Rating: 
Summary: Good, but.....Hmmm.
Review: Sklansky is a scientist, not a teacher. He is an engineer, not a mechanic. This is a reference book, not a "how-to" instructional book. This is "Advanced Discourses on Structural Engineering Theory", not "How to Build a Deck", etc.......you get the point. If you keep this in mind, you will appreciate this book as much as any poker book you have, however, if you think you can read it and instantly improve your poker game, I think you will be disappointed. First of all, because you won't be able to read it. This is not a novel and cannot be read like one. Even if you could read it and improve your poker, I think there are easier and much more effective ways to do that. Personally, I think Bob Ciaffone is by far better poker teacher, and I think that if you want to improve your poker game quickly and practically, instead of increasing your theoretical knowledge, he (Ciaffone) is who you need to see. But if you want a reference book you can refer to when you want to study a particular aspect of the game, then The Theory of Poker is your book. I have read a few other reviews that said they read it and improved their game instantly, but I don't think that will be the case with most readers. I don't dispute any of the information in the book, but honestly, how many of us, even the most advanced and experienced players, have the Fundamental Theorem of Poker going through our minds when we are at the poker table? The theorem is true, and it is good to understand it, but how does it help you at the table? You should be much more interested in sizing up the situation and making the correct play in that situation, and maintaining the discipline and patience to play winning poker. The problem I have with many reference books on any subject is that though they contain a vast amount of information, facts and theory on the particular subject, they are of very little practical benefit, they contain very little APPLICATION! Poker is 10% theory, 90% application (if not more). The Theory of Poker will give you information, and lots of it, but it doesn't teach you a whole lot about how to THINK on your feet. How to analyze a situation, what to look for, what principles apply in this situation, and so on. It provides a little of this, but not nearly as much as the Ciaffone books. Finally, I can't put my finger on it, but Sklansky's writing style is in itself a little difficult to follow. It is rather boring to put it bluntly, but he also seems to complicate issues just by the way he addresses and explains the topic at hand. This is a very difficult and technical book, but he doesn't help matters any with his writing style. Do I recommend this book? Despite my previous comments, to experienced players, an overwhelming YES! To others, I recommend it with the reminder that this is a reference book and not a "how-to" book. Bob Ciaffone's "Improve Your Poker" and his other books hit the nail on the head and are of much more practical value to the eager poker student.
Rating: 
Summary: Great fundamental reading, not for beginner though
Review: The Theory of Poker is great general reading, but note this is not "simple" reading. If you know about game theory and expected value then this will be easier reading. If you are new to poker then I recommend reading this book after you've got some time in the trenches under your belt. Then the concepts will have much more meaning. This is a book you can re-read after years of poker playing and still gain value!
Rating:
Summary: Made me money
Review: This along with Hold'em for Advanced Players (by the same author) improved my game immensely. Before reading these two, I was clueless on basic concepts such as pot-odds. Its broken down by topic so you don't have to read the entire book, but rather just the chapters you want. It starts off pretty basic so if you want to learn how to play cards, read it.
Rating:
Summary: Information is priceless, but presentation is tedious.
Review: This book does a fantastic job of presenting the most important weapons available to a poker player, as well as putting each in the perspective of many different situations in which the tool is either over-applied or under-appreciated.
There is much that you can learn by reading this book, but you must want to do so. Everything in the book is present from the perspective of "mathematical expectation;" the most fundamentally correct and fundamentally BORING method of presentation.
I consider this book to be like a textbook - it is not the easiest read, but if you want to succeed in poker you need to understand the ideas presented. There are a seemingly uncountable number of expectation calculations. If you understand them, they provide you with undeniable evidence that this is the correct way to play. Whether or not you understand them, it makes for a dry, text-like read.
If you want to be a successful poker player, you really should suffer through this book. I recommend doing so a bit at a time, playing perhaps online in between while trying to apply the information you've gained.
Rating: 
Summary: Good read if you haven't already read it.
Review: This book has some good information in it for all levels of poker players. However, if you have already bought Sklansky's two books on Hold 'Em, then you already have the information that's in this book. However, I prefer having the information as presented in the hold 'em books because the examples are are Texas hold 'em examples whereas for this book the information has been generalized to all poker games in general. Personally, I would buy the two hold 'em books and not buy this book--there's nothing I would have missed out on (and these poker books aren't cheap).
Rating:
Summary: MUST HAVE!
Review: This book is a MUST for anyone looking to move up to the next level in any game of poker. David Sklansky is probably one of the most versed authors on the subject, and has a great series of books on Holdem. If you want to win consistently, you MUST have this book!
Rating:
Summary: A book packed with solid information from a solid pro.
Review: This book is for the home game player looking to take his/her poker game to the next tier. I would say that this book is definetly not for the beginner poker player, it contains no "rules of the game". But if you are already a competent player, this book will make you a force to be reckond with at the poker table if you take time to understand and apply the different aspects of the game presented therein.
Rating:
Summary: what else can be said
Review: This book tries to aim at the 'basic' players, but it really is aimed at advanced players that have some experience at the table and know about most of the concepts in the book already.
David Sklansky teaches you about pot odds, mathematical expectation, game theory, implied odds and most of the things you need to know to be a winner in the long run. But there is a downside you need to know about; this is a hard book to read (a bit easier than hold'em poker for advanced players though). The long winded explanations and examples have tons of info but they can be extremely boring, it made me feel like I was back in school studying for a maths exam.
That brings me to another point: when I lent this book to my friend, who hasn't studied any form of maths in 3 years, he just couldn't handle any of the concepts related to odds (which is partly why he sucks at poker)
I have a feeling that anyone who isn't a wiz at maths might not appreciate this book completely, because some of the examples he puts forward really require the reader to have a firm grasp on ratios and probability.
This may all sound bad to some, but really it's a great book if you can put in the time. Don't listen to all those Sklansky haters, he really does emphasise learning how to change your style of play to suit the conditions, and being able to make the right decision every time when it comes to pot odds.
It's all about the long run.
Rating:
Summary: Poker 101 textbook
Review: This is a perfect textbook for a class on poker. Do not pick this book and expect to walk way knowing the ins and outs of your particular game. This is a book that needs to be studies and reviewed. Position play is very important part of poker and this book takes you through the general ideas related to position and then walks through specific examples. The author does this for just about every topic that he feels is important. If you are serious about improving your poker game, you should pick this book up and take the time to study it. Read it more then once.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Brilliant
Review: This is a poker masterpiece. Sklansky simplifies difficult concepts with remarkable accuracy. This is truly the greatest poker book ever written.
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