Which FL book to buy ?

[GZ]

Hi there !

I have read one book on the subject but feel need for more info. The book I read were The intelligent guide to texas hold'em poker.
I'm not sure about which one to read next. Some that I have stumbled on are;
Reading Texas Hold'em Hands, by Ken Warren
Winner's Guide to Texas Hold'em Poker, by Ken Warren
The Complete Book of Hold 'em Poker, by Gary Carson
Hold'Em Poker for Advanced Players, by David Sklansky & Mason Malmuth
I don't know that much about these books so picking to read is no a easy thing to do, it doesn't help that there are a bunch of other books on the subject that might be way better.
Please help me pick a real good Texas Hold'em Fixed Limit book to read


Cheers

Best: Small Stakes Holdem (Ed Miller)

Honourable Mention: Winning Low Limit Holdem (Lee Jones)

[GZ]

Please motivate your recommendation with a breif about them.

Doesn't Small Stakes Holdem teach a very aggresive way of playing ?

[JeffreyGB]

Doesn't Small Stakes Holdem teach a very aggresive way of playing ?

You say it like that's a bad thing...

[JeffreyGB]

Small Stakes Hold'em is the limit player's bible. It covers a very solid style of play, presents concepts of pot odds, implied odds, pot equity, and starting hand selection in a clear and helpful manner. It also discusses the reasoning behind a few slightly more advanced plays (i.e. giving specific reasons when to check-raise and when to check the flop to bet the turn).

I'll say it again: it's a limit book. It will help your NL game as well, but it's written for limit.

[GZ]

Doesn't Small Stakes Holdem teach a very aggresive way of playing ?

You say it like that's a bad thing...

I don't know that one about the game to say such a thing, but aint there a big risk that other will fold if they think you are on a very solid hand.
Which way of playing have proved the best result ? I have no idea, so I wouldn't dream about saying anything about that. As for how I play now I play semi aggresive when I have a good hand or is one card away on the flop.

[JeffreyGB]

I guess I'm not sure what you mean by playing aggressive. To me, aggression means how often you raise vs. how often you check/call. If I'm in a hand, I prefer to be the one raising as it puts me in control and gives me two ways to win (opp folds or I end up with the best hand). Playing passive only allows you to win if you have the best hand at showdown.

[GZ]

Sorry I should have explained myself. What I meant by aggresive was raise and then reraise on preflop but also on the flop. I have seen alot of people do such a thing then fold on the turn or flop.
I only keep pocked hands that can do a straight and flush. If the floop doesn't hit I keep them anyway if they are hight and build atleast a pair. I want to see the flop kind of cheap. If the flop doesn't hit a weaker hand such as AH2H, I fold.
I don't like bluffing. Mainly coz I have way too little control of the outcome for my likeing.
Might be way off but I think checking can be a good way to reading other player.

Wouldn't say that I am experienced, I have a lot to learn

[GZ]

Does Small Stakes Holdem or Winning Low Limit Holdem teach how to calculate the probabilitis to improve a sertain hand on the flop/turn/river ?

[JeffreyGB]

Does Small Stakes Holdem or Winning Low Limit Holdem teach how to calculate the probabilitis to improve a sertain hand on the flop/turn/river ?

That's basically what pot odds are all about. Most decent books will discuss this. SSH does.

A quick and easy way is to figure out how many cards you have that will give you the hand you need to win (e.g. if you have 87s and the board is 562 with the 5 and the 6 of your suit, then you have 4 9s, 4 4s, and 7 other cards of your suit which can give you the best hand. 4 + 4 + 7 = 15). These are called your outs. To figure how likely you are to get the card you need, multiply this number by 2. Then multiply by how many cards you have yet to see (if it's on the flop, by 2; if it's on the turn, by 1). That will give you the approximate % of your hand improving. In my example then, you have about a 60% chance to make the straight or the flush by the river from the flop. That goes down to about a 30% if you don't make it on the turn.

Those calculations are approximate, but they end up pretty close to the true %. Here's a chart of the actual values: http://www.flopturnriver.com/chart_pot_odds.html

[Pyroxene]

I own Winner's Guide to Texas Hold'em Poker. It was actually the first book I ever bought on Hold'em; it taught me the rules. But if you already know the rules of the game and simple fundamentals like starting hands I would not really recommend it. You just would not learn much from it.

[GZ]

Is there anyone who have read The Complete Book of Hold 'em Poker and is able to give me a breif on it, compareing it to Small Stakes Holdem would be appreciated too


BTW, thanks a lot for the help guys, appreciate it

[whileone]

One key idea to remember... The thing that separates the amatures from the pros is post flop play. Small Stakes Holdem walks you through lots of different kinds of hands, and how well they hold up after the flop, the turn and the river. there are lots of examples and quizzes about what to do in what situation, and why that's the right move.

If you understand 40% of SSH you can play break even poker. definitly worth owning.

[Ugibu674]

Hey GZ,

I've read both books and like most, I'd say that SSHE is the best micro limit book out there. The ideas and concepts have really transformed me into a winner from a break-even player. If you're properly bankrolled, that book does wonders for your game. The Complete Book of Hold Em is a very basic book. Not bad, just basic. I don't think it had anything revoulutionary in it...

I think you should learn the odds, then read Lee Jones Book and SSHE (Ed Miller/David Sklansky) while playing a few hands for experience. Good luck![/quote]