Chinese Poker Strat Books?

Captn_All_In · #1 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 01:02 AM

Anybody know of any books that discuss Chinese Poker?? I know there are some different versions, but was interested in a general strategy discussion.

Also, anybody ever heard of Chinese Poker Tournaments??

How about this....anybody know anything about Chinese Poker that might be interesting??

nelohalo · #2 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 01:18 AM

i heard it was a luck-based game, like what most people consider poker.

jojobinks · #3 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 01:18 AM

http://thesmolens.com/Don/Chinese/Index.asp

xtwalker · #4 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 01:23 AM

I heard that Helmuth is publishing a new book that has been getting great reviews... "Play Chinese Poker Like The Pros" with special forward by Phil Ivey.

Captn_All_In · #5 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xtwalker

I heard that Helmuth is publishing a new book that has been getting great reviews... "Play Chinese Poker Like The Pros" with special forward by Phil Ivey.

Now that would be a sweet read...I can see the subtitle..."How to make half-a-mil in an afternoon!"

Thanks for that link jojo, I had read some of his articles. I will look into buying the book during the summer. I think I am going to pick up Harrington's book(s) when it comes out first.

Jonah 99 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 07:50 PM

Too bad it's no longer a bracelet event at the WSOP.

from wikipedia:
Chinese Poker was played at the 1995 World Series of Poker and the 1996 World Series of Poker. In 1995, the $1500 event was won by John Tsagaris, and the $5000 event by Steve Zolotow. In 1996 the $1500 event was won by Gregory Grivas, and the $5000 event by Jim Feldhouse. There have been no Chinese Poker events at the WSOP since 1996.

Captn_All_In · #7 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 08:22 PM

I was thinking the same thing Jonah, I am sure that it would require a ton of resources to pull one of these off today- dedicated tables, dealers, floor persons, etc. Then again, there might not be many newbs playing so who knows the field might be really small.

jldecarlo · #8 (**permalink**) 02-17-2008, 08:43 PM

Here's an ultra-mini review of the book and software. I just downloaded it Friday. I sent this in a pm to JoJo:

It's very simple with minimal graphics, but it is good to practice with. You can also enter a hand and it will tell you it's best play (makes it easy to cheat on a game by email/pm). I entered my hand after I sent my arrangement and it had a better idea.

It is great practice and probably worth the money since there isn't an alternative.

The book is ok too, but fairly simple as well.

The most important thing in the book is a list of 9 poker hands for each chinese poker hand (front-middle-back). The first hand in the front list would be expected to win 10% of the time (K32) through the 9th, which would win 90% of the time (KKQ). This is helpful in picking between alternate arrangements.

More important is being sure you're seeing all the possibilities, and the computer program helps with that. Unless you're a much better natural tallent than I am, you are missing LOTS of possibilities.

All in all, it's not a bad buy. No bargain, but there aren't a lot of options. Spend 30 min with the software and you will know that you have to spend a little more time analyzing your hands than you think you did.

L

PS I would publish the table mentioned above, but I don't want to violate anybody's copywrite...

Captn_All_In · #9 (**permalink**) 02-17-2008, 09:20 PM

I was wondering about the same book and software. Would you recommend just getting the software and skipping the book? Or do you feel that they are better suited as a pair??

Quote:

Originally Posted by jldecarlo

Here's an ultra-mini review of the book and software. I just downloaded it Friday. I sent this in a pm to JoJo:

PS I would publish the table mentioned above, but I don't want to violate anybody's copywrite...

I agree with this entirely...not that I wouldn't want to see it, but I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Don via some emails and he is a good guy.

ipgyst · #10 (**permalink**) 02-17-2008, 09:21 PM

Chinese Poker probably got canned as a WSOP event because you have to deal all the cards every time, there is no betting, and you can have only 4 people at a table. I don't think we'll see CP as a live tournament game again. Online is certainly feasible, but then everybody would just have their "Chinese Poker Hand Sorting Software" at the ready and the game would be mechanical and boring. That's probably why there isn't more literature on CP - there is no betting, there are no tournaments, and it is "solved". It's still a lot of fun though. Good times. Looking forward to Chiptalk's CP Game #1.