Caro’s Book of Poker Tells |
Author: Mike Caro Publisher: Cardoza Pages: 320 Pub. Date: 2003 Price: $16.47 |
Book Review: Part 2
Very few poker players, however, are novices, and to earn its keep the book has to tackle more sophisticated players as well. In Chapter Six, “Tells from Actors,” Caro explores some of the tells and mannerisms often displayed by players seeking to deceive their opponents. This chapter is the heart of what the book has to offer, stretching over 100 pages and including some 29 tells and over four dozen illustrating photographs. It’s here where Caro fully explains the “weak means strong” premise, meaning that the more disinterested or scared the sophisticated player seems to be, the more likely he wants you in the pot with him. It’s also here where Caro explores instances of players doing things like subtly reaching for chips with which to bet… long before it’s that player’s turn to act. (Such a move is usually an attempt by that player to intimidate other players into not betting, meaning that he’s got a weak but playable hand he’d like to continue on with for cheap.) Carried to an extreme, such a move as this might even fall into the “angle shooting” category, though Caro’s examples in general deal with far more innocent behavior.
Speaking of “general”, the following section, Chapter Seven, deals with general tells and other miscellaneous insights, from choosing a table seat wisely to deciphering the truth when false tells and real tells conflict, to even understanding some of the miscellaneous sounds players emit when pondering a hand, such as sighs or “Tsk” sounds. The book then wraps up by revisiting some of the most important tells, then collecting and summarizing the 25 “Laws of Tells” that Caro has sprinkled throughout the book. There’s even a photo-based quiz in the final pages to check if you were really paying attention.
Caro’s Book of Poker Tellsis a virtually timeless primer for understanding the basics of reading opposing poker players at a live table. Other books have moved the topic into more advanced areas in recent years, such as Joe Navarro’s Read ‘em and Reap, an advanced psychological treatise from a former behavior specialist for the FBI. But while Navarro’s book is in itself a formidable tool and well worth the investment, it’s far better to learn the basics first. That’s why Caro’s Book of Poker Tells is so important. It covers the basics as well as anything, and it’s an important stepping stone for the aspiring poker player. Learning its lessons is a key to live-game success.
