Roy Cooke has been beating the hell out of poker games since 1972. His Card Player Magazine column is poker's longest continuously running commentary. He was a pioneer in the Internet Poker Industry. His rule book has become an industry standard. He is a champion for player's rights, fighting harder than anyone for more protection against cheats, especially online. Real Poker II contains all his Play of Hand columns from 1992-1999, and is widely considered an essential on any poker player's bookshelf.

A big part of poker's appeal is that, at its essence, the rules are same everywhere. For the most part, you play with a deck of fifty-two cards, four suits, and thirteen ranks. The best five card hand takes the money. There are (some wild home game variations notwithstanding) only five combinations of actions: check, bet, call, raise, and fold. The purpose of this book is to provide a uniform set of rules for the most popular poker games spread in public cardrooms. Some rules apply to all games. Some apply to particular games. In deciding upon which rules to use, the rulebooks of nearly every major cardroom in the country have been consulted. Where rules differ, the authors have given preference to the rule that best serves the interest of fairness in the game. Indeed that is one of the first rules of the game: that all rules should be interpreted with the spirit of the game in mind. Beyond the issue of fairness, which is paramount, the next greatest weight has been given to the efficiency of the game--getting more hands out per hour benefits everyone: players get more hands, the house gets more rake, dealers get more tips. After fairness and efficiency, the next most important factor is simplicity. All other things being equal, where there is a simple and a complicated way to do things, the simpler rule has been chosen. Lastly, tradition has been considered. The game has a great history, and the aforementioned variables being equal, the traditional rule has been given preference. Fairness, Efficiency, Simplicity and Tradition: the foundations of the Rules of Poker. An additional factor in establishing rules is inducing action. Although it is not as important as the other influences, action is important to the game. Rules can be constructed and interpreted to encourage action, or to inhibit it. All other things being equal, when one rule would limit action and another would induce it, the authors have given preference to the rule that will encourage players to get involved and play the hand. That said, there are other reasons for preferring one rule to another. When several different rules applying to a certain situation meet the tests of fairness, efficiency, simplicity and tradition, the preferred rule is listed first, and an alternate rule--or rules, if there are several--are listed afterward as Alternate Rules. At times, explanatory notes and/or examples are added after a rule. When interpreting a rule, the explanatory notes and examples should be taken into consideration. These notes and examples, together with the Definitions and Appendices for suggested procedures at the end of the Rules, are the components of Cooke's Rules of Real Poker. While some players and cardroom managers may not agree with all the rules included, it is hoped that the comprehensiveness of Cooke's Rules of Real Poker will result in it being used as a standard in cardrooms across the country. The inclusion of alternate rules that may be used in lieu of the preferred rule at the discretion of cardroom management is an attempt to address the legitimate differences of opinion regarding exactly what rule should be in force at a given establishment. Cardrooms will have the choice of adopting Cooke's Rules exactly as they stand, or Cooke's Rules as modified by house policy.

Imagine the edge you would have if you could consistently play poker in the zone. In the zone you make all the right decisions, instinctively when to bluff, and are unfazed by a losing hand. You’re locked in and feel unbeatable. It’s shocking how many poker players stumble into this elusive state of mind. As quickly as that euphoric feeling of invincibility arrives, it's gone. And no matter how hard they try, they can’t get back there. Until now. In The Mental Game of Poker 2, author and renowned poker mental game coach Jared Tendler breaks down the zone and delivers actionable steps to help players get there consistently. He demystifies the zone, and for the first time, brings logic and order to this previously misunderstood concept. This book provides proven strategies to: • Play poker longer and across more online tables. • Improve decision making. • Learn faster. • Eliminate C-game mistakes. • Increase focus and discipline. The Mental Game of Poker 2 expands on the psychological strategies and theories from Tendler's groundbreaking book, The Mental Game of Poker, which cracked the code on managing tilt and has helped thousands of players eliminate mental leaks from their games. Like the first book, The Mental Game of Poker 2 is a must have resource for every poker player who is serious about improving.

Celebrity Poker Showdown co-host and world-class poker player Phil Gordon shows you how to look and play like a pro in this insider's guide to the poker world. Like a secret society, poker has its own language and custom—its own governing logic and rules of etiquette that the uninitiated may find intimidating. It's a game of skill, and playing well depends on more than just a good hand or the ability to hide emotion. The first step toward developing a style of play worthy of the greats is learning to think like a poker player. In a game where there are no absolutes, mastering the basics is only the beginning—being able to pull off the strategy and theatrics is the difference between legendary wins and epic failure.

Poker night is a worldwide tradition, but the home games are a far cry from those played by professionals. However, this practical and user-friendly guide makes the case for authentic poker, lays out the formal rules used in card rooms and provides a primer on strategy that will equip you to become a winner at the real game. Contrary to popular belief, serious competitive poker isn't any less fun than home games, in fact serious poker is more fun and this book will show you how to win big if you want to play seriously.

A complete course on learning to play Texas Hold'em poker. Lou writes in a clear and understandable manner and explains everything you need to know to become a successful Hold'em player in a public cardroom. This second edition is revised and expanded including several new chapters.

Theory You Can Understand. Strategy You Can Use. In this follow-up to his best-selling Play Optimal Poker, renowned poker pro and coach Andrew Brokos demonstrates how to construct the right ranges for any situation. By investigating real no-limit hold 'em scenarios, you'll learn to select hands that perform well individually but also complement one another, amplifying each other's strengths and compensating for each other's weaknesses. In the process, you'll explore powerful concepts like: Bet sizing Equity denial Equity realization Balance Leverage Board coverage Exploitative play Whether you play tournaments or cash games, high stakes or low, online or live, you'll gain fresh insights into the game you love. Real world examples demonstrate how to make the best decision every time, so you can reel in the biggest fish and hold your own when swimming with the sharks. Play with confidence. Play with precision. Play optimal poker. Andrew Brokos has been a professional poker player for more than fifteen years, with hundreds of thousands in cash game winnings, final tables in major online tournament series, and three Top 100 finishes in the World Series of Poker Main Event. As a coach and host of the popular Thinking Poker Podcast, Andrew is widely regarded for his ability to explain complex concepts in terms anyone can understand.