Review on Master Poker Basics with 'Poker for Dummies' by Albert Tucker

There is no doubt that poker is enjoying a real surge in popularity, due in large part to its ubiquity on TV and the internet and the resulting (mis)perception is due to this average guys and gals can do well right after the start. The Poker for Dummies DVD is designed for true beginners who don't want to look stupid when they first set foot in a casino, card room, or even a friendly neighborhood game. This could be a real boon if it also paid more attention to the largest group of new poker enthusiasts - people who understand the rules and basics of the game but want to improve their game. Unfortunately, none of the classrooms offer a full range of services and therefore prove to be an incomplete resource for everyone. Much of the content focuses on the rules and procedures for playing Limit Hold'em, most likely played in a casino. . A lot of attention is paid to the sequence of events during the game and to the betting concepts (ie blinds, bets, checks, raises and calls). This segment follows the actual gameplay with ongoing commentary on what's going on and each player's decisions in each round. However, this exhibition moves quite quickly, especially if you follow a lot of very simple concepts, such as a comprehensive explanation of hand rankings. Anyone new enough to the game not to know anything about hand rankings will likely get lost/frustrated trying to keep up with exhibition play. I watched it with my wife, who is interested in learning a normal game, and while the DVD was useful as a discussion topic program, we had to pause constantly while I answered her reasonable questions and/or explained additional topics. it should have been on the screen. Players who are already familiar with the game will be very disappointed with the lack of strategic understanding. There is almost no explanation of pot odds or how to evaluate your hole cards or betting scenarios. Tips are mostly tied to silly lists of simplified bluffs and suggestions made. Perhaps the publisher has decided to abandon the know-how of true DVD gambling offered by the pros (which I've heard isn't that great), but that's a truly missed opportunity on a DVD that hardly has one hour reveals content. Alongside Hold'em's Main Event, there is a hasty explanation of other poker games such as Omaha and Draw. When I say rush, I mean less than two minutes per game. Covered by surprise 2003 World Series of Poker winner Chris Moneymaker, the title is likely to attract some buyers. Moneymaker narrates most of the DVD but does so in a flat, boring cue-reading manner that adds nothing to the content. Even a little extra DVD, like a 10-minute interview about his WSOP experience and a few tips, would have made his participation well worth it. This DVD tries to be everything for everyone, but unfortunately it's not enough for everyone. Good as a rental (Netflix carries it), but a waste of time keeping it on your own shelf.