Hosted by 2003 World Series of Poker champion Chris Moneymaker (real name), the misleadingly titled Poker for Dummies, adapted from the book in the famous Wiley Publishing series, offers a general introduction to poker basics (including playing protocol and hand rankings--pair, two pair, etc.), but specifically focuses on the popular stud game of Texas Hold 'em (in which players are dealt two cards and then must fill their hand with three more of the five cards turned over by the dealer as community cards). Divided into seven segments, the guide follows Moneymaker and colleagues as they demonstrate the rules and strategies (including bluffing) of Texas Hold 'em, while also pointing out "tells" (involuntary or purposeful physical cues/misdirection to watch out for in your own play and that of others), often employing the familiar Dummies icons of jargon alerts, cautions, tips, etc. While the instruction for Texas Hold 'Em is solid, the program falters in its final two segments: "World Series Secrets" is a rather vague 10-point pep talk (even if you were a contestant in the World Series of Poker, the advice to "play your best game" is unlikely to put you on the fast track to the winner's circle) and "Home Games" is unnecessarily confusing (in quick overviews of 5 Card Stud and 7 Card Stud, the instructor refers to the initial "big blind" and "little blind" mandatory bets common to Texas Hold 'em, but not regularly used in friendly poker get-togethers). Optional. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)
Poker for Dummies
(2004) 50 min. VHS: $12.98, DVD: $16.98. Razor & Tie (avail. from most distributors). Color cover. Volume 19, Issue 6
Poker for Dummies
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