
Fundamentals of Video Poker by Mason Malmuth and Lynne Loomis
High-Low Split Poker, Seven Card Stud and Omaha Eight or Better for Advanced Players by Ray Zee
Fundamentals of Poker by Mason Malmuth and Lynne Loomis
Winning Concepts in Draw and Lowball by Mason Malmuth
Sklansky on Poker by David Sklansky
Poker For Dummies® L. Krieger, R. Harroch, L. Johnson
Seven Card Stud for Advanced Players by David Sklansky, Mason Malmuth, and Ray Zee

Here are the books I'm not sure about and I really want your opinion about.

Question marks:

Doyle Brunson's Super System by Doyle Brunson
Caro's Book of Poker Tells by Mike Caro
Inside the Poker Mind: Essays on Hold 'em and General Poker Concepts by John Feeney
The Psychology of Poker by Alan N. Schoonmaker
The Biggest Game in Town by A. Alvarez
Positively Fifth Street: Murderers, Cheetahs, and Binion's World Series of Poker by James McManus
Big Deal: One Year as a Professional Poker Player by Anthony Holden
Comp City: A Guide to Free Casino Vacations (2nd Edition) by Max Rubin
Middle Limit Holdem Poker by Bob Ciaffone
Shut Up and Deal : A Novel by Jesse May
Poker, Gaming, & Life by David Sklansky
Gambling for a Living by David Sklansky and Mason Malmuth
Gambling Theory and Other Topics by Mason Malmuth
Getting the Best of It by David Sklansky
The Professional Poker Dealer's Handbook by Dan Paymar, Donna Harris, and Mason Malmuth

Which ones are fun to read or really can contribute to my game?

I have about 50 other books but I have to sort them out before I want to ask your opinion about them. If there are any books not in these lists which are very good or fun to read please let me know.

Thanks,

Guido

[jdl22]

wow that's a lot of books.

Here are the ones I have that are on your questionable list:

Doyle Brunson's Super System by Doyle Brunson
This book is good as a historical document more for anything. Brunson describes a hyper aggressive style of play that may be good for super deep stack buy in NL but doesn't work online or in many games where people don't fold(although he does say that if you are playing weak players that don't fold don't use most of what he says). The other sections I haven't read much of other than the autobiographical and general poker theory stuff which does have good advice/information.

The Psychology of Poker by Alan N. Schoonmaker
This is perhaps the most important book you listed. It covers the different player types and how to deal with them as well as how to assess your playing style and motivations and what you can do to improve your game and make it more enjoyable for yourself. I think this book has the best descriptions of player types around and is very helpful for this purpose. After you have the basic strategy down I think getting at least one of the two psychology books (this one or inside the poker mind which I haven't read but plan on buying soon) is a must.

Positively Fifth Street: Murderers, Cheetahs, and Binion's World Series of Poker by James McManus

This book is the nuts for non-strategy books. I'm sure you're familiar with the topics covered. It gives a good description to the underworld of the casino industry and the Binion family and the description of the play at the World Series itself is great. This is a must have for any poker player with time on his hands for pleasure reading.

[Guido]

So Doyle's book doesn't add much and I shouldn't buy it? There's nothing special about it.

Further I should probably make a decision whether I should buy Schoonmaker's book or Feeney's book. Can somebody tell me which is best and why?

James McManus book is a must read so I guess I should buy it.

What's your opinion on the books in the other lists? Should I remove some of the buy list or not to buy lists?

Thanks,

Guido

[J.R.]

Must have books for a hold'em player IMO:

Inside the Poker Mind: Essays on Hold 'em and General Poker Concepts by John Feeney

Middle Limit Holdem Poker by Bob Ciaffone


Schoomaker's book is written for the beginner who has trouble categorizing his opponents and looking critically at his own game or for someone who needs to be told how to do things. (I bought it after playing for a year and got very little from it, but others have found it more valuable). Feeney's book is a series of essay (similar to poker essays) designed to benefit the more advanced player and primarily deals with startegic considerations, something completely absent from Schoomaker's book. The books aren't even comparable in subject matter or value, IMO.

For general interest, good gambling reading:

The Biggest Game in Town by A. Alvarez
Positively Fifth Street: Murderers, Cheetahs, and Binion's World Series of Poker by James McManus
Shut Up and Deal : A Novel by Jesse May

The first two are great stories and are very well written (especially Alvarez's book). I real love Jesse May's vivid imagery. He may ocassionally lay it on a little too thick (he does this to extreme in his TV commentary), but I find his writing style very entertaining, kinda like reading a mindless murder or spy novel. Check out his WSOP diary here (http://www.goodgamblingguide.com/) for an idea of his style.

[Guido]

Why do I need the book of Bob Ciaffone? What does it add to the books of Sklansky?

Which one of the books in the question mark list wouldn't you recommend buying?

Are there any books in the other lists you would remove?

Are there any other books you would recommend?

The link doesn't work...

Thanks a lot,

Guido

[J.R.]

Ciaffone/Brier adds a different perspective and a less theoretical more nuts and bolts approach, and covers each area of hold'em extermely thoroughly, from the flop to the river and between. The bluffing section is great.

The link works for me, it opens to the good gambling guide web page and you are greeted by a picture of jesse may at the top, click on it.

I recommeded the books I think are worth it, and I told you the name of the book I thought you should avoid buying. I would also recommend either of Ray Cooke's real poker books, especially vol. II.

[uuDevil]

There was a post about a month ago about this Really Massive Book List. (http://www.holdemsecrets.com/books.htm)

You may want to check it out if you haven't already.

--uuDevil

[BugsBunny]

Books I would add to the buy list:

Improve your Poker by Bob Ciaffone
Real Poker II: The play of Hands by Roy Cooke

I also agree that you should get Middle Limit Holdem by Ciaffone/Briar.

Sklansky on Poker isn't specific to Holdem, but does have some stuff that would be applicable. I'd move it to a maybe list rather than a do not buy list. Same comments actually apply to Poker, Gaming, and Life. I liked both books and concepts/examples from other forms of the game often do have relevance in Hold'em.

Caro's Book of Tells is good if you play live.

Inside the Poker Mind by John Feeney is excellent.

If you play NL or PL then you should get Ciaffone/Reubens "Pot-Limit & No-Limit Poker". If you only play limit then don't bother.

[Guido]

Could you explain why I should add Improve your Poker by Bob Ciaffone and Real Poker II: The play of Hands by Roy Cooke? What's extra to the books I already have?

Isn't Sklansky on Poker an earlier version of TOP? That's why I put it in the not to buy list.

Thanks for your advice,

Guido

[David Steele]

Here are a few selections:

You should get Feeney's book for sure, it has plenty of
valuable limit holdem strategy.

I am not as wild about the McManus book as some but it not bad. Get the Biggest Game in Town too.

You might like the book Gambling Wizards for some good
stories.

If you are playing live you would want
Caro's Book of Poker Tells.

D.

[BugsBunny]

Both books offer unique perspectives on various aspects of the game. They're basically collections of some of the authors columns from Cardplayer (or possibly other sources).

The Cooke book takes you inside his head as he plays various hands in various situations and shows you the thought processes involved. Winners, losers, smallpots, big pots they're all in there. Very instructive in how to go about thinking through a hand while actually playing it.

The Ciaffone book covers various aspects of the game and includes columns on a variety of topics. Even if some of the material is covered in other books a fresh perpective and different approach can be very helpful. There's one column on shorthanded play - a subject not covered very much in a lot of the literature - as one example. Other columns include advice on playing the blinds and bluffing, moving up, turning pro, table image, deceiving opponents, raising and missing, and a bunch of other stuff. The book is very well worth it and will make you think about your game, including possibly some aspects that you haven't thought about previously.

Sklansky on Poker is not an early version of TOP. From the intro to the book "Compared to my previous books, most of what is contained here is far less technical. In most cases it is aimed at a somewhat less experienced player. This does not mean it is less important - far from it. Even top professional players should find much information of value in this book. . . . Most of the essays in the first 2 sections were originally written for the "Sports Book" section of the 'Las Vegas Mirror' or the 'Poker Player' newspaper. I have made some changes, corrections, and improvementsin these essays, and I have also written a few new sections especially for this edition."

[Al Schoonmaker]

If you're an advanced player, buy John's book. You don't need mine.
If you're not an advanced player, buy both, but read mine first. It's a textbook for Poker Psychology 101. John's is much more advanced.
Regards,
Al

[Guido]

Has anybody read:

Big Deal: One Year as a Professional Poker Player by Anthony Holden

How was it? Should I buy it? Or wasn't it worth the money...

Thanks,

Guido