More Book Reviews
'Kill Everyone' Doesn't Match 'Kill Phil' But Comes CloseKill Everyone is not quite a sequel to the remarkable Kill Phil, but Nick still recommends reading them in chronological order. Kill Everyone is aimed at players with some no-limit hold'em tournament experience. The information in Part 2 is exceptional and well worth the price of the whole book.
Diverse Gambling Books Hit Bookshelves This WeekTwo books, 'Black Gangsters of Chicago' and 'The Card (Collectors, Con Men, and the True Story of History's Most Desired Baseball Card)', are as diverse as you might expect and have hit the bookshelves this week.
Limit Hold'em: Winning Short-Handed Strategies ReviewedDespite the popularity of short-handed poker games, few books have been devoted to examining its special circumstances. One of the few to do so is Limit Hold'em: Winning Short-Handed Strategies by Terry Boyer and Lawrence Mak.
$40 No-Limit Texas Hold‘em
by Kim Greenblatt
Learn or get refresher tips on how to play the $40 no-limit hold'em - ring or tournament - one of the hottest games played in casinos and card clubs. Low buy-ins lead to some interesting games and this book by example, shows you what you should do and what you shouldn't do. For less than the cost of a buy-in, this book demonstrates a $40 NL session, $40NL tournament, half a dozen thinking hand examples and advice as to how the $40 game differs from other no limit hold'em games.
It’s extremely rare for one author to write and publish and release three books within the space of one year, but Kim Isaac Greenblatt has done just that, presenting material for two versions of hold’em and one for pineapple. The three new titles are
$40 No-Limit Texas Hold‘em: Ring and Tournament Games (217 pages, paper bound, $20);
Practical Low and No Limit Texas Hold’em Ring Games (158 pages, paper bound, $17.95) and
Crazy Pineapple 8-or-Better Poker (137 pages, paper bound, $17.95).
The No-Limit text contains six major sections, including How to Handle Lady Luck When She Turns Against You; $40 NL Ring Game Mixed Aggression and $40 NL Sit and Go Single Table Tournament. This book is what you’d call “generic” in format, designed to get the point across with no frills. Large print, little to no mathematics and no displayed playing cards to break up the text (you’ll see 8c as eight of clubs for example) and many examples of what the author calls Good or Bad play. Greenblatt analyzes his own mistakes while reflecting what opponents’ hands are. Much of his advice is common sense and personal observation boiled down into concise nuggets. He’s very honest about why he wrote the books—to raise money for Rett Syndrome, a difficult-to-diagnose developmental disorder that affects mostly young girls and for which there is no cure. He admits to having no illusions about being a world class player, and although he doesn’t love the game, he’s pretty good at it.
Practical Low and No-Limit Texas Hold’em Ring Games includes sections on binomial distribution on low-limit ring games; and Low $3/6 ring game examples. Here he cautions that he makes a meager income at these low-limit games and he is departing information about what works for him. He presents eight succinct rules that have seen him through both good and bad times at the tables. He offers most of his advice in the first 49 pages, and from there on he presents hands he’s been in and the analysis of same. With large print and plenty of advice on how poker is just a game that, like life, will eventually end, he reminds players that they are in the game to make money more than to have fun.
The crazy pineapple book has super large print. It will certainly help the visually impaired. Among the eight chapters are those on Low and Middle Hands and some strategies.
He admits most readers will probably end up playing this version of poker in home games since it’s not often spread in casinos or card clubs. He flat out admits his strategies are just his and they may differ from what other authors present but since they work for him, they might work for you.
In more than 25 years of reviewing books, including more than 100 on the subject of poker, I’ve never seen an approach like the one Greenblatt offers. It’s an honest combination of self-taught information and knowledge both read and gained from experience. He’s obviously not totally devoted to poker and cautions people to think twice before becoming totally serious and dedicated to the game.
Overall, Greenblatt can be commended for using poker for something other than fame and fortune. While his books may not become the same kind of best-sellers we see penned by famous names, they can add value to anyone looking for additional information about the game.
