Customer Reviews

John Patrick's Casino Poker: A Professional Gambler's Guide to Winning

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

 

 

I am a John Patrick fan. As such, it is disappointing that this book is so bad.

I think Patrick's money management systems are among the best. In this book however, he tells you to take your money off of the table when you are ahead by a given amount. No major casino with a poker room in the United States will let you do that. This is only the first of many problems with this book.

There are many good books on poker for the beginner. This isn't one of them.

This is one of the worst books on poker I have ever read. Patrick jumps from one topic to the next, without concentrating on anything long enough to offer any insight. This book reads like the trancript of an hour long speech about poker that you could hear in any card room. If it took longer than a day to write this, I'd be surprised. No matter what your skill level, your money can be better spent on something else.

As usual, Patrick doesn't know what he's talking about. He totally ignores anything related to the mathematics of the game. His advice on not chasing is particularly bad...if you're getting odds to chase, go hunt your opponent down. In the long run, you'll be glad you did.

I could name a dozen authors and over fifty books I would recommend before this one...no, check that: I would NEVER recommend this book, under any circumstances. Get a Jones or Krieger book, and build from there.

Among serious poker players, this book is a total joke.

Its incomplete or wrong on all aspects of the game, bar none.

The good news is that Lee Jones, Lou Krieger, and Roy West have written excellent beginners books on poker, available here on Amazon.com.

John Patrick might be able to play poker. This book, however, would be no help at all to a beginner and totally useless to anyone who has played regularly for any length of time. I don't know that I could play better than Mr. Patrick, although I have been a winning player for years, but anyone who counted on the advice from this book to make her or him a winner would not have a chance.

Mr. Patrick writes books on how to win at casino games and he probably isn't stupid enought to believe that one can, so his intellectual honesty has to be questioned by any serious thinker.

This book serves a specific purpose: to give you some kind of transition guide from your home games to the games in the casino. IT IS NOT FOR BEGINNERS. Nor is it the only book on poker that you should read before making the jump. But, if you are serious about winning, it is a must. This is because there are few books out there that address the fact that losing is a reality. Many of the acknowledged experts claim that, in theory, they always play winning poker. Well, next time you lose at a session, try going to the bar and ordering a drink with empty pockets. No, really, tell the bar-tender that you will pay (and tip) in theory. This book stresses money management and a disciplined, logical approach to playing while you learn the ins and outs of the casino style of play. Take it from an experienced gambler and casino poker player, you will not find all you need to know if you read all of the books combined, let alone one. You must play- and buy the other good books too. And this siily problem that people are having with the practice of taking chips off of the table. What a waste to wine about such trivial things. Just set the chips to the side or ask for a color change. We casino players love to play in Gardena because there are so many people there who don't focus on what's important at a poker table. Buy Mr. Patrick's book and learn some important concepts concerning the reason to play poker: to win.

I completely disagree with the negative comments from previous reviewers. Patrick stresses discipline and money management. One reviewer says "you can't take your money off the table" This is a petty comment if I ever heard it. So you ask for a color change--big deal! The main thing Patrick stresses is 1)don't chase, at the first sign of strength from the other player, get the hell out! 2)be aggressive when you need to, get out when you need to. He outlines knowledge of the game, money management, bankroll and discipline and also talks about tells and logic. Most players don't know when to quit when they are winning and likewise when they are losing. Patrick gives good insight into that, also. If you are a professional or a high-stakes player that remembers every card on the table, is an expert on odds and has a bankroll of a couple of thousand, maybe this book is not for you (but it probably is). If, however, you love the game so much you just don't want to quit it but you have been having too many losing sessions, this book is DEFINITELY for you! As I look back on my poker sessions, the times I have lost big are the times I forgot about Patrick's advise and started chasing and hoping! I would much rather win a few bucks each session. As for you poker snobs who think Patrick doesn't have anything to say, keep on hoping!