If you play a BAD hand at the RIGHT time you win....
931741
There comes a time in life when we indirectly take choices from one another. The outcome well is oftentimes worse than if we allowed that person the chance to choose. Playing the Hand You're Dealt is about choices. Even if you decide not to play the hand you're dealt you will still be holding those cards. At some point life will force you to play; just as it does Emily and Brenda; and to be quite honest they should've played them and declared 1, 2, 3 I declare TRUTH.
Emily Snow and Samantha Baldwin have been friends forever through the good times and the bad; they're sounding boards for one another. Shortly after their 30th birthday life altering events shift their lives. How and if they make it will have reader's debating shoulda, woulda coulda long after closing the book.
Ed Baldwin and Ross are lifelong friends who are honest with one another. They're both successful, smooth brothers whose swagger jumps right off the pages.  They were hands down two of my favorite characters. They were strong in action and had integrity and a love for family. Ed's relationship with his daughter Samantha was based on encouragement and truth.
Brenda Baldwin is convinced she's ummm the epitome of a socialite; however those around her would certainly have a different title for her.  If I may use my sanctified mind I would say something closer to; a sad excuse for a wife to Ed, a poor excuse as a mother to Samantha and a neglectful grannie to CJ. But like Ms. Gerti I will pray for her, because "life ain't no crystal stair" when you try to play a hand that certainly doesn't belong to you.
Gerti's story was small, but her character was huge, what I mean is this. She's the live in caregiver for the Baldwin family so her story basically bounced off their lives. But don't get it twisted she had life and substance. She's the angel overseeing the Baldwin family and at the very end of the story the author uses Ms. Gerti in such a way that brought tears to my eyes and a lump in my throat. It was her voice that pulled all the pieces together for us. She was big momma who prayed over this family on a daily basis.
Ms. Hickman set out to show the reader that through our efforts and choices, we can make the most of what we're given and even move pass what is expected of us. Emily & Ed did it, Brenda did it and so can you. I loved this story it was like reading a "book for grown folks" I've also read "Unexpected Interruptions" and once again grown folks material. Thank you Ms Hickman for challenging my mind with such thought provoking topics of interest.
Remember the  Serenity Prayer:
God grant me the serenity, to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

Missy
Readers Paradise
5 book marks
4835865
Try it and enjoy. I frequent casinos but never played this game.  I liked it very much and intend to play it from now on.  I like the challenge it presents even the losses.
2035918
Just gotta be clear with the rules when you play people....  I've run into some guys who are dead set on playing it the same as 2-player chess but seem to forget that you can go from being just fine to having your king taken between moves.

Also, it's a bad idea to attack both opponents equally.  I've found this annoys them and then they gang up on you.
642569
Either choice your opponent makes works quite well in your favor.  Awesome flavor!
1048104
Long overdue review here.  Sadly I cant play poker anymore for money because of Black Friday.  That being said if you're one of the lucky ones that can, and you want better sit n go strategy, you cant go wrong here.  Funny thing is I read the book and brought zero results.  If anything I was worse.  So I read it again.  Realized I didn't apply what I read at the first shot.  So I read it again.  Took notes and made diagrams for myself.  I guess what Im saying is give it time.  Maybe youll need time for things to sink in like I did.  Dont listen to the negative reviews on this.  I saw one review said they quit reading after 20 pages?  How can you review a book you didn't bother to read?  Hang in there and it will all make sense
52779
Don't like to play games because the person next to you whether it is a friend or spouse is constantly making a move all the time that messes up your strategy and causes you to lose because of their move?????  In fact my grandparents got divorced because of a card game!!!  This game is fun and exciting and because it is a random sequence who the next person's turn is to play and it might be your turn again!!!  No ill will because that person all night long played the wrong card!  You can set a time sequence so the game can go really fast.  We tried 6 seconds and then switched to 4 seconds. Wow!  Really fun and exciting.  You can play with up to 6 people! It is the basic UNO game with a couple of new twists that I will not tell you!  You don't have time to go to the bathroom!!! For kids of all ages. Caution make sure that the table you are playing on is within arms reach of everyone.  Take the leaf out of the table.  If you know UNO then you got it made.  No complicated strategy just a bunch of fun! Caution you can't put the baby down to nap and expect a quiet game like Bridge, because the fun of the game will keep them up!
1065312
Hellmuth's book was the first book I've read. Since then, I've read Brunson's and Slansky's. I took this strategy to a low limit game, and it worked well when I was playing GOOD players. I could bluff and take pots because my table image was tight. When I got into tables where people played loose and called everything down, it was over (i.e. low limit games). I got slaughtered. However, I really reccommend this book if you play tournaments. This book really will get you KILLED if you 1) play low limits, or if 2) you don't understand what is being said in this book.
It really pays to be aggressive. Betting is your most powerful tool, after folding. The key here though is SELECTIVE aggression. Being aggressive wins you your lions share of uncontested pots, and increases your odds of taking down pots because it increases the chances of going heads heads up in a pot with someone (by virtue of betting everyone out), where you can proceed to destroy them, or fold if you sense they're strong.
I think the reason why some players didn't like this book is because they're misinterpreting what agressive means. Its very EASY to learn how to be aggressive, but selective aggressiveness is DIFFICULT to learn. Being aggressive just means raising all the time. Being selective means knowing when to raise, and knowing when to FOLD and back off when sensing strength. The ability to know when to back off is a reading ability, but this can be learned, but is only learned through EXPERIENCE.
Like Hellmuth says, you NEED to play in order to make this book useful. Experience gives you the understanding of two key ingredients to winning poker: 1) selective aggressiveness and 2) understanding the importance of table image. Get the experience, and keep referring to this book, and it'll all make sense eventually.
3851960
This is a good way to play Cribbage when you do not have anybody to play against. Can pass the time.
3134341
There's nothing more frustrating (aside from the crucial first-hole drive) than playing a ball in a sand trap next to the green, using the proper sand wedge, taking the recommended full swing--but hitting the ball square and watching it fly a hundred yards over the green.  A good drive and approach to the green nullified/cancelled/rendered futile by a hopeless short game.

The short game is where the grace, the finesse, the "aesthetics" of golf come into play--but few of us are "artists."  So rather than risk clobbering the ball over the green with each of your high-number, short-game clubs, why not use a club that simply enables you to "putt" your way to the hole from anywhere that's within 50 yards out?

Why not?  Well, maybe because it's a violation of the rules; it's not very aesthetic (more like playing croquet); it certainly violates the "unwritten" rules and form of the game.  (Imagine a baseball player confronting a 100 mph fast ball with a Titanium tennis racquet instead of a wooden bat.)

But if all you want to do is lower your score and frustration, this may be the most practical answer--until, of course, you've got some confidence, along with the necessary skills, to play a respectable short game.

[The price is so low I neglected to take advantage of the 20% off for Visa customers--even though I was using the necessary card.  Whether it's golf or "deals," I just can't compete.]

[2nd caveat: as a preceding reviewer points out, "switch-hitting" clubs like this are not USGA-approved.  So Tiger wannabes should probably spend a dollar or two more on the proper RH or LH chipper.]

[3rd "semi" caveat: I realize that at this price point golf clubs are bound to be "generic," but I'm somewhat disappointed not to see the name "Intech" anywhere on or near the club. It did come with a name (not "Generic"), but I'm not about to reopen the shipping box to find out what it is.]
2194272
I agree with much of what the other reviews have already stated. BUT....the author leaves the reader hanging in one important area - how to bet when naturals (7 and 11) are being thrown prior to establishing a point.

As anyone who plays knows, these naturals (esp. 7's) can occur repeatedly wiping out the Mini Martingale bets the system uses in quick order. Is the player to "stay the course" and bet as if it were a Pass / Dont Pass point or should they wait after a natural is thrown for the next point to pass. This issue was brought up in the Comment section of one of the previous posts, but has yet to be addresed. What say you, Mr Green?
1969308
This is one of those games that is enjoyable to play whether you win or lose. There are lots of fun decisions and simple rules. We play until the bank runs out of money.
691032
This is the greatest board game of all time.  The ratio of strategy to luck needed in order to win is really high.  Way higher than most other games that are big on luck.  You need to watch what your opponents are doing and outsmart them.  Sometimes you need to use "harsh" tactics to thwart what they are trying to do - if you are playing with kids you may need to be careful on this because they can get their feelings hurt.  Games take about 45 minutes each.
4881295
GOP II is no easy poker game, it starts out simple, but becomes increasingly hard to play. Prepare yourself to loose many more hands then you'll win, and bankrupt yourself all the time. While a fun, and interesting title it is no game for the faint of heart. If you want to be challenged, this is probably the game for you, it will just take a long while to overcome this game. 3.5/5
2689679
My comments relate to the Limit Hold'em content of the book, although I suspect it is fairly consistent with the book in its entirety.
I make no pretences about the fact that I am an average Hold'em player.  I play limit anywhere from 3/6 to 10/20 and make a nice profit over time, but I am definately not the kind of player that walks from a table to a round of applause :)
Phil on the other hand needs no introduction.  His reputation (great at cards, shocking at manners!) is known to anyone who takes an interest in the game.
Like many players though, I rushed out and bought his book when it hit the shelves, and like most I was hugely disappointed...  It's a story of "I'm Phil Hellmuth, I'm great, and I'm gonna keep telling you I'm great, and now I have your money for a book full of rubbish!"  I threw it the corner with the same feeling you get when another player draws to an inside straight and hits - bad beat!
Let's face it.  What seperates Mr Hellmuth and other big name players from the rest of us is an instinctive ability to accurately read a player, to the extent that they can almost read the suit of your cards, let alone the value.  From there they pressure you when you're weak and back off when you're strong.
For us mere mortals we need to rely more on the technical aspects of poker that make the foundation of any good player's game.  Play Poker like the Pros is extremely light-on here.  In fact more information can be found for free in an hour searching a few online forums.
If you want to actually improve your game, any books by Sklansky, Malmuth or "Middle Limit Holdem" by Ciaffone & Brier and the like are the way to go.  If your new to the game and need a solid introduction, you can't go past "Winning Low-Limit Hold'em" by Lee Jones.  Just don't waste your money with Hellmuth.
So how am I making a killing?
Well, there seems to now be a wave of new players,  "Phil Hellmuth's Pheasants" I call them - the sixth animal not discussed in his book - and they're just waiting to be plucked.
Invariably there seems to be at least 1 at every table.  You'll see them three betting pocket 5's pre-flop and raising on the flop with second and middle pair "to see where their at".  These players are the ones that were never good enough to begin with, hence they actually believe the diatribe, and have not improved with their latest book purchase.
Once identified these muppets can be targeted so easily, because they become so predictable pre and post flop and almost all of them have zero talent on the turn and river play.  (Interestingly, areas that are hardly touched by Phil's book.)
In the 12 months prior to the release of "Play Poker like the Pro's" I averaged a profit of $57 per hour. Like I said at the start, fairly average for the stakes I play.  Since his book and the adjustments to my game to target the Pheasants that average has risen to $74ph.
All I can say is "Hurry up and release your next book Phil, so we can both get rich!"
57306
I've been playing with the Stonewall opening and my opponent keeps not cooperating! I guess I need to read on to find out what to do when he doesn't follow....! It has helped me with developing my pieces and strategizing. I guess there is no perfect game.
4634984
Not terribly impressed.  I have been shooting craps in Las Vegas since  1951 and have come across a lot of so called winning systems.  You cannot beat house odds or  change dice probalilities!. Best instruction is how to last long at the tables by playing the lowest house odds and wait for hot streaks.
2636593
This game, whether you love it or hate it, will bring entertainment so long as it can stand to be played by the players in the game.

If you can handle a little bit of random play(Okay, maybe a lot of random play... okay, ENTIRELY random), and love something fast paced, this is the game for you. Rounds literally last from 30s to 3m at most it seems like.

It's so easy, and everyone can play. Just read the cards, and follow the directions. If you're a good sport, you're guaranteed some great laughs, cries of frustration, and probably enough quotable moments for days, weeks, or months to come(this last part is entirely dependent upon you and/or your group of friends having great personalities).

WDPTTAL is an excellent game for new friends or acquaintances, and even better for a close group of people. You can play with as few as 2(or one, as the box suggests... but that's a bit weird, eh?) or as many as 20+ honestly. You will not regret this game, unless you have really terrible luck and a bad temper. But, I'm assuming if you can even HOST a party with real people and friends, that means you're not either of those, or at least not some horrible combination of them.