5 comments about The Full Tilt Poker Strategy Guide: Tournament Edition.

1. This is a true gem in the wacky world of poker books. After Sklanski & Malmuth, Super System I/II, and the Harrington trilogy, there are very few poker books that actually offer original content or any new insights into the game of poker. True, Bill Chen's "The Mathematics of Poker" offers both - to some extent - but in a format that is better suited for someone working on dissertation research more than for someone looking to get an edge at a poker table. The value of this particular book comes from the differing perspectives of the authors. Gavin Smith, Howard Lederer, and Chris Ferguson (just to name a few) have disparate playing styles and it is reflected in the portions of the book they write. Some go as so far as to implore the reader to ignore some of the advice from the earlier authors. While Ferguson doesn't care for flat calling raises, Gavin Smith loves it, and both explain the reasons why. Ted Forest goes as so far as telling the reader to ignore his advice in the aptly titled "Don't Play like Ted Forest" chapter.
   
   If you are considering buying this book, there's a good chance you know about position play, starting hands, and most other basics. What I loved most about this book is the fact that these pros tell the reader how they play, not how a hand should be played. Due deference is given to Sklanski and Malmuth, but the advice doled out is original and unique. It's refreshing to read how differently two pros would play the same hand and their explanations for doing so.
   
   The only weak point in the book is the discussion about online poker is not as in depth as one would expect (or in my case, hope) in a "Full Tilt" title.
   
   I would strongly recommend this book over most any other in the soup of modern poker books.



2. My order came promptly and it is a very good book to get some tips from



3. As an avid poker player (I play at least 5 hours a week) who makes decent money, I was looking forward to this edition. The problem with books these days is that there isn't much new material out there. Doyle wrote his supersystem which laid the groundwork for aggressive play which wasn't the norm back in the day. Then Harrington came out with his three volumes which are the definitive go-to for all no-limit holdem play.
   
   If you want the best no-limit holdem book out there, then this probably isn't your book. The Harrington books trump this book by a long shot. However, if you're looking for a one-stop-shop for the other games then this is the answer. The only section that I felt was subpar was the section on Razz which gave very subpar advice, data, or basic strategy. The stud sections are excellent and lay very good groundwork for both cash and tournament play.
   
   So...if you're only going to stick with NL holdem, then go with the Harrington books...if you're looking for a little bit of everything, then i highly recommend this book.



4. Brilliant all round book, which I've learnt and gained much more poker knowledge from. Im not one for reading books but I couldn't put this one down!



5. In the world of poker literature, no limit hold em advice dries up and becomes useless pretty quickly these days. One year after its release, this underrated and underread book still holds advice that has yet to find its way into most tournaments. Almost every chapter regarding NLHE offers insights into the game that blows almost everything else away. Dare I say it, I think it even makes HOH begin to look dated.
   
   Andy Bloch's chapter on preflop play is worthy of its own 5-star-rated book (even if I disagree with some of his advice, such as reraising with middle pairs while in position). Lederer's chapter on leverage is knowledge only a miniscule percentage of your opponents will be even vaguely aware of. Chris Ferguson's chapter on bet sizes is all you'll ever need to know about that subject. Gavin Smith's chapter on LAG play is a must-read for both the player wanting to learn to play that dangerous style, or for the TAG wanting to understand his loose-aggressive opponent.
   
   In addition, there are great chapters on other poker games such as Omaha, Stud, and Razz (the Razz chapter being my personal fave). I honestly don't think there is a better tournament book out there. I also honestly hope it continues to fly under the radar for at least another year.

5 comments about Doyle Brunson's Super System: A Course in Power Poker.

1. If you are into poker and you're serious about money, this is the book for you. Learn the basics from the pro that started it all. Great buy!!



2. The sections on no limit holdem are great. Since not many cardrooms play the other games, a large part of the book isn't really that applicable today unless you are in Vegas and have access to the other games.



3. Well, I've only read about 90 or so books on poker, most of them written pre-boom (2002 or earlier; the newer ones have a lot less character, 'twould seem), so I don't know if it's fair to say this is the best all-around poker book of them all, but it's easily top five. It's the Cadillac of poker books, to paraphrase Doyle.
   This would be the nuts even if it was ony comprised of the introduction to poker "basics" (actually very advanced in some respects). Brunson lays out much of the stuff that takes some players years to figure out, and in only a few pages. Having played many thousands of hours of poker since first reading this in 2000, I can say that he hits the nail on the head as well as anyone ever has. Read that section alone and truly digest it and you're already half way home.
   This book changed the poker landscape in many ways. Few were playing small suited connectors until Doyle made their value clear...no one but the top pros and "crazy gamblers", at least. Yes, he overrates J-10, but we weren't in his games back then, and I'm guessing he made a LOT of cash with it...and a man as crafty as Doyle knew that he had to write SOME misleading stuff here. You can't give away ALL your secrets!
   Add to that excellent thoughts on many different games (if you can't play at least a half dozen games well you're hardly a real player), and what is still the best no-limit guide around, and you've got a book that truly lives up to its long-time nickname, the Bible Of Poker.
   Haven't read the new edition, but going back to this one after some years made me realize that some of my more advanced poker thoughts and moves had their genesis right here.
   This is a great read as well, not perfectly written but done with much feel and loads of understanding of what makes poker players tick. For those who play hold'em only, this is an excellent introduction to games like lowball and seven stud, the precursors of HE. It never hurts to have a larger skillset (and if you can play a good tripledraw game, you'll be sitting pretty when it breaks out in that Vegas hotel room game you stumbled into with your old buddy's wife's brother). Baldwin's limit HE section is solid as are all of the others. Add in the various anecdotes, told by men who are still some of the best to ever play their respective games even 30 years after publication, and you've got what is probably the most important poker book of them all.
   If Yardley's Education is the granddaddy of poker books, then this is without doubt the Big Daddy.
   
   [PS I'm no Doyle, but I have a column at pokerpagesdotcom where I share my thoughts on hold'em, PLO, strategies and gambling in general. My old articles are archived; if you've seen some poker on tv you might especially enjoy "Poker Needs More Sponsors", one of the few things I've written that makes me laugh every time I read it. Feel free to stop by and share your thoughts.]



4. Condition of book was perfect. Purchased this book for my son's birthday. He loved it.



5. I ordered this book hoping i could become a better poker player but super system is way too outdated and most of the material is about games that arent played anymore. The NLHE section is general poker strategy by todays standards, i understand that super system was a great poker book when it first came out but now there r so many better poker books out there. Unless your a beginner poker player or would just want to read basically a poker history book, i wouldt suggest this book.

5 comments about Sit 'n Go Strategy.

1. I thought this was a great book on how to play in a SNG. So many books on tournament play are about big tournaments. This book just covers one table SNG play. Cash games and big tournaments are not the same game and cannot be played the same way. I like the way this book takes you threw a SNG from 9 players to heads-up. And talks about the raising blinds. This is not a fast reed book. The book is not that big, it's just that you need to take your time when reading this book and put yourself into each hand to understand how to play SNGs. Use like a user manual and go back to it and look up how to play from places like the bubble or when short stacked. Get this book, you need it. On second thought, don't get this book if you're thinking about playing in a SNG against me.



2. This book has become my favorite out of the dozens of poker books that I own. Before reading this book I was a marginal to losing player at on-line poker. Since reading this book, I have become a consistent winner at low and medium stakes SNG's. I honestly can't say that about any other poker book I have read.
   
   Once you have read and understand the material in the low-blind, mid-blind and high blind sections it becomes an invaluable reference for constantly tuning your game. The organizational structure of the book makes it easy to quickly find a situation that you might want to review after an on-line session.
   
   This book paid for itself within 24 hours of reading it. If you are serious about playing SNG's, but haven't been getting the results you desire, then this book is a must read.



3. This is a great book for SNG strategy if you are new to the concept.
   
   But one could save themselves a lot of trouble by breaking it down to these three points:
   1) there is going to be some variance in your wins, so make sure you have a large enough bankroll for the level you are playing (what "large enough" means varies by the player's skill and playing style)
   2) play very tight early in the game, loosen up and be more aggressive later in the game
   3) use SNG Wizard to review all of your games to learn where there are non-intuitive spots to get your money in when the blinds are high
   
   Note that while this book is about NLHE, the basic concept will apply to nearly any SNG strategy, keeping in mind that for limit and PL games, it is slightly harder as your bet sizing is not always going to be much of a threat, therefore your fold equity does not count for much, which much of this strategy is built around.
   
   Otherwise, this is essentially the mathematical model for beating the games.
   
   I personally I have had less success (or perhaps just way more variance) in the turbo games, but crush the regular ones. The better you are, your skill is going to come from you making fewer mistakes, and you exploiting your opponents mistakes - that means in a turbo, there is going to be less time for your opponents to make mistake and so in theory the variance should be higher.



4. This is an excellent book on the 1-table SNG format. After describing the theory of play in each of a wide variety of situations (small, medium, and high blinds; short- and big-stacked; cards in hand; etc.), Moshman provides several hand "quizzes" that examine how to play specific hands. This is an EXCELLENT feature missing from most poker books--even most of the good ones.
   
   One minor beef: I'd like to see some expansion into multi-table SNG's, which somehow ride the line between the 1-tables discussed here (and in several other books) and full-on tournament play.



5. If I had to advice one poker book only, my choice would be this one. It's explanation of the play with different blind sizes is fantastic. It's very useful also for cash players because they can understand the importance of the stack size (deep cash play is somewhat similar to small blind tournament play). I strongly advice this book

5 comments about Harrington on Hold 'em Expert Strategy for No Limit Tournaments, Vol. 2: Endgame.

1. This book was recommended to me after I finished in the top third of a tourney. I've read Vols 1, 2, and 3 - and I've learned so much from these books. Easy to read, easy to understand. I'll be going back in a few months to pick up anything I may have missed. Highly recommended.
   
   Finished in top 15% in another tourney after reading this book - easily accounted by the stuff I've learned. Looking for better results I apply the knowledge.



2. This is a great series of books for anyone who is fairly new to the game of No Limit Texas Hold'Em. Volume I provides some basic concepts that every player needs to know. From which hands to start with and pot odds, to raising, to how your seating position affects your play, this series is a great introduction. And the more table experience you gain, the more his discussions can help your game. Highly recommended. Also, the workbook, Volume III is great to test your decision making within his framework.



3. This book does a fantastic job of discussing the pressure of late stage tournament play. Want to know how to react when the blinds are eating your stack and other players are moving all in on you constantly? Get this book!



4. There have been many in-depth reviews of this book so I will make this short. This book builds on the concepts in Volume 1 to further improve your playing. Some of the concepts and strategies are not as intuitive but make perfect sense and are statistically sound (e.g., As your M and the M of your opponents decrease - avoid playing small pairs and mid to low suited connectors since the implied pot odds can not reach a level to make these hand profitable late in a tournament). Many, many, many advanced topics covered to improve your game late in No Limit tournaments. Mor great insight from a top poker pro.



5. Got this book for my husband, an online poker fan. He loved the first one in the series and doesn't like to put this one down either. Reads them multiple times to get the most out of them.

5 comments about Kill Everyone: Advanced Strategies for No-limit Hold 'em Poker Tournaments and Sit-n-go's.

1. After reading Kill Phil, I knew this book would be really good. What amazed me was the amount of theory and math loaded in this book. Aside from 2+2 books, I have never seen a poker book with so much indepth analysis. The book has solid advice for all stages of any types of tournamenets. The calculations and decisions that have to be made very quickly will likely become second nature over time. I know it didn't take me long to get very comfortable with the KILL PHIL system and it worked out really well.
   
   There are a number of study groups and Q & A forums on the web to help people understand parts of the book. It will probably not be the easiest poker book you've ever read. A lot of people are taking their time to ensure they understand each chapter before the go on to the next chapter. We can always use more books where the authors take the game and their writing seriously in an effort to help the readers. With effort on your part, you will see improvement in your game using the concepts explained in Kill Everyone.
   
   I'm in agreement with the other reveiwers here, this is a 5 star book and is definitely worth your consideration if tournaments are your thing.



2. If you play freeze-out tournaments (Anything else played today?) you'll find this book to be an essential source-book and reference. An understanding of the concepts and examples presented will give any player a better foundation from which to make decisions - and from which to approach the optimum decision at critical points.
   
   The discussion of play on the bubble is alone worth much more than the price of the book. For example the authors present analysis of how often you should push as a function of your bubble factor (ratio of equity loss from losing to equity gain from winning the confrontation) and your opponent's calling frequency. Most players know intuitively that you should push more frequently when (a) your bubble factor is greater and (b) your opponent is more likely to call. But a chart showing the results of the calculations gives insight that can't be gotten otherwise.
   
   One short section attacks the myth that the big stack should call liberally to knock out small stacks. That discussion alone can make the difference between just finishing in the money and making a big win. If you have ever called or raised a bit loosely to knock out small stacks only to find that you've doubled up one or more and made them into real competition while crippling yourself then this section is must reading.
   
   I could continue with examples, but the book is only 348 pages - probably shorter than my examples would be.
   
   I do have a single criticism. The authors (properly) use the Independent Chip Model but without fully explaining the assumptions on which it relies. Like most other authors they do explain that it assumes equal skill for all players. However, they neglect to mention that it also relies on two other assumptions: (1) that all players will receive equivalent hands over the limited time of the tournament, and (2) that play is based on only your hand and statistical behavior of your opponents. If you're in the middle of a tournament, assumption (1) probably doesn't apply for the limited number of hands remaining, and in any given hand other things - tells for lack of a better word - frequently become more important than either of these assumptions.
   
   Do yourself a favor and buy this book. But, be prepared to study rather than just read for it contains more, much more, than a list of starting hands and advice to play a tight aggressive game.



3. This is a great tournament book! They discuss so many new concepts that hasn't been mentioned before in book form. These concepts can be found in different poker forums as in 2+2 forum. One of the concepts that is mentioned is bubble effect. They will discuss how to calculate the real value of your chips in different situations in a tournament and how it will effect your decisions. Many of the concepts are very helpful for sit and go as well, especially when you want to squeeze in to the money often. I highly recommend this great book. The authors have done a great job writing this.



4. I think this book will help anyone. From a beginner to someone who has played in tournaments. It's more appropriate for those with some knowledge and strategies of their own, but really anyone can benefit from this book.



5. I was a little skeptical, if not curious as to what would be written in this book and as to how useful the advice would be. I had read Kill Phil and thought that the ideas were very basic and not very applicable to intermediate and advanced players. When I spent my money on Kill Everyone and read I could not stop reading. Why? Because the 2008 Aussie Millions main event was coming up and the book focuses on bubble play, equilibrium strategies and prize pools and equities; concepts which are very important in the major events. All the money in poker is to be made in or around the bubble and when approaching the final table. Kill Everyone is the best for these situations and therefore very much worth the read. Part one of the book shows how to accumulate chips early on and I found a particular example useful for me in the 2008 Aussie Millions Main Event. For No Limit Hold'em Tournaments this book sets the new precedent. Lee's latest book Let's Play Poker is brilliant for sit and go's. Use these books to improve your skills and reach your poker playing potential.

5 comments about Harrington on Cash Games, Volume II: How to Play No-Limit Hold 'em Cash Games.

1. Harrington señala, con mucho tino, las diferencias necesarias e imprescindibles que separan al juego exitoso en torneos y mesas de efectivo. Es claro, directo y sencillo de entender. Quizás haga demasiado hincapié en las cuestiones estadísticas y matemáticas. Pero, el jugador despierto entenderá que son la matriz de inicio que separa al jugador desordenado y con destino incierto del que intenta desempeñarse con claridad.
   No se puede dejar pasar por alto.



2. This volume completes the series. I play only on-line. The whole section on tells is about betting patterns. On-line thats all you have to go on. So this works great for me. Combine that with the board reading skills I picked up in the first volume and my NL cash game has improved a whole lot. I think anyone that has some basic skills in poker and is a break even or loosing player will improve to a winning player after a couple of reads.



3. Whit this book, I improved my skills on cash games, and learnt how to avoid mistakes. Recommended reading for beginners.



4. DAN HARRINGTON IS A VERY SMART MAN WHO HAS DONE FOR DEEP STACK CASH GAME PLAYERS WHAT HE ALREADY DID EARLIER FOR TOURNAMENT PLAYERS. THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ FOR WINNERS.



5. In my opinion the turn and River are the most difficult and misplayed parts in No-Limit Poker. This is why I got this book, to improve these areas of my game.
   The things I love about this book are the hand examples and analysis. After playing no-limit Texas for a couple of years I have often either gone bust or not maximised my winnings on these streets because I'd reach a situation where I didn't know what to do.
   Some hand examples tell you what you should do or not do after you've made your continuation bet, or called/raised one. This may vary on who your up against and any reads you might have on a particular opponent.
   Other examples compose of some difficult situations you might face where you are holding medium strength hands and your stuck between checking, betting, raising etc.
   Whilest others analyse how to get the maximum when you flop a set or a big hand.
   The turn and river are the most profitable or expensive streets on poker. This is why this book is great value.
   There is also some extra info in this book such as beating low-limit games, bankroll and tilt management.

5 comments about Harrington on Hold 'em Expert Strategy for No Limit Tournaments, Vol. 1: Strategic Play.

1. What's your bottom line? What were your results? My results after reading Harrington on Hold Em Volume One, I finished 22nd and 13th in the 1st two tournaments I entered. I like his style of play and I see a lot of what I do in poker as the same. I believe this book is worth every dime and finish in the money like I have and it's already paid for itself. Just started Volume II.
   
   Keep writing them Dan, thanks for the insight and go Sox!!!



2. This is the best poker book i've read so far. Very well written, cover all the aspects of the game, specially No Limit Tournaments and SNGs. Everyone who wants to play really well should read this.



3. I think Harrington's book and it's sequels are the best books ever written about no limit hold'em tournaments. The first part of the series covers strategic concepts about tournament poker, the second part tells how to play in the ending of a tournament, and third part is the workbook for reviewing the concepts of first two books.
   
   Before reading this book (and the sequels), I have been mostly playing online cash games and occasionally some sit'n'gos, but I am still a beginner in NL hold'em (mostly concentrated on limit games). Totally I have read some 10+ books in poker. Well, after reading this book series I finished 14th out of 2000 players in my first large NL hold'em tournament simply by following Harrington's advice, and slightly adapting in some points.
   
   What's best here is that Harrington is quite a practical guy, and practical guys win. For example, compared to Sklansky, one of the finest authors in poker, Harrington is actually able to teach how to play poker in practical level. In my opinion, Sklansky provides theoretical foundations for some very advanced strategic concepts, but more responsibility about how/when to utilize them is actually left to reader. I think these approaches complement each other very well, and both are great poker authors.
   
   I would say that the first book is also good reading for NL hold'em cash games, especially if you're a beginning player (I am not sure anymore though, since Harrington's cash game series is now out as well). The second book (excluding first chapter) relates only to tournament concepts.



4. There have been many in-depth reviews of this book so I will make this short. If you spend time going through this book it WILL improve your game. The strategy is well laid out and the explanations in the examples gives insight into a top poker players thought process. Many examples state that some of the other answers are also plausible for certain reasons, but he states clearly why HE thinks one play is better than another. A must read for any No Limit Poker Player. str



5. All 3 books in this series are great. I wish it was possible to award more than 5 stars because these books are much better than the typical book that gets a 5 star rating.

5 comments about Power Hold'em Strategy.

1. I'm a big fan of Daniel's, I've been reading his blog and articles for years now.
   
   I generally enjoy reading what he writes, but this one falls short.
   The books is a spin off of Super System, several chapters from 'star' contributors on holdem. I've read several poker strategy books, harrington's books, and several two plus two titles. The content of this book just doesn't compare.
   
   It's written in a very conversational tone, without much math and the detail I've come to expect from other poker titles I've read. This may be a good thing, however, if you prefer less dense poker reading. I want to like it more, but just I don't at this point.



2. It's a mediocre book. I like Daniel very much but he gives no real insight in his mind...he advocates the weak-passive approach but doesn't explain deeply how to become a winning player with it. It's recommended if you think the only way to win is to be iperaggressive...otherwise buy Harrington books on cash games.



3. This book is the best book I have read on hold'em and I have read most of them. This book is a great way to improve your cash game skills but an even better way to improve your tournament strategy. The way Daniel Negreanu presents the information and examples is very clear. You learn how to think like a pro and have a better understanding for what they are thinking. Hope this helps.



4. I've notice a lot of the complaints here are from players who seem to have read every other poker book, and there's nothing wrong with that, but one has to realize the more you read about a particular subject, the more 'recycled material' you are going to come across. Was this book perfect? Absolutely not. Did it have a lot of good information in it? Absolutely. I've read the Super System's, and a few other books, and didn't feel like everything I had read in PHS was just 'reahashed material'. As a matter of fact, I think it fits in well with the Super System's as a 'compliment' or extension.



5. Other books go over basic preflop guidelines with little explanation for the intricacies of postflop play. They never move beyond "mix it up," "value bet," "catch over-aggressive players in bluffs," and other basic sayings few authors go very far to explain. Aside from a few gems from Sklansky and his team, not until Harrington's tournament and cash game series did we see detailed examples of postflop strategies. Earlier authors focused on the simple line of thought associated with world class play: outplay your opponent.
   
   What they failed to do was discuss the variables necessary to determine:
   
   1.If we have the best hand in murky situations
   2.If we do have the best hand, what lines of play extract the most value?
   3.If we don't have the best hand, what situations and players can we exploit to turn our hand into a successful bluff?
   4.What kinds of variables are necessary so we can exploit similar situations?
   
   What we need is a book that addresses the weaknesses so many other books promote.
   
   That's where Daniel Negreanu's Power Hold'em comes in, and where we jump ahead to it's real gem: Small-ball.
   
   Small-ball is a style meant to confuse your opponent and give you maximum value. It is a style employed by many of the smartest, most successful tournament players including Gus Hansen, Phil Ivey, and our author, Daniel Negreanu. As Negreanu states, when you watch a small-ball player, "you will notice that he appears to be in control of the table, yet at the same time, seems to be playing with reckless abandon, giving little thought to the strength of his starting hand."
   
   Daniel Negreanu's small-ball section details a myriad of complex postflop decisions. He wants us to play as many hands as possible to put us in as many profitable situations as we want. The more hands we play, the more situations we must be able to exploit or we will become exploited ourselves. As such, the author must provide vivid examples of how to take advantage of common but complicated streets based off specific player tendencies, board textures, and typical methods of exploiting how certain hands react to different boards.
   
   Once we move beyond the monkey play of getting it all in with the nuts, a player's skill becomes dependent not just on how to play his hand but on how to play his opponent. The message of other advanced strategists has been to read what hand your opponent has. Small-ball takes this a step further with the axiom: Don't play what your opponent has. Play what your opponent doesn't have.
   
   Building on this axiom, Negreanu explains perhaps the most revolutionary concept in his book: "bluffing outs," a strategy that calls for us to determine the true odds of drawing out on our opponent as well as what cards we can bluff with. Negreanu stresses that advanced plays such as these require advanced reads. We must observe if an opponent is capable of folding, and if so what hands will he fold to what situations. Unless we have noticed a player can lay down pocket Aces to a low, 4-card straight board, it's best to just concede the hand and pick a better spot. But given we have a read, adding bluffing outs into our decision can turn a difficult fold into a clear call.
   
   Players immersed in Negreanu's later sections may misconstrue some of the plays he suggests as too passive to succeed, but it's a style that's allowed him to go deep in numerous tournaments while his opponents' over-aggressive styles often lead them to either build a big stack, or more often to just bust out. Small-ball wants us to get maximum value for our legitimate hands as well as our bluffs, and Negreanu insists that sometimes means taking a small risk with big hands for bigger rewards.
   
   For example, Negreanu suggests often just calling a preflop raise in position with big pairs like Jacks or Tens, while common discussions of such situations almost always advocate reraising. In his section on Turn play, he suggests check/calling or checking behind big but marginal hands that unfortunately cannot withstand a bluff.
   
   Critics of these sections may note that not betting the turn fails to protect our hand as well as misses potential value, but as Negreanu points out, noting player tendencies and board textures allows us to put our opponent on a hand and determine spots in which we are well ahead or way behind. If our opponent only has 3 or 4 outs, it is pointless to create a situation that could deter our opponent from proceeding with the worst hand, or worse, failing to convince him to bluff with what he or she thinks is the best hand.
   
   A small-ball player utilizes a mix of aggressive and passive strategies because, at the end of the day, the small-ball player wants to still be in the tournament with a stack that seems to have grown on its own.
   
   Unfortunately, the rest of the book does not stack up. With all due respect to the contributing authors to Power Hold'em, their sections fail by following the same trend as their predecessors. Too many poker players are beyond learning a hand ranking chart, and those that aren't have many other books and websites to learn such basics. Televised poker games until recently utilized sports commentators. At best poker amateurs, those commentators are dropping off, replaced by professional poker players, reflecting an overall trend of increasing sophistication in both players and viewers of the game. The poker audience includes more than trained monkeys, and they are hungry for the advanced strategies found in the small-ball section of Daniel Negreanu's Power Hold'em.
   
   If you're frustrated because you rarely go deep in tournaments, confused because your bluffs never work, sad because no one ever pays off your big hands, and eager to join a group of players that make poker seem effortless, you need to buy this book.

5 comments about Cash Games (How to Win at No-Limit Hold'em Money Games) Vol. 1.

1. Whit this book, I improved my skills on cash games, and learnt how to avoid mistakes. Recommended reading for beginners.



2. This book is equally suited for novice and expert player alike. I have not finished reading it, but I can't put it down because every page is full of valuable information that is easy to follow and understand. Congratulations for a job well done!



3. I've played poker of one kind or another for 40 years. Before the "Moneymaker Cascade Event" that propelled tournament poker into the mainstream, I was playing tournaments...and doing well. Got the previous 3 volume series by Dan and immediately improved my tournament results. My cash rate from 2004 to current is 31%. That's up from the 20% I THOUGHT was pretty good! I credit Dan's books for a lot of that success.
   
   This last year, I've been so busy with business, a touring band I'm in, and other things, that I haven't had the time to play tournaments on either circuit. So, when I do have time, I've started playing cash games at a local casino that's 5 minutes from my home. While I generally do well, I was having some pretty big swings.
   
   Finished Volume 1 of Dan's new books, and headed to the casino to play. I feel like a kid in a candy store, and no one's watching me steal the chocolate! Last time out, I got myself seated at a table with 6 sharks and 2 fish. 3 hours later, I've tripled my stack. One of the biggest sharks folded to a raise from me with the statement "I can't beat this guy...he's killed me in every hand today", which was absolutely true. I was getting good cards, to be sure, but I only had the mortal nuts once all day. (Raised pre-flop with JJ, got reraised by KK, hit a set on a flop of J-5-2 rainbow, and got the case J on the turn which got the KK hand's whole stack on the river)
   
   Because of Dan's insights, I felt I knew where I was in virtually every single hand. And indeed, I had no surprises. Just started Volume 2 last night, so I'm anxious to finish it and see what fun I can have on my next trip to the aquarium, err...casino.
   
   Highly recommended.



4. As a low-limit, casual online player, I've been making a reasonable profit on tournaments only to be punished whenever I try to move into ring games. One thing Harrington does a good job of (not surprising given he literally wrote the book on tournament play) is clearly describing how and when the two games diverge. On just the first read-through of this book I was able to spot a number of gaping flaws in my cash game that I didn't even know were there.
   
   I can see how the book would be less valuable to a more experience player, but it was exactly what I needed.



5. I am having a hard enough time making money playing cash Holdem. If you read this book (Vol 1 & 2) I may have to quit.

5 comments about Every Hand Revealed.

1. In this book Gus basically talks about all the hands he played when he won the Aussie Millions. Gus tells us whats going through his mind during each hand and on every street upto the river. It's quite interesting to see how he thinks during a hand.



2. Gus has flopped quads with this one. After reading all the "how-to" books I could get my hands on I finally found a book that puts it all together. What a novel and fresh approach to tournament poker. In "Every Hand Revealed" I was able to better understand the concepts that so many authors have tried to teach me. To watch Gus play each hand, to see him push the winners, fold the losers, and not quit when the right play failed has really made me re-look my game. I do believe that had I read this book one month ago I would have finished higher that the top 15% of the Senior's tournament at the WSOP.



3. I've read more than 10 poker books written by world class pros n this is like the 12th or sth. It does cover each hand GUs played in the Aussie million, but then in terms of hand analysis is definitely not in-depth enough if you already have a solid backgroud about the game and are trying to refine that to the next level. His thought process is too simple, and explanation are not as in-depth as you might expect to get from a world-class player like him. i'm sure he thinks much more deeper than how he explained inside the book but then, just similar to his DVD, it's just too superficial, and i see no reason y he will even include simple stuff like preflop button steal with K7o against bunch of rocks, which is only like 3 lines of words in content.
   
   If you really wana know how a pro thinks during a critical hand or some tough decision, i'll recommand Dan Harrington's no limit hold'em tournament series, all 3 volumes, even that they're like my 8th poker book set. Dan's book include more in-depth and comprehensive thought process in gaining information, utilizing table image, handling scare cards, playing maniacs, and sometimes playing marginal hands in tough early position. Also, Barry Greenstein's Ace on the River will b a great choice too (although the hand analysis section is super short, every hands are definitely worth looking) but then sorry, not in Gus's book.



4. I just got back from an AC trip w/ my buddies over the long weekend. I played 3 tournaments and won 2 of them for a profit of almost $7,000/-
   While trying to figure out which poker book to attribute my sucess to from the few I have been reading over the last few months, two books come to mind - 1. Harrington on Hold em Excercise book - shows you lots of examples and what decisions to make on every street. His analysis of gets you thinking about the optimal play. But perhaps even more influential was 2. Gus Hansen's Every Hand Revealed....When I first put this down, I went WOW! Is there really so much stealing going on in tournaments. But really it is not stealing as much as the right play in certain situations given your position, etc. I became so much more aware of how my chip stack compared w/ the table, with the current and future blind levels, etc. Gus takes it one day at a time in sections, and within each day, he takes it one level at a time. You really need a good strategy for tournaments....I was thinking about so much more over breaks than using the restrooms, or getting something to eat or drink...I was planning on how I want to play till the next break, how I would play each level. How many rounds of antes, and blinds did I have, what about everybody else? How agrresively should I play - in one tournament I was the chip leader in the late levels. In the second I was the short stack at the final table, hung around till there were 4 players and came back to win it. I think this book probably helped me the most. Gus is fantastic!!!!I wish he would right a book on cash games. I really need his help there.



5. I have read many poker books but this is a very particular one. Don't expect huge analysis but a honest review of all the hands of a tournament, the bad ones too. At the end the impression is that Gus wins by stealing many blinds and folding the right times (two times he folds AK preflop). Anyway a book to be read. Nice book Gus!