Hold'em Poker by David Sklansky Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Hold'em Poker
Book Review: 1000+ Hands at Micro Limits - Making $
Summary: 4 Stars
This really is a solid book for beginners. However, as Sklansky writes in the introduction, "Those readers who haven't played any kind of poker at all would be wise to pick up a book such as the Fundamentals of Poker [...] before continuing with this book."
In other words, this book is not meant to teach you the basic mechanics of a poker game. Furthermore, Hold 'Em Poker does not contain a complete "system" that will tell you when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em.
This book takes the novice poker play to a point where he or she can begin to see WHY it's good to hold certain hands and fold others. Sklansky introduces the reader to the concept of outs and pot odds, and explains the idea that poker is not about breaking even or winning pots. Poker is about making money over the long run.
Furthermore, Sklansky, like any good teacher, gives you homework. At several points in the book, he writes, "I urge the reader to deal out a few hundred hands himself." If that sounds like work to you, it is.
If you are a complete beginner when it comes to poker rules, this is not the book for you. If you are looking for a complete system, this is not the book for you. However, if you are serious about becoming a better hold 'em player, this is a great book.
Book Review: A Great Start for Beginners
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a book for beginners, respectively. It can only be concluded that he or she who posted the "confusing" review is either one who has not grasped a basic grounding in poker theory him- or her- self or is illiterate.Notwithstanding the fact that this is the first book ever to be written on hold'em, and thus can be expected to be slightly outdated, it is still a book no serious poker player I know is without. I strongly recommend it to be the first text read on the subject for the aspiring hold'em expert.
Just reading it once through will not be enough. You'll find that this book can be studied over and over. Fom Sklansky's famous hand rankings to the concept of the free cards, this text gives the reader something to look forward to. I definitely recommend it.
Book Review: A keen analysis of Hold'em and poker in general.
Summary: 4 Stars
This was the first keen analysis of the game AND Sklansky's first book. Many of the ideas in this work were crafted into his later _Theory of Poker_. The book is somewhat dated in that D.S. undervalues the importance of position and underrates the profit potential of smaller pocket pairs. His writing style is stiff, not languid, and does not lend itself to easy reading. Many gambling pros speak their thoughts in an abrupt, abbreviated fashion and D.S. carried it over into his written product. He describes pot odds he anticipates at the close of betting as "implied odds", a phrase copied by other writers. If they are anticipated odds why shouldn't they be called that? D.S. seems to derive less of his income from the tables and more from author's royalties and consulting fees (he has advised casinos to abandon the three for two bonus on naturals in twenty-one). He has also stated that no one had published any insightful word on poker prior to 1976 (his book). His notoriety has gone to his head. This is a gratuitous slight to Herbert O. Yardley's _Education of a Poker Player_ published in 1957. However, this revised 1976 book is still worthwhile reading, for Hold'em and poker in general, and not reading it would be a mistake.Book Review: A must read for any novice Hold 'em player.
Summary: 4 Stars
Sklansky does a excellent job of explaining the game. Although his theory may be complicated and confusing, this book is well worth the read. If a player studies this book, and I mean study, not just read, they will be able to do well enough in nearly any game they enter. I started playing hold 'em a little over 2 months ago (gotta love rounders) and after studying this book I can confidently play in any mid range limit game with the knowledge that I am skilled enough to make money.Book Review: A very fine treatise
Summary: 5 Stars
Is the finest book on Hold em' that I have ever read. It has clear tables and info on the odds of improving a hand and money management as well. I highly recommend the book for all serious players