Phil Hellmuth is the self proclaimed 'Poker Brat'. Loud, whiney, and juvenile, he has swiftly built up a reputation as an immature crybaby, in which the bar of petulance has been raised to an insurmountable new level. Having said this, however, he still remains one of poker's greatest and most successful players. As the all-time leading money winner in 2001 and holding nine World Series bracelets, he is undoubtedly one of poker's most dangerous forces. The question is, however, can he write a good book? On this evidence, the answer has to be 'no'.
'Play Poker Like The Pros' is littered with basic fundamental flaws.
First and foremost, it's nigh on impossible to figure out who the target audience is, and, quite frankly, I don't think Hellmuth is sure either. Although separated into different sections, predominantly governed by limit poker, his teachings of basic and advanced play somehow become intertwined into one giant mess. Whilst he'll begin each chapter by explaining the basic rules of a game, a few pages later he'll be giving dubious and contentious advice that require the analysis and evaluation of a more advanced player. As a result, the beginner is left disorientated and may find it increasingly difficult to digest the information randomly thrown their way.
If Hellmuth could expand on some of his ideas and approach them in a way that enables the novice to keep up, them perhaps they would be easier to decipher. Unfortunately, however, he often offers advice without fully justifying the reasoning behind it. For example, he suggests that 7-7 and 8-8 are in his top ten limit starting hands. Many professionals may contest this, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Where the problem lies, is that Hellmuth never explains his own motivation for making this choice, rather he just states it as a fact, therefore prohibiting the beginner from furthering their own knowledge and interpretation of the game.
In contrast, whilst first-timers will struggle to untangle Hellmuth's views on poker, advanced players will feel let down by the lack of depth offered by the book. In total, and including online poker, there are eight variations of the game covered. From Hold-Em to Stud, Limit to No-Limit, Hellmuth has perhaps bitten off more than he can chew. As a result, he is only ever really able to brush over each form of poker, often leaving you none the wiser and questioning how much you've actually been taught. There's nothing wrong with covering several different games, but unlike Super System, Hellmuth makes the critical error of trying to cater for too many people, and, in the end, all he succeeds in achieving is leaving both amateur and advanced players dazed and confused.
Hellmuth also has a frustratingly annoying habit of answering every predicament with, 'Read, read, and read your opponents.' He will then go on to say, 'If you feel they are weak, raise. If you feel they are strong, fold.' This is all well and good for a seasoned pro like himself, but, for the average reader, many of whom are supposed to be beginners, this scapegoat is utilised way too often and rendered useless on an audience who just don't share his experiences. If Hellmuth was to give advice on how to actually read your opponents, then perhaps his words would be more justifiable, but to simply encourage you to go with feeling or that 'sixth sense' that he proclaims to possess, is somewhat naïve and destined for failure.
Whilst reading 'Play Poker Like the Pros' it would appear that Hellmuth is somewhat of a comedian, either that or he is suffering from a severe case of disillusionment. Lines such as, 'Making sure that you are consistently friendly to the other players at the table is a wise policy' and 'I like to play only the "NLH 15" hands' certainly raised a smile or two. With words like these and even a section on 'Hold-Em Etiquette', the phrase 'practice what you preach' kept springing to mind. Still, I was more than mildly amused.
One issue surrounding this book that I hear echoed relentlessly within the poker community, is that Hellmuth's overgrown ego transfers straight to paper. This is true to an extent, but nowhere near to the level that people claim.
Admittedly, Hellmuth isn't the most humble or modest of characters. He does appear to find it excruciatingly difficult to prevent himself from gloating. On several occasions, he boasts about big folds, crushing games, winning certain tournaments, and so on. At one point, he even castrates home games and belittles small stakes poker, practically declaring the skill level laughable. Although these outbursts would be enough to disparage even the keenest of readers, their existence is minimal. The crux of the book relies on poker strategy only, and it would be unfair to suggest that he allows his ego to take over the entire read. Hellmuth's writing is fluent and user-friendly, only rarely delving into self-glorification.
Similarly, it would also be harsh to ignore some of the positives that derive from the book. At well in excess of 350 pages, there is enough on offer so that even the most advanced player has something to think about. They may not agree with the advice, but at least they can be made aware of it and interpret it in their own personal way.
Also, although many chapters verge on the short side, the Omaha Hi-Lo section is certainly worth a glance or two. Here we see Hellmuth discussing a game, of which he genuinely seems to love, to an extent that all players can appreciate. Although, once again, it is mainly directed towards beginners, some of the more advanced advice is actually worth taking note of. Many will find the theories suggested here quite intriguing, especially considering that he utilises a number of external sources. Miami John's 'Three Wheel Card' Theory was of particular interest.
Hellmuth has also made efforts to keep things fresh and original. Although too heavily based on assumption, his animal analogy could prove useful to beginners in outlining the playing style of various players. Also, it makes for a more accessible read later on. Instead of saying 'a loose player who plays too many hands, etc', he just uses the term 'jackal', making it much easier for us to identify a certain player type.
In addition, there are some unique Appendices. Whilst never intended to wow the reader, 'Champion of the Year Award', 'The Most Prestigious Poker Tournaments' and 'Playing In A World Series of Poker Tournament' are definitely worth a quick read.
In conclusion, at first glance, it may appear as though I have done nothing more than bulldoze Hellmuth's offering into poker literature, but to understate the flaws that exist within the text would be naïve and unconstructive.
The potential disorientation caused by a confused target audience is disconcerting and is sure to leave many readers feeling slightly bamboozled. The material and advice offered is so unstable that everything he says must be approached with extreme prudence. Although advanced players may be able to unscramble the various ideas and theories, the beginners, to which the book often appears to be speaking to, should be aware that much of the advice needs to be assessed and evaluated before being taken on board.
'Play Poker Like The Pros' is littered with basic fundamental flaws.
First and foremost, it's nigh on impossible to figure out who the target audience is, and, quite frankly, I don't think Hellmuth is sure either. Although separated into different sections, predominantly governed by limit poker, his teachings of basic and advanced play somehow become intertwined into one giant mess. Whilst he'll begin each chapter by explaining the basic rules of a game, a few pages later he'll be giving dubious and contentious advice that require the analysis and evaluation of a more advanced player. As a result, the beginner is left disorientated and may find it increasingly difficult to digest the information randomly thrown their way.
If Hellmuth could expand on some of his ideas and approach them in a way that enables the novice to keep up, them perhaps they would be easier to decipher. Unfortunately, however, he often offers advice without fully justifying the reasoning behind it. For example, he suggests that 7-7 and 8-8 are in his top ten limit starting hands. Many professionals may contest this, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Where the problem lies, is that Hellmuth never explains his own motivation for making this choice, rather he just states it as a fact, therefore prohibiting the beginner from furthering their own knowledge and interpretation of the game.
In contrast, whilst first-timers will struggle to untangle Hellmuth's views on poker, advanced players will feel let down by the lack of depth offered by the book. In total, and including online poker, there are eight variations of the game covered. From Hold-Em to Stud, Limit to No-Limit, Hellmuth has perhaps bitten off more than he can chew. As a result, he is only ever really able to brush over each form of poker, often leaving you none the wiser and questioning how much you've actually been taught. There's nothing wrong with covering several different games, but unlike Super System, Hellmuth makes the critical error of trying to cater for too many people, and, in the end, all he succeeds in achieving is leaving both amateur and advanced players dazed and confused.
Hellmuth also has a frustratingly annoying habit of answering every predicament with, 'Read, read, and read your opponents.' He will then go on to say, 'If you feel they are weak, raise. If you feel they are strong, fold.' This is all well and good for a seasoned pro like himself, but, for the average reader, many of whom are supposed to be beginners, this scapegoat is utilised way too often and rendered useless on an audience who just don't share his experiences. If Hellmuth was to give advice on how to actually read your opponents, then perhaps his words would be more justifiable, but to simply encourage you to go with feeling or that 'sixth sense' that he proclaims to possess, is somewhat naïve and destined for failure.
Whilst reading 'Play Poker Like the Pros' it would appear that Hellmuth is somewhat of a comedian, either that or he is suffering from a severe case of disillusionment. Lines such as, 'Making sure that you are consistently friendly to the other players at the table is a wise policy' and 'I like to play only the "NLH 15" hands' certainly raised a smile or two. With words like these and even a section on 'Hold-Em Etiquette', the phrase 'practice what you preach' kept springing to mind. Still, I was more than mildly amused.
One issue surrounding this book that I hear echoed relentlessly within the poker community, is that Hellmuth's overgrown ego transfers straight to paper. This is true to an extent, but nowhere near to the level that people claim.
Admittedly, Hellmuth isn't the most humble or modest of characters. He does appear to find it excruciatingly difficult to prevent himself from gloating. On several occasions, he boasts about big folds, crushing games, winning certain tournaments, and so on. At one point, he even castrates home games and belittles small stakes poker, practically declaring the skill level laughable. Although these outbursts would be enough to disparage even the keenest of readers, their existence is minimal. The crux of the book relies on poker strategy only, and it would be unfair to suggest that he allows his ego to take over the entire read. Hellmuth's writing is fluent and user-friendly, only rarely delving into self-glorification.
Similarly, it would also be harsh to ignore some of the positives that derive from the book. At well in excess of 350 pages, there is enough on offer so that even the most advanced player has something to think about. They may not agree with the advice, but at least they can be made aware of it and interpret it in their own personal way.
Also, although many chapters verge on the short side, the Omaha Hi-Lo section is certainly worth a glance or two. Here we see Hellmuth discussing a game, of which he genuinely seems to love, to an extent that all players can appreciate. Although, once again, it is mainly directed towards beginners, some of the more advanced advice is actually worth taking note of. Many will find the theories suggested here quite intriguing, especially considering that he utilises a number of external sources. Miami John's 'Three Wheel Card' Theory was of particular interest.
Hellmuth has also made efforts to keep things fresh and original. Although too heavily based on assumption, his animal analogy could prove useful to beginners in outlining the playing style of various players. Also, it makes for a more accessible read later on. Instead of saying 'a loose player who plays too many hands, etc', he just uses the term 'jackal', making it much easier for us to identify a certain player type.
In addition, there are some unique Appendices. Whilst never intended to wow the reader, 'Champion of the Year Award', 'The Most Prestigious Poker Tournaments' and 'Playing In A World Series of Poker Tournament' are definitely worth a quick read.
In conclusion, at first glance, it may appear as though I have done nothing more than bulldoze Hellmuth's offering into poker literature, but to understate the flaws that exist within the text would be naïve and unconstructive.
The potential disorientation caused by a confused target audience is disconcerting and is sure to leave many readers feeling slightly bamboozled. The material and advice offered is so unstable that everything he says must be approached with extreme prudence. Although advanced players may be able to unscramble the various ideas and theories, the beginners, to which the book often appears to be speaking to, should be aware that much of the advice needs to be assessed and evaluated before being taken on board.
The message here is 'approach with caution'. Despite its name, 'Play Poker Like The Pros' offers few tips on how the pros actually play. In what is a relatively chunky offering, there is a lot to plough through without really being inspired. In fact, the most constructive advice comes in the form of Andrew Glazer's 10 page introudction, and that, I'm afraid, is possibly the most worrying thing.
I give it 3 blonde stars out of 10.
