Phil Gordon's Little Green Book: Lessons and Teachings in No Limit Texas Hold'em

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The Phil Gordon's Little Green Book is, in my view, the second or third best book on no-limit. In my view, nothing beats the Harrington books, which are more comprehensive, particularly on tournament strategy (although they are useful for cash games too), and Doyle's chapter in Super System is still must reading. But having said that, Phil Gordon's book is right up there with these classics--heady company. It is conversational in tone and easy reading, but not unsophisticated. The sections of the book dealing with post-flop play are excellent, and somewhat reminiscent of the approach used in Super System, as Phil analyzes how he would play some commonly-occurring post-flop situations. The sections on pot-odds, implied odds and hand match-ups is clear and surprisingly comprehensive--he really gives you everything you need to know. Phil gives some useful starting hand charts and includes a useful and insightful discussion of some common pre-flop situations. I wish Phil had spent a little more time discussing how he plays hands when he is not first in the pot (and expanded on the starting-hand charts at the back of the book), as well as more time discussing how he views the tactic of raising (or calling a raise) with small pairs and connectors (based on an implied odds argument)--he does mention the tactic, but I think there is more to be said on the topic. His discussion of play from the small blind and button is excellent, as is his discussion of blind-stealing. I was fascinated by his discussion of maintaining an appropriate ratio between steal raises (which you would generally have to fold to a reraise) and raises with a real hand in order to maintain a profit (i.e., winning enough when you have a real hand to compensate for your losses when you have to fold to a reraise)--I have not seen that kind of discussion elsewhere, and the calculation can be fine-tuned to match table conditions as well as applied to a variety of other situations when you are contemplating a move.

Phil says that he is not the best player in the world, but notes that he is a profitable player. I would add that he is a generous player and author also--Phil is generous in sharing his knowledge, and does not appear to be holding much back (too bad Barrry Greenstein didn't right a book like this rather than the non-substantive coffee table book on poker that he actually wrote--talk about holding back!). Based on listening to Phil's Podcasts on the WSOP, watching his DVD and reading this book, it is apparent to me that Phil enjoys sharing his knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, the game with others. He is a natural expositor and gifted teacher.

You can never be too rich or have too much information in my opinion; Gordon has both in excess if you know his story. I decided to get the audio version because I drive between 500 and 600 miles per week. Absolutely excellent. Of particular interest and value to me is his analysis of playing AJ for all your chips against the probable calling hands(AK,AQ,AA,KK,and QQ ) and playing 87 suited against those same hands. The AJ rates to win about 25% and the 87 suited about 32%. I have always hated AJ and now I have another reason. It is this kind of analysis that makes this book so interesting and thought provoking. He covers so many ideas and aspects that this is a book to be read in small doses many times rather than all at once. No one could possibly remember all he has to say. His "Don't tap the aquarium" is a favorite because so many misguided players berate the bad players into leaving and missing out on relatively easy money because they suffer a drawout or two. His section on "Sick gamblers" helped me to see them in a different way; where I used to not play my best against them, I feel better now in playing them as tough as anyone who is taking a shot at my money. Overall a very good book filled and overflowing with many nuggets of great poker wisdom. Gordon is a likeable and effective teacher but also admits he is not the best in the world. He is a winning player who developed over time and shares much of the information which has helped him to elevate his game. Definitely recommended.

Phil Gordon is not only a successful professional poker player and poker commentator (from Bravo's "Celebrity Poker Showdown"), but with his "Little Green Book," he proves he is a master teacher of poker as well.

With the advent of online gaming and televised Texas Hold'em tournaments, poker has seen an explosion in popularity in the last three years. To meet the demand for poker information, many pro players have written how-to books. Some are too basic for the experienced player, others too complex for the beginner. Gordon's book is the 12th poker book I've bought, and I rank it at the top for both style and substance.

The Little Green Book is patterned after Harvey Penick's Little Red Book on golf, and like Penick's book, it covers its subject with clarity and detail, and without pretense. Beginners and experience players alike will benefit from Gordon's book.

I think it was Tommy Smothers who joked that he was going to write a golf book called: "The 39 Most Important Things to Think About at the Moment of Impact." Reading golf books can cause a player to overanalyze and, consequently, worsen a player's game. The same can be said of some poker books, but not Gordon's. While the book is simple and an easy read, it is also comprehensive. It covers play on every round of betting, the math involved in no limit hold'em, the psychology of the game, and tourney play. The book also includes starting hand charts and "tells," the body language of poker that gives opponents clues of a player's hand. It's no stretch to say it represents the only no limit hold'em book a player needs to master the game.

I highly recommend the Little Green Book for those who want a rock solid foundation in no-limit hold'em.

Phil Gordon is a great teacher of poker. This book is simple to understand and straight forward. Phil is very good at taking semi-complex concepts and making them easy for anyone to learn. Phil also put out a DVD called Expert Insight: Final Table Poker that I picked up and love. It just had so much good info and wasn't boring like other poker DVDs I've seen. (...)If you want to learn Hold 'em I would pick-up both the book and the DVD.

Well-written, easy to read. This book covers the math, the tells (a little bit), and why players play the way they do. Also, I love the examples of tournament plays and things the players did to elicit calls. I love Phil's anecdotes which are part of the book's teaching. These are as informative as the lessons. The book covers a lot of material concisely, and in a friendly manner. The chapters are very easy to read and again the anecdotes ILLUSTRATE the principles the book expounds. Phil Gordon is modest and admits his book is not definitive (whose is?). I loved this book for its mathematics, tells, methods, and examples by player.

The book is a carry-it-with-you mini-guide to poker. Don't let its size fool you, the book is almost 300 pages long, so it covers everything from the ranking of poker hands to tells to tournament strategy to famous poker players.

The book is a solid addition to your poker book collection, but after absorbing it you won't be at the final table of the WSOP main event real soon. Even though it covers, moment by moment the play of your hand, I think some of his advice is not the best. I'm thinking here of the binds that the short stacks face late in a tourney, and how to deal with them.

Others have said this is an instructive and downright easy text for the math phobes to learn poker odds. (Actually, the chatty narrative in Matt Mattros's Making of a Poker Player, is better at that. Mattros is a certified math whiz from Yale. By the way, Ed Miller's Getting Started in Hold'em Poker is excellent on odds as well.)

Gordon here, not only explains odds, he gives rules of thumb and backs them up with the real math figured to the _hundredths_ of a percentage point.

He gives many surprising headsup hand vs. hand matchups. Which is more likely to win JT suited or a pair of fives? JT suited is a 52.46% favorite, according to Gordon. There's so much math in this little green book, you know he loves it.

All of which means that Gordon's little green book is an information-packed text to study and re-study.

This book is written as a series of short essays. Each one is just several pages long, but each is in its own way, a thought provoking essay that if taken to heart, should alter your style of play slightly.

Because of this, I don't think it is wise to pick up the book and start reading; you would just end up plowing through the material without absorbing it. Ideally, you should read 2 or 3 of the short points, then play a game or two with real people (online play only counts for building technical proficiency) seeing if you can use those 2 or 3 points to alter your style of play.

The material here is dense and impressive for such a small book.

Just because somebody is a great skier doesn't qualify them to teach the sport. Likewise, a big winner in poker isn't necessarily a good teacher. However, in Phil Gordon we get both. A proven winner and a great teacher. His ability to distill complex ideas into simple explanations is second to none. Buy this book and win money! It paid me back many times over in my first session after reading it. And I hear he is going heli boarding up in Canada for a week and there are spaces for 30 others at $5k the week...I'm tempted to do that as well and pay it off in the first session back...lol

I am new to the world of poker and have been searching for a book that would teach me some of the fundamentals of the game without going over my head. Some of the books out there read like a college algebra textbook.

Phil has written a great book for the beginner and seasoned player to enjoy. This book is broken down into chapters that cover the entire had from pre flop to turn (and cover what you should do or look for at each spot). Other chapters thoroughly cover Tells, Tournament Strategies, Percentages and Math, and Psychology. And, if Phil left anything out, he put it in the Miscellaneous chapter. Add in some charts covering all aspects of poker and some player profiles at the end of the book and I have found myself a keeper.

The only thing that disappointed me was the chapter on Online Poker (where I play most of the time). It ended up being an advertisement for Full Tilt Poker more than a strategy guide. However, there are several books on the market that cover online play so I guess I can live with that. The wealth of information in this book far outweighs my disenchantment with this one chapter.

When reading any instructional book I normally underline just the important parts so I can come back later and just hit the highlights. Not so with this book. I would have to underline the entire volume from cover to cover. Should No Limit Texas Hold `em ever be taught in school, this would definitely be the textbook to use. I can tell I will be reading this one for years to come.

I saw this book and almost did not bother. I decided I had enough respect for Phil Gordon to read it. The first few pages had me thinking that I would be done in 20 minutes.

All skepticism ended there. The book is a killer read for anyone wanting to play Hold Em and even those who are a year or two into the game. I started realizing that I was starting to understand some things I thought I understood before (I have been playing poker for only 14 months) In just one example for you, I learned to calculate outs and the percentage that I could hit my hand on the flop and turn. Now, I had read about outs and had a vague idea, but understand I learned this in two tiny pages of this book. I can watch it on TV, pause Tivo, calculate and always be within 2%. That alone was worth the price of admission. Again, many books I had read made this very complicated for me to fully grap. I am horrible at math, so that could be the cause.

Anyhow, if your on the fence, get off and grab this book, you will be glad it is in your collection. I am.

I've been playing poker regularly (not professionally) for over 20 years. Over those years I've read just about every book on the subject, subscribed to magazines and even took lessons from a top pro and author. With all that being said, in my estimation "Little Green Book" is without a doubt one of the greatest books ever written on Poker in general and NL Holdem in particular. It ranks up there with Sklansky's Theory of Poker, Brunson's Supersystem and Ciaffone's Pot Limit and No Limit Poker.

The information given out is so profitable, it's amazing to me that a young pro would be so generous with knowledge that's obviously taken him many year and I'm sure plenty of money lost to acquire.

I'd love to give this book out as a gift to anyone who has the slightest interest in poker, but I'm not sure I want to give those I play against the info contained therein.

Thanks Phil and Keep up the good work.

This is just a BEginner/baby poker book
i was expecting a more detailed book.
** Only buy this if you are a complete Newbie !
This book does the same as any other Beginning poker book.

Buy Harrington on Holdem instead

im curious as to why this book is rated 4 STARS ?

Phil Gordon provides some great information in this book. The book gives quick 1 or 2 page tips on a topic and moves on. If you think of any questions you could possibly think of to ask a professional player, Phil has probably covered it in this book.

"What should I do once I flop a flush?"
"What if I bet the flop and get called?"
"When should I move all-in before the flop?"

Making a deal, stealing blinds...anything you can think of, Phil has crammed it into this "huge" little book.

Phil doesn't claim to be the greatest player in the world or anything. What he has done here is present how he plays. You can disagree with how he plays and he even encourages you to develop your own style. This book can really help you think about poker differently and advance your poker skills to the next level. The information is presented in a clever and entertaining manner. I think players of any level will enjoy this book.

I am buying up copies of this book for everyone I know who doesn't already have it. It is an absolutely *must have* for all poker libraries, no matter if you are just getting into the game, or already think you know it all.

Phil's writing style imparts a vast amount of hard won experience without coming off as condescending. AND, you don't have to be a math whiz to understand him. Unlike some of the other famed poker books, I was able to take away immediate knowledge and increase my skill from just one reading. Other books have had me reading and rereading chapters while walking away still confused.

My favorite chapters in Phil's Gordon's Little Green Book were Before the Flop, After the Turn, Short Stack Strategy for Tournaments, and all his subchapters on Tells were fun and informative, too.

Plain and simple, buy this book. Your skills will improve if you read it. Mine did.

That said, this is a very good poker book. I did not expect much but was suprised and delighted at the valuable content in this book. Very thoughtful and well written, covering several topics in more depth and with greater clarity than in any other poker book I have read.

Overall, this is a pretty good poker book. A few complaints:

- too much focus on what to do with great hands and very little focus on mediocare hands. If you don't know what to do when you flop a full house or a flush, Phil has you covered. However, anybody can make money with those hands. It's the 2nd and 3rd best hands that people have trouble with. Phil's advice in these cases always seems to be "fold" and usually things aren't that simple.

- nothing on heads-up. At all. There's not too much discussion on short tables either. There is a listing of pre-flop hands to play and short tables are mentioned a few times but mostly in passing.

- Not enough examples. Maybe I'm just stuck on Harrington's books where you walk through tons and tons of hands. This book mostly just states theory and sometimes gives a flop and turn example but not enough in my opinion.

There is a lot of good stuff in here as well. It's a quick read but each pages is filled with theories that have to be dwelled upon to really understand. It's easy to read through and overload on so much information that you forget most of it. That's why I wish there were more examples.

I think this book is best used as almost as summary of the Harrington books. Best if read slowly.

I am a strictly low limit player (my bankroll hasn't grown enough yet to be able to justify playing higher limits...plus, I play poker for fun, not for a living). After I bought this book, I now make money when I play poker the majority of time that I play (both online and at some casinos here in Michigan). I estimate I have made over $500 due to the strategies and tips in this book. The book makes the math of poker easy, and the psychological aspects of poker are shown giving real life situations. Plus, it is written in an entertaining fashion....it isn't a dry "how to" book. It makes for an enjoyable read.

Finally, any book on poker that quotes Sun Tzu has a place on my bookshelf.

So anyway, if you don't live in Michigan, you should get the book. But if you play at the Soaring Eagle casino here in Michigan, please don't buy the book as I would prefer to have the edge all to myself.

I agree with the first reviewer in that Little Green Book is essential reading, but I would even go so far as to say this one is the best all-around NL holdem book written to date. If I had to buy just one book, this would be it. Howard and Annie wrote an effusive introduction, and they are pretty critical in general, and they guard their reputations pretty well. If they were just doing Gordon a favor, they would have toned it down and saved the embarrassment that Malmuth brought on himself by going to bat for Greenstein's (lame) book.

Also, as another reviewer mentioned, Phil's Expert Insight DVD is amazing. Lot's of similar material as his new book, but it is presented in such a way that you can't help but learn and be entertained at the same time. It must have cost him half a million to produce, easy.

I've been playing online for the past two years with moderate success. Having read this book over the past few days, I can't stress just how impressed I am with it. I have read several authors, including Sklansky and Harrington, and this does not suffer in comparison. I was so impressed I purchased the audio cd. Now after reading specific chapters I replay these on the audio CD as i fall asleep. It is a brilliant way to reinforce the lessons! Highly recommended!

I have purchased about everything on the market. I was hesitant about about buying this book. I heard from Texas Hold'em friends that is a tough read. So I got the CD for my car. I can't tell you how many times I have listened to this CD, but each time I get something new out of it. I love the ability to have the repitition with no effort, but to listen in the car in a time which would be other wise lost time. My game has improved tremendously. Buy this and the Poker Academy Software found on Amazon and you will be well on your way to professional poker.

I was a winning but frustrated limit hold 'em player. I liked the thought of choosing the size of my bets - but always seemed to get it wrong when playing no-limit. This book has changed all that. Concise but comprehensive, it takes you through most of the situations you meet.

There was too much for me to take in in one reading - now I go back and consult whenever I meet a problem and normally find it has the answer.

Gordon is generous with his thoughts, and you feel his heart is really in the book. For me this is up there with Brunson's no-limit section of Super System. Gordon's style of playing is slightly less risky than Brunson's, though there are many similarities.

And if course, best of all, the book has paid for itself many times over already! I recommend it highly

Allow me to say at outset that I've never really been much of a Phil Gordon fan. I always thought he got the Bravo gig due to his looks and gravitas rather than to any innate poker playing ability, so it took me awhile to get around to The Little Green Book. My previous lack of admiration for the author should make my sincere recommendation of this text all the more meaningful.

This work isn't built upon compulsive detail; it is a compendium of advice from a long time player. Gordon provides us with an excellent macro level picture of No Limit Hold'em. No, it doesn't cover every situation which can arise but it does issue general perspectives that are widely applicable. One can easily see how these principles foster solid play. A real strength of the narration is that it's clear and conversational. This is a manual which reads like a newspaper.

Some of his admonitions were of immediate benefit, such as his warning: "Don't Get Broke on One Pair." How many times do pocket kings or aces end up breaking their holder in No Limit? Personally, I've been on both ends of that powerful equation. Gordon's listing of the five qualities common to all great poker players was highly astute. I also liked his mini-tale about BOW, or the Biggest Online Winner. The guy's style could well work but you'd need rocks the size of Stonehenge to pull it off. Another thing that I liked was his position on pocket pairs and that you should try to see a flop with them whenever possible. Getting a set, or set farming, is something that a few ultra-tight players do today in cash games, and, reportedly, it has led to incredibly successful results. There's a ton of stellar information here as Gordon answers many questions you never knew to ask.

This is a terrific book for no limit hold em tournament players. It is not as valuable for cash game players, as many of the strategies count on the limitations of tournament structure for them to work. I like Gordon's comment at the start: "I'm not the world's best poker player. But I make a living playing poker. This is how I do it." He tells you his style and then encourages you to build upon it.

The most valuable part for many readers will be his simplification of probability and math. Concepts that seem impossible in other books are very clear here. Yes, his simplification may make his results off by a half a percent or so every now and then, but we all know that math is only part of the equation for winning poker.

He does tout Full Tilt Poker more often than he should in a book that is not an advertisement. I like Full Tilt and play there, but it is not the only decent poker room.

If you are reading Phil's books to learn the game, read his " Poker: The Real Deal" first. It has the basics and this one has more nuance.

There are other great poker books out there. But you should read several. Gordon's approach to game and his writing style is
very different than Stewart Reubin's, but I've learned from both. Ditto for Dan Harrington.

Now, the only question is, when is Gordon going to offer his insights on Omaha?

I don't use intermediate as a negative term in this review. I consider myself to be an intermediate player and I've been active in poker since 2001. This book (I got the audio verison) was the 13th addition to my poker library. It does a very good job of simplifying complex ideas you may have read about before.

I was a very streaky player before reading (listening) to this book and I couldn't figure out why. I always had a very good idea of what to do, but I was never able to finish with good money regularly. After I was done with Phil's latest I was able to see that I was loose when I didn't need to be and I became aggressive in bad situations.

Since going through Phil's latest material I have finished in the money in 5 of my last 9 tournaments online, winning 2 of them, and I've increased my bankroll 20% in 2 weeks. I can't argue with results.

Some things may seem elementary but there are enough real world examples and nuggets of wisdom to satisfy all but the most experienced and successful players. And, let's face it, if you're winning big money you're probably not picking up an intermediate book unless you want a peek in Phil's head for future games.

I'll put my cards on the table, and admit my bias, since I'm Phil's literary agent. I read the first draft with an editor's eye, but found myself engrossed in the material. Shortly thereafter, I started playing more No Limit Hold'em and the lessons quickly translated into profit. The material is well organized and easy to read, and Phil is able to make difficult mathematical concepts very easy for any player to understand. If you're committed to playing poker for profit, you have to own this book.

Simply put - this book wowed me and once I'd started reading it I couldn't put it down. Clearly this man knows what he's talking about - just by making a few changes that Phil talks about, this book has already paid for itself many times over. I especially like how the sections and concepts are so clearly labelled & separated so that you can have it open beside you while you play online and you have time to flip to specific sections and get quick advice on how to play your actual hand in real time - which is the closest you can get to having a personal poker coach there with you! This is an invaluable reference and teaching tool so I would recommend it to anyone - that is unless you're playing against me, in which case I'd recommend Helmuth's book ;)

This book contains very basic information which is not presented any better than the many authors who have written about these concepts before Phil Gordon wrote this book.
The "analysis" of the super unbelievable play of the online superstar Prahlad Friedman [who since this book was published proceeded to go broke in high stakes games and has since not been seen playing in them] is highly flawed.
In an effort to make his point, Phil greatly exagerates the percecntage of the time Prahlad had a big made hand such as a set for those times he made his trademark overbet. Maybe that is one of the reasons why really great online players [certainly not including Phil Gordon] subsequently figured out how to exploit Prahlad and soon had busted him for all his money.
The reason I only mention this section specifically is because it is the only part of the book that even resembles a concept that had not been previously written [and better, at that]
I am not a friend or relative of Phil Gordon. Find a real high stakes professional and ask them how long the waiting list would be if he sat in a 25-50 NL game online. There would be a waiting list of about 100 people. He's not a great player and his books are a waste of time and money.

This books stradegy should be used strictly for limit because the stradegies gordon uses will get you in trouble in no limit and save you chips in limit. If your looking to improve your game in no limit holdem, there is many books that will help you. Evan beginners should go a different route. Phil Gordon appears to be a nice human being and all and he writes good literature but thats all it is.

This book, has some good ideas and toughts, but it's nothing advanced, I was disapointed, I had expected more from this guy, but if you plan to play against the man then this is a must have, he tells exactly how he plays, wich in my opinion is way to loose, he's chart in the book advises to play Ax hands down to A5 offsuit no matter what position, also K9 and pairs down to 22, this made me loose all hope for the guy, he simply can't play, by selling this book he is hoping to make a buck, Im sure he cant win them playing hands like that, there are alot better books out there, skip this one, it won't help you to become a better player, in fact if you follow he's recomendations you will get worse at it,

I bought this book through Amazon mainly for the great deal it got me, and I am NOT AT ALL dissapointed in my purchase. I believe that it has improved my game significantly, but it is definately for NLHE. I tried using some of his strategies at the local card room, which only offers $2 fixed limit, but it doesn't work, because FLHE is a different monster. I am definately looking forward to the Little Blue Book, since I love the game of poker and Phil Gordon's style.

The focus of this book is on tournaments and specifically no limit hold em tournaments. I thought it was great for covering some good pointers on how to play the game. I've also read both volumes of Harrington on Hold Em and it was good to see what someone with a looser style suggests. If you're looking for a good tutorial on tournaments I'd get Harrington on Hold Em but after you've read those read this one.

I'm going to pre-order the little blue book right now because I can't wait to see what else Phil can show me.

Its simple, its straightfoward, and very informative. He get technical on some topics and does give examples of his play. I like that he does insist there ARE other ways to play sucessful poker, and encourages you to challenge his thoughts. His rule of 4 and 2 are outstanding, if they truly work. I enjoyed the book immensely. It my favorite of the 6 poker books Ive read.

This book is unique among all the other books on the poker market for its strength in boiling down no limit hold 'em strategy to its most essential elements. "The Theory of Poker" guides its reader through the abstract theoretical basis for many of the proper poker plays in any given situation, and the "Harrington on Hold 'em" series does a great job in presenting countless examples of proper play in real-life hands. Phil Gordon's "Little Green Book," in contrast, is something of a field guide of strategic maxims.

Much like the game of hold 'em itself, this book is deceptive in its simplicity, but amazingly sophisticated underneath the surface. Advice on proper poker play cannot get much easier than this; and best of all, the advice Gordon presents is apt to be particularly effective against the sort of average home-game and online players you're likely to face. Gordon keeps it simple and tells you what you need to know: when to play it aggressive, when to consider slowplaying, what errors to avoid and what odds you need to weigh (without bogging the reader down in overwrought mathematical theory). This is a book by a poker player for other poker players, and is never overly dry or academic in its approach. Your eyes will never glaze over reading the "Little Green Book," and you may, in fact, finish it in a couple of days. Then you'll have to think about it for the rest of your poker career!

The only problem I see in this book is that Gordon tends to advocate too much of a straightforward, consistent type of play (always raise if you think you have the best hand, fold if you think you're beat, and call if you're not sure). The discussion on bluffing, semi-bluffing, and trapping strategy could stand to be a little more fleshed out. But readers can get some of that from experience and/or other books, particularly the Harrington series. This book will at least help you avoid making eggregious errors and with proper table experience to back up your study, this might very well be enough to make you an above average player.

I'd also recommend The Poker Tournament Formula and Poker Tips that Pay: Expert Strategy Guide for Winning No Limit Texas Hold em for readers that are looking beyond the Harrington series.

Buy this. I own and have read over 20 hold em/poker books and there are two worth owning, this book and Dan Harrington's.

Phil Gordon is masterful in his ability to take a complex subject (odds) and make it understandable. His theories and stories are well written and enjoyable.

Whether beginner or expert, this is a must have.

This book is now a permanent collection in my poker library and I'll never part with it - this is a book that I'll read several times and review at least once a week. Little Green Book will make an ok Texas Hold 'em player into a winning player - it is exaclty what my game needed to take me to the next level. I've read Phil's first book "Poker: The Real Deal" and think it was perfect for a biginner to intermediate player - Little green book continues just where The Real Deal left off, with more of the lessons and teachings that a player needs to win. Before reading this book it seemed like I was always finishing just short of the money pay out in my online poker tournaments - and a few days after reading Little Green Book I finished 20th place out of 267 players in a big online tournament profiting $290. If I had lasted 19 more places I would have made 13,500 dollars, and I know the lessons from Little Green Book will be directly responisble for my next big win.

If you know the basics, you will elevate you game by reading and applying the lessons of this book. It is the first book I could take lessons and go directly to the table and apply. There is so much here that I've read parts of it 3 or 4 times and intend to just make it a part of my routine. If you know how to play a hand now, you will find 3, 4, 5 or more ways to play the same hand by studying Phil's lessons on what I've come to call "position and posture". It's more fun to play. Many of his lessons are teaching the player how and what to think about at the table. They are quick and concise, and don't depend on knowing everything at once. You can study one and take it with you tonight. Here are a few: "It's my turn to bet . . . . Think!" on developing a disciplined mental habit before committing chips; "I don't have to be the greatest" on discerning the quality of each player at the table and using it to your advantage; and "The value of aggression" on doubling the ways you can win. There are not many specific hand examples in the book. You need to know the hands before you get here. There are some great basic odds, without being a statistical book. There are good players and great players, good teachers and great teachers: Phil is a great teacher. This book is a simple, easy read with a lot of depth.

I liked this book because Phil wasn't trying to give you a 1-2-3 strategy. He gave solid reasons for his thought process and made me think about my game in an entirely different way. I think my over all play has improved since reading this book.

I found Phil's writing to be clear and very accessible.

Gordon is less full of himself than many of his contemporaries. He is believable as a teacher, seeming to derive more satisfaction from this endeavor than from the game itself. Good return on your poker education dollar.

It's not your typical rehash of the same stuff in most the hold'em out there right now. It's not an instruction book....it's a collection of 1 paragraph to 2 page long nuggets from Phil's brain. Makes it a great book to keep in the bathroom.

I've just finished my first reading of Phil Gordon's Little Green Book. The book reads very quickly. It is 286 pages, but the pages are small and the chapters are very short, so it reads very quickly.

My favorite part of the book was the section where Gordon broke down different scenarios on the flop and turn and how he approaches each one. For example, he broke down the four ways of flopping a full house and how he approaches each one. Granted, flopping a full house is very rare, but a look into the thought processes behind the approach to each was instructive on just how to handle different scenarios.

The section on tells was interesting and informative. I am strictly an internet player and strictly a cash game player, so much of the advice given by Gordon was not relevant to me (I'd give this 4.5 stars if I could)

Some of the anecdotes were great and some of the math/statistical stuff could be found useful even by a somewhat experienced player.

This book is definitely worth the cover price and should more than pay for itself by helping you take down some pots and steal some blinds that you might not have otherwise.

It's definitely the kind of book you can put in the bathroom and read a short chapter or two here or there...

This book really opened up my game and turned me into a solid player.

Great book with some real advice that can be used when playing against non-pros in low stakes games.

Phil Gordon really laid it down well with this book. Along with his DvD (Final Table With Phil Gordon - Rated 5 Stars ***** ) he really offers up the complete package. I see he has a new book coming out on Hand Analysis which should be absolutely spectacular and I can't wait for it.

His Little Green Book gives you all the information you'll need to take your game to the next level. From easily calculating Pot Odds to the Rule of 4 & 2, this really fills in the gaps that other books leave out. Plus it gives you the rest of the information you'll need to make the right decisions everytime as well.

Pick this up with his DvD and I gaurantee that your game will improve. This is definatley top notch and should set a bar for other poker books in the future.

Overall: ***** 5 Stars!!! Definatley something you should look in to if your interested in learning the finer things in poker!

The book is very easy to read. The advice are very good and accurate. Phil gordon's style of play looks like howard lederer.
But the strategy is mostly for beginer or intermediate : Nothing new or very original like we saw with Harrington on holdem, super System, tournament poker of Slklansky or other classics

Great Book. There's a lot of information in here. Even if you don't play like Phil, it's a great look into the mind of a "raise first, ask questions later" poker pro. Many concepts are too advanced for beginners, so beware. Even if you disagree with some of his assertions, this is a very thought-provoking and stimulating book, which makes it very worthwhile for any intermediate or above poker player. Very much geared towards tournament play. Very good insights into tournament structure, bubble effects of many types. It is clear that Mr. Gordon is a true student of game theory and poker. This is not a "quickie" poker book, as it might appear. He clearly spent a great deal of thought and time to put this together. I would call this a must read. To fully be appreciated, it really has to be read several times, in fact.

Save your time and money for the books by Harrington Vol I & II and Sklansky Hold'Em for Advance Players. Those books explain the game of no limit much clearer than Phil who seems to have a it all figured out. Like he calls it, he is a good player but not great. Same with his little green book. He gives far too much information and offers to many caveats and poker jargon, most of which one either has to or needs to learn the hard way.

Phil Gordon describes how he plays a No-Limit Hold'em tournament thoroughly and in an interesting manner. I am a litle sad this book is out there, because it will make for tougher opponents.

If you intend to play poker tournaments seriously, you must learn the ideas in this book. Phil Gordon teaches them in a straightforward, eloquent manner, so you might as well learn them here. Highly recommended.

Note that this is intended for multi-table tournaments, and not the popular single table "sit & go" tournaments, which require a very different approach.

The best thing about this book is how easy Phil makes the concepts. Most poker books tend to get into the hard math involved. I'm not a math guy so this was perfect. Phil just lays out the simple concepts and never overwhelms the reader. I am reading it for the second time already. This is really required reading for any poker player.

This book is a fantastic find. It's fun and easy to read, and it contains the kind of information I needed to take my game to the next level, including tips on shorthanded play, easy to memorize "pot odds" charts, and playing position (in and out). Of course, this book works best for me because I have a similar style of play to Gordon, but that's one of the reasons why I bought the book.

This book is not intended to be the end-all-be-all book of strategic decisions in playing poker, even the author states that. What the book is geared to do, and it does it VERY well, is to open the readers eyes to new conceptual thinking on how to approach the game of poker...To teach the reader how to come up with the right play at the right time, in the right situation. With little side stories scattered through the book, it's an easy read. I highly recomend to anyone that wants to take the next step in their game. Thank you Phil, for a great lesson in poker.

Gordon's book has helped my play immensely. As other reviewers note, it is especially helpful for play after the flop. I can't recommend this book highly enough.

This book surprised me. Phil's first book was geared for the novice and quite frankly was not that helpful. After reading the reviews for this current effort I decided to purchase it and am glad I did. Unlike his first book, this one is not for the novice and more for the medium level player trying to push his game further. It offers a great foundation of pre and post flop strategy. Phil discusses his playing style and how much he bets depending on the strength of his hand as to whether or not he wants a call or someone to lay down their hands. The book is useful for No-Limit tournaments but also can help you with your cash games.
Unlike Doyle Brunson's somewhat unrestrained aggressive approach in Super System I, Phil offers what I call a controlled aggression. He teaches and advocates an aggressive style of poker, but tempers it with pot odds, hand strength and game situations. I have found several key pieces of information that I will re-read and take with me to the next tournament.
The book reads easily and is almost 300 pages long. If you were disappointed in Poker: The Real Deal don't let that stop you from purchasing this book. Next to Dan Harrington's books, this will help your poker game the most.

I found myself fully engrossed reading Phil's latest tome. Coupled with his new Expert Insight DVD, my poker skills have taken a giant leap forward. I have finished in the money in my last 3 tounrey's played, winning one.

I have also seen Phil give a seminar or two and can tell you that he really knows how to reach everyone - from the beginner to the "expert". Phil's insights and teaching style really pull in the listener and help you retain the information - unlike much of his competition.

Moreover, his success as a player has not dampened his enthusiasm to pass on his knowledge in a concise and clear manner.

I highly recommend this book (and the DVD) to anyone who wants to improve their game immediately.

I attended one of Phil Gordon's poker seminars in Chicago and went right out and bought this book. A must for any Texas Hold 'Em player, as Phil has a knack for putting difficult concepts in layman's terms. Not only is it an enjoyable read, but it also offers key concepts and strategies that immediately improved my game. The Little Green book will continue to teach as my game improves.

I picked this book up after looking at a bunch of the other ones out there. I've played for many years, but never really analyzed the game in detail. It seems to give good solid advice in short sections without all the fluff. The day I picked it up I read the first 4 chapters and came away with some solid impressions on how I should improve my game. That night I played in a local bar tournament and won it. My wife (who's won 2 herself) was very happy. This was the first time I've won a tournament and I have to admit the cards were definately coming up for me. People started kidding with me that I was a "bully" at the table. They were impressed with how my play had improved and how I had correctly bluffed them out of some major hands. I can't give Phil's book credit for the cards I got, but I was much more confident and solid with my play after reading the first part. I've since gotten more and more great tips from the book and really enjoy it.

The only thing I have to criticize is minor. I don't really care for the Sun Zu quotes in the book. I've seen those in everything from self help to computer programming books, and they are really becoming tired.

I highly recommend this book.

I started learning No Limit Texas Hold'em with this book. I've moved past it, but there is plenty of depth here. Phil covers plenty of ground without moving too far ahead of what a beginner can comprehend. I've read this book several times over the last few years and think I can say I've pulled just about as much out of it as I can. The Harrington volumes will take you further, but I think Phil does a really good job of getting you to that intemediate to advanced level.

I hope that someday after I knock Phil out of WSOP event, I can shake his hand and thank him for all that he's taught me. Phil Gordon, while not having the resume and the stature of another Phil, Phil Hellmuth Jr, writes a much better book than any of Hellmuth's weak attempts.

What can anyone possibly say, othen then Phil Gordon's 'LGB' is simply one of the finest reads on poker. My experience - I read the book last May when I was starting out in the online poker world. I would say 80% of the book went over my head. After playing poker almost daily since then ... I re-read the book this week (in 1 day) and was able to appreciate it for it's completness, brilliance and Phil's wonderful delivery. This book is my 'crack'. Enjoy!

In this new book by Phil Gordon, it's like picking his brain of all the tips most pros don't even think about anymore. After years of playing the best in the world, Phil has picked up tips that become second nature. What seems like a sixth sence is explained so that we can benifit from his experiance. Don't expect a novel. This time everything is in short, concise and insightful thoughts. First read through it as normal but then keep it as a reference guide. Each lesson or thought for every level or position is in here. This is a top shelf poker book.

Great Book. From the first page I could tell this book was better than most other poker books.

As a beginning poker player I found this book extremely helpful. I won the money I paid for it the day after I read it.

As a Black Jack only player, I've always been interested in poker of any kind, but never ventured into it for the mere fact that I know NOTHING about it. Not anymore. I found this to be really helpful especially considering I'm a beginner. He knows his stuff and speaks to the reader in an understandable way. It's paid off so far for me when I play with friends on a weekend. I recommend this book to anyone who has previously been too 'scared' to play Texas Hold'em or simply needs to brush up on their existing skills. I have found this so usefull.

I had been playing Texas Hold Em' for a little while before I read this book, and it really did help me inprove my game. I'm currently deployed in Iraq right now, so needless to say, we play a lot of poker. My friends and I usaully play a about 2 games a week with kind of a low buy in so people don't go broke and no one shoot's anybody. Well before I read Phil Gordon's book I was always one of the last at the table, but in Iraq we play winner takes all, so that wasn't helping me at all...But after I read his book, and started following some of his tips and playing a little bit smarter, I won 6 games in a row...My biggest mistake was letting my other friends read it too, so now the pot is pretty much up for grabs again. So, my advice is if you want to inprove your game, buy this book, and follow the tips and suggestions he gives, it's worth the money and it really did help me become a better player.

The book is straightforward and simple, and deserves high marks in that regard. The author's main point is simple "play aggressively." However, it is not very comprehensive and does not appear to cover a wide variety of situations including multi-way pots, which occurs very frequently in low stakes NL games. Harrington's book on NL tournaments provides better guidance and structure to proper NL thinking. Phil's book lacks good examples and fails to provide the critical thinking that I was looking for. That said, the little green book is not terrible and is not a bad deal if you can get it cheaply. I also appreciated his self-criticism of his WPT (season 1) match against the "amateur" Norweigen(?) who totally flustered and then demolished him. The book itself is printed in hardcover and on better paper than most poker texts. Nonetheless, I would recommend passing on this book and waiting for the NL book by Slansky and Vol. 3 by Harrington to come out later in 2006. I understand that Phil has the blue book in the works, but I will probably pass on that.

At the risk of sounding trite, if you don't read any other book this year on No-Limit Hold 'em, make it this one. I was surprised by how well-written and informative this book is. Gordon explains in detail strategic considerations, betting, tells, etc. Although reading this book will not turn you into Doyle Brunson, it will improve your game.

This is a great book for every level of texas hold'em players. It is very concise and hits on all the main topics. There are also some very useful tables and charts in there.

Fast easy read. Very helpful. I read this book before a major tournament and I finished in the top 10%.

An excellent guide for the beginning and advanced player. As a result of reading and applying Mr. Gordon's insights to the game,I finished in second place in an on-line money tournament the next day. An easy read and not at all complicated with the sometimes confusing mathematical recommendations recommended by other authors although Gordon does simplify some of the math.

Phil Gordon has written a great little book. In a concise way he teaches you his entire theory of play based on his experience and reading many other books.

Unlike a number of other books (Cloutier, Greenstein, etc) he doesn't waffle on about himself, his life, and other non-table advice. This book focuses purely on the playing of the game.

Definitely if you were only going to buy 5 poker books on No-Limit Hold'em this would be one of them. (the others would be Sklansky on Hold'em to start off, both Harrington books, and Caro's book)

The first thing that struck me when I read this book was that Phil Gordon doesn't shove his play down your throat. By this I mean, he says several times in the book "This is what works for me. I've won money and played good, successful poker with this strategy. If you disagree with parts, and don't adapt it all to your game, fantastic"

This seems to me to be the best way to approach the game, because poker is a very personal game. It's a wonderful change of pace from Phil Hellmuth Jr., who is so insanely full of himself that I'd rather hit him than listen to his advice.

Gordon lays it out for you plain and simple. He combines wonderfully the skills of knowing your odds, doing the math, reading your players, and some of the more subtle aspects of the game.

The two most important things I pulled from his book were:
#1: How to bet
#2: And I can't stress this enough: CONFIDENCE

This is a must read for anyone who wants to improve their game, whether you're gunning for the final table at the WPT or to steal your best friends' 5$ buy in.

This book is the book that everyone needs to read and then re-read over and over again! Everything one needs to get someone up to speed to understand all different aspects of the TX Hold'em! You will have to read the book several times to fully appreciate the wealth of information that is in this book.

I own about 7 of the best rated poker books but have never taken the time to rate any of them; that should say something about the Little Green Book. I felt that this book was so valuable that I also bought the audio version to listen to in my car. Unlike many books that spend a lot of time reviewing starting hands and poker math, this book focuses on general concepts that really make you think. I think that applying the strategies from this book will result in solid play in both tournys and cash games. I would really recommend the audio version as it is read by the author.

This CD has been invaluable to me in playing Texas Hold Um!! I play every weekend at low leval tournaments & after getting this CD I won $1900.00 the same weekend in three $45.00 buy-ins. If you want to play sucessful poker & don't get The Little Green Book you are wasting your time! Phil keeps the book very simple easy to read (or listen) & right to the point! I highly recommend the book & am considering taking it up to the next step!
Jack Dugan

Phil Gordon's 'Little Green Book' starts out very well. The concise chapters do a very good job of covering the basics of the game. In fact, I think the short, topical chapters are an asset throughout. In poker, the ability to analyze the situation is a strength. However, overanalyzing is a flaw. Phil's short chapter approach serves the information well.

I also found the end of the book to be valuable. The hand-charts and percentages outlined on pages 262-273 provide critical information in a quick and easy format.

However, I did not find much of the information in the middle to latter part of the book to be as useful. My problem rests primarily with the manner various situations are discussed. Phil spends quite a bit of time telling us how he varies his play against a particular opponent when he has a particular hand (i.e. 40% of the time I do this, 30% I do this, 20% I do this, and 10% I do this).

In a particular game/tournament, specific hand situations under the same table conditions just don't come up often enough to break it down to that degree of detail. You just have to play to the situation in front of you at that time. Another significant flaw in this approach is that your opponents are likely going through the same mental exercises against you.

As with all poker books, Phil emphasizes the importance of position, pot odds, and properly switching from aggressive to tight when dictated by the table. These are the absolute necessities to winning poker. I do think, however, too much emphasis is put on reading your opponent's betting patterns. I'm not talking about physical tells, only betting patterns.

Fact is, that a poker player with any amount of experience and skill is going to vary their betting pattern just as the rest of us do. Sometimes they will bet as expected, sometimes they won't. I'm looking for something a little more concrete on which to base my decision. The more important thing to read is the board and the possibilities it offers. I'm more concerned about what could beat me and the mathematical probability my opponent has that hand, not whether he bet like he had it or not.

I'm not sure what this book has that isn't covered in books like: "The theory of Poker" or "Super System." In fact, it might just be better to read those two and Mike Caro's "Poker Tells." This is a how to book based on how Phil Gordon would play a certian hand in a certian situation. Its a good beginner's book but not quite as good as Sklansky's or Doyle Brunson's books. It's a fairly quick read and doesn't offer much that can't be acquired elsewhere.

This is a very entertaining and helpful book for poker players. It contains a broad gamut of poker thought. Although it seems like light reading, its ideas are solid and are almost certain to improve your game. I particularly like its small size and that it is a hardcover. I also own books by Brunson, Harrington, Kreiger, and Greenstein. All of them are good reads but this book is unique in that it has an endearing quality that causes me to pick it up and reread it more so than the others. The truth is, we can't read enough books if we want to be great players but don't overlook what Phil Gordon has to say!

This is one of the most accessible texts on no limit hold'em poker available to the player today. It is great for a beginning player and retains its usefulness for players of all skill levels. The advice it contains is consistently solid and, if a person were to follow it to the letter, he'd surely be a winner in all but the absolute toughest games.

If you are only going to read one poker book, I think this is the one I'd use under those circumstances.

This is the second No Limit Texas Hold'em book I have read and it has definitely helped my game. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to become a better player. The reading is easy to understnad and has good information from some one who has been there before.

I met Phil Gordon this year at a conference in Utah...I just wish I had the book then for him to autograph. The book is one of the best I have read on Texas Holdem. Without giving anything away, it has improved my tournament game tremendously. Maybe I will see him again one day at the same table! Thanks Phil!

Good example, good math, well written and entertaining. Good to read after you've gotten everything you can from Sklansky.

I would recommend this book to anyone that wants to improve their game. I would in fact, recommend that you buy all three of Phil's books, and read them in the order they were released in. It's really refreshing to read and learn about poker from this guy. Phil Gordon is the most unassuming, down-to-earth, let's-just-have-fun guy in the poker world today. He readily admits that all his ideas may not be the best, but that is the beauty of his books. He forces you to THINK about each decision you make at the table, and know why you do what you are doing. He speaks in a conversational tone, and you don't get the feeling that he is talking down to you. These three books, along with Brunson's "bibles" would be the 5 books that any serious poker player should read, if you could only pick 5. Take my word for it. These books are really worth the 75 odd bucks you will pay for them. Heck, you can make that back in one trip to the tables. Good reading......I'm all in.

Great read for people who already know how to play. The advice is a little cookbook-recipe style compared to harrington, but nevertheless pretty good.
Read this first and then Harrington.

This is one of the best books on no limit holdem. It is easy to read and discusses a wide range of topics. It is a nuts and bolts style that can be used as a reference. I've read it twice already and plan to read it again. Mr. Gordon knows his stuff and is able to communicate it in an easy to understand style. I recommend it to all who want to improve their game. I'm going to Las Vegas this weekend and will test my game using many of his guidelines

A concise book breifly describing a trove of useful ideas. A fantastic introduction to the game for the serious beginning and intermediate player. One of the better books on poker I have read.

I think this is one of the best audio's on Texas Hold'em on the market. It is very easy to listen too. I play it in my car CD and also in my portable cd player at the health club when I work out. I higly recommend this audio cd.

Very well written, very easy to understand,very helpful. Helped my game greatly.One of the better books on poker i have read!A must read for anyone interested in improving their game,offers some great insight although i dont agree with all he writes,its still a very worthwhile book.

This book helped me get to the final table of a local bar tournament!!! It was only my third time playing poker. I can't count how many times I raised 3-4 times the big blind to steal the pot before the flop. Gordon's tips instantly made me into a better player.

By the way, unlike another reviewer, I actually like Celebrity Poker, solely because of Gordon's commentary.

This book is awesome! I love to read it and I always go back and study previous chapters because there's so much information!

I love how it's hardcover! Books these days are always made as cheaply as possible but it's nice that some care went into the making of this book.

Great job Phil!!

I bought this to help learn Hold'em and it is an excellent
book! Gordon has the knack for explaining and teaching clearly
so I didn't have to muddle through vague explanations like a lot of
the poker books have. He takes you through hands and explains them step by
step, card by card and makes sense!!!
Gordon knows what he is talking about! He is not just writing a book
to make money! I think most of the poker books out there are just written
to get you spend your money!
I would rate this as one of the top 10 books on poker PERIOD!

I think this is a great book for beginners, and a sort of medium strength resource for players that have been into NLHE for a year or two. The author does a great job of explaining the basics. I also thought he did an extremely good job of reading (for the audio CD). For anyone who isn't a pro and hasn't read Sklansky or Harrington, I would highly recommend this audio CD. It beats the heck out of most radio!

This book is well structured and in a logical order. I have found poker books of the past to be some what all over the place with regard to strategies. Finally a quick reference book for a tight- aggressive poker player.

The first book I read on poker was "The Real Deal" by Phil Gordon. After that was many by David Sklansky, and Dan Harrington. After playing for several years, I went back to Phil for "The Little Green Book". This book is excellent as it's not so much a how to guide, but more of a look in how an accomplished player works through a hand. Deciding on the best action to take to get more money into the pot when you're ahead, and recognize when you should look for the door.

This book is very informative. I can recommend this book 110%. Rookies to intermediates will enjoy reading this book on how to play NLH.

Here we have a poker book by a guy who likes his math, and yet the outs chart he has in the book (p. 270) is wrong! For example, assume you have a flush draw after the flop. I.e., you have 9 outs to make a flush. The probability you make the flush by the river is 35.0%. Gordon has it at 36.4%. In fact all entries in his chart look wrong; they're all greater than the actual probabilities. How does something like this happen?

If somehow I have made a mistake (btw,I'm a mathematician), I'll gladly edit this review. Until then, only 3 stars!

I've listened to this CD several times. Soon I will again listen to it again, either in my truck, or on the tredmill. Learning from Phil is learning the mental aspect of Hold Em. There's just too much information to try and absorb only once. It takes several times, and things suddenly make more sense that before. I highly recommend this CD and Phil's presentation, Will I ever be on the final table? Probably not, but I can now be able to play a "Cool Hand" in any game.

I am just a poker novice and found the information in here to be a good start but what I really like about the book is that Phil Gordon has a good sense of humor about himself and shares the mistakes that he has made as well. I found it was not too dry to just be a good read.

The book has the essentials, but the analysis is not the best. I like it that it had the chart about hands chances heads up.

Lessons and Teaching in No Limit TexasHold'em.

I have only been playing poker a year and have read a number of books relative to play. Phil's style of play is aggressive which for someone new to the game might prove intimidating to employ. I have slowly integrated aspects of his play into my game and indeed they are effective. But as Phil teaches you have to play the player and not the cards, being able to switch gears. I really liked the ease of reading, the mathematics of poker, and the charts at the end of the book. For those interested in improving their tournament play this book should prove helpful.

The What, How, and When for common situations. Concise and info packed chapters you can immediately apply. This is a book of instructions, usable piece by piece; as opposed to books on theory where you may forget the first chapter by the last. Nothing forgettable here.

This book is a "must have". You'll want to refer to it time and again as you learn the game of No-Limit Hold-em.

I have read quite a few books by the pros. However, this one is clearly the best so far. He speaks in terms that are understandable and he explains things well. I recommend this book for anyone in their early years of competing.

When you start playing Texas Hold'em, this is a good book to read now and then.

If you've never read a poker book, this is one of the first books you should read. It will tell the novice how to start thinking about the game. If you ar fairly new to the game, then you will find this book a wealth of information. An intermediate player will find alot in this book as well, although it may never be 'cool' to quote Phil Gordon. Unfortunately, I think Mr. Gordon explains Pot Odds poorly. SUMMARY: For the player who wants to improve but doesn't want to get too deep into poker theory, there is no beating Phil Gordon. The Audiobook version is great for long car rides or subway commutes.

Found this to be very educational and easy to follow. Actually listened to it typically driving out to a poker tournament and was able to apply some of the topics immediately.

If you like the scenario type reading this book will help you. I get bored with just calculations so knowing the though process was helpful.

Improve your Texas Hold 'em with these great tips and strategies. You'll learn why some strategies work, while others don't.

Phil's little green book is a compact and well thought treatise on a variety of strategies - table position, stack size, opening hands, monster hands, bluffing - for the advanced poker player. His discussion of bluffing and monster hands are especially helpful.

Alan Safani

This book was such an easy and quick read. It is filled with a lot of helpful information for anyone who wishes to play poker.

Well written. Funny, educational, a must read for anyone who wants to risk a dime at poker. loved it

Order both the Blue book and the Green book - good information to get you started and improve your basic play.

Not a bad book at all. Good tidbits, need to reread some more. It may not change your game tremendously, but it's good.

Having generally gone through Phil Gordons' little book, I wholeheartedly recommend it as a necessary item for anyone's poker library.

If you are tired and can't muster the effort to go through Dan Harringtons' 3-Vol. Strategy Expose' then Phils' book is the perfect distillation of the overall poker experience necessary to succeed.

Essential reading for the beginner.. interesting for the intermediate - and lots of fun for anyone else.

Very easy and enjoyable read. One of the best poker books around.

This short book is highly distilled and very readable. What few stories are in here are direct and to the point. Most of the book is advice presented in a form that makes it easy to retain. Just the general ground rules for how to win in no-limit hold 'em. I've read quite a few books about poker and poker strategy, and the hardest thing is trying to retain that knowledge during a game. There is so MUCH going on during a typical poker game, I barely have time to pause and reflect on what various books tell me I should be doing. I'm too busy panicking because I have pocket kings and an ace just flopped and now I can't remember who opened the betting in the first round, who raised and how much, and what various player patterns are and who is trying to represent a bogus hand and who is playing tight and oh crap it's my turn, uh, I fold.

This book probably won't be appreciated if it is the only poker book you ever read, but it probably is the only poker book you need to read. That's simply because it is hard to imagine you can process and keep handy all of the very good information in this book and still have room to take in more. Sure, other books may recommend variants on some of Gordon's advice in various situations, but Gordon's book is more about a basic approach than specific hand strategies. He explains his rules and also talks about when it makes sense to break them and why he uses them, so you can take what you want from the book.

Another strength of this book is that he distills a lot of good advice from other poker books, like Mike Caro's book of poker tells. Rather than a chapter on each tell, Gordon has a little summary paragraph, so the whole thing is a little easier to quickly digest. Reading about all these tells really for the first time, I was pretty shocked at how many tells I have that I didn't know about.

I must have for any poker player's library. Phil Gordon looks at many aspects of no limit holdem and keeps it interesting through the entire book, i could not put it down. Gordon also mentions several stories that keep the book fun and teach a lesson.

I have read it cover to cover 6 times, and swear by his advice. I met Phil last week for the first time at a tournament in Louisville KY. He was the celebrity Emcee at a Jeff Gordon Foundation satellite held at Caesar's Indiana, in which I finished in 7th place. His style of play, and his perspecitve offered in the book, have helped me tremendously toward improving my game.

This is definately a must-have book for any collection. Good for all levels. It improved my game a ton. I definately recommend it.