Poker: The Real Deal

Basic.

I'm a relative newcomer to poker and after reading reviews on Amazon, I chose this as my starting point to start reading in order to improve my game.The other reviews are spot on, this is an excellent starting point, for the following reasons:1) It's extremely easy to read. It's well written, and it's peppered with interesting scenarios and anecdotes that keep it from getting boring. I breezed through it in a few days.2) It's not jam packed with statistics, yet at the same time covers the basics. I'm sure in depth statistics are necessary for more advanced players, but for a beginner they can be overwhelming. The book does provide some very basic statistics, such as the calculation of "pot odds" in order to determine when to chase a drawing hand.3) It covers a very wide range of topics, from a basic overview of the game, the types of equipment you need (incl brand names of cards and chips), how to host a home game, a description of casino cardrooms, how professional tourneys work, the world series, etc. It also of course has a number of chapters on how to play a game, such as how to think like a poker player, and a brief description of a number of different poker strategies and when they can be used.4) Finally, it contains a number of references for additional reading. Like I said, this is an introductory book, and I plan to follow it up with additional reading.I also purchased Slansky's "The Theory of Poker" and Caro's "Poker Tells", both also recommended by amazon reviews (and both recommended by Gordon in this book), and I'm very glad I started with this one.One note though, this isn't a big issue but the majority of the book focuses on limit hold-em. Many (if not the majority) of the concepts are applicable to other poker games, but I think it's worth noting that the vast majority of the examples are limit Hold 'em and I don't believe that is mentioned anywhere on the book's cover.

Remember your junior high coach explaining the history of basketball to everyone in the locker room? You're thinking "Are we done yet? I just want to play!". Well, that's how this book begins, but i have to admit that reading about the riverboat gamblers along the Mississippi and when under the gun really meant under the gun and the history of card decks and how the game of poker evolved actually proved to be quite interesting. Phil promised a "short history" and it was, so the book quickly moves into the "need to know" strategies of winning poker, and this book is chock full of good advice and expert strategy.My first introduction to Phil Gordon was his excellent DVD "Final Table Poker", and it was plainly evident upon my first viewing that Phil would become my "favorite professor" on Texas Hold'em.I marveled at his precise communication skills on that DVD, and realized that it would be wise to purchase any and all future books and or dvd's that include Phil's name.Also, I have come to realize that the greatest poker players do not necessarily make for the best educators of Texas Hold'em.Therefore, it is refreshing to find someone that is both a great poker player AND a great educator. That person is Phil Gordon.And to all of you silly conspiracy theorists out there, I have never met nor spoken to Phil Gordon. I simply collect his books because they are great, period.

There's no debating that poker is a hot topic these days, and because of it, there's a lot of interest in learning about it. In this quest, lots of people will head straight for the "... For Dummies" series because it's familiar - they'll be making a bigger mistake than going all-in on a 2-7 offsuit."Poker: The Real Deal" is a well-rounded, very informative, easy-to-read and immensely entertaining book for the poker newbie. It covers a wide range of topics on poker, from the development of its variations throughout history, to the basics of strategy, to the lingo and customs needed to not look foolish at a casino or home game. This breadth of topics make it worth reading even if you're a moderately experienced player, but the true value is held for the novice.Strategy is what most people will be looking for, and the strategy section is a definite strength, discussing the calculation of pot odds, the importance of position and the basics of valuing your hand strength vs. your read on that of others at the table. Does it cover strategy as in-depth as Sklansky and Malmuth's books or the classic "Super/System"? Of course not - that wouldn't be appropriate for the book's core audience. But the great thing about this book is that it contains very helpful passages from those books and points you to them if you'd like to get more information. Let's face it - most of us are just looking to keep up with our home games and occasional casino vacations, and this book works as a single-volume bookshelf that more than fits the needs of such a player. But again, if you envision yourself flipping the boss the bird and staking your claim as the next Greg Raymer, then "Poker: The Real Deal" will help you find all of the additional information necessary to start.Online play is also covered, and while it's a good chapter, it's also (understandably) rather biased toward's Phil's affiliated website.Many will buy or give this book based on Phil Gordon's recognition from Bravo's "Celebrity Poker Showdown", and that's fine. His personal anecdotes add a lot to the readability of the book. Finally, it's even a physically attractive book printed on quality paper, even if it is a screwy size (very tall and narrow, making it more difficult than usual to hold open at the very beginning and end). Do you really want to host your first home game and have someone spot that atrocious yellow-and-black "Dummies" book on your shelf? Of course not.If you're among the many who recently discovered poker via TV or the Internet but are buffaloed by the numerous books on taking your game to the next level, then your search is over - this is THE one book for you.

Being a novice at poker, I bought this book expecting to find some very basic, not too complicated strategies on how to win at poker. Instead, I found a book that introduces some of the mathematical complexities of the game and in doing so, forced me to think more about the science of poker rather than the luck of poker. I have read this book many times and each time I learn more. I believe this book is excellent in that you have to read it more than once to understand it.Phil also sent me an autographed photo, personalized. I am impressed, he is the ambassador to poker that poker needs.