Title: “Ken Warren Teaches Texas Hold’Em”
Author: Ken Warren
Facts: “Ken Warren Teaches Texas Hold’Em” has 416 pages. It is available in paperback format at just $3.80 on Amazon.
About The Author
It is interesting to note that there is not much that is known about Ken Warren. However, “Ken Warren Teaches Texas Hold’Em” is the one book that most poker players first read. Warren is a poker professional that actually supported himself by playing Hold’Em. He is recognized as an experienced tournament player and has the distinction of having played and won the first legal Mississippi hand dealt during the 20th century.
Review
Ken Warren basically continues the lessons offered in the past books written, with a focus on Hold’Em strategies for beginners in cash games. There are numerous chapters that focus on basic plays, showing how to adjust to opponents, make more money based on what the flop brings in, push and pull bets, use position to gain an advantage, adjust to playing styles and basically how to be a more successful poker player.
“Ken Warren Teaches Texas Hold’Em” is not a sequel to his former book, “Winner’s Guide To Texas Hold’Em Poker”, a book that was widely criticized for the mistakes it included. The new book is not a reprint. It does contain some of the earlier book’s material but the rest is completely new.
First Impressions
At first glance you will believe that this is a really comprehensive book since it is over 400 pages long. However, as you look closer, you have 34 chapters that are divided one from another with around 3 blank pages. That means that around 100 pages of the book are blank. Also, around half of a page is utilized for text.
A Focus On Beginners
Ken Warren’s book will be of no use to professionals or medium level players. You can realize that as it begins with highlighting the rules of Texas Hold’Em and shows you how to read a board.
We see a ranking of the hands that are to be played in the game, one that is identical to that of Sklansky. There are thus 4 groups of hands that you are advised to play, with the addition that other hands can be played when in the blinds.
- Group 1 – AA, KK, QQ, AKs and AQs
- Group 2 – AK, AKs, KQs, JJ and TT
- Group 3 – AQ, ATs, KJs, QJs, JTs
- Group 4 – AJ, KQ, KTs, QTs, J9s, T9s, 99, 88 and 98s
We are not going to talk much about the advice that is offered about how and when to play the hands since there are some problems that a more experienced player would instantly notice. For instance, you are told that you should always put in the last raise with a Group 1 hand. Just think about having AQs. It is not a good idea to always cap it, especially against a good player.
With the Group 2 hands Ken Warren tells you to always call or raise when it comes to you. Calling is recommended even if you have a reraise in front of you. Would you call a raise and a reraise with KQs? That is not always the best move.
Poor Structure
While there is some good advice included in Ken Warren’s book, it will be a little tough to find because of quite a poor structure. For instance, there are chapters that talk about play on the flop, on the turn and before the flop but there is no chapter about how to play on the river. At the same time, these chapters are not in order, making it quite difficult to follow and properly comprehend the good advice that is given.
Conclusions
There is a reason why some Amazon books are cheaper than others. If you never played a hand of poker in your life and you want to start, “Ken Warren Teaches Texas Hold’Em” is a good first read but you should never apply all the advice that is included. In fact, you should read a couple more books so that you can see different approaches to the game and understand Hold’Em better. The biggest problem with Ken Warren’s book is the pre-flop play highlighted. It is too lose and if you come across someone that is moderately good at poker, you will be crushed.
- Readability: 6 out of 10
- Examples: 6 out of 10
- Advice Quality: 5 out of 10
- Advice Accuracy For Current Play: 6 out of 10
- Information Offered: 7 out of 10
- Overall: 6 out of 10