Rating: 
Summary: Mastering the Game
Review: John Feeney is one of the kindest people I've ever met. He is always polite, and is very generous. Another thing I like about him is that he completely level headed and objective when he discusses things.Am I saying because I like him and he is one of my very best friends? Well, yes! However, I am also saying it because it is true. But what you want to know is: How does he play poker? And is the information accurate? And how does the book read? The answers are: 1. He plays poker very, very well. He has the odds and strategy down cold in limit Hold-em. He also reads players very well, both by physical and situational tells, and by mentally replaying the actions of the hand to see if an opponent's action makes sense. 2. The information is very accurate. Although he probably could have written a lot of articles off the top of his head, he didn't! He spent the time to research all the topics thoroughly, and consulted other experts (Sklansky and Malmuth to name two) to make sure the info was accurate and complete. 3. The different topics of the book flow very well. He has a superb command of the English language, but his writing is not pompous! It is clear and easy to follow. Reading this book will make and save you thousands of dollars at the poker tables. Mike Rozakis
Rating: 
Summary: Worthwhile, but not for the beginner
Review: Overall Inside the Poker Mind should be part of any serious poker player's library. However, it shouldn't be one of the first books read about poker. Quite frankly, beginning players won't get much out of it, and most who have (that I know of) are dissappointed. For the intermediate to advanced player, the subjects addressed should be extremely useful. For the most part, the book focuses, as the title implies, on different ways of thinking rather than strict tactical plays. Example: in the "strategic moment" section, the auther contrasts what the average player thinks as opposed to what the advanced player considers. In this way the author illustrates the depths of poker. Overall very worthwhile if you're ready for it.
Rating:
Summary: Get Inside the Poker Mind Now!
Review: The book is a classic. It is great addition to any poker library. It deals with many important issues that affect poker players today. The controversial "AQ test" essay alone is worth the cover price. It is written by the real deal, a pro player who understands the important complex interrelationships between emotions, tactics, and theory and puts it all together in one book. See you at the tables. Im hoping you don't actually get this book.
Rating:
Summary: Inside "Inside the Poker Mind," pros and cons
Review: This book is more of a "Best Practices" poker book in many ways. Here's the real skinny on the book and the reviews as I see it. TRUE: 1. This book should not be the first poker book you read. But reviewers neglected to mention that the author himself states this in "General Poker Concepts" and suggests many starter texts. 2. This book does spend significant time on topics other than what's going on inside a poker player's mind. The author might do too much of that, but it's clear that he does so to provide supporting info. The sections contrasting the thoughts of average vs advanced players do treat the subject and perhaps they deserved more emphasis. 3. Yes, the author does criticize non-limit and tournament play. Playing in casino situations is very differnent from tournaments where the chips don't represent real money dollar for dollar. Nobody said it doesn't take skill to win. It's just a different skill set. Truth be told, there are plenty of great tournament books if that's what you are into. FALSE: 1. No, it is not fair to say this book is unoriginal. Nor is it accurate that Sklansky's and Malmuth's books cover everything in this book. This book has some really great real world examples of poker logic spelled out much more clearly than in other books. It doesn't have to be the definitive poker book to be a valuable read. 2. While the book does start out a little slow, I found the stories very funny. For those who play in casino or card-room games, you will find humor in reading Feeney's examples of mistakes that you have seen yourself and others make. I did. 3. One point needs clarification before some unsuspecting person goes and drops $2K in Vegas after reading this book. Reading this book will NOT save you thousands of dollars. No book will save you $. Only UNDERSTANDING the concepts the book trys to bring across will actually make you or save you money. On pg 62, he writes, "Education in poker theory reduces one's susceptibility to illusions which can interfere with good play." Man I wish I could believe this. I think his advice to seek psycotherapy might do more to that end. So many people read a few books and lose their shirts because of false confidence. While I totally understand the value of the material, value cannot be derived by reading it. It must be digested, pondered, and mastered to be valuable. The coolest thing about this book is the relevance of the examples. Every topic, from reraising the weak to calling on the end, was treated in a real world way that I have observed in casino play. A great example is "Maximizing the Set" on pgs 127-128. So many books treat these concepts abstractly. I must say that I did not fully understand much of this till I read this book. Again, the outline of the way bad players think was the hallmark. It talks about things that not only stop you from making mistakes but help you identify the saps in a real game. Perhaps the treatment of tilt could have been more explicit. But his unique viewpoint provokes thought, even though it comes along with resistance. There's a common quote that goes, "If you look around the poker table and don't see any suckers, you're it!" I would strongly advise anybody reading the sections on advanced vs. weak player thoughts to read the hands and honestly evaluate what they would be thinking if they drew that hand before reading the author's explaination. This is a serious wake-up call to those who are unknowing maniacs or overconfident goats. Overall this is a very practical read that deserves the attention of anybody looking to increase their hourly rate in actual casino and card-room play.
Rating:
Summary: Inside "Inside the Poker Mind," pros and cons
Review: This book is more of a "Best Practices" poker book in many ways. Here's the real skinny on the book and the reviews as I see it. TRUE: 1. This book should not be the first poker book you read. But reviewers neglected to mention that the author himself states this in "General Poker Concepts" and suggests many starter texts. 2. This book does spend significant time on topics other than what's going on inside a poker player's mind. The author might do too much of that, but it's clear that he does so to provide supporting info. The sections contrasting the thoughts of average vs advanced players do treat the subject and perhaps they deserved more emphasis. 3. Yes, the author does criticize non-limit and tournament play. Playing in casino situations is very differnent from tournaments where the chips don't represent real money dollar for dollar. Nobody said it doesn't take skill to win. It's just a different skill set. Truth be told, there are plenty of great tournament books if that's what you are into. FALSE: 1. No, it is not fair to say this book is unoriginal. Nor is it accurate that Sklansky's and Malmuth's books cover everything in this book. This book has some really great real world examples of poker logic spelled out much more clearly than in other books. It doesn't have to be the definitive poker book to be a valuable read. 2. While the book does start out a little slow, I found the stories very funny. For those who play in casino or card-room games, you will find humor in reading Feeney's examples of mistakes that you have seen yourself and others make. I did. 3. One point needs clarification before some unsuspecting person goes and drops $2K in Vegas after reading this book. Reading this book will NOT save you thousands of dollars. No book will save you $. Only UNDERSTANDING the concepts the book trys to bring across will actually make you or save you money. On pg 62, he writes, "Education in poker theory reduces one's susceptibility to illusions which can interfere with good play." Man I wish I could believe this. I think his advice to seek psycotherapy might do more to that end. So many people read a few books and lose their shirts because of false confidence. While I totally understand the value of the material, value cannot be derived by reading it. It must be digested, pondered, and mastered to be valuable. The coolest thing about this book is the relevance of the examples. Every topic, from reraising the weak to calling on the end, was treated in a real world way that I have observed in casino play. A great example is "Maximizing the Set" on pgs 127-128. So many books treat these concepts abstractly. I must say that I did not fully understand much of this till I read this book. Again, the outline of the way bad players think was the hallmark. It talks about things that not only stop you from making mistakes but help you identify the saps in a real game. Perhaps the treatment of tilt could have been more explicit. But his unique viewpoint provokes thought, even though it comes along with resistance. There's a common quote that goes, "If you look around the poker table and don't see any suckers, you're it!" I would strongly advise anybody reading the sections on advanced vs. weak player thoughts to read the hands and honestly evaluate what they would be thinking if they drew that hand before reading the author's explaination. This is a serious wake-up call to those who are unknowing maniacs or overconfident goats. Overall this is a very practical read that deserves the attention of anybody looking to increase their hourly rate in actual casino and card-room play.
Rating:
Summary: Inside "Inside the Poker Mind," pros and cons
Review: This book is more of a "Best Practices" poker book in many ways. Here's the real skinny on the book and the reviews as I see it. TRUE: 1. This book should not be the first poker book you read. But reviewers neglected to mention that the author himself states this in "General Poker Concepts" and suggests many starter texts. 2. This book does spend significant time on topics other than what's going on inside a poker player's mind. The author might do too much of that, but it's clear that he does so to provide supporting info. The sections contrasting the thoughts of average vs advanced players do treat the subject and perhaps they deserved more emphasis. 3. Yes, the author does criticize non-limit and tournament play. Playing in casino situations is very differnent from tournaments where the chips don't represent real money dollar for dollar. Nobody said it doesn't take skill to win. It's just a different skill set. Truth be told, there are plenty of great tournament books if that's what you are into. FALSE: 1. No, it is not fair to say this book is unoriginal. Nor is it accurate that Sklansky's and Malmuth's books cover everything in this book. This book has some really great real world examples of poker logic spelled out much more clearly than in other books. It doesn't have to be the definitive poker book to be a valuable read. 2. While the book does start out a little slow, I found the stories very funny. For those who play in casino or card-room games, you will find humor in reading Feeney's examples of mistakes that you have seen yourself and others make. I did. 3. One point needs clarification before some unsuspecting person goes and drops $2K in Vegas after reading this book. Reading this book will NOT save you thousands of dollars. No book will save you $. Only UNDERSTANDING the concepts the book trys to bring across will actually make you or save you money. On pg 62, he writes, "Education in poker theory reduces one's susceptibility to illusions which can interfere with good play." Man I wish I could believe this. I think his advice to seek psycotherapy might do more to that end. So many people read a few books and lose their shirts because of false confidence. While I totally understand the value of the material, value cannot be derived by reading it. It must be digested, pondered, and mastered to be valuable. The coolest thing about this book is the relevance of the examples. Every topic, from reraising the weak to calling on the end, was treated in a real world way that I have observed in casino play. A great example is "Maximizing the Set" on pgs 127-128. So many books treat these concepts abstractly. I must say that I did not fully understand much of this till I read this book. Again, the outline of the way bad players think was the hallmark. It talks about things that not only stop you from making mistakes but help you identify the saps in a real game. Perhaps the treatment of tilt could have been more explicit. But his unique viewpoint provokes thought, even though it comes along with resistance. There's a common quote that goes, "If you look around the poker table and don't see any suckers, you're it!" I would strongly advise anybody reading the sections on advanced vs. weak player thoughts to read the hands and honestly evaluate what they would be thinking if they drew that hand before reading the author's explaination. This is a serious wake-up call to those who are unknowing maniacs or overconfident goats. Overall this is a very practical read that deserves the attention of anybody looking to increase their hourly rate in actual casino and card-room play.
Rating:
Summary: Very good enjoyable book ¿ Now Get to Playin
Review: This was a very Enjoyable Book. It provided important and useful concepts about the game of Poker. I learned new concepts, which identified some leaks in my game. Leaks in your game can come from anywhere!!! Leaks can originate from lack of aggression, overcalling raises, misreading opponents and any other number of ways. So this book helps. Many people look at poker the wrong way. They think to win they need to do all of this super fancy plays and mindblowing stunts. Well folks...there are not that many options in poker...you fold, call or raise. So its really hard to do thinks that will just fool your opponents all the time. To win at poker it is mostly limiting your mistakes and getting all that you can from winning hands and minimizing losses on losing hands...that's it Ive been playing for about 5 years now and love the game. Ive read many poker books and found this one to be very good. So I would suggest you buy this book and maybe a couple others and get to playing. There's really no excuse anymore - since anyone can access the internet. If you are a new poker player and would like to start playing poker online at www.partypoker.com - make sure you use the bonus code: "AMAZON25" and you will receive $25 free on your first purchase at www.PartyPoker.com. You can also use the Bonus Code "AMAZON100" and you will receive a 20% bonus up to $100! If you already play at PartyPoker, you can also play at www.Pokerroom.com. Use the promotion code "100BONUS" and you will receive 20% up to $100
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