Ace on the River

Approximating game theoretic optimal strategies for full-scale poker (d. billings)

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First on Barry Greenstein

Before we talk about the book Ace on the River, let's talk a little about the author, who is an interesting figure alongside the book. Though small stature and unassuming compared to more eccentric and charismatic poker personalities, many people actually know who Barry Greenstein is. From the years 2003 to 2004, Barry Greenstein won seven professional tourneys, including televised WPT events as well as claiming a World Series of Poker bracelet.

Originally, Barry Greenstein was writing a chapter that would be part of the introduction to Doyle Brunson's Super System 2. Brunson only asked for about 20 pages and Barry came back with 100 pages. Doyle thought it was very good and said, re-write a shorted version of the manuscript or publish all of it as a book? Barry went the latter route and Ace on the River is the result.

How Ace on the River is Different

There are many poker guide books, many which deal with the general principles and foundations of poker, i.e. starting hands, strategy and table position. Ace on the River tries to address other areas of the game. Foremost, it is an introductory book into real life experiences of being a professional player from the eyes of Barry Greenstein. Greenstein's book has an emphasis on helping professional poker players as well as those who are aspiring to become professionals. Whether you are thinking about going pro or not, Ace on the River is still a very interesting read.

Welcome to the Poker World

In the first part of Ace on the River, Barry details the evolution of his career as a professional player. From the early beginnings of learning poker from his parents to his eventual success at the WPT and the World Series of Poker, the book tells of the many hardships and pitfalls that Barry experienced along the way. While not giving away too much, Barry interjects a number of personal stories, many which are very insightful as well as humorous. Along with his poker career, Ace on the River discusses the different aspects of the poker world, such as the different types of characters that one would encounter as well as etiquette in and around the casinos. The advice isn't as much tips, but life skills for the poker pro in keeping the games good as well as protecting yourself.

The Philosophy of Greenstein

Do you aspire to become a professional poker player? Greenstein describes the types of qualities that he believes make a great poker player. The type of attitude they should have, the personality traits, analytical skills and the like. Ace on the River also goes into discourse about different aspects of the game and how they correlate to certain facets of life. Many of the pitfalls of the profession, such as how to hold on to your money, dangers of sports betting, family issues of being a professional gambler and even the sensitive subject of sex are all laid to bare. Many of the topics that he discusses are rarely found in many of the previous published poker books, which is why Ace on the River is a good guide for the would-be poker pro.

Advanced Play and Poker Hand Examples

Greenstein does actually go beyond talking about poker itself and gives some expert insight in explains different aspects of poker. Barry goes over the use (and surprisingly, misuse) of mathematics. Ace on the River laments that while many players rely on their acquired reading and previous experience, most do not use basic arithmetic to give themselves an edge. If you are worried about too much mathematical theory however, do not fret as Barry keeps things relatively simple.

Ace on the River also talks about game theory and how it applies to bluffing, which is a worthwhile read. One of the most useful parts of the book for the intermediate to advanced player however, is the chapter on play lessons, where Barry gives players a look into the type of strategy that he uses while at the table. Greenstein sets up different types of hand scenarios to demonstrate some of the types of plays he would make in the game. Greenstein lays out scenarios that he personally played in and challenges the reader on how they think they should play the hand, from pre-flop to the river. The theories and probabilities are not thoroughly fleshed out, but the play lessons and tournament hands make up for its shortcomings.

Review Conclusion for Ace on the River

Whether or not you are a pro or casual gamer, Ace on the River is a can be a good book to add to your colection. The book has some technical theory in it, but most of it is basic strategies that you can find in any other poker books (a fact that Greenstein states in his introduction). It seems as if Greenstein's main goal is to show a greater perspective on the game, to give those aspiring to be professionals a glimpse at the true life of a poker professional (albeit, one at the highest stakes of the game). If Greenstein is on the draw for Ace on the River to show the game of poker through his eyes, it looks like he caught it. The book gets 4-stars for being unique, fun and easy to read.