Essential reading for casino poker players

Every 2 weeks, I look around my favorite cardroom for the new issue of Card Player. Not because I'm a huge poker player, but because it's a magazine that manages to take the rather esoteric world of casino poker, and make it both interesting for the novice and provides insight for the expert. Along with general strategy columns, Card Player provides local color with blurbs on tournament play in California, New Jersey, the Gulf Coast, and Nevada.

Of particular interest to all is Mike Caro's column, prominent in the front. Every issue, he provides one of his patented insights into the psychology of the game. Whether it's teaching you how to get an opponent to call your three-bet on the river with a second-rate hand, or talking about the 9 mistakes beginners make at the table, it's guaranteed to be worth the cover price in a single session.

Which brings us to another fine point... For most readers, Card Player is free. That's right F-R-E-E. Most of the major poker-playing venues (and a lot of the minor ones, too) provide complimentary copies. For the money, it's the best deal you'll find on poker advice anywhere.