Which is a better book

BettorGolfer · #1 (**permalink**) 05-23-2006, 11:27 PM

Small Stakes Hold Em - Sklansky, Malmuth, Miller --or--
Winning Low Limit Hold Em - Lee Jones

I have both of these books and have only read the Jones book fully.....I get a little bored reading Sklansky. I recently started reading Malmuth's Poker Essays, and really enjoy these.

I don't play a lot of limit hold em, mainly small stake pot limit, but I know some of the concepts will still be the same. I also today received both Harrington books, and read a little of the first one. All I can say is WOW!!!, it's going to be awesome. Very practical reading.

Also, is the 3rd edition of Winning Low Limit Hold Em worth getting?

thanks

jojobinks · #2 (**permalink**) 05-24-2006, 12:24 AM

sshe is superior by far, imo.

lee jones, in sum: play tight. don't slowplay.
sshe in sum: i can't do that. it's much more subtle and smart.

sklansky isn't the 1st author, btw. i agree he's tough to read, which is why it's so good that ed miller is the guy mostly responsible for this.

check it out. it's excellent.

bolgenmod · #3 (**permalink**) 05-24-2006, 02:03 AM

Just to add to Jojo's always excellent summaries: the third edition of Jones WLLHE is FAR superior to the previous editions. Even that notorious crankster Mason Malmuth admits that. The advice is less weak-tight, and he also added a basic SNG section (some interesting thoughts, especially for beginners, but no where near as useful as HOH).

If you are a no-limit player, HOH will really help your game. And check out the new 2+2 book coming out in the next week or so: No-Limit Holdem: Theory and Practice. (I started a thread in this forum on that today.)

Poboy · #4 (**permalink**) 05-24-2006, 10:04 AM

I like both books. Read WLLHE to get the basics down, then read SSHE to get past the basics. If I had read Miller, et al. and not Jones, I think I'd be way too loose and never figure it out. Jones's book can be skipped if you are past the beginner stage.

BettorGolfer · #5 (**permalink**) 05-24-2006, 10:47 PM

so, basically the 3rd edition of Jones book is the way to go then.......I find Miller's book sort of boring. Actually, it could be because the only low limit I've played is online AND PEOPLE CALL EVERYTHING!!!!! I started playing lower stakes pot limit, and at least there you can people to fold

smoore · #6 (**permalink**) 05-25-2006, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BettorGolfer

so, basically the 3rd edition of Jones book is the way to go then.......I find Miller's book sort of boring. Actually, it could be because the only low limit I've played is online AND PEOPLE CALL EVERYTHING!!!!! I started playing lower stakes pot limit, and at least there you can people to fold

dude, you're not getting it. Miller's book is the BIBLE for CRUSHING games where "people don't fold". THE BIBLE. CRUSHING. Make sure you're acing the tests in the back before you discount it's advice.

I've never read Jones' book so I can't comment on it.

jojobinks · #7 (**permalink**) 05-25-2006, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smoore

dude, you're not getting it. Miller's book is the BIBLE for CRUSHING games where "people don't fold". THE BIBLE. CRUSHING. Make sure you're acing the tests in the back before you discount it's advice.

I've never read Jones' book so I can't comment on it.

thank you sir. for some reason, i didn't have the energy to write that post.

Poboy · #8 (**permalink**) 05-25-2006, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BettorGolfer

so, basically the 3rd edition of Jones book is the way to go then.......I find Miller's book sort of boring. Actually, it could be because the only low limit I've played is online AND PEOPLE CALL EVERYTHING!!!!! I started playing lower stakes pot limit, and at least there you can people to fold

You can't not read Small Stakes Hold Em. I only suggested you read WLLHE first. SSHE is all about the loose callers.

w16227 · #9 (**permalink**) 05-25-2006, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poboy

You can't not read Small Stakes Hold Em. I only suggested you read WLLHE first. SSHE is all about the loose callers.

I have Lee Jones 2nd edition - so I cannot comment on the 3rd ---

but it is kind of like this

The Lee Jones book is decent, but fairly basic. Kind of like Low Limit Poker 101.

SSHE - is the advanced class. Some people can "test out" of the Lee Jones book. It is a little more difficult to read and digest if you do not have the basics (LJ Book) down before reading.

bromius13 · #10 (**permalink**) 05-25-2006, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poboy

I like both books. Read WLLHE to get the basics down, then read SSHE to get past the basics.

WLLHE is a fine book that won't steer you wrong, but I do feel that SSHE is a far superior book (for the record, I have the 2nd Edition of WLLHE; the 3rd ed. might be better). That said, however, I have to wonder if the usual 200-300 Big Bets is an adequate bankroll given the strategy in SSHE...

SSHE recommends playing lots of draws that WLLHE would have you drop, as well as playing those draws more aggressively, raising where WLLHE would recommend that you just call. When I first put SSHE into play, I went on an unbelievable cold streak where I missed something along the lines of 20-25 flush & open-ended straight draws in a row. Being that I was now raising many of these draws on SSHE's advice as opposed to just one-betting or calling, I quickly found myself down 170 Big Bets! I had to reload! I've since righted myself, and yes, I'm sure there were a few holes in my strategy that didn't help, but I'm wondering if one should consider a bankroll closer to 500 Big Bets if they're going to employ the strategies in SSHE.

jw