Review of Killer Poker Online

Title:

Killer Poker Online: Crushing the Internet Game

Author:

John Vorhaus

Publisher:

Lyle Stuart

Date:

2003

ISBN:

0-8184-0631-3

Pages:

278

Price:

$14.95

Reviewed by Nick Christenson, npc@lvrevealed.com

December 15, 2003

As a poker writer, John Vorhaus is known to exhort his readers to play boldly, stay focused, and control their emotions. These are the main topics one will find in his poker columns and 2002 book, Killer Poker. In his latest book, Killer Poker Online, Vorhaus instructs his readers to apply these familiar yet useful principles to Internet poker.

The author begins his book by spelling out the nature of online poker. Vorhaus is brutal as he describes the potential pitfalls that the reader might face moving to the Internet game. I appreciate a book that doesn't make it seem that winning at poker is as easy as picking fruit from the money tree, but if anything, Vorhaus paints a gloomier picture than I think is warranted. Sure, we all face distractions, the irreality of the online game, the ease of play, and other traps which can serve to part well-intentioned players from their money, but our opponents face them in equal measures. If these are potential money sinks for us, then, if we can control our weaker instincts, these should also be sources of income, as at least some of our foes won't be so strong. I don't think this flip side is given the emphasis it deserves.

In succeeding chapters the book moves on to discuss the management of money, mood, mind, and data. Those who have read Vorhaus' writing on the Killer Poker theme know what to expect. Killer Poker Online doesn't get into the play of particular hands. Instead, the focus is inward, and not outward. This book is much less about beating our opponents than it is about not beating ourselves. One focus I really like is Vorhaus' suggestions regarding record keeping. He's obsessive about the information he suggests players gather about their online sessions, but he's dead-on about this being a means by which the devoted player can extract a significant edge.

Vorhaus is a pleasure to read, but compared to other writing he has done, it's my opinion that the first third of the book isn't quite up to his usual standards. Of course, most gambling writers on their best day don't write as well as the revisions Vorhaus throws away. By the time he gets to chapter 7, though, dealing with the issues of online cheating, he is back in top form, which he holds through the rest of the book. The second half of the book is just as much fun to read as I would expect from this talented writer. At the same time, the second half is more of a grab-bag, it's less strong thematically than the first half of the book, yet I found the subject matter to be more interesting. Overall, I'd rate Killer Poker Online to be not quite as well assembled as Killer Poker, but it's fun nonetheless.

There really isn't that much new here. Those who have gambled online and read Vorhaus' other works won't be surprised by very much that they'll find between these covers. Still, that doesn't mean it has no value as an affirmation. This is not a comprehensive how-to guide about becoming a winning poker player, online or not. Those poker players who have supreme focus and no problems with their self-control may be bemused and probably will be entertained by Killer Poker Online, but it may not help their game much. Of course, even though few of us may rise the the level of Attention Deficit Disorder to which the author seems to admit, a great deal of players could benefit greatly from Vorhaus' cheerleading on the topic of keeping one's dark side in check. The bottom line: I enjoyed the book, and many people could benefit from Vorhaus' suggestions, so I can recommend it.

Capsule:

Killer Poker Online provides advice to help online poker players beat their games by helping them avoid beating themselves. Like most of Vorhaus' writing on the subject, the main theme is one of self-control, but suggestions on other ways to gain an edge at Internet poker are also provided for those players who are sufficiently motivated to adopt them. As we would expect, this book provides plenty of entertaining moments, although for the first half of the book I don't think Vorhaus isn't quite at the top of his game. Many players could benefit a great deal from following this book's advice, and those who won't will likely still be entertained. Killer Poker Online isn't a masterpiece, but those interested in the subject will probably find it worthwhile, at least in some form. I liked it.