Reading Poker Tells [Paperback]

Zachary Elwood (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2012

Reading Poker Tells is being called the best book about poker tells by many players, both amateur and professional. Besides cataloging the most common poker-related behavioral patterns, the book gives a mental framework for analyzing and remembering poker tells.

The author's blog and ebook are available at ReadingPokerTells.com.

REVIEWS

"Elwood's Reading Poker Tells is clearly the best book on this aspect of live play."                   
                    -Mason Malmuth, author & co-owner of Two Plus Two Publishing, LLC

"Good info. I sincerely hope this book does not become popular." 
                    -Kathy Liebert, professional poker player

"It's hard work to find tells, so many people don't do it. This book just made it a lot more simple, condensing years of legwork into one easy read."
                    -"Limon", professional poker player

"Packed with useful tells and explanations, 'Reading Poker Tells' is likely to become an instant poker classic." 
                    -Katie Dozier, author of "Pro Poker Strategy: The Top Skills"

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Zachary Elwood is a former professional poker player.

Product Details

• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: Via Regia (April 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0984033300
• ISBN-13: 978-0984033300
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.5 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,351 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #53 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Puzzles & Games > Poker

More About the Author

I'm a former professional poker player and the author of "Reading Poker Tells," which is being hailed by many as the best book on the subject. It's my first book, though maybe not my last. I also write pretty often about poker psychology and tells on my blog www.ReadingPokerTells.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The next generation of poker tells. April 18, 2012

By Michael Blinder

Format:Paperback

As someone who enjoys reading (and collecting) poker books as much as playing poker, I have read almost every important poker book ever written. Occasionally a new book is published that changes the game. Over the last 15 years there have been about 10 such books. Interestingly, the books published in the area of poker tells have been marginal at best. Some poker tell books have been very basic, very general, and sometime just plain incorrect. Zach Elwood's book, Reading Poker Tells, is the first major contribution to the subject since Caro's book, which has been showing its age for several years now. I consider Navarro's book a solid contribution with some helpful material, but fraught with many problems not worth outlining in this review. Given the high price of some new strategy books, I'm frankly surprised this material is being given away for $20.

Reading Poker Tells gives a lot of well-deserved credit to Caro's original work, but adds important structure and many new observations. Many of these observations are known by serious players, but have never been printed. The structure of the book is divided into three main categories: waiting-for-action tells, during-action tells, and post-bet tells. One great insight in the book is that traditional tells can mean different things in different contexts (even from the same player). As I read the book there were a few times I was struck with horror realizing that I do some of the very things that Elwood outlines. As a fairly experienced player I was always aware of "Caro tells," but there is a new generation of tells that good players have figured out. This book exposes many of them. Just as the books written by Brunson, Sklansky, Harrington, Miller, and others made the game tougher, this book will do the same. Reading Poker Tells is not optional reading.

The book also provides good defense and offense (if you so choose) in the area of angle shots. Although there is no book singly dedicated to categorizing angle shots, this book does a good job in the area of tells and betting/folding manipulation. The author's distain for some of these maneuvers is clear. In fact, the book manifests an undercurrent of distain for many aspects of the game. Perhaps that is why the material is being published. My only wish is that the book would have been longer and more extensive. Let's hope that Mr. Ellwood continues to enjoy the game enough to write a sequel, or at least an expanded second edition.

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh my! This book is excellent! April 4, 2012

By Mitchell

Format:Paperback

As a tournament poker player I believe one of my key strengths is reading poker tells. In fact, I used my reading ability of opponents to win over $100,000 at the WSOP Main Event in 2011.

I just finished reading this book and I am very impressed. I have read Caro and Navarro, as I consider them the best in the business. But, Elwood has provided a more practical way to identify strength and weakness in your opponents. He does this by breaking up tells into 3 key sections, and labeling them either as a sign of strength or weakness. These 3 areas are:
Waiting for action tells
During action tells
Post bet tells

And, the examples in each section are excellent! Because the examples are things that you will recognize from your opponents (or done by you) and perhaps you weren't sure how to interpret them. It is also simple to understand the reasoning for your opponents actions when you read this book.

There are also sections on Verbal tells and Deception.

Overall, this is a real world, practical guide to reading poker tells. I recommend it.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Enhance your game April 5, 2012

By Lori Kolstad

Format:Paperback

I had the pleasure of reading this book in the writing stages. As I read, my hourly rate rose consistently.I now read a section out of Zachary's book before I play every session, and my reads have grown sharper and sharper thanks to his help with categorizing information gathered along the way. If you do not grab the opportunity to read and re read this book, you are doing your game a disservice.