Seven Card Stud: For Advanced Players

I initially did not feel I played at the levels that would make purchasing this book helpful to my game. I bought some lower limit stud books and they helped, but not a lot. This book is for advanced players, but if you have played for a little while and are looking for a book on stud, I trust you will be okay with these concepts. The authors explain that if you play lower limits, you should tone down some of the ideas in the book, but overall, knowledge of the tricks of the game is quite helpful. A great deal of the book covers play on 3rd street. After reading it a couple of times, I am a lot more confident in my decisions as to whether I wish to enter the pot or fold my hand. There is also a chapter on playing in loose games. When people are entering a lot of pots with crap hands, this chapter really helps you take full advantage of these situations. These situations are common in the lower limits and I found it helped my game a great deal. Overall, I think the book was easy to read and the coverage of the game was very well done. While there are tons of situations in stud that make explaining it complicated, the authors have done a nice job of preparing the reader for any situation they may find themselves in. If you are familiar with the game and want a book to learn a bit more, I think most people can be brought up to speed with this book without first getting a beginner's level book.

I initially did not feel I played at the levels that would make purchasing this book helpful to my game. I bought some lower limit stud books and they helped, but not a lot. This book is for advanced players, but if you have played for a little while and are looking for a book on stud, I trust you will be okay with these concepts. The authors explain that if you play lower limits, you should tone down some of the ideas in the book, but overall, knowledge of the tricks of the game is quite helpful. A great deal of the book covers play on 3rd street. After reading it a couple of times, I am a lot more confident in my decisions as to whether I wish to enter the pot or fold my hand. There is also a chapter on playing in loose games. When people are entering a lot of pots with crap hands, this chapter really helps you take full advantage of these situations. These situations are common in the lower limits and I found it helped my game a great deal. Overall, I think the book was easy to read and the coverage of the game was very well done. While there are tons of situations in stud that make explaining it complicated, the authors have done a nice job of preparing the reader for any situation they may find themselves in. If you are familiar with the game and want a book to learn a bit more, I think most people can be brought up to speed with this book without first getting a beginner's level book. UPDATE: Three years after initially writing this review, I must say this book has been the best source of poker information I have ever purchased. If you want to sit at the tables and play with the confidence of knowing that you have solid information on your side and you know your decisions are correct, this is the place to get it.

The best advice backed up with easy to understand examples. Contains the least amount of dubious advice of any poker text. This book will make a huge difference to your bankroll. No matter how good a player you are you are a clueless newbie until you read this text. Once caveat: Keep in mind that in general their advice is directed towards your playing in a game with tight aggressive skilled players. These authors no longer play in low limit games and to some extent have lost touch with the type of player the low limit playing reader faces.You should add another title to your shopping basket here to read that addresses games with loose bad players in it so as to obtain a proper strategic approach to all situations. A good poker book teaches you how to think about situations more so than what to do in specific situationAny text by the team of skylansky malmouth is worth it's weight in gold. Look for a revision of some of their classic texts, subtitled- "year 2000 or 20c. update"

Sklansky et. al. have written the definitive book on 7-card stud. It is fairly easy to read and quite complete. It is probably best for middle and higher limit games but the tactics can be adapted to suit lower limit and spread limit games. It is a must for poker players who do not want to loose atll their money when they visit the casinos and poker clubs. You can be sure that if you sit at tables in Atlantic City, Vegas, California, Foxwood etc. the player(s) across the table from you has probably read this book, and you will be at a significant disadvantage if you have not. It is worth a buy, but you must read it carefully and practice.

Sklansky let's the reader know up front that this text is not for the squeemish. The book is for those who are ready to take the game of 7-Card Stud to the next level. It is aimed at players who play 15-30 and up, and certainly not for those beginners who are playing 1-5. This book is meant to be studied over and over, not just read once or twice. Each sentence is packed with very deep, often technical and always insightful information on one of the most difficult games to master. For the serious 7-Stud player, this book is absolutely essential. Just an incredible book!