Rating: Summary: Decent info, bad presentation Review: If this had been the only poker book I had read, I would not give it nearly as bad a rating as I have. The information Warren gives on card play isn't bad, though it is far from being extensive enough to make you a consistent winner at Hold 'em. There are a number of other books that present this information in better ways and with more thorough explanations. The best for a beginner has to be Lee Jones' "Winning Low-Limit Hold 'em."That said, the main problem with this book is with the sometimes ridiculous references the author makes. He gives a list of starting hands that should be played, but gives absolutely no regard to table position--a huge strategic flaw for someone looking to win consistently. Another is his insistence that to overcome the rake you need to be a very good poker player--I have never understood this concept, especially when you consider that one medium-sized pot is more than enough for most players to beat both the rake and the blinds. But what really got me is the absolutely stupid list of "people you want to play against" at a casino. His list includes beautiful women (because they're too good-looking to have learned the game and they distract the other men at the table) and people with tattoos (because people "dumb enough to have themselves tattooed probably won't exhibit a lot of intelligence at the poker table."). It's exactly this kind of "old boy" sterotyping at the table that will get your wallet emptied. Women players are coming up quick in the poker world, and tattoos are coming up in the world in general. I happen to have 2 tattoos myself, and I have enough intelligence to know that Warren, though not necessarily playing with half a deck, is instructing people to play with only half the needed information. Try Jones, Sklansky, or Malmuth for hard info and save your money . . . perhaps for a tattoo!
Rating: Summary: Definitely not recommended Review: Even as a novice poker player I picked apart a good bit of Warren's reasoning as flat out incorrect. I don't have too much else to add, except to second the review of "Russell H Falconer."
Rating: Summary: pro lady Review: this book covers certain aspects of poker but not all of it. books by andy and mason are much better especially lou books.
Rating: Summary: Contradictory and Misguided Advice Review: As a semi-professional poker player, I STRONGLY urge anyone who is just starting out at hold 'em NOT to buy this book. I did, and it hurt me. Warren's advice, while solid is some places, is contradictory in others and often times flat out wrong. Throughout the text it is clear that Warren's strategy is based on hunches and slip-shod reasoning as opposed to mathematics and well-thought-out strategy . For example, at one point he suggests that if you feel like you are on a rush, it is okay to loosen up your starting requirements and play bad hands. This is patently false and guaranteed to deplete your bankroll. He also suggests that Ace-King may be a better starting hand than pocket Aces, an assertion which literally millions of computer trials - as well as the table experience of any veteran player - have consistently refuted. Under the guise of being comprehensive, the text is frequently repetitive, and too much space is devoted to bad-beat stories and irrelevant anecdotes that contribute nothing to the reader's understanding of the strategic underpinnings of the game. Warren's advice is off-target frequently enough to negate the value of the accurate information he presents; if you followed all of the recommendations in this book, you would not win money playing hold 'em. If you are looking for a good introduction to the game, read Lee Jones' "Winning Low Limit Hold 'em" Second Edition and Lou Krieger's "Hold 'Em Excellence: From Beginner to Winner." Each is superior to to this book, and the combination of the two - combined with a little playing experience - should be enough to make you a consistent winner.
Rating: Summary: Start Winning Poker Games Review: Of all the books written about Texas Hold'em this is the one to own. The language is strait foward, easy to follow, and with enough repetition that the ideas are forever burned onto you brain. This is an excellent read for beginners and intermediate players that should give you that edge that you need at the table. I have seen my game improve tremendously after reading this book. Warren also packs the book full of charts and tables that are of use to all. There are charts with odds and percentages for any hand that you hold. Warren also breaks down how you should play based on your position at the table and what is in you hand and what has been bet so far. This is enough to help for a begginer sitting at a casino table. Texas Hold'em is by far the best poker game and with this book you develope strategy and game play that is all your own.
Rating: Summary: Is this book a joke, a parody?? Review: After reading the whole book, I simply cannot give this book even one star. However, the computer made me rate it at least one star. To that I protest. This book is redundant, contradictory and, worst of all, repetitive. The author has no idea of what pot odds are. And what in the world is this crap about playing low cards?? This book is more than weak, it is damaging to your bankroll. Burn the manuscript, Warren.
Rating: Summary: Great Book! Review: This is a great starting book for learning hold'em players. It is written very clearly, and has a tremendous amount of direct advice which is easy to implement. Numerous specific examples, along with tables of odds make it clear when to do what. This book is well worth the money, and I suggest it to anyone who wants to become serious at hold'em.
Rating: Summary: More practical than anything else I have read! Review: While I agree that some of the advice in the book goes against the "standard" thinking, I think this book is excellent because it gives you practical advice from a guy that has been supporting himself with poker. Personally, I think that Warren's chapter on Tells and game selection are some of the best out there. You should read some Sklanky & Malmuth books for all the theory you'll need, but then pick up this book for practical advice that _will_ win you money.
Rating: Summary: Texas Hold'Em Poker Review: I actually played 3-6 Hold'Em against Ken Warren in KC for a few hours this last Jan. He won a lot, I broke even, so I bought a copy of his book. He plays exactly the way he tells the reader to play, and he was consistently successful in his plays. Ken lays out when you can be more agressive, but you have to be very careful to follow his advice on under what circumstances you can bluff or semi-bluff. If you don't, it could be costly. I recommend the book.
Rating: Summary: Back to Basics Review: This was the first hold'em book that I ever read. After reading this book I began playing very often winning at high rate (3-6, 5-10 games). I began reading other books, and began loosing. Many other books made my level of beginning hands decline, and made me forget how important it is to protect winnings. Warren's book is an excellent book and should be reread every couple of months for any player who wants to win consistently.
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