Is Mike Caro's book on Pokertells the best?

[jimmer]

I went to the casino last night to play some poker.

Through one thing and another, i realised because of my new career, I could actually start visiting the casino regularly during the week!

So, (baring in mind that 95% of all the poker I've ever played has been online), I think I need to invest in a book about poker tells as this must be an area where I am really weak and missing plenty of basic simple stuff.

Is Mike Caro's book the best to help me in this area?

[Muck]

His book does seem very well regarded and to be honest I can’t think of any others on tells

It worth checking the Net too because he does have videos covering a lot of his books content. E.g.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqF8m12JSDE&NR=1

[HalfSugar]

I honestly don't see that buying this book will help unless you simply don't pay enough attention at the tables.

In my experience, only the poorest of players have obvious tells and they are so blatant that their hand might as well be face up. I'm not talking facial ticks or body language in the main but just through simply observing their betting patterns and noting what they show down.

Once you get into better players, there are very few ways to pick up much other than when someone starts talking and which point, it's very much up to feel. Someone who is usually quiet at the table who has shoved all-in and starts talking could be exhibiting a tell either way (wants a call/fold) and you just have to try and decipher what he's inadvertantly telling you.

I just don't see that you can learn any of this from a book personally but having not read it, maybe it is useful.

[Muck]

I general break down tells into 3 groups:

• Betting patterns. Which you mentioned and I’m a strong believer in. They work on-line and they’re impossible to hide without sacrificing profit.
• Middle ground. Which is general what Caro covers.
• TV Myths. Eating biscuits when you have aces and click pause times.

I don’t think Caro’s concepts provide as much value as betting patterns but they do hold some weight against weaker player. Yes they’re so poor you’ll beat them anyway but close observation in the area’s Caro mentions will likely improve your hourly rate.

Most people who spend enough time thinking about the actions in the previous hand can put together at lot of what he says for themselves but other will find it helpful I think.

[golddog]

I've bought it and wouldn't recommend it.

Maybe when it was originally published, and there simply wasn't much poker literature, it had some value. Much like Geno says, it talks about things that you'd normally see by just paying attention.

That being said, I'm not making it out to be valueless. Maybe give beginners some things to think about watching for. If you can borrow a copy from the library or something, might be worth a read then.