The Complete Idiot's Guide to Poker [Paperback]

Andrew N.S. Glazer (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Complete Idiot's Guide | Publication Date: September 7, 2004

An easy-to-follow poker guide—we’re not bluffing.

In this comprehensive guide, "The Poker Pundit" Andrew Glazer explains the strategy, etiquette, money management, odds, classic opportunities—and pitfalls—of this incredibly popular, timeless game. With easy-to-follow examples and lively anecdotes, readers not only learn the technical side of the game, but the complex human element as well. Topics include rules for Texas Hold’em and Seven-Card Stud, as well as the more traditional Five-Card Draw and Five-Card Stud; the art of the bluff; how to spot "tells" and read your opponents’ body language; and more.
• Poker is one of the most popular American card games
• Televised celebrity poker games and tournaments have taken the game’s popularity to a new level—the phenomenon was recently featured in a New York Times story
• Poker players tend to buy multiple books on the subject

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Andrew Glazer is known in the poker world as "The Poker Pundit." He has written for virtually every gaming magazine and website of any consequence, including Card Player, Poker Digest, and Casino.com, and is the author of Casino Gambling the Smart Way. Widely considered to be the best poker tournament reporter, he was the technical advisor for the seven very successful World Series of Poker shows that aired on ESPN.

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Alpha (September 7, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159257257X
• ISBN-13: 978-1592572571
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,195,128 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to Read and Insightful., October 23, 2004

By 

Bernard Chapin "Ora Et Labora!" (CHICAGO! USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Poker (Paperback)

First, let me say that I wholeheartedly recommend this book. The fact that it is inexpensive is an immediate bonus but also, Mr. Glazer, has strong writing skills and the pages are very accessible. If you're not in the mood for concentrating you could even scan it, because, as is true with all of the "Idiot's Guide" series, "Poker" has little subgroupings that allow for quick digestion. In this edition, they're little boxes called "the inside straight, table talk" and "perilous play." Each page is full of advice and tips. It's a belly busting value play if you ask me.

As far as particulars are concerned, Glazer exposes us to all of the intricacies of the poker omniculture. There isn't a game, style, or concept that he doesn't devote words to. What I personally found most useful were his discussions about the internet and tournaments. He really does a great job explaining to the reader what exactly goes on in a tournament. It's very hard to know if you're just watching ESPN or the Travel Channel as to what exactly is transpiring behind the scenes. Previously the methodology behind tournament payouts was a mystery to me. His section on player personalities was memorable as well.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Useful for the Idiots, May 26, 2008

By 

Bobby A. Smith - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Poker (Paperback)

I just started playing Poker a week ago and wanted a really simple explantion of the game. This book did the trick. It opened up my eyes to different types of games, styles of play and where to play.

If you are looking for a simple general overview into the world of Poker, this is it.

p.s.
Once you have chosen the type of Poker you want to play, Glazer gives excellent great reads in his Appendix.

2.0 out of 5 stars Not for beginners, December 2, 2009

By 

Suppresst "suppresst" (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Poker (Paperback)

I gave this book only two stars because the publishers own product description suggests this book is helpful to beginners, including helping the beginner with 5-card draw and 7-card stud. Nothing could be further from the truth, and I defy anyone to show me where the basics of 5-card draw are to be found in this book.

I am now into just the first few pages of the following book:How to Play Poker: And Other Gambling Card Games and know more about the basics of poker than I did after reading all 400-plus pages of "The Idiots Guide". For example, in "How to Play Poker" on page 16, the author explains that the role of dealer moves one position to the left after each hand in most poker games...very basic, very essential; not mentioned once in "The Idiot's Guide" (not that I could find). "The Idiot's Guide" is of most use to advanced players, I should think, but even in this respect, I would be dubious. I think the book suffers from a lack of coherent theme, or target audience. It's a solution looking for a problem.