Poker Book?

CWaters425 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-03-2006, 10:40 AM

I am looking to step up my game a little and want to get a poker book. I was looking at Doyle's Super System, but I only play Texas NL Holdem, and I don't want to waste money on a book thats filled with other info on different games. Does anyone know what the best NL Texas Holdem only book is, or one that is good to learn from?

Thanks,

Chris

babujit1 · #2 (**permalink**) 03-03-2006, 10:43 AM

Harrington on Holdem # 1,2 are great for tourney play.

SingleMaltFan · #3 (**permalink**) 03-03-2006, 11:03 AM

i can reccomend "theory of poker", i know you want purley Nl and no other games..but the concepts here i have been finding are fantastic...i am about 3/4 finished with it, and it has been very helpful.

I was told a while ago that if you play poker, you should read this book..i held off for about a year, because, the reviewer said he "jumped from game to game"..he does, in a way, by descibing his concepts based on 7-stud, razz, NL and limit HE and 5-draw on occaision, but the concepts carry thru to all poker, and is well worth the read.

ditto on Harrington 1, 2

my 2c's

1malt

yeltzen · #4 (**permalink**) 03-03-2006, 12:19 PM

If you're playing NL cash games, then get Harrington on Hold'em Vol. 1 to learn a tight/solid NL strategy, not to mention learn how to size your bets. Read the NL section of Super System if you want to learn a very aggressive, gambling style that you can use to intimidate a table with.

For online tournaments and Sit n' Gos, read Harrington's Vol. 2. Vol 1 is still useful, but the blinds go up so fast online that Vol 2 is more useful.

Just some tips if you want to buy one and only one book.

w16227 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-03-2006, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yeltzen

If you're playing NL cash games, then get Harrington on Hold'em Vol. 1 to learn a tight/solid NL strategy, not to mention learn how to size your bets. Read the NL section of Super System if you want to learn a very aggressive, gambling style that you can use to intimidate a table with.

For online tournaments and Sit n' Gos, read Harrington's Vol. 2. Vol 1 is still useful, but the blinds go up so fast online that Vol 2 is more useful.

Just some tips if you want to buy one and only one book.

I ditto the recommendation for Theory of poker. If you only read one book - this one should be it. After that, HOH or supersystem. I would recommend supersystem II for reasons below -

Now we need to fix a hole in your game - "I only play NL holdem".

Even if you only want to play NL holdem, you should expand your knowledge to other games and at least learn the basis skills needed to be competent. This will improve your game in several ways. Game variations require proportionately different skill sets - but each skill can be applied to different games and situations. NLHE relys a lot on people reading ability. Limite HE - math/pot odds. Stud = memoy and so on. You can "excercise" your poker mind my practicing the other games.

It also opens up more profitable games. Part of making $$$$ is not only choosing the right game to play - but the right table. If your choice is a tough NL game or an easy stud game, why not take the easy money?

While NLHE can be profitable, but even a great player can/will get cleaned out. The swings are tough. A much more consistent profit can be gained in the limit games. Yes - they are grinds, but the swings do not hurt as much.

finally -

do not tell anyone

the 2 games where proper play will net you the highest profit/hour are

Stud8 and Ohama8

Even the most basic of strategies can beat these games at the lower limits.

luckychick · #6 (**permalink**) 03-03-2006, 01:07 PM

I think Hold'em for Advanced Players is pretty good. It covers limit and NL - HOH is better for tourney play, but I think the Sklansky book is a better general Hold'em book IMHO. I haven't read the low limit book that people often recommend. I would think that if you understand everything in Hold'em for Advanced Players then you wouldn't need to read it though.

Amazon usually poker books for much less than retail - check them out 1st if you're going to buy.

Also, you can look here: http://www.twoplustwo.com/books.html

SpeakEasy · #7 (**permalink**) 03-03-2006, 01:29 PM

Definitely Harrington's books. Great for tournaments, same principles also very useful for cash games.

CWaters425 · #8 (**permalink**) 03-03-2006, 02:24 PM

I would like to thank everyone who has given me imput. I only play NL holdem in tourny play, i do not play cash games, or have any interest to play any other poker games i.e. razz, hi-low and so on. I guess i will have to run to borders this weekend

SingleMaltFan · #9 (**permalink**) 03-03-2006, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CWaters425

I would like to thank everyone who has given me imput. I only play NL holdem in tourny play, i do not play cash games, or have any interest to play any other poker games i.e. razz, hi-low and so on. I guess i will have to run to borders this weekend

PM sent...

but no Borders..amazon.com a fellow board member (cant rem. who tho sorry) turned me on to amazon..got all my books under 40% cover price new with free shipping

also..tho you dont play the other games, i will re-emphasize, its the concepts of poker he discusses in TOP not the games themselves, that will be very valuable to you in the long run...understand these, and i think, everything in the other books will make more sense...consider it, just mho

my 2c's

1malt

bolgenmod · #10 (**permalink**) 03-04-2006, 01:39 PM

Definitely HOH is your best bet, as others have said. But there will soon be a book that will presumably rock the NL world: Ed Miller and David Sklansky's "No-Limit Hold'Em: Theory and Practice." This is promised for May 2006, but there is now a brief excerpt in the 2+2 online magazine (on the 2+2 site, obviously). I'm no expert on NL (I play mostly limit), but it looks mighty tasty...

EDIT: Here's the link to the article: http://www.twoplustwo.com/magazine/c...iller0306.html