Poker For Dummies E-Book

Richard D. Harroch

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 509

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2011

Beschreibung

Know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em Poker is America's national card game, and its popularity continues to grow. Nationwide, you can find a game in progress everywhere. If you want to play, you can find poker games on replicas of 19th century riverboats or on Native American tribal lands. You can play poker at home with the family or online with opponents from around the world. Like bowling and billiards before it, poker has moved out from under the seedier side of its roots and is flowering in the sunshine. Maybe you've never played poker before and you don't even know what a full house is. Poker For Dummies covers the basics. Or perhaps you've played for years, but you just don't know how to win. This handy guide will help you walk away from the poker table with winnings, not lint, in your pockets. If you're a poker expert, you still can benefit - some of the suggestions may surprise you, and you can certainly learn from the anecdotes from professional players like T.J. Cloutier and Stu Unger. Know what it takes to start winning hand after hand by exploring strategy; getting to know antes and betting structure; knowing your opponents, and understanding the odds. Poker For Dummies also covers the following topics and more: * Poker games such as Seven-Card Stud, Omaha, and Texas Hold'em * Setting up a game at home * Playing in a casino: Do's and don'ts * Improving your play with Internet and video poker * Deciphering poker sayings and slang * Ten ways to read your opponent's body language * Playing in poker tournaments * Money management and recordkeeping * Knowing when and how to bluff Poker looks like such a simple game. Anyone, it seems, can play it well - but that's far from the truth. Learning the rules can be quick work, but becoming a winning player takes considerably longer. Still, anyone willing to make the effort can become a good player. You can succeed in poker the way you succeed in life: by facing it squarely, getting up earlier than the next person, and working harder and smarter than the competition. Foreword by Chris Moneymaker, 2003 World Series of Poker Champion.

Leseprobe

Poker For Dummies®

by Richard D. Harroch and Lou Krieger

Foreword by Linda Johnson

Poker For Dummies®

Published byWiley Publishing, Inc.111 River St.Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2000 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Copyright © 2000 Text and any other Author Created Materials Copyright, Richard D. Harroch

Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Catalog Card No.: 99-69726

ISBN: 978-0-7645-5232-8

Manufactured in the United States of America

20 19 18 17

1O/TQ/QZ/QU/IN

About the Authors

Lou Krieger learned poker at the tender age of 7, while standing at his father’s side during the weekly Thursday night game held at the Krieger kitchen table in the blue-collar Brooklyn neighborhood where they lived.

Lou played throughout high school and college and managed to keep his head above water only because the other players were so appallingly bad. But it wasn’t until his first visit to Las Vegas that he took poker seriously, buying into a low-limit Seven Card Stud game where he managed — with a good deal of luck — to break even.

“While playing stud,” he recalls, “I noticed another game that looked even more interesting. It was Texas Hold’em.

“I watched the Hold’em game for about 30 minutes, and sat down to play. One hour and $100 later, I was hooked. I didn’t mind losing. It was the first time I played, and I expected to lose. But I didn’t like feeling like a dummy so I bought and studied every poker book I could find.”

“I studied; I played. I studied and played more. Before long I was winning regularly, and I haven’t had a losing year since I began keeping records.”

In the early 1990s Lou Krieger began writing a column called “On Strategy” for Card Player Magazine. He has also written two books about poker, Hold’em Excellence: From Beginner to Winner and MORE Hold’em Excellence: A Winner For Life.

When not writing about poker, Lou (who lives in Long Beach, California) can be found playing poker in the card casinos of Southern California.

Richard Harroch is an attorney with over 20 years of experience in representing start-up and emerging companies, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists. He is listed in “Who’s Who in American Law” and is a corporate partner in a major law firm in San Francisco, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of U.C. Berkeley and graduated from UCLA Law School, where he was managing editor of the Law Review. He has written a number of legal/business books, including The Small Business Kit For Dummies; Start-Up and Emerging Companies: Planning, Financing and Operating the Successful Business; and Partnership and Joint Venture Agreements. He also spearheaded the development of a premier legal-agreements Web site on the Internet.

He has lectured extensively before various legal and business organizations, including the American Electronics Association, the Venture Capital Institute, the California Continuing Education of the Bar, the Corporate Counsel Institute, the San Francisco Bar, and the Practicing Law Institute (PLI).

Richard has served as the Chairman of the California State Bar Committee on Partnerships, the Co-Chairman of the Corporations Committee of the San Francisco Bar (Barristers), a member of the Executive Committee of the Business Law Section of the California State Bar, and Co-Chair of the Law Journal annual seminar in New York on “Joint Ventures and Strategic Alliances.”

Richard has experience in the following areas: start-up and emerging companies, e-commerce, corporate financings, joint ventures, strategic alliances, venture capital financings, employment agreements, initial public offerings, leases, loans, online and Internet matters, license agreements, partnerships, preferred stock, confidentiality agreements, stock options, sales contracts, securities laws, and mergers and acquisitions.

Richard is an avid poker player and has participated a number of times in the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. You can reach him by e-mail at [email protected].

Authors’ Acknowledgments

Books are always a collaborative effort. Never believe an author who tells you otherwise. Without the efforts of acquisitions editor Mark Butler, who believed in and nurtured this project for two years, this book would not have come to fruition.

Skilled editors are a wondrous breed, and the effort, assistance, and suggestions of senior project editor Tim Gallan, and copy editor Patricia Yuu Pan shaped this book into something we’re proud of. With dedication and talent, Tim and Patricia possessed the magic to make the authors appear more literate, wittier, and eminently more readable than they really are.

We are also indebted to those who contributed their writing talent and poker know-how to this book: to poker’s “Mad Genius” Mike Caro for his work on “tells” — the body language of poker — and for many of the statistical tables and tips found throughout this book; to Nolan Dalla for his biographical sketches of poker legends past and present; to Dan Paymar for his information on video poker; to Kathy Watterson for her chapter on Internet poker and for showing you, the reader, how to use your personal computer to improve your poker skills; and to Linda Johnson for her foreword.

The world of poker is far too large to individually thank each person we’d like to acknowledge here: the dealers, players, floormen, chip runners, food servers, board attendants, porters, cashiers, supervisors and managers, props, players, and railbirds, who have all graciously enhanced our experiences at the poker table. Here’s a warm and heartfelt thank you. And thanks to friends and family members who have always encouraged our endeavors — even those involving a risk and a gamble.

Special thanks to the folks at Card Player Magazine, who collectively possess a bottomless reserve of poker knowledge, wisdom, and advice and are always willing to share.

Dedication

From Lou: I dedicate this book to Abby, David, and Karen, and to all the Lubchansky cousins whose grandparents sailed to America in steerage with not much more than a suitcase and immigrant dreams. Their dream afforded me the enviable luxury of living well by writing books and playing poker.

From Richard: I dedicate this book to the partners at my law firm who have played poker with me for many years. Thanks for your money, guys!

Publisher’s Acknowledgments

We’re proud of this book; please send us your comments through our Dummies online registration form located at http://www.dummies.com/register/.

Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:

Acquisitions, Editorial, and Media Development

Senior Project Editor: Tim Gallan

Acquisitions Editor: Mark Butler

Copy Editor: Patricia Yuu Pan

Acquisitions Coordinator: Lisa Roule

Technical Editor: David Galt

Editorial Manager: Pam Mourouzis

Editorial Assistant: Carol Strickland

Cover Photo: FPG International LLC. © Buss, Gary

Composition Services

Project Coordinator: Kristy Nash

Layout and Graphics: Beth Brooks, Amy Adrian, Barry Offringa, Tracy K. Oliver, Jill Piscitelli, Brent Savage

Proofreaders: Laura Albert, Corey Bowen, John Greenough, Marianne Santy, Kathleen Sparrow

Indexer: Sharon Hilgenberg

Special Help Linda Stark, Tina Sims

Publishing and Editorial for Consumer Dummies

Diane Graves Steele, Vice President and Publisher, Consumer Dummies

Kristin Ferguson-Wagstaffe, Product Development Director, Consumer Dummies

Ensley Eikenburg, Associate Publisher, Travel

Kelly Regan, Editorial Director, Travel

Publishing for Technology Dummies

Andy Cummings, Vice President and Publisher, Dummies Technology/General User

Composition Services

Gerry Fahey, Vice President of Production Services

Debbie Stailey, Director of Composition Services

Contents

Title

Foreword

Introduction

Why You Need This Book

What We Assume about You

How to Use This Book

How This Book Is Organized

Icons Used in This Book

Where to Go from Here

Part I : How to Play the Games

Chapter 1: Poker Basics

Poker and the American Dream

Where Did It All Come From?

Poker is Good for You

Before You Put on Your Poker Face

The Basics of Play

Hand Rankings

Betting

Rules of the Road

What Will Your Opponents Be Like?

Playing in a Casino

How Casino Poker Differs from Home Games

Chapter 2: Essential Strategic Considerations

What Poker Is and Isn’t

We Were All Beginners Once

Basic Poker Concepts

A Little Probability

Some Poker Perspective

Coping When All Goes Wrong

Chapter 3: Seven-Card Stud

If You’ve Never Played Seven-Card Stud Poker

Antes, the Deal, and the Betting Structure

Know When to Hold ’em and Know When to Fold ’em

What Kind of Hands Are Likely To Win?

The Importance of Live Cards

Seven-Card Stud in Depth

Chapter 4: Texas Hold’em

Basic Rules

Blind Bets

Hold’em in General

Hold’em in Depth

Starting Hands

The Art of Raising

Playing the Flop

Playing the Turn

Playing the River

When the Pot Gets Big

Chapter 5: Seven-Card Stud Eight-or-Better, High-Low Split (Seven-Stud/8)

If You’ve Never Played Seven-Stud/8 Before

Antes, the Deal, and the Betting Structure

Know When to Hold ’em and Know When to Fold ’em

What Kind of Hands Are Likely To Win?

Seven-Stud/8 in Depth

How Seven-Stud/8 Differs From Seven-Card Stud

Hidden Hands

Driving and Braking

When All the Cards Have Been Dealt

Chapter 6: Omaha

Playing Omaha/8 for the First Time

Knowing When to Hold ’em and When to Fold ’em

Omaha/8 in Depth

What to Do When You’ve Been Raised

Playing the Turn

Playing the River

Exploring Omaha High-Only

Chapter 7: Home Poker Games

Setting Up a Home Game

Game Options

Poker Etiquette in Home Games

More Information On Home Games

Part II : Advanced Strategy

Chapter 8: Bluffing

What Is Bluffing, Anyway?

Different Kinds Of Bluffs

The Importance of Bluffing

The Bluffing Paradox

Not All Bluffs Are Created Equal

Bluffing and Position

Bluffing More Than One Opponent

Bluffing Strategies

Chapter 9: Money Management and Recordkeeping

What Is Money Management Anyway?

The Truth About Money Management

The Importance of Keeping Records

How to Figure Your Win Rate

How to Reduce Fluctuations in a Poker Game

How Big Should Your Poker Bankroll Be?

Moving Up to Bigger Limits

Part III : Computers, Casinos, and Cardrooms

Chapter 10: Poker Tournaments

Why Play Poker Tournaments?

Poker Tournament Basics

The Relationship Between Blinds and Betting Structure

Key Mistakes Made in Poker Tournaments

Tournament Tips from a World Champion

Cutting a Deal at the Final Table

Issues with Payoff Structures

Where to Find Information about Tournaments

Chapter 11: Video Poker

The Basics of Video Poker

Video Poker versus Regular Poker

Jacks-or-Better Video Poker

Deuces Wild: The Best Game for Beginners

Tips for Becoming a Better Video Poker Player

Six Mistakes to Avoid in Video Poker

Further Readings

Chapter 12: The World Series of Poker

How It All Got Started

1970: The First World Series of Poker

High-Roller Tournaments Made Affordable

No-Limit Texas Hold’em — the Cadillac of Card Games

Let’s Get Ready to Rumble: The Latest Battles at the World Series of Poker

Chapter 13: The Computer: Your Shortcut to Poker Mastery

Choosing the Right Computer for Poker Study

Using a Computer for Interactive Poker Practice

An Interactive Self-Study Course

Interactive Poker Software Programs

Chapter 14: Internet Poker

Internet Play-Money Games

The Best Internet Play-Money Sites: Internet Poker Casinos

Participating in the Future of Poker at rec.gambling.poker (RGP)

Virtual Poker for Real Money: Internet Cash Stakes Games

Part IV : More Poker Fun

Chapter 15: What’s Behind the Sayings, Terms, and Myths

Poker Sayings

Poker Slang

Poker Myths

Chapter 16: Learning More about Poker

The Zen Poker Process

A Learning Plan

All Kinds of Poker Books

Beyond the Written Word

Part V : The Part of Tens

Chapter 17: Ten Ways to Read Your Opponent

Shaking Hand

Jittering

Shrugs and Sad Voices

Changes in Breathing

Misdirected Bets

Extra Emphasis

Looking Away

Staring at You

Reactions after Looking at Their Cards

Reaching for Chips

A Final Word

Chapter 18: Ten Poker Legends

Stu Ungar

Johnny Moss

Jack “Treetop” Straus

Benny Binion

“Amarillo Slim” Preston

Doyle Brunson

Johnny Chan

Phil Hellmuth, Jr.

Scotty Nguyen

Huck Seed

Honorable Mentions

Chapter 19: Ten Keys to Success

Be Aware of Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Act Responsibly

Think

Have a Plan

Set Deadlines

Be Realistic

Expect Difficulties

Build on Small Accomplishments

Persist

Have Fun

Chapter 20: (Almost) Ten Things to Consider Before Going Pro

Poker Isn’t Like Most Jobs

Considering Your Own Results

Playing When You’re Not at Your Best

Keeping Good Records

Deciding Where to Play

Using Statistics to Predict Your Expectations

Assessing Your Risk Tolerance

No Licensing Required

Following Good Examples

Asking the Right Questions

Chapter 21: Ten Ways to Improve Your Poker Today

Know Your Numbers

Know Your Opponents

Keep Your Ego Out of the Game

Keep Records—Even When It Hurts

Choose the Best Game

Commit to Excellence

Practice with Computerized Software

Read the Newsgroup

Analyze Your Game — and Your Opponents’

Concentrate on Things That Matter

Read All the Books

Chapter 22: Ten Real-Life Poker Lessons

Being Selective and Aggressive

Safety at All Costs Can Be Costly

Knowing Your Opponent

Timing Can Be Everything

Deciding If the Prize Is Worth the Game

Reaching for Objectives

Being Responsible

Painting Yourself into a Corner

Thinking Outside the Box

Realizing When Discretion Is the Better Part of Valor

Foreword

When asked to write the foreword to Poker For Dummies, I was thrilled. The poker community has been eagerly awaiting this book. Solid advice aimed at beginning and new players, presented in a witty and readable format, is always welcome. With new casinos and cardrooms opening at a more rapid rate than at any other time, the need to educate new players has never been more evident. And from all appearances, Poker For Dummies will go a long way toward accomplishing that.

Many readers want information that’s aimed at low-limit players — articles that can present strategic concepts in an easy-to-read style. Poker For Dummies can help new players become skilled and winning poker players. The authors know their stuff and are terrific at explaining and demystifying the complexities of poker. Richard Harroch is a well-known high-stakes poker player from the San Francisco Bay area who has written other books on a variety of topics. Lou Krieger is a columnist for Card Player Magazine and wins his share of money in the card casinos of Southern California. He recently was named one of the 100 best gaming authors of the 20th century by Casino Player, an honor accorded to only nine poker writers.

If you’re a novice player, or even if you’ve been playing for a few years but have never seriously studied the game before, today is your lucky day. This book introduces you to the most popular forms of poker and provides a solid foundation of knowledge and strategic concepts that you can take to the poker table. It’s a reference book that should become the foundation of your poker library.

After you read this book I’d be willing to wager that you’ll know a lot more about poker than you do now. Moreover, you’ll find out how to increase your knowledge even further by exploring other books as well as magazines and Web sites; software designed to help you become a more skillful poker player; and real-world cardrooms, where you can play poker 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

You don’t have to look too far to find a poker game these days. They’re everywhere. If you’ve always wanted to join in, and if you’ve always wanted to learn how to play a decent game of poker but didn’t know where to begin, you’ve come to the right place. Just keep reading.

Now, let’s play poker.

Linda Johnson Las Vegas, Nevada

Linda Johnson is the publisher of Card Player — the oldest and largest magazine serving the poker community worldwide. She also plays a mean game of poker. After being down to two chips and facing elimination, she achieved her poker goal of winning a gold bracelet by going on to best 159 other players to win the 1997 Razz (7-Card Stud Low) event at the World Series of Poker.

Introduction

Poker has always been America’s game, but poker is changing these days. In a big way. Ask a friend or neighbor with only a casual knowledge of the game to offer an image of poker, and one of three pictures is likely to appear: