Theory of Poker by Sklansky

Dennis187 · Sep 22,2004, 04:26 PM

I have read a couple books so far...

Killer Poker by Varhaus
Play Poker like the Pros by Hellmuth

Here is what I was wondering, I have heard pro's talking about this book Theory of Poker by Sklansky being a must have. What does everyone think? Should I buy this book, or pass? I hear that this guy really knows his stuff... do you think reading this book would add to my game?

Let me know what you all think...

BBC Z · Sep 22,2004, 04:39 PM

You've won 50K playing online poker and those are the only two books you've read?

Wow.

How about some tips for us nobodies that don't have the apparent natural knack for the game that you possess?

all_aces · Sep 22,2004, 05:04 PM

Yes, ToP is a must-have, IMHO.

Cheers,
all_aces

Irah · Sep 22,2004, 07:21 PM

The Theory of Poker is a must have. Some of concepts are harder to understand at first since he uses games like Razz to explain them ( particularily if you are applying it to Hold'em) None the less it is a neccessary book.

ScottyZ will agree, I believe it is his favorite book, as it should be, that it is a must have.

ScottyZ · Sep 22,2004, 07:53 PM

Which book is that again? "Poker Theory" by Dave Stravinsky?

I'm trying to remember if I've read that one...

Hey, have I ever told you about Sammy Jankis?

ScottyZ

ScottyZ · Sep 22,2004, 08:00 PM

Wait, I've got a bunch of tattoos all over my body.

The Facts

Fact 1:
Male

Fact 2:
White

Fact 3:
First Name: Dave or David

Fact 4:
Last Name: S________

Fact 5:
Poker Author

Fact 6:
ISBN: 1-880685-00-0

ScottyZ

Dennis187 · Sep 22,2004, 08:07 PM

LOL thanks for the replies... yeah this past year I did hit the 50K mark playing online poker... and yes it has seemed that I have a natural knack for it.

The thing is that I am a very patient person which allows me too play premium hands.. usually sometimes when I have a big chip stack in a tournament, and am the leader I will play somewhat looser but nothing crazy.

I think I will be buying this book...

And again, thanks for all the replies.

Phred · Sep 22,2004, 09:38 PM

As you are obviously NOT a novice I am surprised you have not already acquired this book. The writing style is somewhat dense, but it is, with all due respect to Doyle et al, the most important poker book available today.

Paul3221 · Sep 23,2004, 09:38 AM

I'm considering a couple of other Sklansky books. Does anyone know if his other books are as "dense" as ToP? I was thinking of Holdem for Advanced Players, or his book on Tournament Play. I've read ToP, but I can't say it was an enjoyable read.

ScottyZ · Sep 23,2004, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul3221

I'm considering a couple of other Sklansky books. Does anyone know if his other books are as "dense" as ToP? I was thinking of Holdem for Advanced Players, or his book on Tournament Play. I've read ToP, but I can't say it was an enjoyable read.

TPFAP is the best tournament book on poker I've seen, although I haven't been able to locate that Sherer book Dave Scharf raves about.

As for HPFAP, this is an excellent book, but the content is more geared to playing against opponents who are reasonably skilled. So as for wanting it read it, it depends what kind of games you typically play.

If you're playing mostly Point Edward 5-10, or lower limits online, you may be better off staring off with "Winning at Poker" by Dave Scharf, and "Winning Low Limit Holdem (2nd Ed)" by Lee Jones. After you're comfortable that material, and are having some medium-to-long term success at low-limit, pick up "Small Stakes Hold'em" by Miller/Sklansky/Malmuth.

After all of that HPFAP is *still* worth reading, even if you stick with the low-limit games. But, a lot of the fancier moves described in HPFAP which can be very effective in more "solid" poker games, may fail miserably at low-limit.

ScottyZ

Paul3221 · Sep 23,2004, 10:05 AM

Thanks for the info. I've read the Lee Jones book, and think it is one of the best I've read so far. I'll have to check out Dave's book too when I get a chance.
Are there any good books for No Limit? Most of the books I find are specific to limit poker, and I hardly play that anymore. I find I make more money at NL, and don't get drawn out on nearly as much.

ScottyZ · Sep 23,2004, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Are there any good books for No Limit?

This is a bit of a grey area.

NL is hard. Hard to play, and hard to write poker strategy advice books about.

I've heard all sorts of opinions about the various books that cover NL. The trouble I have found with almost every NL book out there is that they often speak at a level where you can only understand the material if you already knew it. I find myself often wanting more detailed explanations, and more exact strategies.

I'm not talking about things like tables and charts of how to play hands, or algorithms for flop betting. You can't play NL like a robot. But I find I am too often coming across explanations like "you have a ceratin feel for your opponent, so you make such and such play". This is a typical example falls in the category I was talking about: either I already knew how to get a feel for my opponent, or this particular advice gives me no information to learn how to do so.

My favorite is Pot-Limit and No-Limit Poker by Ciaffone & Reuben.

Lots of people love the NLHE section of Super System. I personally never found it very useful.

I've also read "Championship NL Holdem" by Cloutier & McEvoy and didn't like that one either. I felt that this one was *very* much explained at the level where the authors assumed I already knew the material.

IMO, the poker literature could very much use a good *low-limit* NL book. I think the modern (i.e. post-TV poker explosion) NL game is a lot different than the NL game many of the authors who have previously written about NL had in mind.

ScottyZ

PhallicPhil · Sep 23,2004, 02:46 PM

I agree with ScottyZ on all accounts. Definitely read Tournament Poker for Advanced Players by Sklansky if you like tournaments. My favourite "low limit" book (after Dave's of course!), is Hold'em Excellence by Lou Kreiger. He also wrote More Hold'em Excellence which is a nice complement. I'm currently reading Ken Warren Teaches Texas Hold'em which is a pretty comprehensive volume. Lots of statistical charts and such.

As for a No Limit book, I was in Chapters yesterday and saw a new NLH book -- oddly enough it was called, "No Limit Hold'em" by Brad Daugherty and Tom McEvoy. I was ready to buy it until I saw the price tag -- "$38!" Gee Wilikers! I'm going to have to get a solid referral on this one before I buy it. It wasn't very long and had mostly practice hands in it. Can anyone recommend this one?

PhallicPhil

garro · Sep 23,2004, 03:06 PM

Tom McEvoy is enought to keep me from buying it. I got his tournament poker book and found it rather basic.

ScottyZ · Sep 23,2004, 04:09 PM

Quote:

"$38!" Gee Wilikers!

Gaaaaawly, Beav. I generally find the best pricing for poker books on Amazon.ca.

ScottyZ