Absolutely brilliant book if you are a live low stakes poker ...
925830
Absolutely brilliant book if you are a live low stakes poker player. The author develops a pre-flop starting hand strategy, with simply understood rational and supporting mathematics, which if followed and applied will provide the basis of a solid game strategy at this level. A unique perspective at the $1/$2 and $2/$5 game dynamics not offered by other poker books which differentiates the skills of the casual and donkey player verses the serious low stakes player who needs to and can exploit the mistakes of the donkeys, create the small edge and skills needed to be a winner at this level and at the same time minimizing variance. Poker is a complex game and the author provides a simplified thought process and strategy from experience and analysis which provides an understanding of practical dynamics that are presented at the table, with solid theory to counter and exploit the donkey's actions.
244330
playing poker is like totally involving yourself into one thing which is really very great. the best part about poker is that the game keep on getting interesting and you doesn't get bored. But for playing poker and to be best at it, you should definitely refer this book. its an amazing one. it has some great tricks to win a game of poker no matter whatever situation you are in.
4696012
Even before I started writing reviews for Amazon, I was always a customer who made use of the review section. This was particularly true in regards to poker books because I assumed that the raters had the same goal, getting better, that I did. For this book, I read the insights of the two reviewers below, and made the call. My interest in studying Pot-Limit stems from playing the $10.00 table at a popular website. I wondered if there were some tips I could absorb which would give me an advantage over the other No Limit players at the PL table.

I have to say that I was taken aback when I first opened "How Good Is..." because it looked kind of like a workbook with check in boxes and little quizzes for each hand. Then I saw that the free CD actually was the download disk for Royal Vegas poker, which, in my mind, is an awful site. So, with some trepidation, I began to read this one, and must admit to being pleasantly surprised by the advice it contained. American readers should not be put off by the fact that some of the pot values are represented in English pounds because, you'll soon realize, that the exact amounts have little to do with the functionality of the instruction.

Stewart Reuben is a retired professional, and he definitely knows what he is talking about. He has a engaging personality and is an enjoyable narrator. Inside, he offers up 58 hands for analysis. Over the course of them, many mentions are made of his old poker pals and famous players like Jack Keller or Devilfish Ulliot. Personally, I did not take the quizzes as I went along but I read a couple of the hands twice after recognizing the way in which I mishandled similar scenarios at the table. Lastly, there's a chart on page 9 that shows hand rankings which was so good I forever marred my copy by tearing it out and placing it alongside my computer monitor as a guide.
1411582
This is one of my all time favorite gambling books where the author focuses on Craps and Baccarat but mainly Craps. The book is targeted for the advance player or players with some experience playing Craps. First written in 1978 the author Lyle Stuart explains how he was a winner playing craps for 10 ten trips in row. He will tell you many many stories that will give you some perspectives on winning and losing and the HollyWood/casino world of Las Vegas in the '60s and '70s. I first bought my copy back in the early nineties and it has elevated my play mainly because I approached the game and gambling very differently after reading this book as my perception had change. Lyle Stuart owned a publishing company and was a high roller in his day. His style of writing is very straight forward and honest and just might make you a winner.
632671
DO NOT let your opponents in middle limit holdem games know about this book!  The information in this book, especially the information about small player pots with between 3 and seven players, is worth the price of the book in just one table sitting.  FEW other books cover this very important subject at all, or if they do, it is done with just a cursory few paragraphs.

If you are truly serious about playing your best in middle limit games, especially those with 3 to 7 players in the pot at the flop, you need to get this book and study.  It will also improve your play from preflop through to the river.  There is a reason that Bob Ciaffone is known as the Poker Coach, and this book proves it.

You can winnow your way through all the theoretical information in Sklansky and Malmuth's Hold'em Poker For Advanced Players, and Sklansky's Theory of Poker, and not get the good, practical information provided in this book.  This book provides multiple real world examples, and gives you the how and why the author's made the decision.

This book will be a valuable reference in anybody's library, replacing many other books.
394118
If you play shorthanded limit hold 'em you need to get this book. I have read over 70 poker books and this is the best material ever published on the subject of shorthanded limit play. Forget "Hold em for advanced players", King Yao, even one of my personal favorites, Matt Maroon's "Winning Texas Hold 'em" which has a good section on shorthanded play, etc etc- they are obsolete after this. Comparing any previous work on shorthanded play with this new D&B offering is like comparing a three page pamphlet to a text book. The authors have taken on a monumental task in attempting to write a book on this subject and they have just excelled. This is the new bible of short play and is probably one of the best, and most important poker books ever written although being that we are spoiled for selection nowadays, it may not get as much recognition as it deserves which is a tragedy. If you play this game you must get this book. My only concern is that it will certainly make the short limit games even harder to beat. EVERY SINGLE ASPECT of short play is covered in explicit detail- NOTHING is left out of this one.

In case anyone thinks I am being over the top or am affiliated with the authors in some way- I'm not. This is one of the best poker books I've ever read. Period. I'm actually a bit blown away by this book, I had high expectations when I heard about it over a year ago and it has exceeded them by far. Phenomenal stuff- Lawrence, Terry, Barry and D&B have released a classic- congratulations guys.
2782875
I own about 7 of the best rated poker books but have never taken the time to rate any of them; that should say something about the Little Green Book. I felt that this book was so valuable that I also bought the audio version to listen to in my car. Unlike many books that spend a lot of time reviewing starting hands and poker math, this book focuses on general concepts that really make you think. I think that applying the strategies from this book will result in solid play in both tournys and cash games. I would really recommend the audio version as it is read by the author.
4904233
I hope that more players will get a chance to know about this book. From the current sales levels I wouldn't guess that many players are even aware of this book. But don't let the lack of hype or marketing let you overlook this one.

If you are serious about poker and your development as a player this may be one of the two or three most important and helpful books you could read! I know that is a bold statement but Fornatale has hit the jackpot with this book. He asks a relatively large group of professionals some very good questions about some very important aspects of the game. He covers live cash games, online cash games, tournaments, psychology, bankroll and personal development. The players he picks are all professionals in some area including three respected poker author/players, several high profile tournament players. He also includes several online pros.

The responses from so many different players are eye opening and insightful and really give you a solid sense of what it takes, both from a natural talent and working to develop your game points of view. Many books touch on these areas but to have numerous pros weigh in on so many topics is very useful. And not all of them agree with the others on the questions asked which was a real revelation. Bottom line, there is no single approach to winning poker but of the many approaches discussed in this book you should find many ideas which could save you months or years of trial and error and stumbling around on your own. Really, really good.
1770449
I just finished reading Jonathan's "Small Stakes Poker Tournaments", I have been playing small stakes tournaments for about (10) years now.  I have won a couple of them and finished in the money a few times.  However, most of the time I go out just before the Money.  After reading this book I realized Jonathan was talking about me in the section that covered Tight Passive Players.  He nailed it when he said "Most of these players are decently good at getting in the money before the blinds get too high but terrible at winning the tournament once the blinds get too high".
I will be changing my game up, due to this book.  Thanks, Jonathan
2041716
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand Limit Holdem and anyone who plays cash games.  Lots of useful information and strategy.  It covers everything from the most basic concepts through more advanced strategy.  I have read a lot of poker books, and this is one I will keep in my library and read over and over.
1502546
First off I hate reading but put a good quality poker book in my hand ill never put it down...  I was surprised this book is very exciting so far and really picking out bits and pieces to improve my game  btw shout out to Ashton Cartwright... love the bio you wrote and had some useful information that I will take to the table in the near future  thank you
1185663
Having a realistic idea of the book going into it will greatly influence, enhance, and expand the value you get from it.  This book is designed for the 'poker as entertainment' types that play in home games, local bars/restaraunts, or online and helps them prepare for a solid approach to live cash games where the play is quite different than tournaments and requires a specific approach.
Realizing that poker is a game of skill and while there are so many variables to consider in both your play and a million other outside influences this book does a great job of preparing you to make simple math adjustments in live situations, understand the reasoning behind a lot of card selection, and extract the most possible in the hands you do get involved in.

Remember this, the book doesnt 'teach' you how to make a million dollars or win the WSOP because that would be impossible.  It does however prepare the new/average/or transition player to put THEIR cash money on the table and walk away with a profit.  If you enjoy the entertainment of live poker and want to see a lot of action and don't care about the money then this book is not for you.  It preaches one of the most difficult virtues in all of poker, patience.  While the author may not be seen on tv or a recognized poker pro the value you get from the books various chapters (broken down very well to re-read and study based on individual weaknesses) is undeniable and universal.  Look at it this way, if it works you're going to get your $20 investment back probably the first time you play, and if it doesn't then at least you'll be better prepared to limit your losses and understand what you need to work on creating value and getting your money's worth either way.
1038859
The low cost you pay for this book will more than pay out in your winnings in the casino.  Most people play video poker intuitively or loosely based upon their own experience with playing 5 card stud.  This book helped me fine-tune my playing strategy and win more.

Don't be afraid that there's a lot of math in this book.  She goes into enough detail to prove what she needs to prove to the reader, but there's plenty of accompanying explanation, as well.  It's the right balance of detail and theory.  She's a retired math teacher, so she writes very clearly.

In my own home casino, I didn't know which games were good.  I thought they all paid out the same.  After reading this book, I figured out that I should really only be playing 99.17% Bonus Poker there and not bother with the other games.  The other day I hit 4 aces, and without her tips I'd never have known.  That's a $100 win on a $1.25 bet.
1349436
If this book was a starting poker hand, it would be pocket aces.

Blade's "Essential Guide to Playing for a Living" is just that. I publish a book on recreational gambling that is straightforward with people and does not perpetuate the myths that have been costing people money at casinos for forever. Just the chapters on "How Much Money Do You Need?" and "Can You Control Wins & Losses Through Money Management?" make the book more than worth the price of admission. If you fail to plan, then you are planning to fail is what this boils down to, but instead of some Boy Scout platitudes about being prepared, Blade gives very detailed and reasoned instructions on how and why you should do what he recommends.

The book does focus on limit cash games, but if that's where the money is--not the celebrity, but the consistent money--then who am I to complain that the book doesn't go into a lot of details on the currently popular no-limit games and tournaments? What do you think Doyle Brunson and other poker celebrities used to do before the no-limit format, the WSOP and the WPT got to be so big?

You can lose with pocket aces though, and Blade does get a little too self-promotional at times, but his comments on how to constructively deal with bad days, weeks and months do give good perspective on how to keep yourself going mentally through the tough times. If you've ever played for a living, you know that you need every mental edge you can get during a streak of bad luck, and I appreciated the insights that this author offers.

So if you want to give a poker career a shot, at least this book prepares you for some of the non-card playing technical aspects of the game, like bankroll, as well addressing the personal, career, mental and physical stamina issues that other books don't cover as thoroughly.
3767410
Jonathan Little has written a top notch book about the game of Texas Holdem. This is an in-depth book that goes into many specific details on how to play (or not play) the popular game of Texas Holdem. I have read a number of other books on the game by such luminaries as Doyle Brunson, Dan Harrington, and others. But none provide the wealth of info this one has. Little's focus on your opponent's range of hands is really the key to the game. He pounds the message home over and over-imagine what your opponent's range of hands is in any given situation. Sure, you can be a technical or math whiz but unless you apply the "range of hands" philosophy you will not be the winner you can be. Now, I speak from experience. After reading his book, my winning percentage has climbed up, up, up!
991690
As a poker novice I found this book straightforward and simple to follow. The book is written with low stakes poker games in mind.

If you are just beginning to play poker or want to advance your game then this is a must read as it will only increase your game and give you more confidence to tackle higher stakes poker in the future.

All in all an excellent book and I would highly recommend it if you have any interest at all in poker.
3932830
Anyone who has read this book and not placed himself as one who Patrick is talking directly to at sometime or other is not being honest.  Personally I know that I would have been better off with his win-loss goals and money management techniques as they would have many times made me either less of a loser, or maximized the times when I was winning.  I have started trying his techniques and although I don't win big bucks, I don't get
killed either.  His conservative deviations from basic strategy I can definitely live with such as not splitting 8's against dealer's upcard of 9, 10, ace.  I feel I have gotten a lot of sound, valuable info. from his first book "You wanna be a gambler" and plan on reading his advanced blackjack book.