Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

*Couldn't find anything in search, thought this might be fun.*

I don't think you can get any worse that "Comprehensive: No Limit Hold 'em and Tournament" by Rock Banker.

Check out some examples (from Amazon):

Example 1:
(Chapter 1, Odds of a full house on turn or river, page 15)
[Jh Qh] vs. [Kc Ts] and Flop [Ks Tc 2c]
"There are three 10's and three Kings left in deck which could help make the hand a Full house, for a total of six Outs."

Example 2:
(Chapter 2, Playing the Board Bluff, page 48)
[As 8c] vs. [Kc Ac] Board [4s 2c Qs 7c 5s]
"The two hands are not the same, but they split the pot because their kickers don't play:"


[img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

Looks truly horrible. All I can say is Hellmuth's "Play Poker Like the Pros", although some people saw the Omaha section is pretty good.

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

[ QUOTE ]
*Couldn't find anything in search, thought this might be fun.*

I don't think you can get any worse that "Comprehensive: No Limit Hold 'em and Tournament" by Rock Banker.

Check out some examples (from Amazon):

Example 1:
(Chapter 1, Odds of a full house on turn or river, page 15)
[Jh Qh] vs. [Kc Ts] and Flop [Ks Tc 2c]
"There are three 10's and three Kings left in deck which could help make the hand a Full house, for a total of six Outs."

Example 2:
(Chapter 2, Playing the Board Bluff, page 48)
[As 8c] vs. [Kc Ac] Board [4s 2c Qs 7c 5s]
"The two hands are not the same, but they split the pot because their kickers don't play:"


[img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

I just checked out the Amazon customer reviews on this book. There are some more gems the OP left out. It's worth checking out the Amazon customer reviews just for the laugh, but I wouldn't buy the book unless you have a perverse need to have the likely worst poker book ever.

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

I've seen that same one on Amazon, that's definitely gotta be one of the worst.

Another bad one is "Bad Beats and Lucky Draws". Phil Hellmuth strokes his ego for the whole book and it didn't even provide that much insight.

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

I not long ago read In the Money by Esfandiari. Pretty much sucked. I picked it up because it was pretty much one of the first books on NL cash games. The only problem was that it wasn't really about NL cash games.

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

Greatest
The Book of Poker for Winners! and it is not even close.
^

Dude actually recomends keeping your winnings in a seperate stack from your buyin and when that stack starts to get low, you should consider leaving.

I didn't finish the book.

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

Don't know what the exact title is, but I thumbed through a Brunson book on internet poker for about five minutes at the bookstore while my kid was playing with the train there.

Unfortunately, my recollection of specifics is very lean but I was dumbfounded at the fluffy nature of the advice. He covered stuff like what name and image to use on the screen. I know the guy is a legend and all, but at some point, when you start to put your name on anything and everything, no matter how shoddy, it tends to dilute the brand.

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

jfk: I believe it's just "Internet Poker"

The book was basically just an ad for DoylesRoom.

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

"I don't think you can get any worse that "Comprehensive: No Limit Hold 'em and Tournament" by Rock Banker. "

Isn't a rock banker a Tight-Passive Player?

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I've seen that same one on Amazon, that's definitely gotta be one of the worst.

Another bad one is "Bad Beats and Lucky Draws". Phil Hellmuth strokes his ego for the whole book and it didn't even provide that much insight.

[/ QUOTE ]


Does every poker book ever written have to give you a new insight to strategy.

The title of the book was not "How to put bad beats on people and how to Make lucky draws" but the way you people talk I'm sure it would be a seller.

There are a lot of poker books out there that do not deal in strategy. They were not written to give you some magicical power at the table.

How dare you say this book sucked because your a bad player and it did not give you the secrets to stop losing your money.

Some poker books are GOOD because they are a fun, witty, energetical read.
Peter Thomas Foratale's Winning Secrets of Poker.
Is nothing more than a bunch of Interview's with Players
But it's an AWESOME read. Sklansky thrashing Negreanu.
Al Boston Threating to beat up Hellmuth.
Like bad beats and lucky draws they are just stories for people who know how to play the game and just want something fun to read.

Who the hell said a Poker book had to be "only" about strategy.

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

I'm very sorry for having an opinion, I will henceforth completely agree with you because if I didn't like a book that you seem to, that clearly makes me a losing poker player.

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

Your opinion is null because you are basing it on the assumption that ALL POKER BOOKS HAVE TO BE ABOUT STATEGY ONLY BECAUSE "loveminus0) says so

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

No, I am saying that I disliked Bad Beats and Lucky Draws because it provided poor insight into the hands featured, was full of Phil Hellmuth talking about how good he was which I don't really care to read about, was poorly written, and on and on.

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

Killer poker, By John Vorhaus. I have no idea why I bought this trash, think I managed about 20 pages before giving up on it.

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

poker unlimited.

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

Once again your looking for insight and strategy.
This book was for entertainment.
You say it was poorly written. Can I have some examples
Do you have an editing background. Do you work for a publisher. What are your qualifications to say that the book was poorly written.

That said I think it was a Well written, Entertainment filled book with little or no strategy value.

Same argument I can't say it was Well Written because I don't have any TRUE idea of what a well written book should be like all i can base it on is that I enjoyed the book.

You did not like the book hence it's poorly written.

I don't think you can base the writing of a book based on whether you liked it or not.

We could ask someone with a masters in english ?

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Once again your looking for insight and strategy.
This book was for entertainment.
You say it was poorly written. Can I have some examples
Do you have an editing background. Do you work for a publisher. What are your qualifications to say that the book was poorly written.

That said I think it was a Well written, Entertainment filled book with little or no strategy value.

Same argument I can't say it was Well Written because I don't have any TRUE idea of what a well written book should be like all i can base it on is that I enjoyed the book.

You did not like the book hence it's poorly written.

I don't think you can base the writing of a book based on whether you liked it or not.

We could ask someone with a masters in english ?

[/ QUOTE ]

What is your relationship to the author, publisher, etc.?

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

Exactly what I was thinking, steamboatin. This guy seems genuinely offended that I did not like the book.

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

"The Illustrated Guide to Texas Hold'Em" and "The Illustrated Guide to No-Limit Texas Hold'Em" by Dennis Purdy.

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Once again your looking for insight and strategy.
This book was for entertainment.
You say it was poorly written. Can I have some examples
Do you have an editing background. Do you work for a publisher. What are your qualifications to say that the book was poorly written.

That said I think it was a Well written, Entertainment filled book with little or no strategy value.

Same argument I can't say it was Well Written because I don't have any TRUE idea of what a well written book should be like all i can base it on is that I enjoyed the book.

You did not like the book hence it's poorly written.

I don't think you can base the writing of a book based on whether you liked it or not.

We could ask someone with a masters in english ?

[/ QUOTE ]


Phil?!?

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Does every poker book ever written have to give you a new insight to strategy.

[/ QUOTE ]

No, only the good ones would do that.

[ QUOTE ]
Peter Thomas Foratale's Winning Secrets of Poker.
Is nothing more than a bunch of Interview's with Players
But it's an AWESOME read. Sklansky thrashing Negreanu.
Al Boston Threating to beat up Hellmuth.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds like a story book based around poker, rather than a poker book.

[ QUOTE ]
What are your qualifications to say that the book was poorly written.

[/ QUOTE ]

You don't need qualifications to say that a book is poorly written, being able to read and having some intelligence would be sufficent.

[ QUOTE ]
You did not like the book hence it's poorly written.

I don't think you can base the writing of a book based on whether you liked it or not.

We could ask someone with a masters in english

[/ QUOTE ]

He didn't say "I don't like the book therefore it is poorly written," he said he didn't like the book because "full of Phil Hellmuth talking about how good he was ..., was poorly written." There is a very clear and easily understandable different between the two remarks and it certainly doesn't take a degree in English to work it out.

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

I also vote Online Poker by Doyle Brunson as the worst poker book ever written, even worse than Killer Poker. Here's the review I put on amazon.
[ QUOTE ]
This book doesn't even deserve one star. I wasted several hours of my life looking thought this book in a vain attempt to find some something useful, I can safely say there is absolutely nothing of value within the covers.

I found the cd mildly amusing, however after boredom inducing read of the book I could have found watching someone else's paint dry amusing. I actually felt guilty selling it and wasting someone else time. I should have just thrown it in the recycling where it deserved to be.

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

Just my thoughts on "Bad Beats and Lucky Draws". Now I'm not going to say that it's a bad strategy book. It's not a strategy book at all. However I still didn't like it because it was full of ego stroking and contradictory advice.

Most redeeming point of the book though was near the end. Phil talks about the time he showed a bluff in a bar game and the guy knocked him down and started choking him.

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

Well, Rock Banker does sound like the new worst. However I cannot believe this whole thread does not contain mention of John Patrick, who was clearly right up there until Mr. Banker found a publisher.

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

Killer Poker Online

The second book on poker I ever read, and while it was a mildly entertaining read, I kept waiting for the bit where it told me how to play, rather than concentrate, switch off the tv, don't multitable, take notes etc

Couldn't wait to get it listed on ebay.

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

Hoo boy! I've been reading the Rock Banker book using Amazon's "Search Inside" feature. Among his chestnuts O wisdom:

If you flop a set on board of w/ 2 clubs, do not move all-in ever because you might get called and the opponent has 2 chances to make his flush and beat you (Even funnier, in this example, the board is 8 9 10 and no mention of a possible straight is made).

His reason: "This (sic) classic play is the essence of many thousand times experimentation of the same event by some very professional players, and I respect the awesome experience obtained in bloody poker tables."

But wait, there's more!

"In NLHE, 'nothing' and 'no pair' are valid hands, and players bet and raise on them quire regularly."

In a live casino, to combat players constantly stealing your blinds, or re-raising you opening bets, he advocates changing seats. Yes, changing seats.

You hold 10 10 before the flop- move all in.

I could go on, but my head hurts.

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

bahahahhahahaha

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

Heh I'm in Iraq right now I can 100% say I don't know Phil Hellmuth.
I did not like Phils first book. If that makes you feel any better. But I can't say it was poorly written because I would not know a poorly written book from a good one.
[img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
For the most part I'm just busting your chops I just wanted you to word your I don't like it better. "I did not like it because I thought it was a strategy book which turned out to be a story book" [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

its all good man, and also props on being more man than i could ever be and fighting for your country.

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

I don't like the Cloutier books, especially the hold'em books. Stud and Omaha seem to be better.

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

Killer poker, By John Vorhaus is the only poker book that I have thrown away.

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

"Accuracy of Poker" probably tops all these, or close to it.

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

How did this thread make it 30+ posts without anyone metioning Ken Warren?Easily the worst poker books out there.
My first book was Ken Warren Teaches Texas Hold'em.It took me months to unlearn the bad ideas he put in my head.Just terrible.

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

[ QUOTE ]

[As 8c] vs. [Kc Ac] Board [4s 2c Qs 7c 5s]
"The two hands are not the same, but they split the pot because their kickers don't play:"

[/ QUOTE ]


wow.

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

the rock banker book's reviews really are worth reading. the second one, in particular, is hilarious.

http://www.amazon.com/Comprehensive-.../dp/1419625225

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

"This book is almost an encyclopedia of terms, plays, events and rules of the game, a must read book for beginners and advanced players alike."


Hmmm!

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

I love this description accompanying "Comprehensive: No Limit Hold 'em and Tournament" by Rock Banker:


“With that extraordinary commitment, Rock engineered all the graphic icons used to express the ideas in the book.”

Does that mean he drew all the pictures?

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

"Rock has been a winning player at major poker events across the globe. He started his poker career in Low Ball, Stud, Omaha and High Low Hold'em in 1983. He is the first place finisher in many No Limit Hold'em tournaments and the lucky winner of a number of Jackpots. He is also well acquainted with Blackjack and card counting and is a Master of Backgammon, Chess, Go and Risk games."

With such credentials as this, I am surprised at why one would use a Pen Name. If this is indeed non an alias, then I am puzzled why I have not heard of him. I see one of the reviewers pointed out the exact same thing.

BTW, as for the Ken Warren thing, I do have that book here. I remember briefing through it quite a time ago, but after reading this thread perhaps I should re-examine it. Refresh my memory on the 'interesting' parts I should look at first :P

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

"He is the first place finisher in many No Limit Hold'em tournaments"

http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/sear...;s=Rock+Banker

Re: Worst Poker Book You\'ve Ever Seen/Read?
 

As a noted authority on Risk, I'm sure he has the poker chops to write a scintillating tome.