Professional No-Limit Hold 'em: Volume I


Matt Flynn - 2007
    Cash games were rarely spread in conventional poker rooms, let alone the Internet. All of that changed when the game exploded on television. No-limit cash games started sprouting up at casinos of all types. No-limit hold em is now the most popular form of poker. Tournaments pushed it to the forefront, and a great deal of money can also be won here despite that fact, many players feel frustrated with their results. They win some money, only to lose it all on one botched hand. This book teaches you how to play and think like a professional. It shows how to size your bets, manage the pot, manipulate your opponents, know when to go all-in, and avoid the big mistake. Do you understand critical no-limit concepts like The REM Process, The Commitment Threshold, and Stack-To-Pot Ratios? If not, this is the book for you.

Big Deal: One Year in the Life of a Professional Poker Player


Anthony Holden - 1990
    He spent days and nights in the poker paradise of Las Vegas, in Malta and Morocco, even shipboard, mingling with the legendary greats, sharpening his game, perfecting his repartee, and learning a great deal about himself in the process. Poker, Holden would insist, is not gambling. Like chess it is a paradigm of life at its most intense, a gladiatorial contest that brings out the best as well as the worst in people. Its heroes, its eccentrics and is comedians stalk the pages of this book, along with all the hair-raising, nail-biting excitement of the games themselves. The book is reissued with a new introduction by the author.

The Education of a Poker Player (High Stakes Classic)


Herbert O. Yardley - 1957
    

Every Hand Revealed


Gus Hansen - 2008
     One of professional poker's most intriguing and fascinating players, Gus Hansen has often been called "The Madman" for his crazy, fearless, aggressive style. But you can't dispute the fact that this poker superstar knows how to win--and win big. The holder of the inaugural Poker Superstars Invitational title as well as the only player to win three World Poker Tour tournaments, Gus won his fifth major international title when he became the 2007 Aussie Millions Champion, outlasting 747 players and nabbing $1.2 million. Now, for the first time ever, Gus analyzes the hands that he played during the tournament and reveals his secrets for winning in Every Hand Revealed. You'll learn: An extensive, easy-to-follow analysis of the more than 300 hands he played during the Aussie Millions... The radical, yet coolly logical, methods behind Gus's "madness" that have helped him to win consistently... Each and every bluff, precise calculation, educated guess, and read of his opponents ... How to call large bets with seemingly unplayable hands... When to raise out of position with garbage holdings... How the prize structure should influence your play... And much more! Offering unlimited access to one of the most successful, popular poker players out there, Every Hand Revealed will help you understand some of poker's most coveted secrets--and simply shows you the right way to play the game whether you're a beginner or a poker pro. Now with Gus Hansen by your side, you too can turbo-charge your game and watch it take off!Superstar poker pro Gus Hansen has shaken up the poker world with his loose, aggressive style. Called "The Great Dane" as well as "The Madman," the five-time international title-holder transforms his hands with cool logic ...and flattens his opponents. Voted one of the world's sexiest men by People Magazine, Gus is an avid athlete, backgammon player, and poker commentator for both Danish and American T.V.

Ace on the River: An Advanced Poker Guide


Barry Greenstein - 2005
    Focusing on a variety of subjects, such as the psychology of poker, money management, family issues, and sex, it gives the reader a chance to look beyond the cards to see the poker world.

Decide to Play Great Poker: A Strategy Guide to No-Limit Texas Hold ’Em


Annie Duke - 2011
    But guess what? It really does depend. The key to becoming a great poker player is in knowing exactly what it depends on. At last there’s a book that gives you that answer. Poker is a game of so many variables: table position, flop texture, the number of players in a hand, the personalities of your opponents, and so much more. Decide to Play Great Poker teaches you how to identify and analyze those variables, interchange them within basic game-situation templates, and become knowledgeable, comfortable, and confident in any poker situation. Instead of just dictating a bunch of rules that work only some of the time, this book teaches you to become a great poker thinker and strategist, so that you can expertly navigate any poker challenge that you encounter. Most players think that the goal of poker is to make money. They’re wrong! The goal of poker is to make good decisions. Money is simply the way you measure how well you’re meeting that objective. So if you’re ready to start making world-class decisions at the poker table—and to reap the substantial rewards that those decisions will yield—all you have to do is decide: Decide to Play Great Poker now. You’ll never be vexed by “it depends” again.

Essential Poker Math: Fundamental No Limit Hold'em Mathematics You Need To Know


Alton Hardin - 2015
    I'm here to tell you it is not. In fact, fundamental poker math is very easy to learn. More importantly, it can yield you a lot more profits at the poker table. Without using simple math at the poker table, you are simply playing a guessing game. Use Simple Math at the Poker Table and Increase You Winnings In this book I will teach you how to use simple arithmetic at the poker table to gain a huge skill advantage over your opponents that will allow you to win more and lose less. Poker players that don't use math are simply guessing and you'll learn to no longer guess and know the right mathematical move at the poker table. These simple mathematical concepts I will be teaching you will drastically help improve your poker game and allow you to make the most profitable decisions at the poker. Contents and Overview First you will be introduced to some fundamental overarching poker concepts that apply to poker mathematics. Then we will begin our journey into poker mathematics where you will learn about probabilities and odds, pot odds and implied odds, pot equity, and expected value. You will then learn how to quickly estimate your equity at the poker table using the Rule of 2 & 4. Moreover, you'll learn the steps involved in determining if calling with a drawing hand is profitable or not. We will also cover how to size your bets with the best hand and teach you how often bluffs and hero calls need to work to be profitable. Lastly, we will show you how to perform EV calculations and better understand card combinations. Effectively Understand and Utilize Essential Poker Math Develop a keen understanding of Probability and Odds Learn to quickly calculate Pot Odds & Implied Odds at the poker table Effectively use Pot Equity & The Rule of 2 & 4 to Determine the correct poker play Understand how to use Expected Value (EV) both on and off the table to analyze your plays Learn the important math behind Bluffs & Hero Calls to give you a skill advantage over your opponent Learn Card Combinations to further enhance your card reading abilities And Many More Amazing Topics… What You Will Get out of This Book Suitable for both beginning and experienced poker players alike you'll learn many essential fundamental poker mathematical concepts that will help you drastically improve your poker game. After reading this book, you will have mastered fundamental No Limit Holdem mathematics. You will have gained a huge skill advantage over your opponents and you will be able to quickly and effectively use math at the poker table to make are always the most profitable move. Most importantly, you will become a much better and profitable poker player! So what are you waiting for? Purchase this book today to start learning how to advance your poker game with simple poker math! Alton Hardin is the founder of MicroGrinder.com, a free micro stakes poker website that is dedicated to helping micro stakes poker players improve their poker game by offering a wide array of free and low-cost resources including poker courses, poker t

Poker Nation: A High-Stakes, Low-Life Adventure into the Heart of a Gambling Country


Andy Bellin - 2002
    Entertaining and accessible.” —USA TodayJournalist and poker fanatic Andy Bellin takes readers on a raucous journey into the shut-up-and-deal world of professional poker. From basement games to the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, you'll look over his shoulder as he learns to count cards, read a legendary player's body language, hang in there when the chips are down, and take his beatings like a man. Even if you don't know the difference between a flop and a river card, Bellin keeps you in the game with his portraits of the colorful players, dreamers, hustlers, and eccentrics who populate this strange subculture. Along with learning what goes on behind the scenes in illegal poker clubs, you'll get great advice on how to play Texas Hold'em, today's game of choice for big-money players.

Lost Vegas: The Redneck Riviera, Existentialist Conversations with Strippers, and the World Series of Poker


Paul McGuire - 2010
    Las Vegas lures you to shed moral responsibility and piss away your money on indulgences like decadent food, entertainment, gambling, and sex. If you don't enjoy these pastimes, then what's the point of visiting the land of compromised values? Where else can you get a cheap steak, crash a Mexican wedding, get cold-decked in blackjack by a dealer named Dong, play video poker for thirteen straight hours, drink pina coladas out of a plastic coconut, bum a cigarette from an 85-year-old woman with an oxygen tank, speed away to the Spearmint Rhino in a free limo, get rubbed by a former Miss Teen USA, puke in the back of a cab driven by a retired Navy SEAL, snort cheap cocaine in the bathroom at O'Sheas, and then catch a lucky card on the river to crack pocket aces and win a poker tournament? Only in Las Vegas.

Poker For Dummies


Richard D. Harroch - 2000
    Nationwide, you can find a game in progress everywhere. If you want to play, you can find poker games on replicas of 19th century riverboats or on Native American tribal lands. You can play poker at home with the family or online with opponents from around the world. Like bowling and billiards before it, poker has moved out from under the seedier side of its roots and is flowering in the sunshine.Maybe you've never played poker before and you don't even know what a full house is. "Poker For Dummies" covers the basics. Or perhaps you've played for years, but you just don't know how to win. This handy guide will help you walk away from the poker table with winnings, not lint, in your pockets. If you're a poker expert, you still can benefit - some of the suggestions may surprise you, and you can certainly learn from the anecdotes from professional players like T.J. Cloutier and Stu Unger.Know what it takes to start winning hand after hand by exploring strategy; getting to know antes and betting structure; knowing your opponents, and understanding the odds. "Poker For Dummies" also covers the following topics and more: Poker games such as Seven-Card Stud, Omaha, and Texas Hold'emSetting up a game at homePlaying in a casino: Do's and don'tsImproving your play with Internet and video pokerDeciphering poker sayings and slangTen ways to read your opponent's body languagePlaying in poker tournamentsMoney management and recordkeepingKnowing when and how to bluffPoker looks like such a simple game. Anyone, it seems, can play it well - but that's far from the truth. Learning the rules can be quick work, but becoming a winning player takes considerably longer. Still, anyone willing to make the effort can become a good player. You can succeed in poker the way you succeed in life: by facing it squarely, getting up earlier than the next person, and working harder and smarter than the competition.Foreword by Chris Moneymaker, 2003 World Series of Poker Champion.

Backgammon For Winners


Bill Robertie - 1993
    Ten fast-reading chapters show the basics of setting up a board, how to move, the opening strategies and replies, middle and end game tactics, basic probabilities, plus back game and doubling strategy. The world's best backgammon player shows beginning players how to play and win at this popular game.

Amarillo Slim in a World Full of Fat People: The Memoirs of the Greatest Gambler Who Ever Lived


Amarillo Slim Preston - 2003
    And since it's not becoming for a cowboy to be arguing, I've made a few wagers in my day. But in my humble opinion, I'm no hustler. You see, neighbor, I never go looking for a sucker. I look for a champion and make a sucker out of him."Amarillo Slim might be the greatest gambler who ever lived, but it's his down-home charm and folksy storytelling that have made him an American idol and media darling. Slim is a legend, as American as Paul Bunyan, Jesse James, and P.T. Barnum. In Amarillo Slim in a World Full of Fat People, T.A. "Amarillo Slim" Preston will tell the tall tales of his fascinating life. Slim will describe some of his greatest gambling exploits -- from winning the World Series of Poker to creating extraordinary proposition bets to running the biggest black market in Europe during the war while giving pool exhibitions (read: hustling) on military bases for Uncle Sam. Among others, Slim beat Willie Nelson for $300,000 playing dominoes; Larry Flynt for $2 million playing poker. He has played poker with presidents Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon, and drug lords Pablo Escobar and Jimmy Chagra. He was also one of the pioneers of Las Vegas. Plain and simple, Amarillo Slim is America's greatest gambler of all time.

Chess Openings: Traps And Zaps


Bruce Pandolfini - 1989
    Unfortunately, though, many openings are not completed successfully, partly because until now most opening instruction has consisted of tables of tournament level moves that offer no explanations for the reasons behind them. Consequently, these classical opening patterns can serve as little more than references to the average player. In Chess Openings: Traps and Zaps, Bruce Pandolfini uses his unique "crime and punishment" approach to provide all the previously missing explanation, instruction, practical analyses, and much, much more. The book consists of 202 short "openers" typical of average players, arranged according to the classical opening variations and by level of difficulty. Each example includes: -the name of the overriding tactic -the name of the opening -a scenario that sets up the tactic to be learned -an interpretation that explains why the loser went wrong, how he could have avoided the trap, and what he should have done instead -a review of important principles and useful guidelines to reinforce each lesson Also included are a glossary of openings that lists all the classical "textbook" variations for comparison and reference and a tactical index. Chess Openings: Traps and Zaps is a powerful, pragmatic entry into a heretofore remote area of chess theory that will have a profound influence on every player's game.

Heads-Up No-Limit Hold 'em: Expert Advice for Winning Heads-Up Poker Matches


Collin Moshman - 2008
    Yet, most hold em players who transition to the heads-up form, especially if they are from full ring no-limit games, do not succeed. Adjusting to the amount of aggression can be difficult since heads-up battles require you to bet and raise with many more hands than what would be considered standard at a full table. Despite this, no-limit heads-up hold em is growing rapidly, especially on the Internet. So mastering this form of poker can be invaluable for those seeking to add a winning loose-aggressive component to their game. In addition, with the increasing number of heads-up matches now available, becoming proficient in them can be highly profitable. This text, written by expert heads-up player Collin Moshman, is the first poker strategy book devoted exclusively to no-limit heads-up play. Through extensive hand examples and accompanying theory, you will learn to: 1. Master expected value, equity, value betting, and the fundamental mathematics of heads-up strategy, 2. Play and exploit each of the most common playing styles, 3. Manipulate the pot size based on your hand and your opponent, 4. Attack button limps, bluff multiple streets, and aggress in the most profitable manner, 5. Distinguish between optimal cash and tournament strategies, 6. Exploit your opponents tendencies and perceptions through metagame mastery, and 7. Maximize your heads-up profits through game theory and fundamental business concepts. So whether you are an aspiring heads-up professional, or want to be ready for the next time you re challenged to a one-on-one battle, Heads Up No-Limit Hold em provides you with the tools you need to succeed.

Kill Everyone


Lee Nelson - 2007
    Its perfect blend of real-time experience, poker math, and computational horsepower created new concepts and advanced strategies never before seen in print for multi-table tournaments, Sit-n-Gas, and satellites.In this revised and expanded second edition, Kill Everyone adds even more ammunition to a tournament-poker-player's arsenal. In addition to groundbreaking analysis of fear-and-fold equity and equilibrium, plus the presentation of optimal strategies for the bubble, the end-game, and heads-up play, this second edition adds 50 pages of incisive commentary from the hottest tournament-poker player in the world, Bertrand "Elky" Grospellier, and a new chapter on short-stack cash games to go with the original discussion of playing in short-handed cash games.With a Foreword by 2006 World Series of Poker champion Joe Hachem, annotations by Elky, and solid math-based strategies from Lee Nelson, Tysen Streib, Steven Heston, and Mark Vos, Kill Everyone packs more poker brainpower between two covers than any book to come before it.