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BAS School Of Poker - So What Makes Today So Special?

By BallsASteel
Feb 21, 09 07:01 PM

Well for this guy I am finally making my New Year’s Resolutions! No, my first one is not to be more prompt. It should be, but in actuality if you know my health history this year, you know I am just glad to still be here to make resolutions! Therefore, my first resolution is to bring a touch of joy to each and every day! Again, if you have seen my avatar, you probably know I have a penchant for that anyway. But, I have taken on a couple of serious project for this coming year that will make a big difference. One will mainly affect me. The other will affect both of us (if you keep reading my column).
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This year I am hitting Nutri-System or Jenny Craig or one of those programs and working out. I plan to lose over 100 pounds. I have a whole program in place that will get me ready for two big plans I have: doing an Ironman competition in the next three years and doing the WSOP and more poker tours hopefully starting this summer. All of this is going in a book. I have the clever title already and will let you know more about it as I go. I hope the years of trials I have endured and my overcoming will make a difference in the lives of those just hitting the wall.
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Speaking of book, this leads me to the second big resolution. I am going to read a poker book. Actually, I’m not just going to read one, but I am going to read a whole list. I was researching the idea of a reading list and stumbled upon this article by Tim Peters in Card Player Magazine entitled Your World Series of Poker Reading List. It can be found at http://www.cardplayer.com/magazine/article/15576. The article is excellent. I’d suggest reading it. What I have decided to do, though, is read each book throughout the year and publish my review in this column. If you would like links to all the books, I have compiled each of them in a list on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/wishlist/1L3MBAD7KIIHL/ref=cm_wl_rlist_go). In addition, I spent some time and found most of the other major books on poker on Amazon and made a separate list of them (http://www.amazon.com/wishlist/H6BE052FG92Y/ref=cm_wl_rlist_go). At some point soon, watch for DrCheckRaise to handle them directly. You can also find them in Card Player’s store.
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So that you don’t have to go running all over creation to see this list, here it is:
• James McManus, Positively Fifth Street: Murders, Cheetahs, and Binion's World Series of Poker (Picador; $15)
• T.J. Cloutier and Tom McEvoy, Championship No-Limit and Pot-Limit Hold'em (Cardoza; $29.95)
• David Sklansky, Tournament Poker for Advanced Players (Two Plus Two; $29.95)
• David Sklansky, Theory of Poker (Two Plus Two; $29.95)
• Tom McEvoy, Tournament Poker (Cardoza; $29.95),
• Doyle Brunson, Super/System (Cardoza; $29.95).
• Dan Harrington and Bill Robertie, Harrington on Hold'em: Expert Strategy for No Limit Tournaments: Strategic Play (Vol. I) and Harrington on Hold'em: Expert Strategy for No Limit Tournaments: Endgame (Vol. II); (Two Plus Two; $29.95 each)
• Blair Rodman and Lee Nelson, Kill Phil: The Fast Track to Success in No-Limit Hold'em Poker Tournaments (Huntington Press; $24.95)
• Erick Lindgren, Making the Final Table (Collins; $15.95)
• Phil Gordon, Phil Gordon's Little Green Book: Lessons and Teachings in No-Limit Texas Hold'em (Simon Spotlight Entertainment; $21)
• Al Alvarez, The Biggest Game in Town (Chronicle Books; $15.95)
• Jonathan Grotenstein and Storms Reback, All In: The (Almost) Entirely True Story of the World Series of Poker (Thomas Dunne; $24.95)
• David Apostolico, The Pocket Idiot's Guide to Tournament Poker (Alpha/Penguin; $9.95)
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In addition to these books, I’ll be reviewing other books as well. I already have arranged to review what should be a must have for every serious poker player… American Casino Guide, a 496-page book which gives detailed information on more than 700 casino/resorts, riverboats and Indian casinos in 36 states. It also give information on the best strategies for playing: slots, video poker, blackjack, craps, roulette and baccarat.
The book also contains more than 220 coupons, valued at more than $1,000, to save you money when you visit the casinos. FREE rooms, FREE food, FREE shows, FREE drinks, FREE betting money and more!
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So, stay tuned for a good year at the BAS School of Poker. Now that I am finally healthy (for the most part) you’ll be seeing a regular column. Enjoy.
~ BAS


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COMMENTS

POSTED BY:
TheSyphon

Feb 22, 09 04:31 PM

Good luck on your journey. Some of these books are beneath you and will likely bore you. On the other hand you are missing some books that cover topics that are a MUST.
Don't ask, cause I'm not talking.
TheSyphon

POSTED BY:
slipstream

Feb 22, 09 05:07 PM

sounds like its going to be a good book,i cant wait to read it

POSTED BY:
BallsASteel

Feb 22, 09 07:12 PM

Syphon, I realize there are a lot of books out there for me to improve my game, but I am really looking at this as a way to get the regular player started. I thought I could develop my own list, but this article gave me a good reference point. I'll surely be adding other books as well as these including Frank Weise's new book. I have already read the galleys of it and it will be a good read for most players. But, throw out anything y'all feel I miss. We are collaborative here!

POSTED BY:
bwtci

Feb 23, 09 09:15 AM

I know we are on the seperate ends of the political spectrum, but I read all your blogs and it is good that you are making a resolution concerning your health, let me suggest something if I may, look into a good martial arts program, one that emphisizes excercize as well as self defense. It would be agreat compliment to a nutri system type situation. Some of the other added benefits of a good martial arts program are...

POSTED BY:
bwtci

Feb 23, 09 09:21 AM

1. a good program allows you to move at your pace, while the instrustor is still there to motivate, they also understand everyone is in varying levels of physical fitness,
2. martial arts allows you see the entire change in your body as your physical fitness improves, what I mean by this is that you do not just see your tummy get flatter, but just the way you move, your endurance, flexibiltiy, as well as your tummy getting flatter, I gaurantee one year of a good program.....

POSTED BY:
bwtci

Feb 23, 09 09:25 AM

and you will be astounded.
3. becoming part of martial arts school is a journey that you take with other people, and I know BAS you are more of a ppl person than I am, the friends and comraderie you can build with people can be life lasting, plus you would be able share your love of poker with a difffernt group of people
4. this would be just the beginning of your journey towards competeing in the Iron Man, but it would be a good beginning for you, people in martial arts...

POSTED BY:
bwtci

Feb 23, 09 09:28 AM

for the most part are naturally positive, and understand striving for goals, this is what a part of any good martail arts program should be a confidence builder.
5 for me martials arts as been more of a private journey, I am involved in it solely for the mental and physical benefits, as I am never really competeing against you all even when we play poker, I am really competeing with myself, lol get it everyone!!!!!

POSTED BY:
bwtci

Feb 23, 09 09:34 AM

Did not mean for this to be so long, but I believe you are moving in good direction and I just wanted to commend you and recommend to you, something that has been good for me for many years. The great thing about a good martial arts program is that it can benefit you, physically, mentally, and spiritually, and all programs should address this. If you need any assistance in researching a program, let me know and it would be my honor to assist. Brad

POSTED BY:
BallsASteel

Feb 23, 09 05:45 PM

bwtci, While we often disagree politically, I can appreciate someone who thinks in order to arrive at their views. I often am more dismayed by someone with whom I agree & yet (s)he has no idea why (s)he holds the same viewpoint than I am with someone with whom I disagree but who has thought through why their opinion is what it is. In any event, you may be surprised to learn that I actually did study some martial arts when I was younger. Not to make a long story longer I do find value in it.

POSTED BY:
vincent1968

Feb 24, 09 08:11 AM

Good article Ballz. Good luck on your journey.

POSTED BY:
Bettor

Mar 18, 09 02:39 AM

Hi Balls! Dunno if you remember me, but I agreed to come
look at your blog and then promptly forgot your nick! LoL,
I have a mind IN a steel trap! Anyway, I was going to delete my blog entry but stopped at the last second to see if I had any comments and THE THICK PLOTTENED - THERE YOU WAS! Anyway, to make a short story longer still, I thought about a way to find you for several days.(Not because I needed fashion advice, (cont)

POSTED BY:
Bettor

Mar 18, 09 02:40 AM

or the way I felt you understood my position that if I didn't play bad at that point, I would've blinded out next hand. No, it was the invitation itself. I felt you had to be a *goodguy* because I 'm pretty sure I've never been balled out and invited over to help my game in 2 sentences) Anyway, here I am (late of course). Sorry to hear about your misfortune - good luck with all-o-that btw, and your other goals!