Phil Gordon's Little Blue Book: More Lessons and Hand Analysis in No Limit Texas Hold'em (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Chris Ferguson (Foreword)
Key Phrases: fifteen big blinds, ten big blinds, plays many hands, World Series of Poker, Phil Ivey, Celebrity Poker Showdown (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"With the depth of information Phil provides in this book, you'll have everything you need to successfully compete at the WSOP." -- Greg Raymer, 2005 WSOP Champion

"This is a must-have addition to all poker players' libraries."-- Antonio Esfandiari, WPT Champion

"This is the Little Green Book in action, and both books keep me in the money."-- Paul Wolfe

"Wow -- I really wish Phil would stop educating the fish. This is the nuts!"-- Clonie Gowen

Product Description

In Poker: The Real Deal and Phil Gordon's Little Green Book, Phil Gordon -- a world-class player and teacher -- shared the strategies, tips, and expertise he's gleaned during his phenomenally successful career. Now he shows players how to apply those theories to actual hands in order to make smart, confident decisions with every move.

Gordon walks readers through hands that he's encountered in cash games; early, middle, and late tournament play; Sit & Gos; satellites and supersatellites; and the final table of the World Series of Poker, revealing not only what plays he made but also why he made them. He relates what goes through a pro's mind in every situation, whether it's a timely bluff or a questionable call, and helps players calculate their own best moves in the most pressure-fueled of situations. In analyzing specific hands, Gordon also imparts important lessons in key poker skills such as calculating odds, shorthanded play, and discovering tells. And he discusses memorable plays -- the good and the oh-so-bad -- explaining why certain moves were made and, in many cases, how the hands should have been played differently.

Insightful, witty, and filled with real-life pro secrets, Phil Gordon's Little Blue Book is required reading for every player looking to make a profit and raise his game to the next level.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Simon Spotlight Entertainment (October 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416927190
• ISBN-13: 978-1416927198
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #64,540 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sequel just as good as the original, October 2, 2006

By	2many2read (United States) - See all my reviews

This is the companion to Phil Gordon's Little Green Book. LGB focused on poker theory -- readable and concise, but theory nonetheless.

Here Phil Gordon explains, round by round, the hands he's played. Sometimes of the hands he has misplayed: like losing on the first hand of tournment because he paired an ace. (No, he wasn't playing pocket aces, just an A with a middling kicker.) It's good to have poker mistakes explained by a pro candid enough to admit them. I can't think of another poker instruction book that shows the author's mistakes. Usually, any of the losing hands we read about are bad beats.

Most of time, of course, Phil plays brilliantly. He finished 4th in the WSOP 2001 main event and his lifetime tournament earnings exceed $1 million. From the NL games he talks about here, his cash game profits may be much more than that.

Phil Gordon's Little Blue Book features the clear diagram style of its earlier green book companion. (You need never guess in what position he was playing; it's shown right there.) Gordon is fun to read -- his take on the players he sits down at table with is a hoot. Moreover, and your poker play will improve after reading PGLBB.

The last chaper cross-references this book with the first one for further reading. Really! Good selling, but still useful to the reader.

So relax, put down your dogeared copy of the latest by the redoubtable Mr. Harrington and relive a few hours at the table with Phil Gordon.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for beginners and intermediate players., October 23, 2006

By	Daniel A. Olson (Colorado) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

True. It's not as in depth as a David Sklansky book. But then again, it was a whole lot more fun to read and Phil Gordon does offer excellent key points after each example he gives. And, yes, "experts" may not find this book useful, but really, how many experts are buying poker books these days? If you play poker and want to see how one pro approaches situations, then this will be an enjoyable read for you. Phil Gordon is funny, he's easy to follow and a good teacher. I have read Harrington's Volume III and while I am a huge fan and follower of Harrington's books, I did not get as much out of that book as I hoped I would. Maybe it was because he was reviewing hands I had seen on ESPN or WPT that took away from some of the learning. Phil does the same on a few hands if you happen to have seen the particular WPT shows. Still, most of the hands were fresh and you as the reader will follow along through each round of betting. Harrington's Volume III had a scoring system which helped to point our what areas your poker needed improvement on, which Gordon's book does not have and would have been a plus if we had some way to grade our weak points. The price of the book is just too good and you won't be disappointed if you buy it.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book from a great teacher, October 10, 2006

By	SF book mom - See all my reviews

This book is great!

Phil is truly amazing teacher and I love his approach; his books and DVD are so much more useful than other resources. It's very clear that Phil's goal is to teach me how to analyze situations and make sound decisions.

Unlike some of the other reviewers, I thought this DVD was extremely useful for an intermediate player (me.) It felt like the perfect complement to Little Green Book and was very useful in helping to crystallize some of the lessons I'd previously learned.

Since I began studying poker by reading Phil's books and watching his DVD, my bankroll is significantly positive. He deserves a commission from my winnings, but I'd rather buy him a drink if I ever see him in Vegas.

Wholeheartedly agree w/ the other reviewer who was amused by Phil's commentary. I found it refreshing to see this side of Phil since it seems that most other pros are so serious they don't even enjoy playing or teaching.