Real Poker Night: Taking Your Home Game to a New Level

by Henry Stephenson

Poker night is a worldwide tradition, but the home games are a far cry from those played by professionals. However, this practical and user-friendly guide makes the case for authentic poker, lays out the formal rules used in card rooms and provides a primer on strategy that will equip you to become a winner at the real game. Contrary to popular belief, serious competitive poker isn't any less fun than home games, in fact serious poker is more fun and this book will show you how to win big if you want to play seriously.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0818406461
• ISBN13: 9780818406461
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Lyle Stuart
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Finally. A poker book for the rest of us...

An excellent book that takes the home game where it should go. There is no other book designed to develop the home player's abilities in holdem to be able to walk into a casino and play on a respectable and knowledgeable level. The book is easy to understand and develops advanced topics easily for those new to the game. If you're either playing in a home game or thinking of starting one, this is the ideal book for you.

Poker for Smart People

This book is well written and is one of the few poker books that does not talk down to the average reader. It addresses home game players as if they are intelligent people, not (just) drunken morons who can only understand poker in terms of one-line catch phrases or the ever present television sound bite. That does not mean there isn't plenty of humor - there is; and the book is fun to read with plenty of examples. Some recent books about home poker patronize silly homespun poker games, which are fun to play with the kids to teach them pattern recognition and have some good family time, but not with your poker buddies. This book, then, explains why home players should stop wasting their time always playing the kids games and start playing the real game. From the poker examples and references of modern entertainment culture to poker situations; to one page on strategy that had references to Clauswitz, Sun Tzu, Lincoln and Washington - plus a joke and a lesson in situational awareness; to how to make your poker nights valuable in both money and self esteem; this is the book that most of us need. It taught me a great deal, from reel to real, but it is also simply a good read. Finally, it includes the clearest, most thorough explanation of general strategic poker concepts that you've seen in any poker book. For those that enjoy doing and understanding REAL Poker; Don't hesititate - get this book. Heck, if you are like me, you'll more than make up the cost of the book in the first hour of your first real poker night!

In response to Mark

In response to Mark's review of this book, Mark doesn't understand REAL poker. Chicago, Baseball, Follow the Queen, and other silly card games may be fun but they are not REAL poker. If you want to play those silly games, you might as well play roulette or craps. REAL poker is about skill. This is the whole point of this book.

Outstanding Poker Book for Novices or Advanced Players Alike

Just finished reading this informative and entertaining poker book, and its one of the best. The author skillfully weaves deft poker strategy along with a insightful and often surprising look at the history of the game. For the beginner, the book gives you all you'll need to set up the perfect home game. Discussions of rules for all the major poker games(NOT KIDDIE POKER) are included, so you and your friends can really look and play like those WPT and World Series players. For the advanced player, the book offers in depth discussion of pot odds and implied odds and explains it in a very simple way. The book also offers help for internet players, tournament players, and anyone who would enjoy reading about the history of this great and uniquely American pastime. You'll make the cost of the book back very quickly(and much more) learing the tips Mr. Stephenson offers. Great Book