[jimitilt]

I am about two thirds thru the book and the "Illusion of Action" idea Barry refers to is just a new name for ideas that have been written about for years. Namely that certain hands can be played differently depending on position and number of players; plays that might seem strange to a lesser experienced player. one example he gave is to three bet from the cutoff with Q9s against a tight, losing frustrated player who had raised from his right. Barry hit a 9 on fourth street and won a pot and showing the hand got other players to view him as foolish and lucky. He points out that isolating a predictable player in position will allow him to win that pot almost all the time but creates the illusion of action for players who don't understand how sophisticated the play really is. He also talks about making other "situational" raises like raising with JT suited once 4 or more players are in or raising with a small pair once 5 or more players are in to tie those players to the pot with overcards when you hit your sets. Nothing really new except the terminology-"Illusion of Action" I think the book is good but nothing groundbreaking.