Poker for Dummies
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...
Search in google:
Packed with expert tips on how to bluff successfully Rake in the chips with this savvy guide to poker basics and beyond Whether you're looking for an edge in a friendly weekly game or aiming for the championship in a local poker tournament, this friendly guide shows you step-by-step how to bet, bluff, and play your way to the top, from seven-card stud and high-low splits to Omaha and Texas Hold 'em. Discover how to:Understand poker rulesPlay popular poker gamesKeep a "poker face"Read your opponentsParticipate in poker tournamentsMake the most of video and Internet poker The Dummies WayExplanations in plain English"Get in, get out" informationIcons and other navigational aidsTear-out cheat sheetTop ten listsA dash of humor and fun Get smart! www.dummies.comRegister to win cool prizesBrowse exclusive articles and excerptsGet a free Dummies Daily e-mail newsletterChat with authors and preview other booksTalk to us, ask questions, get answers
ForewordxxviiIntroduction1Why You Need This Book2What We Assume about You2How to Use This Book3How This Book Is Organized3Icons Used in This Book4Where to Go from Here5Part IHow to Play the Games7Chapter 1Poker Basics9Poker and the American Dream10Where Did It All Come From?10Poker is Good for You10Before You Put on Your Poker Face11Planning and discipline11The object of thegame12Number of players12The deck13Poker chips13The Basics of Play13Hand Rankings15Straight flush; royal flush15Four-of-a-kind15Full house15Flush17Straight17Three-of-a-kind17Two pair17One pair17No pair18Low hands18Betting18Rules of the Road20Going all-in20The forbidden string-raise20How to raise21No splashing21Protecting your hand; cards speak21Table stakes21Time out22Decks and dealing22The finer points: Etiquette22What Will Your Opponents Be Like?23Casual recreational players23Cardroom regulars23Professionals24Proposition players24Playing in a Casino24How to get in a game26Buying chips26Shuffling and dealing26How Casino Poker Differs from Home Games27Tighter than home games27Players are more selective27Games are faster28Chapter 2Essential Strategic Considerations29What Poker Is and Isn't30We Were All Beginners Once31Build a foundation first31... Then you can improvise31Basic Poker Concepts32Understand blinds and antes32Know your opponents32Prepare to win34A Little Probability35A short-term simulation35A long-term simulation35How many bad players does it take to make a good game?36Some Poker Perspective37Why some tactics are important in poker and others aren't37Frequent decisions37Costly decisions38Decisions and subsequent actions38Poker's single most important decision39Starting standards39Hand selectivity39Be aggressive, but be selective40Patience41Position41Coping When All Goes Wrong42Gear down42Narrow the target43Chapter 3Seven-Card Stud45If You've Never Played Seven-Card Stud Poker46A sample hand47Antes, the Deal, and the Betting Structure48Betting48Raising49Double bets49Showdown50Spread-limit games50Know When to Hold 'em and Know When to Fold 'em50What Kind of Hands Are Likely To Win?50The Importance of Lives Cards51The first three cards are critical52Position52Subsequent betting rounds53Seven-Card Stud in Depth53Starting hands54Starting with three-of-a-kind54Big pairs55Small or medium pairs56Playing a draw56Beyond third street57When all the cards have been dealt58Chapter 4Texas Hold'em59Basic Rules59Blind Bets60Hold'em in General60Hold'em only looks like Stud; it plays differently60The first two cards are critical61Position, position, and position61The flop should fit your hand62Beyond the flop62Hold'em in Depth63Small gaps make more straights63Gapped cards64Acting last is a big advantage64Starting Hands64The Art of Raising67You've been raised67When someone's raised after you've called67When should you raise?68Playing the Flop68Fit or fold69Flops you're going to love, flops to fold on69Overcards71Flopping a draw71Multiway possibilities72Playing the Turn73What to do when you improve on the turn74What to do when you don't improve on the turn74Should you continue with a draw?75Should you checkraise or come out betting?75Bluffing on the turn76Playing the River77Realized versus potential value77What do I do when I make my draw?77Top pair on the river78When the Pot Gets Big79Chapter 5Seven-Card Stud Eight-or-Better, High-Low Split (Seven-Stud/8)81If You've Never Played Seven-Stud/8 Before81Antes, the Deal, and the Betting Structure83Betting83Betting order84Raising84Position84Double bets84Showdown85Know When to Hold 'em and Know When to Fold 'em85What Kind of Hands Are Likely To Win?85The importance of live cards86Starting Standards: The first three cards are critical86Playable Hands87Seven-Stud/8 in Depth90Beyond third street91When everyone has low cards showing91Do big hands equal big profits? Not always92Jamming the pot93When you hold the only low hand93How Seven-Stud/8 Differs From Seven-Card Stud94Hidden Hands95Driving and Braking96When All the Cards Have Been Dealt98Chapter 6Omaha99Playing Omaha/8 for the First Time100Blind bets100The deal and betting structure101A sample hand102Knowing When to Hold 'em and When to Fold 'em103Position, position, and position104The flop should fit your hand104Omaha/8 in Depth104Starting hands105Getting good at hand selection107Acting last is a big advantage107Looking for a flop107The unpleasant experience of being quartered108Beyond the flop109What to Do When You've Been Raised110Flopping a draw110Playing the Turn111How do my opponents play?112What in the world could my opponent be holding?112Where do I sit in relation to the other bettors?112How much will it cost to see the hand through to its conclusion?113Playing the River113When you make the best high hand113When you have the best low hand114Exploring Omaha High-Only115Chapter 7Home Poker Games117Setting Up a Home Game117Rules117Dealer's choice118Betting stakes119Wild cards119Time limit120Food and drinks120Paying up120Game Options121Seven-Card Stud121Texas Hold'em121Omaha High121Omaha High-Low, 8-or-Better121Pineapple122Five-Card Draw122Lowball122Five-Card Stud123Baseball123Black Mariah123Indian Poker124Razz124Crisscross (or Iron Cross)124Poker Etiquette in Home Games124Do...125Don't...125More Information on Home Games125Part IIAdvanced Strategy127Chapter 8Bluffing129What Is Bluffing, Anyway?129Different Kinds Of Bluffs130The Importance of Bluffing131Keep 'em guessing132The threat of bluffing132The Bluffing Paradox133Not All Bluffs Are Created Equal134Bluffing on the end with a hopeless hand134Bluffing with more cards to come135Bluffing and Position136Bluffing More Than One Opponent137Bluffing Strategies139Chapter 9Money Management and Recordkeeping141What Is Money Management Anyway?141Does money management make sense?142Should you quit while you're ahead?142Should you quit when you reach a stop-loss limit?143The Truth About Money Management143Having a positive expectation143Game selection and money management144The Importance of Keeping Records145What kind of records should I keep?145How to keep records145Keeping up with recordkeeping146How to Figure Your Win Rate146All averages are not created equal146Standard deviation for the mathematically challenged147How the standard deviation works148Using standard deviation to analyze your poker results150How to Reduce Fluctuations in a Poker Game151How Big Should Your Poker Bankroll Be?152A fool and his money...153How professional players maintain their bankrolls154Moving Up to Bigger Limits155Part IIIComputers, Casinos, and Cardrooms157Chapter 10Poker Tournaments159Why Play Poker Tournaments?159The thrill of victory160Learn new games inexpensively160The game is "pure"160Take on the champs161Poker Tournament Basics161Buy-ins and fees161Betting structures161The prize pool162Satellite tournaments163The Relationship Between Blinds and Betting Structure164The escalating blinds165The end game165Be extremely selective; be very aggressive166Key Mistakes Made in Poker Tournaments166Trying to win too early167Defending your blind too much167Playing too tight167Playing a marginal hand after the flop167Being unaware of other players' chip stacks167Tournament Tips from a World Champion168Cutting a Deal at the Final Table170The fairest way to cut a deal170When the chip count is identical171Issues with Payoff Structures
\ From the Publisher“…full of sound thinking about how to approach the game….informed by someone who’s been there and done it.” (PC Format, April 2005)\ "....a readable introduction to all poker formats..." (Micro Mart, April 2006)\ \ \
