Play Poker Like the Pros

This was actually the first poker book I ever read. Sure, it's not the most well-written and it's a tad scatter-brained at times. But two big keys for beginners: Hellmuth uses simple language and his theories work.

For beginners, Hellmuth preaches patience, patience, patience. If you can't stand being in a poker game and not playing for long stretches at a time, maybe you should try blackjack, instead. Poker is all about patience. In the book, Hellmuth explains the advantages of playing only the Top Ten hands pre-flop (pocket aces through pocket sevens, along with AK & AQ). That's it. Nothing else. It may sound boring, but you put yourself at such an advantage by being selective in the hands you play. I read "Play Poker Like the Pros" two years ago and, for the most part, I still follow Hellmuth's advice when it comes to this.

Another interesting angle in the book is learning the practice of figuring out who's at your table. Hellmuth uses five animal comparisons to track their play. For instance, a jackal is the crazy man who raises every hand regardless of what he has. You don't have to necessarily go so far as memorizing the animal types, but realizing the habits and actions of players at your table is so important. It helps you determine whether to respect their play. Categorizing the play also helps you determine your own perception. Are you playing tight, like a mouse? Or are you the "calling station," like the elephant? For example, I always prefer playing extremely tight when I sit down. I like that to be in people's minds. If I turn a hand over in the first hour or two at the table, I want it to be one of the Top Ten hands. That way, they respect my raises down the road and it allows me to steal some pots with less than stellar hands. Regardless, Hellmuth's analogies here work. He even breaks down specific hand play against the specific animal types. It's great insight for beginners on how to play certain situations. You have to know your surroundings.

Finally, the book covers everything from small-stakes Limit Hold 'Em to No Limit, Omaha and even Razz. There's also a section on online play. No matter what your game, it's covered in "Play Poker Like the Pros."

You can buy Hellmuth's book at PhilHellmuth.com.

In the coming weeks, I'll look at some of the books aimed at more advanced players. If you have a poker or Las Vegas-related question, you can reach me at VegasInsider@woai.com.

read more