My sister knows nothing about poker...

[WhoIam]

I recently talked with my sister and she told me she had watched some of the WSOP and found it interesting and that she would like to learn more about poker (I assume NLHE). I'm a fairly advanced player but I have no idea how I would teach someone who knows nothing about the game except for the basic rules. Can someone suggest a book I could get her? Would Getting Started in Hold 'em or one of the books by the big name pros be a good introduction? I just need something that isn't too technical and can teach her the very basics of play.

Bonus points if the book is available from the Full Tilt store.

[saal13]

I found Getting Started in Holdem an excellent introductory book. It covers Limit, No Limit and Tournaments.

Also, it might also be worth checking out www.pokerzion.com. There is some great material, hand reviews, coaching, etc. It really made a big difference in my game.

[NickMPK]

I would recommend the Phil Gordon book set or "The Making of a Poker Player" by Matros.

[Gelford]

I wouldn't recommend the Matros book ..

... btw Is a book really necesarry, my own GF is beating the Stars 3.4$ sngs for a 10% roi without ever getting any advice other than never bet less than half pot and if your stack drops below 10BB and you want to play, just go all in.


I always found that sngs are the best introduction to poker ... they are short, fun (at least til you start grinding them for a living) and reminds you of the WPT or WSOP, since it is a tourney (and yet unlike MTTs you'll quickly start winning a few of them) also they start at 1+0.1$ on some sites, so money is not an issue (just beware the rake, some sites have 1+0.5$ sngs, that are unbeatable for a profit)

[NickMPK]

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I wouldn't recommend the Matros book ..


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What did you dislike about the Matros book?

It's not really a strategy book, but it is a great introduction to poker, with discussions of the rules, different games, and basic strategy, but also gives you a feel for the culture of home games, casinos, tournaments, and the internet. It spans a huge range from penny-ante games with family to the $25K WPT championship, and includes chapters on game theory, heads-up play, and table talk. It's like Gordon's Black Book, but better in just about every way.

[Gelford]

Some of it is a good read, but basically it falls between two chairs, the biographical part of it is marred by the instructional parts, but since they are part of a story book and since he tries to cover so many games, the poker advice contain their in is close to none.

He just does not succeed in anything imo, a good idea, and if he devoted the book solely to one game it might have worked but I still have my doubt, still if doubled in size and well written it just might have been good.

As it is it is a pale impersonation of Yardley's book. The poker advice in both books is pretty useless, but at least Yardley has some great stories to tell!

[SenecaJim]

Is this Howard ?

[maurile]

[ QUOTE ]
Is this Howard ?

[/ QUOTE ]

[Bill Haywood]

A good, basic, and short introduction: Poker Tournament Tips from the Pros: How to Win Low-Limit Poker Tournaments by Shane Smith.

Texas No-Limit Hold'em by McEvoy and Daughtery is clear and readable.

[WhoIam]

Does Getting Started in Hold 'em have extended discussions of EV and reverse-implied odds or anything? There's no way my sister would want to have to deal with anything like that, at least not until she was more advanced.

I want to get her a book rather than just teach her because although I'm confident I could turn a bad or mediocre player into a solid winner at SSNL, I wouldn't even know where to begin with someone with no experience at all. Basically I can coach her if she figures out basic stuff like QT isn't a very good hand.

To whoever suggested SnGs, this is an excellent idea. I think for Christmas I'll get her a book and make her an account with $25 or so in it to play $1 SnGs.