It's the perfect purchase for anyone wanting to get involved in poker, online or offline

As you'd expect from a tutorial DVD, John Thomson's Red Hot Poker takes viewers through all the basics of poker, covering everything from hand rankings to body language.

Examples are played out in front of the viewer, with Thomson explaining the playing options available at every stage. This means that progress through the DVD can seem a touch slow for those who already have a basic knowledge of the game, but it is this steady progression that will help new players pick up the game.

Once the basics have been covered, the DVD moves on to the more advanced aspects of the game that will help players gain an edge over their rivals at the poker table, with body language, bluffing and calculating pot odds all covered.

A helpful aspect of this DVD is its interactivity. At the end of each chapter interactive questions are set to test the viewer's knowledge and understanding of what they've just learnt. If you've not done too well in the test, do back through the chapter again and pick up the bits you've missed. Easy.

Poker is full of terminology and jargon that can confuse newcomers to the game, and the DVD also provides handy explanations of all the major poker terms, so you can talk the talk too.

Disc 2 of this two-disc set features an interactive poker game where you take on a computerised John Thomson, heads up, providing viewers with the chance to hone their skills for free before hitting the tables for real.

John Thomson's Red Hot Poker is an ideal stocking filler for anyone new to the game of poker, and with a free chip offer with online poker room Party Poker included as part of the DVD set, it's the perfect purchase for anyone wanting to get involved in poker, online or offline.

VERDICT

Perfect for beginners, with a steady pace maintained throughout the DVD. End-of-chapter tests and DVD game are handy learning tools for newbies, too.