Hi,

I'm new to poker and online play, looking for a practical introductory book. I only intend to play online, so books geared towards online play would be preferable. Small bets to start.

I have read King Yao's book on sports betting and enjoyed it, is his texas hold 'em book worthwhile?


Thanks for your help. The amount of books on the market is overwhelming.

If you are new to Poker period I would suggest Phil Gordon's book 'Poker-The Real Deal'. Not really geared toward online poker but it does have a section on it but it is a really easy read and not too in depth for a beginner unlike Phil Helmuth's book. Gordon's book lays a great foundation and is easy to understand has great info is fun to read and a book that you'll find yourself going back to as you progress. It also has suggestions on other books to read next.

I suggest Ed Miller's Getting Started in Hold'em. That is, of course, if you're playing hold'em. It mostly covers limit but has a good starting section on no-limit.

limit vs. no-limit??

tourneys vs. cash??

do you basic knowledge already??

Assuming your talking about "Limit" Hold'em, I generally recommend the following books:

Getting Started in Hold'em

Internet Texas Hold'em

Small Stakes Hold'em

Weighing the Odds in Hold'em Poker

After this, there are some more advanced books, but these should give you a solid start.

Thanks for the prompt replies, i'll look into each book. Great forum you have here.

I actually had to use wikipedia to understand your question, I'm a total beginner. My job has dry spells, figured id take the chance to learn about sports betting and poker, which ive always been interested in.

I could learn and practice limit and no-limit before playing for money, no rush. So recommendations on either subject are welcomed and appreciated.

Given the new information, my recommendation for Getting Started in Hold'em by Ed Miller stands solid.

As a beginner, I'd focus on trying to learn one game one at a time. Trying to learn both Limit and NL at the same time might be difficult as they are very different games.

I agree that the best book to start with for now is "Getting Started in Hold'em". If you read this, then follow the "further reading" recommendations inside the book, you will be on a steady track.

Welcome to the forums and good luck!

PJS

i had bigger writeup but i seem to lose it at last second.

anyway, i'd start with limit and move to NL Lquickly... basically learn the value of each hand (somewhat different than NL, but limit is more gentle and you'll develop more post-flop skills.

suggestions were good.... the authors you want for learning limit are ed miller, matt hilger, lee jones and maybe yao king (but i'd recommend yao more if i thought you should continue with limit)..

and no-limit i'd go phil gordon little green book first... and then a bunch of choices. either NLTP or PNL... sorry for all the abbreviations. there must be a page that lists them.

BTW, if you use the search function, put in -re: as that will just give you the thread title instead of every post.

hope that helps!!

For a suggested list of books to read, check toward the back of Your Worst Poker Enemy by Alan Schoonmaker. The reading list is divided by skill level and the books with each skill level are in alphabetical order, but the author does make suggestions of an order within each skill level.

Thanks for the posts and welcomes

I have a break between semesters coming up, I'll look into all of these and grab a few. Getting Started in Hold 'em is a lock, both Gordon books look good. I like Yao's academic (boring?) tone so I'll get his book in time. You probably know this by now, but his sports book endorses and thanks this site, which is how I got here.

I have a lot of reading to do before posting about poker, but I will post my picks on the sports forum, I bet frequently on boxing and occasionally on UFC.

The best advice I can offer in return is to bet as much as you can afford on Mayweather Dec.8, the real line should be about -375, you can find -220 to -235. Even if you have no idea who the hell Floyd Mayweather is, this is a heavy mismatch and a surreal line. There's no bet remotely as enticing coming up in boxing/ufc.

Hope that helps

I know who Mayweather is, but even if I had the money I would not bet. I don't bet on anything I don't have some amount of control over. In other words, I only bet on myself. Well, me and my cat.

Mayweather is favourite but it's no mismatch. I have several friendly bets (at evens) on Hatton.

Buy one book, read it study it, put what it says into practice, read it more, study it some more BEFORE buying the next one.

Doc T River, thats a good philosophy.

I don't mean to take this thread off-topic, I was just offering a tip to those who don't follow the sport, all the bettors I've spoken to agreed the line is terrific, and have bet heavily.

I can delete my comment if inappropriate, I dont mean to create a discussion, just wanted to offer a tip in return.

I would suggest starting with Texas Holdem. Start with Ed Miller's "Getting Started in Holdem".

Start with Getting Started in Hold'em. Then purchase Small Stakes Hold'em and Winning in Low Limit Hold'em.

I doubt anyone cares!

If you are trying to move the line so you can get value on Hatton, by all means. Otherwise you're just wrong: it's not a mismatch.