Texas Hold'em For Dummies (For Dummies (Sports & Hobbies)) (Paperback)

by Mark Harlan (Author)
Key Phrases: basic poker theory, dealer button, pot odds, Texas Hold'em, Internet Poker For Dummies, Limit Hold'em (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Turn on the TV, drop by a newsstand, or just browse the checkout your local supermarket and you'll see firsthand that Texas Hold 'Em is the poker game everyone's playing. It's a game that's deceptively simple, yet within its easy framework you’ll find truth and trickery, boredom and fear, skill and misfortune—in other words, all the things that make life fun and worth living!

Texas Hold'em For Dummies introduces you to the fundamental concepts and strategies of this wildly popular game. It covers the rules for playing and betting, odds, etiquette, Hold'em lingo, and offers sound advice to avoid mistakes. This handy reference guide gives new and even seasoned players winning strategies and tactics not just for playing the game, but for winning. You'll learn:

• Rules and strategies for limit, no-limit, tournament, and online play
• How to "play" the other players
• The importance of your bankroll—recommended sizes and more
• Hands you should and should not play
• How to camouflage your play and dodge traps
• When, who, and how to bluff
• How to maximize your win with check-raising and trapping
• The different approaches for playing in private games, casinos, card rooms, tournaments, and on the Internet
• How to use mathematics to your advantage

Texas Hold 'Em is  a game of both skill and chance. But it's a game that can be beaten, and whether you want to make money, sharpen your game, or just have a good time, Texas Hold 'Em for Dummies will give you the winning edge.

From the Back Cover
Covers betting, odds, etiquette, and lingo

Read your opponents, avoid mistakes, and win the pot!

Want to play — and win — poker's hottest game? This practical, portable guide gives you all the insider tips and tricks you need to play at the table or online. From playing each stage of a hand and reading other players to betting, bluffing, and minding your bankroll, you get everything you need to play smart and maximize your win!

Discover how to

• Make the right bets
• Bluff your opponents
• Check, call, raise, and fold
• Look for tells and dodge traps
• Read your hand
• Play in casinos and tournaments

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; illustrated edition edition (October 2, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 047004604X
• ISBN-13: 978-0470046043
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #12,769 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #30 in	Books > Entertainment > Puzzles & Games > Card Games > Poker
  #36 in	Books > Entertainment > Puzzles & Games > Gambling

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential book for those learning the game, and it's really well-written!, January 4, 2007

By	Mark Goldstein (san francisco, ca) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Unlike most poker books, this one is a joy to read beyond the information, which is priceless. Harlan writes as if he's one of your best friends, teaching you the game, what to watch out for, the differences between home games and on-line games, and he lays it out in an easy to understand but never dumbed-down way. And he's not afraid to get into theory and more advanced methods for play. This is recommended far and above some of the "big" names in poker books because Harlan can write and explain much better than the pros and it's both entertaining and informative. A must.

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Peek inside a master's brain, November 8, 2006

By	Scott Knaster (California, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I started playing poker a long, long time ago, back when Texas Hold'em wasn't the only game that got any attention, poker wasn't televised, and guys that look like Jesus weren't winning big and getting famous. But I never learned -- I always played for fun, not profit.

Reading this book changed all that for me. While I've always resented the implied insult in the "...for Dummies" series titles, I was indeed a dummy at Hold'em before picking up this volume.

And now? I am stunned, astonished at (a) what I didn't know, and (b) that I could learn it from (c) a book. I've long admired Mark Harlan's legendary writing prowess, but only for enjoyment -- I didn't realize that the man could teach, as well as entertain. And he's got real chops, as the founder of an online poker company and frequent tourney player.

This book has given me, an occasional poker player, the skills and confidence to move forward in the world of Hold'em. If it can happen to me, it can work for anyone.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, December 3, 2006

By	A reader (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

Texas Hold 'em for Dummies is packed with game play information, strategy and tons of useful tips. Mr. Harlan starts with a bird's eye view of Hold 'em and then moves into play by play mode. In addition to discussing the basics of the game, he also talks about the importance of managing your bankroll and table position. From there he goes into advanced strategies of reading players, bluffing and trapping. There's also chapters on mathematics as it relates to the game and an overview of game theory.

If that weren't enough, he then gives a complete overview of where to play Hold 'em whether on-line, with friends or in a card room. Here there are useful tips like how to handle hotheads, the difference between good skimming and bad skimming, what kind of food to eat during a poker game (no potato chips which can grease up the cards!) and a friendly reminder to get your car validated at the card room.

Written with an authoritative, friendly style, Mr. Harlan makes this complex and fascinating game accessible and fun. Also included is a great glossary because Hold 'em and poker in general have their own slang which can get confusing. Overall, this book is a great value for the money because you will continue to go back to it as a reference and it works as a springboard to more advanced information.

Oh, and he's funny too. I was also impressed that he knows the names of all five Marx Brothers.

That Godzilla comment was a kick too.