Ed Miller's Small Stakes Hold'em Review

“You're Wrong” by Werddown, 26 May 2006

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The poster who wrote about this book teaching you the wrong way to play, is ludacris. Sklansky does not wildly reccomend playing "any two suited cards" .. On the contrary he explains in vast detail in which situations you should call with suited cards (I cant recall a point in the book where he EVER reccomended calling with ANY two suited cards, except maybe completing from the blinds)... In fact, in the preflop section there is an entire paragraph warning the player to steer clear of ANY two suited cards that arent worth playing, and stick to the stronger and connected cards. As far as "learning poker the wrong way" ...The authors do an incredible job distinguishing what plays are correct for lower stakes hold em, and which plays would NOT work at higher limits. Nearly every concept is explained with in-depth reasoning as to why certain plays are correct only at lower limits and not higher limits. In fact, I find this more valuabale to the beginning player, because it teaches them that a single strategy will not beat every limit, and you must adjust your play based on the quality of your opponents and the dynamic of your table. If you read the introduction at all, you'd also understand that alot of the low limit knowledge comes from ed miller, a low limit expert. Combined with the other author's extensive knowledge of gambling and high stakes, as well as basic poker concepts, the reccomendations made in this book become rock solid. I would not deviate from hardly any of these reccomendations while I'm playing at a lower stakes table, ever. So I definitely reccomend picking this book up if you plan to play against the sea of fish that is now online low limit hold em.

“not so great” by maxbetty, 05 Jan 2006

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I'm sorry but I dont agree with all the others,I will probably be flamed and killed for this, but I allways say what I think with no regards what so ever, this book is dangerous! and I can say so as a stedy semi professional player, I have played and beat lowlimit poker for many years, I ofcourse admire David Sklansky's work, all the other books he wrote is outstanding, but this one is really dangerous because people will learn poker the wrong way, and once you learn something it's not easy to re-learn again, I believe that if you are going to learn something you better get it right from the beginning or you will be in troubble, there is a thing in this book that simply dont work, like as he suggests, playing "any two suited" startinghands!? from my experience I know this is suicide, therefore I say this book is dangerous, any two suited hands does not beat lowlimit poker, I doubt sklansky has played more than 1000 hands of lowlimit poker in he's lifetime. if you are going to read this book, dont use the starting hands from this book, instead use the starting hands he recommends from he's other books, no other hands are profitable, whether its lowlimit or highlimit. exept the startinghands he recommend, this book is as good as he's other books, For a beginning player it has some useful things.

“The good and the bad.” by jmg, 11 Dec 2005

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So if you read the reviews above you have already heard the praises. I also agree that is great book, the hand quizzes were also very valuable. For a beginning or intermediate player this book will surely raise the level of your game considerably. Advanced/Experienced players will get a great review and learn why they make the moves they do. Then the bad. This book does little to inform players how to observe opponents. Compared to an author like TJ Cloutier. Although low stakes games are littered with weak and loose players, not all of them are. Infact unless u are in CA u may only find 3or4 bad players on a 10player table. Because of this I'm finding my self not giving much respect to players in small stakes games. Obviously when u play aggressive that costs bets. ON-LINE- My experience is People are very very tight and this approach may not be optimal, as u will be playing a very small amount of hands ... because u won't be cold calling. The bets per hours will go down considerably. (in a home game or casino game this approach is the best)You must factor in the travle time etc. people go to the casino to play so thet play and play alot. On-Line people are chillin out eating and watching tv etc. they are comfortable and under no pressure to play extra hands or go further than they should with them. The authors expect u will be playing in a casino and that was there goal, to teach u how to be that loose game. ONLINE is different … and much more tight/aggressive. When your betting for value vs the fish beawear of that sandbagger. my last comment is ... this book helps more when less people implment the stratey it teachs. So don't buy it for eveyone on your x-mas list :)

“GOLD !” by SLC, 07 Aug 2005

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If you follow what the book tells you, there is no way you can lose in the long run. This book covers any possible scenario you will come across. Get ready to win.

“SSHE” by tdmlb24, 10 Jul 2005

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This book goes very in-depth on how to beat the small stakes games where there are many fish. The only thing that is lacking in this book is that the strategy is more for limit hold'em than no limit.

“This book is instant cash” by mm100, 23 Jun 2005

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This is the book that will finally take a mediocre player over the top. Millers analysis on draws, pot odds, starting hands and redraws have revolutionized how I have played. I'm absolutely murdering the low limits Making about 1,000 at 2/4 tables in this past week. His tight-aggresive approach is taught in other books, but not with the same in depth perspective about what type of poor players you're playing against and the hands that they usually hold. I've read 4 poker books and this one is the definitive guide to crushing lower limits. If you want to advance your game, buy this book, read it, absorb it, and watch your bankroll skyrocket!

“Ed Miller is my hero” by Fnord, 15 Feb 2005

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Best book yet written on limit hold'em. Goes in depth on how to deal with the "Gamb00lers" who have invaded poker tables well into the middle limits. HEFAP is great, but makes the critical assumption your opponents are trying to play will. SSE makes no such assumption. Lots of great basic theory in this one, as understanding of the game has evolved since HEFAP v2 saw print.

“Miller's Small Stakes Holdem” by Daniel Kessler, 18 Jan 2005

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This book has instantly become my #1 recommended poker book for the player looking to advance from marginally profitable to stone killer. The text is advanced and readable. Miller explains complex concepts in a manner that is easily understood. Concepts such as pot odds, pot equity, playing overcards and many others are discussed clearly and concisely. While not necessarily a book for the brand new player, it is an excellent text for anyone with a few games under his/her belt who wants to really destroy the low-limits. Although this book is targeted at small stakes games (2/4 up to about 6/12), its concepts are easily applicable to looser mid-stakes games 10/20 and up. The first few chapters alone will earn you the cost of the book many times over. Buy it. Read it. Sit at someone else's table.