REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon

OK...before going too far, I have to admit that I am a bit biased with regards to Phil Gordon. I met him at Howard Lederer's poker camp in Vegas this spring (check out one of the photos below). He presented a session called "Pre-flop Play" and alot of the information on the DVD was in that presentation. Plus, I was highly impressed with Phil. Not only was he a really nice guy in person, but he is quite smart and is an excellent presenter. Anyway...off to review.

I found this DVD to be quite unique and I think Phil and the rest of the
Tiltboys (http://www.tiltboys.com) that were working on this with him have come up with an excellent teaching method. In this DVD, the setting is a NLH tournament (6 man...just like the final tables you are use to seeing on the WPT). It is obviously a staged tournament, but each "hand" or section is designed to teach a specific idea or concept. So, as it plays out, Phil is giving second hand commentary as to why he is doing what he is doing and what is going through his mind as he is doing it. I have a ton of poker instructional DVDs (Hellmuth, Lederer, Hanson/Bloch/Laak/Esfandari, etc.) and this one beats them all hands down.

The chapter layout is as follows:

#1. Player Profiles
#2. Domination
#3. Starting Hands
#4. The Gap Concept
#5. Position
#6. Selective Aggression
#7. Reasons to Raise
#8. Odds and Outs (one of the best explanations I have seen!)
#9. The Texture of the Board
#10. Time to Think
#11. Time Out
#12. When Someone Checks, Bet!
#13. Don't Give Free Cards
#14. River Betting
#15. Acting on Your Reads
#16. Don't Go Broke With One Pair
#17. Common Mistakes
#18. Checking It Down
#19. Steal the Blinds!
#20. Short Handed Play
#21. Bluffs
#22. First to the Pot Wins
#23. Semi-Bluffs
#24. Making the Big Laydown
#25. Exploiting Your Table Image
#26. Tells
#27. Short Stack Strategy
#28. How Could You Play That Hand?!?
#29. All-in or Fold
#30. What to Jam With
#31. Blinded to Death
#32. The Benefit of Aggression
#33. Playing Your Opponent

As you can see from the list above, just about all of the major concepts to get your game on track are covered here. And done in a unique way. And, this is not the only unique thing about the DVD. Another interesting feature is that there are two different learning modes. It defaults to "advanced". In this case, advanced meaning you can get around a NLH table. You can change this to "Beginner" and get different information that is geared to your level. Very smart for the new players as you are essentially getting two DVDs for the price of one!

Is there totally new, ground breaking information on this DVD? No. Not at all. Hey...there is nothing new under the sun, right? No, this DVD covers basic, solid foundational material. But, I believe that it is done in such a unique way that it drives the point home differently and forces you to process the information differently. Several times through the numerous viewings I caught myself catching and keying into small aspects of my game that I needed to concentrate more on and/or polish a bit more.

If you are new to poker, then this DVD is for you! You cannot go wrong with it. If you are an intermediate player, I also highly recommend it. Short of being a pro, then you will walk away with something from DVD. And even if you are a pro, you will enjoy watching the DVD. My rating of the DVD? 9 out of 10 stars. Why only 9? Because I don't think anything is ever perfect...but this DVD sure gets close.

One thing I need to mention here as a side note is really funny...at least it was to me.

As the DVD starts out, Phil is going through the individual players and discussing their individual strengths and weaknesses and their current situation at the table. One of the first players is a young guy by the name of Butch (he calls himself) "Dude" of the Cool Guy Crew who is not any where near as good as he thinks he is. LOL! Sound like anyone we might know? And then there is the good looking blonde Haromny Jensen...identified by Phil as being one of the top players in the world with virtually no holes in her game...again...sound like anyone we might know. Also on the video is Chris "Jesus" Ferguson...playing himself (I thought it would have been really funny to have someone play him since he obviously has some actors playing other know players!).

Anyway, you should check out this DVD. Here is the information to go get it. At the site, you can view some clips and get an idea as to the quality of the DVD.

Expert Insight (http://www.expertinsight.com)
Price: $24.95 (and damn well worth it!)

If you get it, let me know what you think of it. If you have any questions about it or want clarification on anything, just let me know.

Hopefully we will be seeing more DVDs from Phil in this format.

Michael

http://budogeeks.tzo.com/holdem/me_phil_gordon.jpg

http://budogeeks.tzo.com/holdem/me_jesus.jpg

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

thanks for the review, ill definitely pick it up. some people may ask "is it worth it?" A totally insane question. If it gives you 1 bit of information its totally worth it.

A lot of people mock Phil Hellmuths "Play poker like the pros" but I got 1 incredibly valuable tip in the book about raising with pocket pairs to isolate your opponent and take it down post flop. Probably made me 1000$

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

Heard a lot of good things about the DVD and just ordered it today, thanks for the review.

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

Thanks for the review. I've heard nothing but glowing comments about this DVD. I ordered mine a few days ago and was hoping to have it by now. How long did it take you to get your copy? I'm chompin' on the bit [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

I ordered mine before they actually started shipping...but I got it within a few days of when they said it would ship...so I would think you should have it shortly.

Michael

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

I ordered the DVD on Thursday and got the DVD in the mail today (I live in California - where it was shipped I think). All I can say is...WOW.

Ok the earth didn't shift from its orbit, but this is easily the best DVD on poker out there (not that there are that many anyway). I only watched it the first time with the beginer's commentary but I picked up quite a few small little things. I want to digest this commentary a little before I rewatch it again with the advanced commentary. So many subjects and situations that aren't easily addressed in books are covered very well here on the DVD.

This is a no brainer...how much do you spend gambling at poker every night???? Take $30 out of that and buy this DVD.

I'll post again after I watch it with the advanced commentary.

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

Tried to pre-order one a couple of weeks ago, but since they want 18$ to ship it to Germany I refrained. Somehow I have a mental block to order stuff where the shipping costs as much or nearly as much as the product.

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

Wow..I think I will purchase this.
Can someone tell me the actual total running time of this DVD?

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

[ QUOTE ]
Wow..I think I will purchase this.
Can someone tell me the actual total running time of this DVD?

[/ QUOTE ]

According to a reputable source (the back of the box), it's 1 hour, 40 minutes.

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

if you want my copy, i will be in the czech republic in about a month, and can mail it form there, should only cost a few bucks for shipping i would guess

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

Good review thanks. I've got to say that I'm biased against Phil Gordon -- he beat Moneymaker in a WPT event where I would have won some dough if Moneymaker had won. But I have to say, this is the best poker DVD I've seen. Read the review above for details. I'll just add that on top of the great poker content, it's fun and at times frickin' hilarious.

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

I bought this DVD available at www.expertinsight.com.

Fantastic video. From reading tells to handling position to making big laydowns to recovering gracefully from badbeats -- Phil covers it all. He comes across as a genuinely likeable good natured guy and you only regret that he is not the world champion. The video is very illustrative and they use the best graphics, sound effects and video clips to illustrate key concepts. Very well made.

One more thing -- the focus is exclusively on NLH tournaments. Most books/videos that you buy today cover a lot of limit hold'em theory and do lip service to NLH concepts and strategies.

I highly recommend it anyone that wants to improve their NL hold'em game.

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

I just go my copy. The production value is very good, the slamming of Dutch Boyd is funny as hell.

The format of this video is inovated, and will hopefully become a standard.

What I like about the video so much, is that the situations are not straight forward, Phil reevaluates the strength of the hand continuously based on the actions of the players around him - for example, when his isolation raise fails to work, or when a short stacked player enters a pot unexpectedly.

Excellent video.

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

I could not agree more folks...the format is quite unique and I am looking forward to more from Phil and his crew that put this thing together.

I am curious to know from those of you that have seen it. Utilizing a format like this one (or any other I guess), what would your three top topics be? As for me personally, I would like to see one on the following:

#1. Bluffing (making and detecting)...there is very little out there on either side of this topic and I think something that goes indepth would be a huge hit.

#2. SnGs...I think alot could be done here and is another topic that does not have alot of material out.

#3. 6-man max table play...very popular on the net, obviously, but very different than a full ring game. And, again, not alot of info out there on the topic.

What do you think?

Michael

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

I ordered this DVD on Monday and it arrived in my mailbox today (Wednesday). Excellent turnaround time! I just finished watching it and it was well worth the small investment. First of all, it was very entertaining, especially when Phil was making fun of "Butch Dude" and his rookie style of play. At one point, after "Butch has lost a ton of chips and gone from the chip leader to the short stack, Phil comments, "Nice chip trick, Butch!" Other hilarious comments also ensue, such as commenting on "Harmony Jenson's" overly affectionate embrace of a busted player. My advice to 2+2ers is to go directly to the advanced track and skip the beginner track. The hands played are the same, but the insight is much better on the advanced track. Highly recommended! [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

This was posted on a site I frequent for bonus hunters:

Product: Phil Gordon's Final Table Poker DVD
Website: www.expertinsight.com
Offer: $3 off with coupon code "CINEMA3"

I just ordered and it works. You have to type the code in box labeled
"Promotion Code" on the Shipping & Payment page and click the "Add" button for it to be accepted

Three bucks is three bucks...

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

Sweet. Thanks, much. I went to order this a few days ago, but saw that promo code box. I just couldn't let it sit there all naked....so I purposed to wait until a code showed up! Now the DVD is on the was to Texas!

Rob (TexBigSlick)

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

It's not too often that I get to do two "reviews" of the same product, but I need to here.

This past weekend, I was in Vegas. At the suggestion of a friend I went over to the Sahara to check out one of their NLH tournaments. It was a $40 + $2 with a rebuy and an add-on. So, I entered. I ended up winning the whole thing for a little more than $3,000. I have to honestly say that one of the major contributors to winning it was Phil Gordon's DVD. Many of the principles that he re-enforced on the DVD came into play and it kept me alive and able to play when the cards came. It was some of the best poker I have ever played to make it through a field of about 130 and it is the biggest single payday I have ever had...and alot of the credit goes to Phil and his team for putting together such a great product.

Just thought I'd share....

Michael

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

Congrats merijin. Between HOH and Final Table Poker I've been playing the best I've ever played. I didn't win $3000 like you did, but I've won 4 of 10 SnGs, placing 2rd or 3rd in 3 of the other ten. I'm pumped. Next stop, HOH-2.

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

$10 for shipping is a little steep

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

LOL, $25 plus $10 shipping is $35. Even if you only learn ONE thing from it it is well worth it. Same thing with all books out there. Even if they cost $50 with shipping and you only learn one thing you will make that money back and alot more over time. So would it matter if the dvd is $35 with free shipping or $25 plus $10 shipping? It is still $35 and you will make it back and more unless you are very stupid.

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

[ QUOTE ]
$10 for shipping is a little steep

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually this is for express shipping, you can get regular shipping for $5.

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

You can have it shipped for $5. If you play, it's worth the investment. I now watched this DVD like five times and I hear myself repeating the lessons when I play. I've gotten much better at knowing when to bluff and knowing how to avoid getting myself in trouble. Between HOH-1, Final Table Poker, and HOH-2 I'm getting really pumped about NL Tourneys. I wish two plus two made audio books.

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

Have any Canadians (I'm in T.O.) tried to purchase this DVD? I'm assuming Expert Insight is the only distributor at the moment.

$24.95 + $16.00 shipping + exchange... gets a little pricey.

However I'll probably go ahead and order it anyway - sounds worthwhile. Just curious if any Canadian company was distributing it over here. I've also emailed Expert Insight to see if there are any other options.

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

I liked this DVD alot, even though I already know most of the info in it, it is well worth the price to have clear implementation of these methods shown. It is entertaining, well done, and other than a few small errors,(KQc vs AJo on JTx board 2 clubs has 21 theoretical outs, not 18 as is stated..) I think this is easily the best-made intructional DVD of it's kind, if not quite the most informative;(More secrets by Lederer holds that honor in my book.)

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

I wonder if they are subtracting the 2 aces (either the non club ones or if Aclubs one - take away one of the nine clubs) cause you put the person on AJ??

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

I liked More Secrets but it was hard to get through. I keep postponing buying this the final table DVD but it's good to read the excellent reviews when I do a search. Anyone know any other worthwhile DVDs?

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

This is without doubt the best poker I've ever seen. I'm posting this because I wrote to Expert Insight thanking them for the putting out a great product and also asked when the next DVD will be ready. They wrote back that they're going to be making more poker DVDs depending on the sales of Final Table Poker. I want more of these titles. I'm tired of watching people talking while sitting at a table with chips. I want to see entertaining, high budget instructional DVDs like this one. So I'm selfishly promoting this DVD so I get to see more of them in the future. The instructional content is excellent. The presentation is fun, funny, and suspenseful. (The first time I watched it with my wife who is sick of poker and she couldn't stop watching.) Hopefully you'll agree that this DVD is awesome and we can get to more of this stuff.

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

This DVD is excellent, I agree that there should be more like it.

I stumbled across this at another message board, but you can use the code "rockstar" and get $6 off the DVD. Not a bad deal at all. Since I already own it I didn't try that code myself but I was told that it works.

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

They have to find a way to make it available in Europe. Shipping is way too expensive. Now you could argue that even paying 10000$ is not expensive if the material is good enough that it would make you win it back twice. Still I don't like to pay more for shipping than for the original product.

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

I'd be bummed about paying that much for shipping. You should contact them and request a better way to ship overseas.

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

[ QUOTE ]
This DVD is excellent, I agree that there should be more like it.

I stumbled across this at another message board, but you can use the code "rockstar" and get $6 off the DVD. Not a bad deal at all. Since I already own it I didn't try that code myself but I was told that it works.

[/ QUOTE ]

How come it won't let me choose the standard shipping option ($5) when I use this promo code? Anyone else having this problem?

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

Nevermind. Figured it out.

I would have never thought to buy this DVD until I read this thread. Thanks for the reviews guys. Just put in my order tonight. I'll let you know what I think after wathcing it.

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

I just finished watching this DVD. Excellent. Far and away, the best poker instructional DVD I've ever seen. For anyone on the fence, it's definitely worth the purchase.

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

I just finished watching it too and was impressed. Poker ideas are presented clearly, simply and in the context of a simulated tournament.

The content is the same as Phil's Little Green Book that just came out.

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

Just ordered mine with rush delivery, thanks for code Cap!

With what you guys have said, I can't wait to make some popcorn and watch this badboy!

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

Ordered mine on Monday Oct 3. Received it Friday Oct 7. Won a 10 person tournament on Saturday Oct 8. Great video.

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

[ QUOTE ]
Have any Canadians (I'm in T.O.) tried to purchase this DVD? I'm assuming Expert Insight is the only distributor at the moment.

$24.95 + $16.00 shipping + exchange... gets a little pricey.

However I'll probably go ahead and order it anyway - sounds worthwhile. Just curious if any Canadian company was distributing it over here. I've also emailed Expert Insight to see if there are any other options.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah I'm curious about this as well. I've been thinking of getting a poker DVD and all the reviews I've read here have been excellent. But $16 USD to ship to Canada is outrageous. I guess I'll wait to see if any Canadian distributors pick this up.

Let me know if Expert Insight gives you any useful info about other shipping options Wyers.

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

check on amazon ...i believe i saw it on there ...still is $24.95 but maybe get a break on shipping...

also did you try any of the codes provided? i used one and essentially negated my shipping...

Re: REVIEW: Final Table Poker with Phil Gordon
 

Amazon.com lists the DVD but they are not actually the retailer so it is not eligible for a shipping discount. The listed site charges $10 for shipping to Canada, which is better than EI, but they don't have that $6 discount on the DVD though.

It would be ideal if amazon.ca picked it up but I'm assuming the market isn't that big for this kind of product.