Found on a Walmart endcap for under $7. Written by 1983 WSOP Main Event champion Tom McEvoy with contributions from Dana Smith (writing as Shane Smith). Beat Texas Hold’em is a surprisingly thorough beginner’s guide that covers limit, no-limit, tournaments, and online play — all in one inexpensive paperback.
At under $7, this is one of the best value propositions in poker publishing. You get 368 pages from a Main Event champion covering every major format. It’s not going to turn you into a crusher, but it’ll prevent the most expensive beginner mistakes — and that’s a massive return on a tiny investment.
What’s Inside
Four formats in one book
McEvoy covers Limit Hold’em, No-Limit Hold’em, Tournament Play, and Online Poker — all in one volume. Each section provides format-specific advice on starting hands, gameplay situations, and common traps. The breadth is impressive for such an inexpensive book.
The no-limit cash game section — the hidden gem
Back when this was published in 2004, finding a book that covered no-limit ring game strategy was nearly impossible. Almost all popular strategy books focused on fixed-limit or tournaments. McEvoy was one of the first to address NL cash games, including the adjustments needed when transitioning from limit. For that alone, this book deserves credit.
Starting hand advice
McEvoy provides concise, specific guidance on starting hands and gameplay situations. He also explains the necessary adjustments for moving between formats — limit to no-limit, cash to tournaments. The advice is simple but sound, and simple is exactly what beginners need.
The Review
The main criticism is that this book is strictly for beginners. That’s fair — but it’s also the point. McEvoy has a knack for explaining poker in plain language, and this is a good choice for someone who has never sat at a real or virtual table.
Useful poker books shouldn’t only be read once. New players should revisit key concepts between sessions to really internalize them. Even experienced players in a slump can benefit from returning to fundamentals — and this is one of the clearest presentations of those fundamentals available.
Beat Texas Hold’em shouldn’t be the last strategy book you buy. But it’s a great first one. McEvoy gets you off on the right foot with solid fundamentals across every major format, and the price makes it a no-risk purchase.
About the Authors
Tom McEvoy
Born in 1944 in Michigan, McEvoy was the first player to win the WSOP Main Event through a satellite qualifier (1983). With $3 million in live tournament earnings and 14 poker books, he’s one of the most prolific author-players in history. He’s a member of the Poker Hall of Fame. His writing career started with his first tournament strategy book in 1985 (the publisher folded and it went out of print) and continued with 14 titles through 2009.
Dana "Shane" Smith
McEvoy’s co-author Shane Smith is actually Dana Smith, writing under a pen name. She’s considered one of the best female Limit Hold’em players and has an extensive bibliography of her own, including World Series of Poker Official Guidebook, The Championship Table, and numerous other poker titles.
Beat Texas Hold’em is the best poker book you can buy for under $7. McEvoy and Smith pack solid beginner strategy across four formats into an affordable, accessible paperback. The no-limit cash game section was ahead of its time. It won’t make you a world-beater, but it’ll give you a foundation that more advanced books can build on. Great value, great first book.