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Gaming Guru
New Book about Texas Hold'em a Hands Down Winner30 March 2005
Barry Shulman, the publisher of the world's most widely read poker magazine, Card Player, The Poker Authority, has seen interest and subscriptions in his publication increase dramatically the last couple of years in the wake of the resurgence of popularity of poker in general and Texas Hold'em in particular. He's clearly passionate about the game, not only from a journalistic standpoint but also a professional and personal one: In addition to being a gifted writer and savvy businessman, he just happens to be a well known world class poker champion with several major tournament victories, including a coveted world championship gold bracelet at the 2001 World Series of Poker. With that all-encompassing poker resume to his credit, there's no wonder a good deal of excitement has been generated among devotees of the game with the release of his new book, 52 Tips for Texas Hold'em Poker, published by Card Player Press of Las Vegas, Nevada. Shulman is not only a student of the game, he's also a skilled practitioner who uses the 154 pages of this concise, information-packed treatise to convey to readers not only how to play the game, but also how to play it intelligently. He arms players with optimum strategies designed to help them make an enjoyable pastime a profitable one as well. The book was written with the assistance of another renowned poker professional, Mark Gregorich, the associate editor of Card Player. Together they have managed to cover a wide range of Texas Hold'em topics broken down into 52 tips that explore every phase of the game, not only from a mechanical standpoint but a mental one as well. Shulman appreciates the true beauty of the game and the opportunities it provides for people who take the time to learn it. He offers insight into situations that develop during the course of a game and how to best take advantage of those situations, both offensively and defensively. He acknowledges the game can be as simple or complex as one wishes to make it, accentuating that those who apply themselves and delve into the subtleties and complexities of Texas Hold'em are best prepared to win consistently and effectively rather than sporadically or simply when you have the best hand. Even though the rules of Texas Hold'em are constant, the strategies are far from cut and dried. It's a game you can win without having the best hand. Learning to adapt to situations, honing your powers of observation and discovering psychological nuances that escape the notice of a majority of players can make the difference between merely playing the game and playing it with confidence. Shulman's book can help. 52 Tips for Texas Hold'em Poker will prove a valuable addition to the bookshelf of experienced players to be sure, but it's also designed for neophytes and those who have never played but want to. It opens up with a brief section covering the rules and rhythm of play, including betting protocol, then launches right into the tips, conceived quite obviously by a man who has thousands of hours of playing experience. The tips are structured into five categories: Playing Before the Flop, Playing on the Flop, Playing on the Turn, Playing on the River and More Hold'em Concepts You Should Know. Some of the more intriguing topics include Tip 1: A tight-aggressive playing style gets the money in hold'em, Tip 3: Be aware of pot odds at all times and Tip 45: Playing a longshot hand on the river. Shulman emphasizes that with opportunities to play the game broadening and with poker rooms being re-opened or expanded in casinos nationwide, Texas Hold'em is THE game to concentrate on. This is truly the Golden Age of hold'em, he writes. If there is one form of poker to learn or to specialize in, it's hold'em. Not only will you find more games to choose from, but the players in these games tend to be less knowledgeable and experienced than those in other forms of poker, like seven-card stud. Simply put, hold'em games should be easier to beat than other games just because that's what everyone is playing. Jump out of the ranks of less knowledgeable by reading 52 Tips for Texas Hold'em Poker available at www.amazon.com or from Card Player Press at www.CardPlayer.com This article is provided by the Frank Scoblete Network. Melissa A. Kaplan is the network's managing editor. If you would like to use this article on your website, please contact Casino City Press, the exclusive web syndication outlet for the Frank Scoblete Network. To contact Frank, please e-mail him at fscobe@optonline.net. Recent Articles
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