Customer Reviews

Beat the Odds: The Smart Player's Guide to Online Poker

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Marty Cortinas, Beat the Odds: The Smart Player's Guide to Online Poker (Peachpit Press, 2006)

This is, perhaps, a worthwhile book for the complete novice to online poker; if you don't know where the sites are, and are still learning your way around a computer, there's likely a lot to be gotten out of this. If you're already registered at a poker website, however, there's very little you're likely to find here that will be new. (I did learn about PokerTracker from the book, though, so I can't call it a total wash.)

If you think a more advanced book would be right for you, it probably would. Flip through this one before putting out your hard-earned cash; you may already know everything to be found in it. **

This is just a superficial book about online poker. It is neither worth the time nor money to buy. I have been playing online poker for a little over one month and I could write a better book than this.

I was disappointed in the book.

Except for a very brief list of on-line poker sites (and their structure differences) and a warning about cheaters that you can't do anything about, this book offers nothing that even a brand new player doesn't already know about poker. There is nothing about how to play poker, nothing about how to play poker on-line, nothing about on-line strategy, on-line players, no tips, no hints, nothing about odds or how to beat them - nothing!
I never write reviews but I had to warn others about this book.
I felt very ripped off.

Millions play poker online monthly: while it's similar to playing in person, there are some important differences. BEAT THE ODDS: THE SMART PLAYER'S GUIDE TO ONLINE POKER explores these differences - and tells how to overcome obstacles by choosing the best online casinos, playing for virtual or real money, and interacting with other players. From recognizing and avoiding online cheats to understanding the quicker environment of the online play, BEAT THE ODDS is for any poker player seeking entry to a whole new online gaming world.

Diane C. Donovan, Editor
California Bookwatch

"The Smart Player's Guide..." is, happily, what's rarely made available these days; a smartly written, intelligently illustrated, concise instruction manual. In this case, for the evolving world of online poker. Those interested in anteing up to online gaming will find find the author's mixture of gaming knowledge, descriptive analysis, and personal experience with several popular sites a godsend. Those looking for the great american novel will probably want to wait for the first published effort of one of the other reviewers contributing here.