Poker is hotter than ever and it's a good bet these days that if you're flipping through the TV channels, you'll see a poker game being played, by amateurs, professional and even celebrities. If you're looking to try your hand at America's favorite card game then Play Winning Poker In No Time is the perfect beginner's guide to teach you all the fundamentals to confidently "ante up" in a casual game with friends, at a live action casino table or even online at any one of the popular Internet poker sites. With Play Winning Poker In No Time, you'll learn about: * Texas Hold 'em Starting Hand Tactics * Basic Seven Card Stud Strategy * Common Poker Rules * Internet Poker & Online Poker Sites * Poker Tournaments Including the World Series of Poker * Casino Poker Room Etiquette * When to Bluff vs. When to Bet * Spotting Poker "Tells" * Poker Math Including How To Calculate Odds & Probabilities * Betting Strategies to Maximize Pots The easy-to-understand explanations and illustrations won't bog you down in complex "what if" scenarios or confusing jargon. You'll simply obtain the basic knowledge needed to successfully play poker and win money. A unique, tear-out "cheat sheet" card is chock full of valuable poker information including a visual guide to poker hand rankings or "what beats what," a color-coded starting hand chart showing which 2-card Hold 'em starting hands to play, and an odds chart showing the percent chance of improving your Hold 'em hand as new cards are dealt. With Play Winning Poker In No Time, you will master the basics, win the game and take home the cash.

Table of Contents

Introduction. I. THE BASICS OF THE GAME. 1. Introduction to Poker: The Basics of the Game. Understanding the Basic Rules of Poker Ranking Poker Hands Understand Betting Structures Betting Your Hand Basic Poker Games Draw Poker Games Stud Poker Games Flop Poker Games 2. The Psychology of Poker. Betting and Bluffing Basics Choosing When to Bluff Going on Tilt Assuming a Table Image and Determining Your Playing and Betting Style Reading Poker Tells Making Calculated Bets Mastering Poker Math Using Poker Outs and Probabilities to Help Predict Your Chances of Making a Hand II. LEARNING THE GAME. 3. Playing Texas Hold 'em. Learning the Basics of Limit, Pot-Limit, and No-Limit Hold 'em Understanding Dealer Position Posting Blind Bets Playing the Starting Hand Round Playing the Flop Playing Fourth Street, or the Turn Playing the River Assessing Your Table Position and Starting Hand Evaluating Your Table Position Evaluating Your Starting Hand Making Smart Choices Through Each Round of Play Deciding When to Play Suited, Connected, or Medium Pocket Pairs. Evaluating Your Hand After the Flop. Calculating Outs and Odds After the Flop. Re-evaluating Your Hand on the Turn. Choosing Your Strategies As You Play Through to the River. 4. Seven Card Stud. Understanding the Basics of Seven Card Stud Learning the Language of Seven Card Stud Understanding the Betting Structure of Fixed-Limit and Spread-Limit Seven Card Stud Understanding Antes and the Bring-In Starting Hand Standards and Strategies Tracking Live and Folded Cards Learning the Types of Starting Hands Playing a Three-Card Drawing Hand Analyzing Other Players' Starting Hands Beginner Strategies for Betting Your Starting Hand Playing Fourth Street: The Make-or-Break Round Analyzing Hands on Fourth Street Betting the Hand Playing Fifth Street: Honing Your Betting Strategy Using Your Analytical Skills Playing Sixth Street: Fattening the Pot with One Card Left to Play Calculating the Odds Against Improving Your Hand with One Card to Come Playing Seventh Street or the River Assessing and Betting Your Hand Watching for Common Tells in Seven Card Stud 5. Learning Additional Poker Games. Five Card Draw Five Card Draw with a Joker or with Deuces Wild Five Card Draw, Jacks or Better Pineapple and Crazy Pineapple Playing Razz Playing High-Low Stud Limiting Your Starting Standards Tips for Winning at High-Low Stud Omaha-The Hardest Game in Town Learning the Basic Structure of Omaha Developing Your Omaha Strategy III. PLAYING THE GAME. 6. Playing Poker Online. Playing Online Versus Playing Live Considering the Advantages of Online Play Taking a Look at Online Poker's Disadvantages Managing Your Money Online Picking an Online Poker Room Is This Room Right for You? Checking out Bonus Codes or Other Incentives Popular Online Poker Sites Playing Your First Game Setting up an Account Selecting a Game Analyzing Game Statistics in the Lobby Buying in to the Poker Table Using the Action Buttons Using Additional Online Features Protecting Yourself from Collusion and Cheating Online Spotting Online Tells 7. Forming a Monthly Poker Playing Group. Home Games-Serious or Social? Setting Up a Semi-Serious Home Game Inviting Enough Players to Make a Game Announcing the Games and Limits Setting Money Management Rules Antes, Check-Raising, and the Bring-In Declaring Low Hands for Split Pot Games Handling Misdeals Using Wild Cards and Burn Cards Common Home Games Five Card Stud Follow the Queen Chicago Baseball Criss-cross Anaconda or Pass the Trash Three Card Guts No Peekie or Showdown Hosting a Mini No-Limit Texas Hold 'em Tournament Set Up Playing the Mini Betting in No-Limit Hold 'em Declaring a Winner 8. Playing Poker in a Casino. Becoming Familiar with the Casino Poker Room Poker Room Organization Poker Room Staff Finding a Seat Initial Buy In Poker Jackpots Types of Players Casino Poker Etiquette Chip Etiquette Betting Etiquette 9. Playing Tournament Poker. The Lure of Tournament Poker Understanding How Tournaments Differ from Ring or Cash Games Tournament Basics Buy-in and Registration Fees Tournament Seating Limit, No-Limit, and Pot-Limit Games Tournament Formats Freerolls Multitable Elimination or Freeze-out Format Sit and Go Tournaments Shoot-Out and Bounty Tournaments General Tournament Strategy Early Tournament Strategy Middle Stage No-Limit Tournament Strategy Late Stage No-Limit Tournament Strategy Monitoring Chip Position and Protecting Your Chips Climbing the Payout Ladder IV. RESOURCES. A. References and Resources. B. Glossary of Poker Terms. Index.

Author Biography

Alison Pendergast is a successful business executive with more than fifteen years' experience in the field of educational publishing. She learned to play poker at a young age from her father, and over the years has perfected her game playing in both regular cash games and competitive poker tournaments all over the United States. She lives and works in Boston, Massachusetts, and enjoys playing poker regularly with her monthly poker group, online at PokerStars.com, or with her dad at her favorite poker room located in Foxwoods Casino in southeastern Connecticut. To offer feedback or comments, or just exchange poker stories, Alison can be reached by email at alisonpendergast@hotmail.com. A(c) Copyright Pearson Education. All rights reserved.