Beginner Books

[oddjob]

do you think caro's book of tells is that important? i've been debating getting this, more for just fun, because i don't really think tells apply to the low limits i'm stuck with.

[oddjob]

i'd put my money on the one who read the more basic poker book first.

you don't give a new physics student an advanced book till he's read and understood the more basic ones.

[The _Grifter]

You may be overlooking some tells that you'll find in Caro's book. It's worth it if you put the required concentration involved to pick up tells. Easier said than done. [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

Conventional wisdom says that tells are less significant to use at limit. Better to understand betting patterns. No-Limit, however, is a whole different ballgame. Most top NL players rely a great deal on tells.

[labergen]

Thank you all for your suggestions; I'm going to pick up a few of these books and go from there. Take care.
Larry

[SlyR]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
.....Take two beginners, one has read The Theory of Poker and one who hasn't. My money goes on the one who has read it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sure, if they're playing each other. But put both at a full no-fold'em table, and my money goes to the guy who studied (didn't just read) Jones' book.

[Mason Malmuth]

Hi Clark:

So are you saying that carson made her sick? Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Best wishes,
Mason

[Clarkmeister]

[img]/forums/images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]


lol

[smilinjimt]

My first book was Lee Jones-Winning Low Limit Hold'Em. I bought it following my first trip to Vegas where I was introduced to Texas Hold'em. I sat in on the "free" poker lessons offered at the Excalibur. Those "free" poker lessons cost me three-hundred and forty-two dollars for the week. I'm not running down the Excalibur; I knew that I couldn't be proficient immediately, but it was an eye-opener. I learned that if I wanted to do this again (and I did), I needed to do much more preparation. I especially liked the test following each chapter. It was re-assuring to see that I was really grasping the concepts Mr. Jones felt were pertinent. It was roughly a year before I could return to Vegas to play again. The second time I was much better prepared (I re-read the book again on the four hour flight). I was able to win back all that I'd lost the previous year, plus a bit more. No, it didn't turn me into a poker whiz. Yes, I have losing sessions, but I also have winning sessions.

Since that time I've averaged two trips to Vegas a year. I've gone through many books since then: Both of Lou Kreiger books, the last Hold'em Excellence (both very good), Ken Warren's (listed just above post), Sklansky's Texas Hold'em and Theory of Poker, Psychology of Poker by Alan Schoonmaker, Cary Carson's Hold'Em Poker, plus a number of others. I also purchased Turbo Texas Hod'em at the Gambler's Book Store in Vegas. If ever you get to Vegas, this book store is worth a trip. Any information written on Poker or gambling can probably be found here. I purchased it because I wanted a realistic simulator to practice with. Nothing beats face to face poker for learning experience, but I do feel TTH has improved my overall play.

I do feel that I was fortunate to get the best book for a raw beginner (sometimes even a blind squirrel finds an acorn). There has been a lot of discussion on this site whether Theory of Poker (Sklansky) should be read first. I go with Jones here. Jones tried to make the game understandable for the great unwashed. I'm math-challenged, and I kept getting lost when Sklansky would go off on long dissertations involving the mathematic-problem solving. Some of the book I just wasn't ready for. Certainly Sklansky's background in math helped him, but it was too much for me. I continue to re-read TOP trying to absorb all of information, and I am gaining some excellent insights, but for a primer I recommend Jones. Good luck to you.

[tiltboy]

[ QUOTE ]
.....Take two beginners, one has read The Theory of Poker and one who hasn't. My money goes on the one who has read it.


[/ QUOTE ]
Ok, let's say the one who has read TOP has only read this poker book while the one who hasn't has however read WLLH, HEFAP, and Carson's Holdem Poker. Assuming similar levels of intelligence and no prior playing experience, in a game of Hold 'Em, I put my money on the latter player. TOP is a great book, but IMO it needs context, which is what the other books provide. It would be an interesting experiment.