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Book Reviews
by Nick Christenson
Play Poker Like The Pros
by Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Quill 2003
ISBN 0-06-000572-6, 394pp, $15.95
 “Play Poker Like the Pros” jumps right in by explaining Texas Hold'em at an introductory level. This primer on the mechanics of the game does a pretty thorough job of covering the basics with an economy of words, and we progress to Hellmuth's strategic advice almost immediately.
Limit Hold'em isn't the only game covered, the author also discusses No-Limit and Pot-Limit Hold'em, Limit and Pot-Limit Omaha High, Omaha High-Low, Seven-card Stud, Razz, and Sevencard Stud High- Low.
Overall, Hellmuth's explanations on game strategy are a enigma to me. While there is a great deal of worthwhile advice, there are also places where I was left dumbfounded by some of the suggestions he makes. Does he really believe that a pair of sevens to be one of the top ten hands in low-limit Limit Hold'em? His advice seems most applicable to games where folks play tight and passive, where they can be run over by sheer aggression.
This just isn't the case in the 3-6 games I've seen, even if you name is Phil Hellmuth, Jr.. Heck, I'd expect that his advice on Limit Hold'em probably works better in a No-limit tournament than it would in a 3-6 game at the Commerce.
Each of the games Hellmuth discusses obviously warrants its own book, if not several. Consequently, there is much that is left unsaid on each particular game. While the strategies printed in this book are not the most complete in print, that doesn't mean they don't contain useful information. Sometimes, though, crucial information is left out. In order from best to worst, I'd rank his strategies as follows: Omaha High, Omaha High-Low, No-limit Hold'em, Razz, Seven Card Stud, and Limit Hold'em. Even after a significant amount of reflection, I still can't easily categorize his chapter on Sevencard Stud High-Low. Others may certainly disagree, and I don't consider myself to be an expert in all these games.
“Play Poker Like the Pros” seems to be targeted at a relatively inexperienced audience, which makes me of two minds about this book. Those true beginners who read, digest, understand, and follow Hellmuth's advice will almost certainly become much better poker players as a consequence. However, I believe that as the reader grows in experience, they will probably need to unlearn a great deal of what they read in this book, and they will have to understand a great deal that isn't covered. On the other hand, despite the descriptions of games that are oriented toward beginners, there are enough good tricks in here that an experienced poker player will likely have enough to think about to make reading the book worthwhile, if for no other reason than to glean how some of the biggest names in poker approach certain games.
So, do I recommend this book or not? After some soul searching, I would have to say, yes, with some reservations. “Play Poker Like the Pros” can certainly make weak players better, but I don't believe all of the advice on all games is good. In places, this book provides some thought-provoking ideas for more advanced players, but there are a lot of gaps in its coverage. Even the places where I think Hellmuth's strategies are flawed, though, they can often be useful as an extra “gear” to have available under certain circumstances, even if the reader wouldn't want to play that way all the time.
This article was published in the July 14th 2003 edition of Poker Player.
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