MARK HARLAN - TEXAS HOLD'EM FOR DUMMIES
_RECOMMENDED FOR___________________________________________________________
Complete novices through to beginner/intermediate players.
Anyone who has watched poker on TV more than a couple of times knows how irritating it is to have the button, small blind, big blind etc explained in detail for the 100th time, and you'd be forgiven for thinking that this book is going to do it all over again. However "Texas hold'em For Dummies" contains a surprisingly large amount of useful information on all aspects of hold'em poker.
Simply written, light and fun to read, the book continues the 'for Dummies' series' winning formula, with everything you need to know concisely explained. Interspersed with trivia and anecdotal information it's an entertaining read which covers a lot of ground.
The hand rankings and rules are covered first, followed by the betting rounds, flop, turn river etc. The general rules and etiquette are explained, and it moves on to general tactics. These include the concept of playing the player, and an introduction to some moves, such as bluffing, check raising and trapping.
Other concepts discussed include disguising your hand, avoiding traps, and poker maths. There is lots of useful advice, which is all well presented, without you feeling like you're entering a university lecture. The topics are discussed in detail, but without the usual technical explanations.
The book contains advice on where to play poker, from home games, and online, to casino and cardroom tournaments, and advice on how to improve your game and avoid common mistakes.
This book is highly recommended for beginners and intermediate players who want a comprehensive reference book on the foundations of Texas Hold'em Poker. It's definitely the first poker book you should buy if you want to learn how to play Texas holdem.
print version