The most updated version of the book is excellent for all forms of play in Hold'em. This book is primarily designed for the more skilled games, $10/$20 limits and up. However, the updated version (1999) has a wealth of information about playing against less skilled players you find in lower limit games ($2/$4, $5/$10, etc).

This book is clearly for advanced or at least experienced players only. Beginners will not take much if anything from this book! It's pretty clear it builds off a few books more toward the beginner, which I haven't read. If you aren't experienced at this game, check out the more beginner level books. The concepts in Hold'em Poker for Advanced Players are extremely complex. Most notably, many of these concepts are very subtle in the book. They're very easy to pick up if you are a solid Hold'em player. But if you are new to the game, they'll be difficult to pick up and much of the wealth of information in this book will be completely lost.

This is must read information for anyone who wants to play this game at any serious level and win money.

This is one of the books on the "required reading" list for the Poker Discussion Group in San Diego. It is really absolute must reading for anyone who intends to play Texas Hold'em in a casino and wants to be a winner. One notable thing regarding this book is that if you have not read "Hold'em Poker" by David Sklansky, this book may not make much sense to you. It really is for advanced players, and describes many plays that are sophisticated and beyond the scope of a beginning book on poker. The hand rankings are critical for beginners learning the difficult art of pre-flop play. The advanced plays described in some of the later chapters become the basis for winning play after the flop, particularly at the middle limits. Some of the plays are not all that useful in the small limit games, but the section on "loose games" is critical for beginning players learning how to navigate large multiway pots. Overall, this book is must reading, and anyone who hasn't read it is probably not going to be playing anywhere near optimally, no matter what limit of Texas hold'em they play.

I have most of their titles-the best poker advice backed up with easy to understand examples. contains the least amount of dubious advice of any poker text. this book will make a difference to your bankroll. No matter how good a player you are you are a clueless newbie until you read this text. Once caveat: Keep in mind that in general their advice is directed towards your playing in a game with tight aggressive skilled players. These authors no longer play in low limit games and to some extent have lost touch with the type of player the low limit playing reader faces.You should find another title to read that addresses games with loose bad players in it so as to obtain a proper strategic approach to all situations. A good poker book teaches you how to think about situations more so than what to do in specific situation.Any text by the team of skylansky malmouth is worth it's weight in gold. Look for a revision of some of their classic texts, subtitled- "year 2000 or 20c. update"?

An interesting and fun read, replete with some key business (and poker-playing) lessons.

The author tells in the introduction that "poker teaches you that following the laws of human nature can lead to poor decision making." Indeed, this book helps you apply the rules of poker to your business in order to counter the normal urges of human nature. When should you divulge information, whether to play the "good cop" or "bad cop" in a negotiation, how to arrive at a win-win deal with your business partner.

All of these questions can be answered, quite creatively, by lookly deeply into the game of high-stakes poker.

This book is well written and fun to read. The analogies between poker & business are undeniable and insightful.

1) Know your opponent. Don't assume that they think like you, often they don't.

"Bad players play their own hand. Good ones play their opponent's hand first, then worry about their own cards." (pg 15)

2) In negotiation (and poker), remember three rules:
a) don't give up something without getting something in return
b) keep a poker face (e.g. Boxers are trained to smile after being hit - to show their fortitude)
c) let your opponent feel like they are winning (so they will do business with you again)

3) The answer is rarely black/white. The answer is IT DEPENDS. Advanced poker players think on many different levels.

4) Don't gamble. Do your homework and know the odds. Take calculated risks. If possible, be the house (not the player) by creating the system that other people use and pay for.

5) "Information has value. Just as you wouldn't give away cash, don't give away ideas - unless they contribute to you or your organization."

"It's who you know and who knows you. Find out the people of influence that you need to know, and earn the right to meet them." (pg 89)

6) ". . .the minute you achieve success, people will be coming after you. The best way to guard against it is to keep your success to yourself. (pg 92)

7) Don't put yourself in the situation where you HAVE TO win. The urgency of the situation puts you at a disadvantage.

8) Poker is a zero-sum game, but life and business are not.

9) Pump it, or dump it. In poker ". . you typically should either raise the pot (pump it) and take control of the hand or fold (dump it) and get out entirely. Just calling is an option, but rarely the right one." (pg 107) The same applies to business, stick to your strengths. 80/20 principle.

10) Be tight and aggressive. For poker, play only a few hands, but play them hard. For business, focus your investments.

As an executive at a major investment firm, I use skills and concepts from game theory every day. Poker strategy and business strategy go hand-in-hand as this book explains in a fun, easy-to-apply framework using examples from Fortune 500 companies to startup businesses. You don't need to be a professional poker player to enjoy and learn from this book. The lessons passed along are concise and applicable to all aspects of business.

To the reviewer below, this book does NOT attempt to teach the reader how to play poker. You obviously did not read the book. Do yourself a favor: read the book, start applying the skills articulated in it, get a job and move out of your parents' basement.

There's no doubt in my mind that Mr. Sklansky should be a rocket scientist and not a poker player/writer. This book is deep , way beyond the comprehension of the average stud player. I've read, reread , studied , restudied this book over and over again and only now am I beginning to see the light . I see S&M students out there night after night losing their shirts making these plays , blaming their losses on bad luck. The title of the book "seven card stud for ADVANCED PLAYERS " is very revealing. After all , most poker players consider themselves advanced players , especially if they've been playing for a couple of years . Let's face it , an advanced player is probably already a significant winner at the game , it's the average player who needs help. To sum it up.. Great stuff for the ADVANCED PLAYER. Dangerous for the AVERAGE PLAYER. Suicide for the BEGINNER.

The best advice backed up with easy to understand examples. Contains the least amount of dubious advice of any poker text. This book will make a huge difference to your bankroll. No matter how good a player you are you are a clueless newbie until you read this text. Once caveat: Keep in mind that in general their advice is directed towards your playing in a game with tight aggressive skilled players. These authors no longer play in low limit games and to some extent have lost touch with the type of player the low limit playing reader faces.You should add another title to your shopping basket here to read that addresses games with loose bad players in it so as to obtain a proper strategic approach to all situations. A good poker book teaches you how to think about situations more so than what to do in specific situationAny text by the team of skylansky malmouth is worth it's weight in gold. Look for a revision of some of their classic texts, subtitled- "year 2000 or 20c. update"

A perfect study for anyone who's SERIOUS about completing their 7-card education. This should NOT be the first or even second book you read on your journey to 7-card mastery. The theories presented are certainly advanced, but nothing beyond what even an "intermediate" player would (and should) understand. In fact, this is the kind of text that, when put into practice, can foster the growth of an intermediate player to a higher level. What made this book stand out among my poker library is its direct approach to SPECIFIC situations. Most poker books fail to provide numerous, exact plays in those all-too-often marginal hands. Yet, it is in these plays where the expert extracts his profits over the long run. The examples are often involved, yet clearly presented. What are you representing? What should you represent? How do your opponents perceive you? Will a raise here put you into a heads-up situation? If so, is that desirable at this point in time? One word of caution: As a player who has experienced up to the 15-30 level, I suggest these techniques are worthless below 10-20, with the exception of a TIGHT game below 10-20 (is that an oxymoron?) In fact, the authors often use a 30-60 game for their examples. Most players below the 10-20 simply aren't sophisticated enough to make "correct" decisions in reaction to your plays. After all, if your opponents don't know what they're doing, how are you supposed to know what they're doing? There is a section on loose games that addresses these issues thoroughly, but I wouldn't suggest a low-limit player buy the book simply because of that text. A better book for those low limit players would be Roy West's "7-Card Stud: The Complete Course in Winning at Medium and Lower Limits." There's one more thing that this advanced course has that I have yet to see in another poker book: A quiz - just to make sure you're getting the key points! I never understood why all of my other poker books, which are in fact tutorials, didn't provide a quiz to make the reader (student) is getting a passing grade. Students in school don't get through a semester without being tested, and the reader of a tutorial style book shouldn't pass through without facing the challenge of a test either. Cheers to Sklansky, Malmuth, and Zee for caring enough about their students to include this critical section so many others seem to lack.

In a revision of his 1983 book, Jerry Patterson offers professional and recreational gamblers alike a new perspective on the casino games of, blackjack, craps and roulette. In 21 chapters Casino Gambling dispels myths, crushes age old dogma, and enlightens new age gamblers of the true winning potential of the aformentioned games, as well as providing a no holds bared expose of many of the games offered by the casinos. Casino Gambling provides cutting edge methodology for all gamblers regardless of skill level. It is a technically complete yet easy read which can be understood by the rank amateur yet informative enough to provoke thought from the most experienced of gambling professionals. The methods outlined in it have helped me stay in front of the casinos for years. I feel the chapter on developing a winning attitude alone is well worth the cover price. A copy of this book belongs on the night stand or book shelf of every gambler out there,period. It is my opinion that this guide is destined to be a gambling classic.

I've been reading the books of Jerry Patterson for some 20 or so years. Over the years, he has consistently delivered fresh and unique approaches to casino gambling which have been very helpful to me. Casino Gambling is no exception. For example, "Winning Factors" for the multi-deck blackjack shoe games is something I can put into use right away.

I especially like the "getting an advantage" theme of the book which is prevalent in the blackjack, craps and roulette chapters. While I'm not a Craps player, the Advantage Craps System has me tempted to go looking for those long forgotten souvenir dice! And I like the fact that in this one book, I now have information I can use in playing any casino table game including casino poker games like Pai Gow and Let It Ride.

Chapter 2, entitled Mental Preparation, should (in my opinion), be read by anyone who ever places any type of wager. The advice given here alone, is worth the price of the book.

Highly recommended.

This book touches on many things that even most of the experienced "average gamblers" are probably unaware of. Even the blackjack player who considers themself as a good player who knows perfect basic strategy will find many other helpful ideas to improve their game, whether they wish to make use of just a few things covered in the book and play near even with the casino or seriously study and practice the tactics and make blackjack a profitable game for them. When I used to play blackjack, I had no idea that the cards were not random and lost much more than I should have at a bad table. After reading the book you should be able to eliminate those "bad" tables and keep any losses you have to a minimum by employing the prooper money management strategies. The craps and roulette chapters cover many useful ideas that most gamblers are unaware of. Whether blackjack, roulette, or craps, making use of the information in the book should seperate the reader from

majority of other gamblers. A must read for any gamblers bookshelf.

I was looking forward to this book when I ordered it from Amazon and I have to say I was quite disappointed.

First, there is very little here about the poker mind. A few obvious bits of advice about not going on tilt but no real analysis of what goes on inside a poker player's brain during a game. For this reason, I feel the book's title is misleadinng, to say the least.

Second, the book has little original to say. It echoes ideas that can be found (but said more clearly) in books by Sklansky and Malmouth. If you have books by those authors, you don't need this one.

Third, the book makes comments which strike me as completely wrong. Namely, that tournament victories are largely achieved by luck and that pot limit is bad for the game of poker. This leaves those of us who think tournaments are won by skill, or who like pot limit, out in the cold.

Finally, the book is quite dry. The lively annecdotes which can make other poker books fun to read are not here. This is dry stuff. If it were better stuff, that wouldn't matter so much, but it's not.

Clearly, given the rave reviews this book is getting, I'm in the minority here. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think so. Still, if you're a limit player who likes to grind away, maybe this book is for you (although even then there are other authors I'd prefer) but if you like pot or no limit, don't bother.

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.

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.

As good as it gets! Anthony Holden takes the reader on a rollercoaster journey, allowing us to peer in and see what it would be like to just leave your job for a year to become a professional poker player. After reading it the first time you will be calling your travel agent for the next available flight to Las Vegas. I have found that re-reading it about a week prior to taking any subsequent trips to Las Vegas will put you in such a festive mood, that by the time your plane is descending to McCarron airport your excitement has reached a fever pitch. The only thing to do at that point is to head right over to Binion's Horseshoe and make your own story come to life along the green baize. It is marvelously entertaining, and very informative. Reading this book is the second best thing to actually playing in the World Series of Poker!

Not only the best poker book that I have ever read but one of my favorite books regardless of the topic. Mr. Holden is a professional biographer of the British Royal family that loves poker enough to devote a year of his life to experience what it is like to be a professional player. This is not an instrucional book but an enjoyable account of a year of poker written by an excellent author.

An excellent insight into the mind of a serious poker player. I bought this book on impulse at a second-hand store, and read it in two sittings because my wife forced me to stop to sleep. A riveting look at the world of professional poker and poker tournaments by an inside outsider: Anthony Holden is a very erudite and urbane journalist who also wrote hugely successful biographies of Mr Charles Windsor and Ms Diana Spencer. He is also a passionate poker player, and spent one year as a professional. Considering that he broke even, you can take what he says reasonably seriously!

Expecting a dry litany of statistics on the various games of poker, I was pleasantly surpirsed at the colorful pictures Yardley painted with the semi autobiographical story of his 'Education of a Poker Player'. The book starts with a shadey near-turn of the century poker room frequented by his youth. Much of the time the book focuses on this relationship with mentor and friend Monty. The book pleasantly shifts from pure strategy, to the philosophy and art of Poker, to the stories of Yardleys middle aged adventures as a code decriptor in China approaching the second World War. The only dissapointment in the book was the abrupt ending, no wrap up. While the story left you wondering what happened with the rest of his life, your knowledge of how to play and win all popular forms of the game Poker will be very much closer to complete

My dad had this book in his library, in hard cover, more than forty years ago. While in college, and after my first exposure to poker, I came home one vacation and devoured this book.

I have used its teachings profitably ever since.

You can find no better book on sound poker strategy -- and, believe me, I have read them ALL.

In addition, Yardley's tales of actual games during turn-of-the-century Indiana, and later during World War II in China, are priceless.

If you take poker at all seriously, you MUST read this book!

No, I am NOT the author, only a dedicated fan. Without a doubt and as my colleague MikeDommer similarly stated, sound poker basics related in a delightful narrative sequence. Although it does not adress modern popular games (Texas Hold 'Em or Omaha) it imparts the values of hand recognition and play that will improve your game. Recognized throughout the poker world as a classic, of technique and of the era of unbridled poker endeavor. "I'll see your $20 and raise...."

I echo what other reviewers have written: This book is better for the average home game where the stakes are low and play is loose. At the same time, the average home player may find the mathematical detail and the discussions of expected values difficult to follow. That doesn't negate their value, however, and I find that the academic approach Steiner uses is great (what other poker book has footnotes?). In particular, his discussions of the more popular games -- draw, 7-card stud, 7-card hi-lo, hold 'em (texas and omaha), etc. -- are valuable. Even if you have to reread some of the sections to fully comprehend them, it's an excellent foundational treatise on poker.

Thursday Night Poker is a well written and easy to read book that can help players of all levels improve their home game as well as prepare you for some basic strategy to use in the casino. Since reading the book I have become much more aware of many previously ignored, yet important aspects of the game of Poker. The section dealing with seven card stud beginning holdings was worth the price of the book all by itself and has definitely paid for itself many times in game play situations. I recommend this to all poker players, especially those who are new to the game.

A poker text has to fit the player-- beginners don't need statistical dissertation, pros don't need 'what would you do
here' stuff. Steiner's text is superlative for middle players, i.e. you love the game and you're not bad, but you know
there's plenty of room for improvement.

Steiner leaves few stones unturned. He discusses pot and betting odds, a wide range of games and tactics, and
especially probability with rare eloquence and clarity; this is a man who's been there, and paid close attention. His sample hands and quizzes are quite enlightening, neither obvious nor subjective, and he always supports his conclusions.

While certainly a game of numbers, poker is largely anecdotal, and Steiner is very aware of this too. He's quick to
defend variation in playing style due to variation in players, and readily admits to loose play to justify appetite for action. Testament that "Thursday" is so good is that it's dog- eared from going back and forth, unlike my still perfect Malmuth...

The title's the only thing I'd question. You play this way with your Thursday night chums, you're going to have to
find a new game fast. Stick to Steiner, try the tables, and I'll play elsewhere.

This is a fair book, but it is not near as good as Peter O. Steiner's "Thursday Night Poker." Andy Nelson's book can't decide whether it is for beginners or advanced, so it tries to fit advanced technique into too short of space. It barely scratches the surface of any of the topics it brings up. When it doesn't do that, it simply says, "Play so tight that you don't even have to think. Fold 99% of your hands." That does not make for a fun night, in my opinion.

I have recently left the arena of recreational poker player in home games and low-limit casino poker. I have moved up a notch and have become what I call a semi-pro poker player. An important book that helped me immensly was this book (and others) by Andy Nelson. This WINNER'S GUIDE gave me basics. It is filled with solid advice and information on how poker should be played. It describes the games usually played in today's world. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is beginning and wants to improve. By the way, it makes an excellent gift to a spouse or friend who wants to make money playing poker.

Along with most of the other reviews on here, I agree that this is a great beginners book. It doesn't get too much into detail about higher limit games, but beginners don't need to worry about that yet. It does a great job of explaining different types of major poker games. It also tells you a key aspect of the game that I think it equally as important as knowing the game, and that's self control and money management. The glossary in the back is also useful. The only down side to this book is it doesn't get into great detail on betting structure. When I first read this book, I noticed the most popular low limit game fo Texas Hold 'Em (1-4-8-8), is not really talk about. Overall, if you are new to the game of Poker, and want to learn the essentials, GET THIS BOOK!

I've heard and read so often that with the right strategy you can actually come out ahead if you play video poker, but until now, have not been able to get a handle on a strategy. This book helped me tremendously. Not only did I learn to play better video poker, I actually had fun reading the book and learning. The quiz format made it painless. I've read other video poker books, but I always found it a bit grueling working my way through all the charts and calculations. John Grochowski makes it easy. He uses anecdotes to illustrate certain points and they serve as great memory triggers. The book has already helped me improve my play at some of the casinos near my home. I can't wait for my next trip to Vegas. I recommend the video Poker Answer Book to anyone who wants a better understanding of the game and how to play it. Fine learning tool.

Video poker, the experts say, is a game that can be beaten if players learn expert strategy and stick to certain high-paying games. Those experts then usually give information on how to play those games, and ignore everything else.

This book is different. John Grochowski shows an understanding that most of us play for entertainment, and that we're not always going to have access to the games the experts say we should stick to. He shows how to get the most for your money out of games people really play. It doesn't claim to be a guaranteed system for winning. In fact, he comes right out and says that even experts will lose more often than they win. But he does show how to attack games that other books on the subject won't touch.

I like the quiz format. I think it's fun, and in his answers the author tells stories from personal experience that make this a really breezy read despite the numbers and calculations that go into the strategies. Without doubt, this is the best video poker book around.

My copy of The Video Poker Answer Book already is well-worn, as I read and re-read, study and quiz myself, and prepare every time I go to the casino. Needless to say, I couldn't disagree more with the reviewer from Arizona about the question-and-answer format. I think you learn by doing, and this book lets you work out the problems, then gives the explanations that underscore the learning experience. It's not just a cookbook that tells you what do do. It's really strong on explaining why we should play certain hands certain ways.

On top of that, it covers games I've never seen in any other video poker book. It seems that every other video poker writer thinks everyone plays in Las Vegas and has access to all the top pay tables. Well, I play mostly in Indian casinos in the Midwest, and I never see those games. I do see many of the games detailed in this book. It gives me the strategy changes I need for the lower pay tables I see in the Midwest. That makes this book the most complete video poker guide I've ever seen.