[phydaux]

I'm only about half way through, and I kind of like it. I find it similar to JV's Killer Poker No Limit.

Now, that statement right there is enough to get half of this forum to throw their copies of How to Dominate in the trash, unopened and unread. I know that, and in knowing that my statement was intentional. However, I think both books are worthwhile, and for the same reasons.

JV's books really aren't poker strategy books. They are poker psychology books. This has less value when you are writing books about limit hold'em, since limit is mostly about having the best hand at showdown. Limit hold'em is a card game. This is unfortunate for JV, since most of the Killer Poker line is about limit hold'em. And that's why the Killer Poker series has such a bad reputation around here. That, and JV's constant BAD jokes.

But, as Sam states over and over in How to Dominate (and states correctly), NL is a people game. Both Killer Poker No Limit and How to Dominate take a very similar approach in teaching beginners how to play live, low limit NL hold'em. Personally, I think it is a correct approach.

First, be observant. Understand the other players at the table. Learn who is weak, who is aggressive, who plays too many hands, and who is incapable of folding.

Then, establish your own table image. Let the observant players recognize you're tight. Let players know it will cost them chips to play pot with you. And let them know you won't stack off just because you have top pair.

Then, you play poker. You play a combination of your image, your position and your cards. Because in NL, your cards really do count last.

Be the 6th grade playground bully. Beat up the weaklings and take their money. Don't pick fights with people who will fight back, unless you know in advance it won't be a FAIR fight ('cause you're on the button with pocket aces). Charge people usurious fees to chase their straight and flush draws. C-Bet with rags when you have position in a dry flop. Shoplift pots like a punk teenager at the mall.

And there you go. Some people don't like those kind of poker books. I find that usually, it's people who became very good limit players by reading the various, high quality, limit hold'em cookbooks currently available. The problem is that limit strategy can be outlined fairly comprehensively. Because limit is a card game - Show down the best hand on the river and win the pot. NL isn't like that. So NL books aren't like that. Much less "What do I do when I flop bottom two pair?" and much more "What is my estimation of my opponent's play style, and what is his likely estimation of mine?"

BTW Sam, we told you when you posted here that we weren't kind to poker authors. Even Sklansky get his fair share of ripping (his NL book anyway). I know I'd really like it if you stuck around, but brother you're gonna have to have one thick skin if you plan to do that. Ed Miller ended up going and starting his own web site, and Sklansky has his own sub-forum here that he is the moderator of and he rarely strays from.

In fact, it might pay off in the long run for you to open your own low limit no limit poker strategy web site. Pay to maintain your own site, or stay here, go to Wal-mart and buy Malox by the case. Probably the same total cost by the end of the year.

Oh, and totally don't discount the idea of "How to Dominate, 2nd Edition" when this current print run runs out. It took Lee Jones three tries to get Winning Low Limit Hold'em right, and right now the 3rd Ed. is a decent first book for limit hold'em. Constructive feedback from some of the people here (mostly Mason, and a few of the NL cash forum regulars like orange & pokey) should be taken as a word to the wise. Ignore everyone else, particularly me 'cause I've just go no idea.