New Poker Book for the Recreational Dealers Choice Players
New Poker Book for the Recreational Dealers Choice Players posted by: PokerLOG on 03 April 2007
At first frustration and altruism may seem an odd combination. But upon reflection Ron Greiner concludes it is this unlikely mix of negative emotion and positive motivation that lead him to write The Everyday Guide to Recreational Poker. “Recreational poker is meant for fun and camaraderie” says Ron. Nevertheless, his frustration built over the years as he struggled to find the right mix of players to achieve that result. On the surface that may sound easy, but according to Ron it’s not. And along the way his conversations with many who have played poker confirmed his suspicion that others shared his struggle. “Recreational poker is a passion of mine so it’s not unusual for me to ask people if they play the game. I was surprised to learn how many folks like to play but feel they lack knowledge and confidence, have had bad experiences, or found difficulty trying to build a core group of players who get along well at the poker table.”
Ron’s research coupled with a lot of recreational poker play helped him reach a number of conclusions that form the basis for his refreshingly new approach to poker. And it’s that emphasis on “recreational” that makes it so refreshing. According to Ron: “If you want a fun, fair, and friendly game of poker, you need people who understand the principles and nuances unique to poker, have a reasonable command of the wide variety of games available for play, and are willing to agree on and abide by a clear set of house rules. Add to those requirements a group commitment to the notion that having a good time is more important than how much you win or lose and you’ve got the makings of a great evening of poker.” And this is where Ron’s frustration led to altruism.
Call it serendipity or just plain good fortune, but it was just about the time that Ron started writing The Everyday Guide to Recreational Poker that the current “poker craze” began heating up. While Ron was keeping late hours tapping away on the PC keyboard, legions of onlookers of all ages were becoming intrigued and captivated by television’s popularization of Texas Hold ‘em. Meanwhile Ron was headed down a slightly different road with his book - or in poker lingo, he was dealing a different game. In fact a bunch of different games! As Ron sees it: “We now have thousands (more likely millions) of people whose interest in poker has recently been revived, and just as many or more in the younger generations who have newly discovered the fun and challenge of the game. I’m trying to accomplish two things by publishing The Everyday Guide to Recreational Poker. First, I want these players and spectators to know there is a much bigger world of recreational poker that is available to them and that it goes far beyond playing only Texas Hold ‘em. Secondly, I want to equip them with the knowledge and skills they need for having fun playing poker while at the same time avoiding the potential personal and financial pitfalls inherent in any activity in which money is wagered.”
Sure, Ron’s book delves into all the expected topics such as the types of poker hands, setting house rules, improving betting flow and strategy, using wild cards, high-low and split pots, odds and statistics, typical player types, and strategy and winning ways, along with an extensive section packed full of games and variations. Notably unique to poker books, his game section is quite detailed and the games are conveniently organized into five categories; table card, draw card, community card, replacement card and pass card. For each game there are step-by-step instructions on the exact play sequence, important insights and dynamics to watch for during play, and guidelines on how strong the typical winning hand is likely to be. Without doubt, the book is a thorough how-to and reference guide.
But perhaps even more valuable and more to the point is its overriding theme of fun, fair and friendly play. So if you want to deal your next game of poker with skilled players at your table who know a variety of games, if you long for the good-natured ribbing and “one-upmanship” that flows from playing with a core group of like-minded players, if you see the value in having agreed upon rules and betting stakes, and if you want to eliminate the possibility of arguments and ensure ongoing friendships are maintained, then help has arrived.
The Everyday Guide to Recreational Poker is the perfect resource for you and your poker group. Well worth its price tag, The Everyday Guide to Recreational Poker can be purchased directly from the author’s website www.pokerendeavors.com.
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