Compulsory for live NLH poker players

As far as I can find (please tell me if I'm wrong) only Elwood and Caro have anything really practical to say about reading live poker tells. Elwood is more focussed on NL Holdem and is more up to date but most of what he says validates Caro principles. Real live poker players will scoff at some of the rubbish turned out by most so-called body language experts (ex-FBI agents in particular). Lying in poker is most definitely NOT the same as lying in real life. It is part of the game and the consequence of being caught out are more likely to be commiseration or guarded admiration than admonishment or prison. This makes a big difference to how a person behaves at the poker table vs real life.

This is a well structured book and Elwood uses real examples to demonstrate his points that clearly come from his experience as a professional poker player. Some of his comments in the appendices will ring true with a lot of live players that are not compulsive gamblers and play for the skill, stamina and concentration involved. Personally I try and avoid cash games for fear that I am taking money from weak individuals for whom gambling is an illness and poker a placebo. Its comforting to think that some pros feel the same way too.

Elwood also makes the point that there are no cast iron rules and this is not an easy checklist that will turn you into the Darren Brown of poker. It takes a lot of concentration and experience and noting behaviour patterns is hard when you are also thinking about your own strategy/table image as well as hand-ranges and percentages.

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2 people found this helpful

Interesting Audio, recommended!

Good review on the side of poker where not many books give a decent insight!

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not worth it

Very short, not enough detail or explanation. Could have talked about hands in an actual game more.

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