Are Poker Books Worth The Read

Poker players learn how to play through different ways.  Some learn early in life by watching the friendly Saturday night game at their home.   Some play a number of hours and days on free Internet sites for play money.  Players that are use to learning a subject by reading about it are likely to buy books on poker.

The quantity of books on poker has grown like mushrooms after a warm night of rain.  Doyle Brunson's book started the fad of big time players writing books on the subject.  Brunson's book was a bible of how to play and made many bad players better than average.  Barry Greenstein's book has thoughtful ideas on how to play in a logical manner that many would consider tight play of a hand.

Many players could not write a book about playing as they are a little crazy in their play and that would be hard to emulate.

A relatively new and inexperienced player would be wise to read any book on starting hand values with their ranking among hands.  [Read][more...]

Heads Up Update and a Mish Mash

The NBC Heads Up Championship has eliminated more than half the field.  Some of the big name players have been turned out and some are still alive and playing.  The Miracle player Blandino Gines was eliminated the first day by Barry Greenstein and now Barry has joined him on the sidelines.  Others are still in the fight like the well-known Daniel Negreanu.  Skill is at a premium, but getting some good cards at the right time will go a long way.  The interesting story about this tournament is it will not be aired on TV until April of 2009.  By then it will be over and the new champion will be known for over a month.

Another news bit is the coverage of the latest lady poker player in the pro ranks doing so well playing in the tournaments and getting an offer to be in the Swimsuit Edition of Sports Illustrated.  Vanessa Rousso is hot in more ways than one as a poker player, still alive in the Heads Up Championship, as a very nice looking woman and as a Law Student at the University of Miami.  This lady has it all going in the right direction.  That is a lot of activity going on in one person's life male or female. [Read][more...]