So let's rant about books

nihpuad · 12-01-07 06:59:43

The_Elfman wrote:

At last another poker player on this site!!

More a watcher than a player, I'm afraid. A few years back (2004?) my daughter and I were flipping through the TV channels and landed on an ESPN broadcast of the WSOP Main Event final table. We were so amused that a guy named "Moneymaker" was winning that we kept on watching... and I was hooked. Before that, if you'd told me I'd enjoy watching folks play cards on TV, I'd've said you were crazy. (But then, before Tiger Woods, if you'd told me I'd sit for hours watching guys in bad slacks walk around and occasionally hit a little ball, I'd've said that was crazy, too! )

I like watching the WSOP on ESPN, the World Poker Tour on the Travel Channel, and (weirdly) Celebrity Poker Showdown on Bravo (I think that last may be out of production now), as well as occasional special events.

The_Elfman wrote:

I assume your talking about "Super System"?

That's the one.

The_Elfman wrote:

May I also recommend these two books by Dan Harrington. Best I've read on tournament poker.

I'll check out "Action" Dan's books... but what I really need, I think, is the equivalent of Poker for Dummies. Almost the first thing I read in Super System (in one of the intros) was a declaration that it's NOT a book for beginners!

I'm not sorry I have it, of course, but I think I need a beginners' book, too. Can you recommend one?

Also, can you recommend a good online site for beginners (must be free or at least very cheap, and must be Mac friendly)? There are casinos nearby, but I'm terrified of actually risking any money on the d@mn game! (See where my question in the question game thread came from? )

The_Elfman · 12-01-07 17:27:58

nihpuad wrote:

Also, can you recommend a good online site for beginners (must be free or at least very cheap, and must be Mac friendly)? There are casinos nearby, but I'm terrified of actually risking any money on the d@mn game! (See where my question in the question game thread came from? )

Absolutely. These are all good sites with free (play money) tables:

Pokerroom is the only place I play now. I've tried most of the sites and they are as good as it gets. The software is good and easy to use.

Empire Poker is a very good site for play money tables. There are a lot of tables and the play tends to be fairly "true" for play money tables.

Ultimatebet is as good as it gets in online poker but be warned that if you start playing for real money the average standard of play is probably higher there than on most sites. One of the nice things about Ultimate bet is that you can sit down at a table with $5.00 and play all night (2 cent and 5 cent blinds). Most of the other sites the minimum big blind is 25 cents.

These three sites are all old, established sites and you will be OK with them. Some of the newer sites I have played on have very suspicious boards and if I were you I'd avoid them. (You will often get two or more players with very strong hands which increases the betting. Also bad "hole cards" tend to win more than the laws of probability suggest. This encourages people to play bad cards. The sites make their money by taking a rake from every pot so the more money which crosses the table the more money they take. All of this is hotly denied by the poker sites of course but most people who play online poker regularly firmly believe it to be true).

You will never get a totally "true" game playing on the play money table. People take risks they would never take if playing for real money. My advice would be to register with Ultimatebet and start playing on the play money tables. Once your familiar with the basics and the software open a money account (minimum $40.00 I think) and start playing on the very low stakes tables. You will lose when you first start playing for money. Everyone does. This way you won't get hurt.

Some sites no longer accept US players on their money tables but I think that you're all right with those three.

As far as books for beginners there are lot out there but Winning low limit holdem - Lee Jones is as good as any you'll find in my opinion. It deals with limit, pot limit and no limit games.

I hope this is of some use to you.

Elfman

Siobhan · 12-01-07 18:48:13

Last night a woman and I met for coffee and dessert and she told me SHE was paying. I was a bit surprised, and thanked her, and she said, no problem; I did good in poker last night.

Her husband has actually been making a LIVING from playing it for more than two years now. It pays for her busy life as an environmental activist here.

The_Elfman · 12-01-07 21:00:39

Siobhan wrote:

Last night a woman and I met for coffee and dessert and she told me SHE was paying. I was a bit surprised, and thanked her, and she said, no problem; I did good in poker last night.

Her husband has actually been making a LIVING from playing it for more than two years now. It pays for her busy life as an environmental activist here.

A friend of mine makes more per hour playing internet poker that he does at his real job. His wife has gone part-time on the strength of it. For once I'd just like to know how it felt to take money out of my poker account.

#126 12-01-07 06:59:43

Re: So let's rant about books

#127 12-01-07 17:27:58

Re: So let's rant about books

#128 12-01-07 18:48:13

Re: So let's rant about books

#129 12-01-07 21:00:39

Re: So let's rant about books

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