The Theory of Poker by David Sklansky discusses theories and concepts applicable to nearly every variation of the game, including five-card draw (high), seven-card stud, hold ’em, lowball draw, and razz (seven-card lowball stud). This book introduces you to the Fundamental Theorem of Poker, its implications, and how it should affect your play. Other chapters discuss the value of deception, bluffing, raising, the slow-play, the value of position, psychology, heads-up play, game theory, implied odds, the free card, and semibluffing.
Many of today’s top poker players will tell you that this is the book that really made a difference in their play. That is, these are the ideas that separate the experts from the typical players. Those who read and study this book will literally leave behind those who don’t, and most serious players wear the covers off their copies. This is the best book ever written on poker.
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating: Summary: Not enough explanation Comment: For understanding strategy this is a good book. Good depth on bluffing, drawing out bluffs, etc. But if you're looking for an explanation on how to compute odds or "do the math" of poker this isn't the book for you. Since most of the understanding of the strategies revolves around how you "do the math" I would say this book is lacking in proper explanations on the probabilities. But, if you know how to "do the math" then this is a great book. Customer Rating: Summary: Theory of Poker by David Sklansky Comment: Great book. Covers all sorts of situations very clearly, and shows the mathematical side of the game as well. Would recommend this to any skill level. Customer Rating: Summary: Essential reading for the thinker Comment: This book helps a particular type of player and hurt others. The information is great for anyone that can use Sklansky's work as a springboard to deeper thought, but can lead many to mismanage variables while sizing up a situation. Not Sklansky's fault, but the reader. This was the first poker book I ever read and I misused the understanding at first for increased losses. However, overtime, Sklansky's thinking here has helped at the tables and off the felt as well. I recommend this title as an essential book in a serious poker players library. Customer Rating: Summary: This is Tentative 5 Star Review Comment: Okay, this book has wonderful information within it. Almost nothing Mr. Sklansky states within the book is bad information, and he uses relatively easy language. The problem many may have with the book is that while there are many simple learning tools that will help every reader immediately, this book is not one of them. FIRST AND FOREMOST, THIS IS NOT A BOOK FOR A HOLE'EM PLAYER. If you're looking to learn Hold'em only, DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK YET! Even if you are looking to learn more than games than Hold'em, I would suggest 'SuperSystem' first. My reasoning is simple, in this book, Mr Sklansky bounces from game to game to illustrate his examples. For a player who is trying to establish a winning approach to the game, this book may very well confuse you with so many examples and will not build confidence.
From my previous statements, one might wonder why I would give this book a 5 star rating, and the answer is because to those whom can follow the book, it's essentially the handbook to every basic principle in the game. I would compare 'The Theory of Poker' to a school professor(and I will note this SPECIFIC book only and not the author or his other works) who does not dumb down his lessons for the lesser committed students, but whom will give a student the most out of the class if that student is completely dedicated. The catch is, this professer is teaching a third or fourth level class that without the necessary prerequisites, the student will be lost. I would guess that only one out of about six poker players trying to figure out if this is the right book for them would be correct in deciding it is, but to that one person, this is a MUST-HAVE! To those five people out of the six, if you have to ask whether or not you are ready for the book, the one person who is ready wouldn't have to ask. That person would be asking is the book worth reading, and the answer is yes! Customer Rating: Summary: Poker Theory Comment: How would you play if ALL the cards were face-up? Any difference, when the cards are face down is a mistake. Ditto for your opponents. Sklansky expounds this fundamental theorem in great detail. This is a must-have book.
