The Theory of Poker: A Professional Poker Player Teaches You How To Think Like One by David Sklansky
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Book Reviews of The Theory of Poker: A Professional Poker Player Teaches You How To Think Like One
Book Review: Most Important Book In Poker
Summary: 5 Stars
Let's get right to the point. This is the single most important book on poker ever published. The Theory of Poker does not contain a lot of information on how to play certain hands, and in those places where it does, it is only to illustrate a bigger point. The methodology taught here is to understand general situations, not specific instances that one will encounter in play, thus it truly is The Theory of Poker.
Now, don't get the idea that merely by possessing this book and holding it next to your head for a while you'll turn into a world class poker player. That is not at all the case. This book does not require reading to unlock its wisdom, it requires study, and many hours of it. Unless your are a seasoned poker veteran, you cannot expect to get very much out of it the first time through. This book requires, and warrants, several thorough readings.
Right from the preface, the reader is advised as to what will be required:
This book is about the general theories and concepts of poker play, which are operative in nearly every variation of poker... . It is not a how-to book in the sense of providing the basic rules and a step-by-step procedure for playing the various games. [...] Rules of thumb that say to fold one hand, call with another, and raise with yet another simply won't get a poker player beyond the beginning stages.
Sklansky discusses many critical concepts of poker, often for the first time anywhere. He discusses pot odds, effective odds, implied odds, and reverse implied odds. He covers the semi-bluff, defending against the semi-bluff, check-raising, and slowplaying. He covers the advanced topics of game theory, hand reading, and psychology. There is no important aspect of poker play that escapes Sklansky's attention.
Because of the depth and breadth of the subject matter he covers, Sklansky's readers will have to spend significant time to apply this information to their own games, hence the requirement for study. Despite the fact that Sklansky communicates this information in as clear a manner as I could imagine, there is still sufficient opportunity for the reader to misunderstand or misapply the principles offered here. As I've repeatedly said, even though this is a critically important book, it is by no means an easy book.
The bottom line, though, is that in my opinion it is the best book on poker ever published. This is an absolute must read for all serious players, but be prepared to spend some serious time on it.
Capsule:
In my opinion, this is the most important book on poker ever published. This is a serious work and it deserves (and requires) a great deal of study by those who wish to learn its principles. It's my opinion that the poker skills of those who do not study this book will significantly lag behind those who do. If you're a serious poker player, you cannot afford not to read this book.
Book Review: X-Ray the Game.
Summary: 5 Stars
As you read The Theory of Poker (TOP), one may initially be tempted into thinking that the book is somewhat dated as it makes no acknowledgement of the transcendence of Hold `Em in the poker world. Certainly this is a result of its being written in the 1970s, but the fact that games like stud, razz, and draw are used for the basis of its examples and illustrations is, in fact, not a detriment. Learning the mechanics of a new game is a pleasant, and unexpected, side benefit to reading The Theory of Poker. Some of the concepts will stay with you long after you're finished with these pages, and, perhaps, add to your proficiency should you ever attempt to master new pokers in the future.
Well, all of this is fine and good, but the real question is, what exactly is this book? It elucidates the large concepts which embody the game. I'd call it Big Ball as opposed to small ball. At first glance, it strikes one as neither fish nor fowl because it does not take the reader "into the weeds" as Small Stakes Hold `Em or Hold `Em for Advanced Players does, yet it still is unquestionably all about poker. What we have here is a discussion of poker at the global level. It brims with analysis of the theories and hidden meanings that embody the game. TOP is the story of poker from above, below, and within the cards you draw, are dealt, or view arrayed upon the table. It is not a substitute for the more technical works, but it definitely is a vehicle for enhancing their meaning. Basic, yet essential, concepts are thoroughly explored such as bluffing, giving out free cards, checkraising, and the intricacies of betting on the river.
The Fundamental Theory of Poker is integral to one's every action, and it postulates that, when a player plays in the same manner he would if he could see his opponent's cards, he is approaching the game correctly. At each level of deviating from the way he would play if he could see his opponent's cards, he makes more and more mistakes. Avoiding mistakes and exploiting those of your opponent is exactly what poker is all about.
I guess before investing your money, you undoubtedly would like to know, will this make me a better player? I can answer such queries with an emphatic: Absolutely! This is truly a work which sticks to your ribs, and you'll chaw on it like a cow does grass. Dan Harrington cited it several times within his two 2005 poker masterpieces, and Howard Lederer mentioned TOP in an interview I saw after being asked what books furthered his development.
Book Review: A classic, and for good reason: concepts herein are timeless
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was written 11 years ago. Think about that for a second, and what it says about how fundamentally revolutionary the concepts Sklansky presents must be, that players still consider this book among the most important ever put into print. You'll still find this book on the bookshelves of every serious poker player, and I, along with most serious amateurs I know, refer to it on a continuing basis. Other so-called "classic" books, such as Brunson's first Super System and even the first printing of both Jones' and Sklansky & Malmuth's books were outstanding in their time, but most acknowledge that they have since lost their applicability to the more aggressive modern game. Theory of Poker, however, stands as a shining exception to these other outdated books, and continues to be what I believe to be the most important book for any and every poker player. In addition, Sklansky discusses many different poker games, and not just hold'em which seems to be all the rage at the moment. Understanding how the theoretical concepts he discusses apply to different games really helps reinforce the underlying reasoning.As written above, the most amazing aspect of the book is that it has not, in any way, become outdated as the game has continued to change. Even with the explosion of internet poker, I found myself constantly re-reading chapters, and Sklansky's discussion of things such as the "fundamental theorum of poker" are even MORE applicable in the online arena, where loose play is the norm, especially post-flop in holdem. My son recently convinced me (after much pleading) to give online play a shot, and I was stunned at how well the lessons from Theory of Poker adapted to the style of play I found...they really teach you how to extract the most from less-skilled opponents, while being able to properly fold hands that are beat. If you decide to give the online thing a shot, another review here had a good suggestion to check out pokercroaker.com which had site reviews and sign-up bonus codes for most major sites. Is Sklansky's writing style the most entertaining or gripping? Assuredly not: this is anything but a page-turner, but it's the reader who can look past his occasionally dry writing style who will truly reap the rewards of the nuggets of wisdom contained herein. In my humble opinion, a must-read for poker players of all levels.
Book Review: This is Still the Definitive Poker Strategy Text
Summary: 5 Stars
Anyone reading this review needs to realize that there is absolutely no substitute for reading "The Theory of Poker." The substance of this text is exactly what one might expect from the title: this book is a tour de force on the abstract theory behind the game. As author David Sklansky rightly points out in the introduction, this book is not a playbook of fancy "moves" that can be made in various situations; rather, it is a text on the philosophy behind the game and how one should go about weighing actions in any given situation. This book teaches not what plays to make, but how to THINK about what plays you should make. You cannot get this information from any other source! Every other book that deals with these subjects is thoroughly derivative: they all owe their inspiration to "The Theory of Poker."
Be prepared though: Sklansky is not light reading. He always apologizes for not being a professional author in his books, but actually I don't think there's any need for Sklansky to apologize for "The Theory of Poker." This is clearly the best-written, most logically organized text that Sklansky has ever produced, and I don't know how these ideas could be presented more simply. But even still, the material in this text is abstract and quite dense; you cannot read through the book once or twice and expect to absorb his theory. In fact, what I have done (and recommend you do, as well), is to outline the key points he makes in the text and repeatedly study that. I personally condensed this book into a 13 page outline that I go back over occasionally in the context of various hands I have played, judging how well (or poorly) I did in comparison to the various benchmarks Sklansky sets for thinking about a hand. It's that type of rigorous, methodical application that this book demands to achieve its full value; do this and I believe you will achieve greater success.
Pick up "The Theory of Poker"! This is still the definitive text in its field; everything else is but commentary on these fundamental ideas.
I'd also recommend Poker Tips that Pay: Expert Strategy Guide for Winning No Limit Texas Hold em for readers that are looking for a less mathematical, theoretical poker text and more hands-on learning by example.
Book Review: Required poker foundation
Summary: 5 Stars
Sklansky's Theory of Poker is no longer the newest book on advanced poker thought, but it remains required reading for both the average and the more experienced player. While some of the specific hand-analysis and tactical advice has been updated or superceded by more recent and also excellent books by the likes of Harrington or Gordon, the basic concepts do not change, and Sklansky is an insightful analyst, as well as an excellent teacher. The attentive reader will find his time and thought well rewarded.
According to Sklansky's Theory of Poker, the game is one of mistakes - the point is to induce mistakes in your opponents' play while avoiding mistakes in play yourself. The basic nature of poker, in any of its forms, implies that you have imperfect and limited knowledge of the value of the hands your opponents hold, and they have limited knowledge of yours; it is because of this limited knowledge that mistakes can take place.
Mistakes and errors are simple to define. If you had perfect knowledge of all hands, you would play your own hand in a certain, mathematically correct way. To the extent you play your hand differently, due to lack of knowledge or deception or whatever, you have made a mistake. Sklansky teaches various ways of inducing those mistakes in others, and also how to correctly analyze your own hand and options for play.
Sklansky draws on multiple forms of poker for examples; not just Hold 'Em, but also 7 Stud, 5-card Draw, Razz, etc. For the player only familiar with Hold Em this may be a little confusing at first. The book is meant as a theoretical examination of principles built into all poker games, and is not really a how-to-play for Hold Em or any other form of poker.
Sklansky's writing is dense in the sense that he does not beat around the bush or waste time or fill his book with fluff. The book is not light reading, and probably should not be your first book if you are not thoroughly familiar with the play as well as the language and jargon of the game. It cannot be skimmed. But there isn't a player out there who would not benefit from a careful reading, and would not benefit more from re-reading again six months later, this book.