This review will mainly deal with the Little Black Book from out of the Poker Box Set (which I would recommend to buy in order to save some bucks). The main difference to Poker: The Real Deal is some added Bonus material.

Phil Gordon takes the reader on a "guided tour" to get to know a lot about Texas Hold´em...and he writes in a way that anyone can understand. Starting from point zero, he covers every topic of importance to every new poker player. After the explanation of the rules, the author points out the most important things right away. His explanations on things like "Any two can win" for example are so clear, that even the absolute beginner realizes why this is not true.

The book helps the reader think like a poker player, and the information is presented in a great way. At the end of each chapter, the reader faces a Defining Moment. Gordon sets up a situation where the reader must use his new knowledge in order to answer the questions correctly. In my opinion, this is a great way to see if the reader comprehends the chapter's ideas correctly.

Personally, I really like the author's way of writing and the book can be read quite quickly, although I believe it is a good idea to re-read some of the chapters. Gordon not only writes in plain poker terms, but he also relates everything to some real-life situation, with a decent portion of humor.

Overall, this book is a great way to begin the No Limit Lifestyle and improvements in your game are sure to be seen very fast! As I mentioned earlier, just buy the Poker Box Set, including also the Little Green + Blue Book.

So long,
LostInPlay