I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

I used the search function and actually found a thread. The consensus is it is a good book but some parts are not as good. What parts suck?

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

I liked the whole thing.

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

formatting wasn't that great... and it makes some difference.

also, angel is a little crazy about straddling, and playing alot of crazy hands just to build his stack. and then he'll make the money he lost back and more.

... and i don't think that's good advice for really anyone. obviously works for angel.... and not totally sure how deep we're talking on the stacks. yes, it's restricted buy-in games, but stacks get pretty big sometimes, which is partially why angel wants to build his so much.

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

I just finished reading Angel's book and I thought the whole thing was very worthwhile. There was one bad pun about not going where angels fear to tread...

Lots of poker books include descriptions of the various player types, but I thought Angel did an especially good job of describing them on a practical level. It's good advise made even better by the section at the back of the book where Angel describes how he would play several different hands differently against each of the player types and, more importantly, why. The advise itself is quite worthy, but the biggest benefit comes from getting a first hand account of how a successful player thinks about a hand as it is unfolding.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to anyone looking to better their low-limit no-limit hold'em game. If you play only online then you'll need to take some of the advise with a grain of salt and adjust other advise to the realities of online play. If you play higher stakes than 2/5 live then this book is (by Angel's admission) not for you and you won't likely benefit from it much because it addresses issues, situations, and prevalent player types that are not typically found in higher limit games.

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

I am starting to play $1-2 NL live $100 min $300 max. My regular limit games are drying up. The games still go for the most part the the player pool is greatly diminished so I have to switch to NL.

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

I ordered this book after reading posts in this forum and have gotten about 1/2 way through it. So far I like it very much. The focus on these stakes applies directly to my current situation, so it couldn't be more relevant. I liked the quizzes because it forced me to do some of the math that I otherwise have glassed over in the 2+2 books. (Rather than do the calculations, I always just taken Sklanksy's word for it.) I got a deeper insight by performing the calculations myself. I definetly have a deeper understanding of implied odds after doing the math, and have a deeper appreciation for hidden draws.

I have noticed that there are some inaccuracies with the quizzes. Angel tells you to list all draws on Quiz 2 but fails to list many of the gutshots on some questions, but notes them on others. (one of the gutshots is flipped with an OESD in the answers too) Also, on quiz 10 #3 Angel only gives you credit for 4 outs, when you actually have 10 against the A6 he has listed. Anybody else notice these?

Overall I have enjoyed it and look forward to keep reading.

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

His preflop guidelines are (as he admits) very unconventional. His mantra is to never raise preflop on the strength of his hand ALONE. Other factors may call for a raise, but not exclusively the cards themselves.

Largay is all about deception in the low-limit no limit games, because he views the average player at these stakes as pretty straightforward; for this reason he limps a lot in EP with AA and KK, likes to limp with AK, and at one point says he might just check JJ in the BB even with a bunch of limpers.

I guess the rationale is that when you don't raise preflop, straightforward players trying to put you on a hand on a later street will have to exclude the bigger hands with which they themselves would naturally bring in for a raise. Since the stacks are usually pretty shallow in LLNL, this sort of deception is more likely to double you up than at larger stakes.

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

agoldenbear, good comments... and yes, i do find that if you raise early to mid, even alot of fishy players will notice that you don't play alot of hands and respect you. but they don't seem to react the same way to the early-mid call. and i think quite often you will get the raise behind you.

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

thanks bruin...i agree that with the looseness you typically find at these stakes, you'll usually get a chance to repop if you limp in EP.

What did you think of Largay's chapter on Expectation? On page 61, in the example where you've flopped broadway and are deciding on how much to bet, Largay factors in the amount of the pot to get the total amount you stand to lose. He says: "Four times you would lose the $10 you bet plus the $10 that was already in the pot and yours for the taking if you had [pushed all in] on the flop, for a total of $20."

Based on everything I've read by Sklansky on EV, this seems flawed. The pot is never "yours for the taking," right? I mean, you're not supposed to add the current pot into the EV calculation as something you stand to lose, are you?

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

[ QUOTE ]


Largay is all about deception in the low-limit no limit games, because he views the average player at these stakes as pretty straightforward; for this reason he limps a lot in EP with AA and KK, likes to limp with AK, and at one point says he might just check JJ in the BB even with a bunch of limpers.



[/ QUOTE ]

he limps in with these hands because the low limit players are easier to trap and take their whole stack in the proccess

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I liked the whole thing.

[/ QUOTE ]

Same here. I think it's the best NL cash game book currently out.

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

I cant seem to find this book in any book stores. Does anyone know what books stores carry this book?

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I cant seem to find this book in any book stores. Does anyone know what books stores carry this book?

[/ QUOTE ]

Amazon

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

I ordered from Amazon, gas is almost $3 per gallon here. I hate waiting on Amazon but it makes sense in today's world when you don't live very close to a bookstore.

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

Great timing on this thread. I was just thinking about picking up this book after I finish the NLHE section of SS1, so it's nice to see some positive reviews on it.

How would you rate the accessibility of the book? I've been playing poker almost as long as I can remember (I think I started when I was like 8), but I've only been studying the game seriously for the last 4 months or so. I've read Poker for Dummies, I'm working on SS1 now and neither one has given me any trouble so far. Is Largay's book on roughly the right level for me to get into it here?

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

A lot of people trash this book, but I loved it. Though I wish he would have touched on 6-max more, it's totally worth the money. He plays differently than me, but I like how he gives advice on the different players. Not only to recognize them, but how to play against them in general, how they view different situations, and how to play specific situations against them like draws and other stuff.

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

Most of it is bad! And FULL of mistakes.

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

elaborate or be disregarded.

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

is this book an easy rean? and how many reads does it take to completley absorb all the info?

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

[ QUOTE ]
is this book an easy rean? and how many reads does it take to completley absorb all the info?

[/ QUOTE ]

That would depend on the reader, obviously.

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

well comparing Largays book to NLHTAP which is easier to understand for an intermediate player.

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

I struggle to read books but Largay's is relatively easy. He says people lose to him because they like him. Liking him is what makes his book a good read.

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

btw, you are renereal and I claim my five pounds.

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

It showed up in the mail yesterday and I am reading it now. My first impression is favorable.

It is an easy read.

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

Angel has follow up books in the works according to him.
Lets hope he gets his butt in gear because he must be aware how favourable this book has become.

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

yes i just started reading it today. just got done with the mathmatics and got to say he explains it more simpler then i ever read before. i would have to say this book is for a begginer who is graduating into an intermediate player. NLHTAP is for intermediate players graduating to avdvance level.

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

This book is one of the worst books ive ever read. In the hands that he describes its as if he is playing against complete idiots who always just pay him off with their whole stacks with no hand. I mean, common. pg 224 example 1 when he the flop is 458 and he holds 67 vs an opponent who he is putting on AK and is making 3 big bets and expecting to get paid off the whole way. What a waste of time for me.

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

He says that's a loose passive player.

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

i have been paid off plenty of times in that situation.

remember he says table selection is very important.

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

I have just bought a copy of the book and have read about 1/2 of it. So far I think it is one of the easiest books to read and grasp the material, he just has a way to explain subjects easier. I am also having to switch to NL after being mostly a live Limit player and I think this book is perfect for my situation right now.

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

IMO the book is crap! But... check the hand rankings at the back... Many many mistakes. So many in fact it should be taken off the shelve.

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

Examples? I have a pencil to correct it with.

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

How do you go about ascertaining the veracity of those tables at the back of the book, 'player?'

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

I did a lot of research before buying my first poker book & ended up w/ this one.
It should be here in a about a week.
As a semi-noob player w/ no previous reading experience I will come back & post my thoughts about the book.
(that's twice 'player' has trashed the book in this thread w/ no real backing to his comments....so I didn't put much thought into what he said)

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

There are a couple of errors, but they don't take away from the overall quality of the book. The funniest one, was where he was talking about straddling a lot, especially shorthanded. He uses an example of a 2/5 game, and he straddles, and says "there is $17 there to be stolen" or something like that... Completely forgetting that $10 of it was his already...

But the book is very good for low limit no limit poker, played live. I would like to sit and watch this fellow play, he seems to have a very good handle on the games he plays.

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

I just got my copy today and started reading the first two chapters. I like his writing style a lot and he explains very in depth that many of these concepts should be read even by expert players just to understand the process of learning of beginning players.

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

I just read Angels book in 2 days after I got it.

I was hoping that it would be much better.

Angel seems to always be playing the nuts or another very strong hand. Angel also calls big preflop raises against low limit players with hands like 76s which have almost no immediate value and can be flush undered when 4 of the same suit hit the board. Yes I understand implied odds and all but these hands are hard to hit the flop with and hard to bust people with overpairs. Angel seems to disregard the chance of a reraise from players behind him when he calls. Angel doesn't cover how to play a common situation flop with these hands where a player might hit mid or bottom pair with a 3flush or 3straight although Angel always gets great flops so why bother writing how to play these kind of flops?

There is one absurd part of the book where he buys in a 1-2 NL game for $100 and goes all in for $100 preflop with an 82suited!! (page 167.) This move is done against 5 other players who have also put in $100 preflop. I don't understand this although Angel tried to explain it in a pot odds way. Of course Angel hits trip deuces on the flop and wins a giant pot, busting a player with KK.

There is some good info about LLNL games in this book. The beginning of the book reads a lot like a rewritten version of Sklansky and other previous works on mathematics, pot odds, implied odds ( I was hoping the implied odds section would be longer) etc. The reader needs to seperate the good from the bad in this book. Yes there is some good in this book.

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad? *DELETED*
 

Post deleted by deacsoft

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad?
 

After reading 90% of the standard lit (Sklansky, Gordon, Harrington, Brunson, etc) I turned to this one. I liked the beginning section and found the quizzes to be helpful. I also liked the section on player types. However, after finishing the whole thing, I'm left feeling a little empty. Some points I really got into. Like when he talks about decision making against a poor opponent. He advocates playing small ball until the river to not allow your opponent to suck out on you. Rather than push with a strong hand, he feels it is better for you to allow you opponent to make many mistakes throughout the hand, rather than one big one at the beginning (which he may win anyway). Also, all of his points of deception are good. Also the understanding of implied odds and stack sizes, etc. I guess I just have mixed feelings about it. Loved some of it and felt 'meh' about alot of it too.

Re: I just ordered Angel Largay\'s book, What parts are bad? *DELETED*
 

Post deleted by deacsoft