Review on Master Poker Basics with 'Poker for Dummies' by Charles Barney

I recently switched to Texas Hold'em and just wanted to learn the basics of the game so I rented this DVD. Hosted by 2003 World Series of Poker Champion Chris Moneymaker, the show aims to show the basics of the game, not the complex strategic moves. Chris talks about the basics like poker hand rankings (pairs, full house), explains betting jargon (check, raise, call) and offers advice on etiquette. They show a Hold'em hand being played by a group of people and explain the different options each player has in each round. It was helpful for me since it runs so fast on TV. Chris also looks quite comfortable in front of the camera. Chris and another poker legend (whose name escapes me now) explain different playing strategies depending on what hand you're dealt and where you are in relation to the dealer button. It's very fast and certainly not useful for those who have been playing for a while. The Bonus section of other poker games is also included (Omaha, 7 Card Stud, 5 Card Stud) but only gives a brief description of the games. I think this is included to try and promote sales of other Dummies card game DVDs and books as there is an advertisement for them at the end of the disc. The disc is about 50 minutes long, of which about 35 minutes are dedicated to Hold'em, 12 minutes to other games and the rest is commercials. If you want to learn how to play Texas Hold'em, borrow one to get started, then buy the Donohue Texas Hold'em computer game to practice (see my last review).