Originally Posted by Arousal Design

Dude, do not waste your time with those, or any books.

Poker books are stupid, they all say the same exact thing and will totally not help you when it comes to playing a real game.

Playing cards is all about feel, if you feel your opponent is weak, if you feel your hand is the best, if you feel you've been drawn out on,... etc.

The better your instincts are, the better card player you are =) Some people can feel what kinds of cards are potentially out of the deck by who folded and who limped/called... (i.e. lots of weak aces called...)

Every poker hand is unique to itself because of the people playing it, you've gotta be able to learn what kind of players (weak/tight/agressive/loose/maniacs) are at your table, how your position favors you (or hurts you) and all those other factors.

Books shed "light" on the subjects, but they offer no real hardcore help (because why would they).

Lastly, if you're playing mid-limit poker(2/4 to 10/20)... most of the information in the book is useless because you'll always have some idiot calling you with 7/3 offsuit and hitting two pair vs. your aces.