Every Hand Revealed by Gus Hansen
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Book Reviews of Every Hand Revealed
Book Review: For the Serious Poker Player
Summary: 5 Stars
When Gus first published the book, I got it and spent the better part of a week absorbing it. I was thrilled with the close-up look at the motivation behind much of Gus' action at the poker table. It gave me valuable insights that helped me open up my personal poker game.
Recently, I recommended this book to a relatively new poker player, who later said he just didn't get it, and he gave it away. So, this week, I pulled the book off my shelf and revisited it.
Do I still recommend this book? Absolutely.
Do I recommend this book to new poker players? Maybe, IF, and this is an important if, they have the patience to work through each hand AND are serious about their game. They also must have a full understanding of how the physical aspects of Texas Hold'em, the importance of position, the value of the check-raise, and so on.
Certainly, going through 329 hands can be tedious; however, Gus' comments on every hand are priceless. Often he gives What-if's as well as his optional actions. Sure, it took me nearly a week to absorb the book, because I would carefully go through 50 or so hands and lay the book down. It is not a quick read, nor is it intended to be a casual read.
Who can benefit most from this book: Poker players who want to get into the mind of a world-class poker player and take their game to the next level.
Book Review: So Wrong - But It Works
Summary: 5 Stars
According to all the books, Gus is wrong in how he plays: it's that simple. But there are two problems I see that give credence to his approach: one, he wins big tournaments, and two, if you follow the books you only win once in a while. So, there must be something to his madness.
The approach Gus uses takes into account the new aggressiveness needed to win today. I especially appreciate the mathematical analysis Gus shares with us, as well as his reads on players and situations and the affects his reads have on his decision-making process. If you are tired of making it half way through most of the time, perhaps it's time to take a new look at your approach. That's what I'm doing and it is helping me get further in tournaments.
This is the first time I've been able to understand how you play at at full table in the early stages of a tournament and how that play changes as the table becomes short (fewer players, e.g., 6-handed or 5-handed) and how your strategy changes as you progress through the tournament. Most of what you see on TV is short-handed play at the final table, with little resemblance to the real play when you are at a full table and in the early goings.
Thank you very much Gus for sharing this experience with us and for being so honest and open with your analysis. As far as I'm concerned, you're the BEST (sorry Phil).
Book Review: My thoughts on Gus Hansens book
Summary: 5 Stars
My opinion of Gus Hansen's
Every Hand Revealed
First of all let me say it took me seven to eight hours to read that should tell you it is a page-turner, I liked it very much. What I would like to have read; is more of what Gus meant by terms like "it seem to me that " this and that what tells did he see what patterns were there for his feelings, what does he look at there eyes, there chip handling etc. There was one mention of how fast the chips went into the pot if he thought there was bluffing going on, from this book it seems that numbers is his main concern. May be he didn't want to tell the world about other players tells but this is a book after all for prosperity, and who knows it would help the other players to know they have those tells. Like in hand 306 the phrase sensing his opponent's feelings, what clues were given or was it just projecting, or wishful thinking on his part.
I would have liked to have had this book written just as it was but with the TV results given showing the actual results, and if his thinking was correct. If possible the tape or CD could have been sold along with the book, after reading this book I would be willing to pay a little more for the next one.
One more observation the picture holding the wining hand AA, made Gus look like Nusferatu not a good look.
Book Review: Classic Small Ball Style of Play -- Excellent Book
Summary: 5 Stars
By far the best poker book I have read. Most poker books out right now focus only on theory and hypothetical hands and situations. With this book you really get to see the game throught the eyes and the mind of one of the greatest poker players. I think that Gus is so successful because he uses the "Small Ball" style of play and he uses this style sucessfully. I also use this type of play and it has brought me some success at the tables but after reading this book my small ball play has improved significantly.
This book is actually fun to read. Most other poker books I read in the past get boring fast because you are getting a bunch of numbers and theory, but this book kept me engaged, and before I knew it I had finished this book in 2 days.
I highly recommend this book for mid to advance players. I think beginners will get themselves in trouble if they use the contents of this book at the tables.
If anything, this book taught me to play aggressive and take a slightly fearless approach to the game. You have to remember, good hands are hard to come by, so you can't just sit and wait all day, especially in a torney where blinds and antes keep going up.
Now I just hope Gus writes another book during a cash game session. I would really love his insight on cash games.
Book Review: "Folding is out of the question!"
Summary: 5 Stars
This has to be one of the few poker books that is an actually entertaining read. If you have just a basic knowledge of poker (and understand slang/lingo) you will get a kick out of this book.
There are tons of books on 'systems' 'strategy' and all the rest. This is a different way to talk someone through a certain poker mindset and the grueling days of a poker tournament. And that's what is really great about this book. He admits sometimes he plays in ways that don't really make sense or fit into a system. Sometimes you just get a feeling about a certain hand or bet or player.
The other thing that really helps this book is, unlike watching WSOP on ESPN (or any other poker program) is that they cut the 'nothing' hands. Here, Gus leaves no hand unturned (in a sense) even he was forced to edit out some mucked hands, but in any situation where he threw chips in, he writes about it. And he wins those pots before the flop on a regular basis- one of his keys to building up the war chest for bigger pots to come.
He talks a good amount about the mathematics of hands and pots and how to bet, but it doesn't really bog down the flow of the book (that kind of stuff is better explained elsewhere, he's just talking shop). If you like poker, you will enjoy this book.