Rolf's Book - Some general impressions

[instability]

I knew about Rolf's book coming out this month and was reminded by this thread about it. So I got it last night and skimmed through it. So far I like what I see.

I've seen people play short-stack and always wondered about it - I'm sure once the book gets out to more people, you'll see more and more people short-stacking these big buy-in tables. For now I'll stick to familiar territory.

I think whether or not you adopt his short-stack strategy, surely it's worthwhile to read about to understand what other people might be thinking.

People has his own ideas about PLO - why not share yourstrategies instead of criticize someone who's taken the time to document them?

I've really only flipped through it and read some of the first few chapters. From reading this thread before I bought it, it seemed like a lot of the book was about his short stack strategy. The latter half is packed with situational examples which at first glance seem to be where I will gain the most from.

[Troll_Inc]

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I've seen people play short-stack and always wondered about it - I'm sure once the book gets out to more people, you'll see more and more people short-stacking these big buy-in tables. For now I'll stick to familiar territory.


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I felt kinda of dirty doing it, but I have fiddled around with Rolf's shortstacked strategy at NL25, and it works quite well.

1. The more aggro the game, the better it will work.

2. If you play PLONKAMENTS, then the shortstack practice is going to be helpful since your most difficult decisions will be when you are M<15.

3. I found that it really takes a whole different mindset from normal stack play. I don't think anything is that conceptually difficult, you just have to think about what you are doing and trying to accomplish.

4. I have found that with these sort of things, even if everyone playing reads this book, then some will change their play for a while. But, most people will shortly be back doing what they always do.

[Phat Mack]

I've been able to read Rolf's book, and thought it was pretty strong. Its focus is on PL omaha, but the strategic concepts he introduces are valid for almost all games played in the pot limit format. PL is currently moribund in the States as the format for big games, but it will be back, so this book should be read by all aspiring PLO, PLHE and PLTD players.

A few years ago on these forums I posted a statement to the effect that I thought the ideal PLO opponent was a guy who thought AAxx was a big hand. At the time, Rolf took exception to my statement. I think we both may have thought the other crazy.

Now, after reading his book and seeing his situations, I understand what he was talking about. (I've long known how to play a short stack with a maniac on my left, but have always found it, at least after a couple of hours, excruciatingly tedious. Apparently Rolf played this situation not for a few hours, but for a few years, which leads me to believe the guy is made of iron. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] )

In my own defense, I will note that there are several sections in the book that go into loving detail as to how, should you ever be so fortunate to be against someone who thinks AAxx is a big hand, to relieve your opponent of his stack.

At any rate, as an old PL player, I think Rolf's is one of the better poker books I've read in the last few years.

jmo,

mack

[aggie]

Just got my book and i'm looking forward to reading it. Hopefully PLO can save me from the drudgery of my everyday life that was NLH

[MikeSmith]

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I think Ciaffone's book is still the best book out for the beginning player.

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I don't understand how anyone can recommend Ciaffone's book. It has exactly 9 pages on pot-limit Omaha. Either the game is ridiciously simple, or someone must be joking.

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believe it or not ciaffone has written more than one book, one in particular called omaha poker

[kitaristi0]

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Just got my book and i'm looking forward to reading it. Hopefully PLO can save me from the drudgery of my everyday life that was NLH

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+1

[Petteri]

I think Rolf's Book is excellent. But it is advanced book and concepts are hard to understand without good Omaha knowledge.

I think shortstack strategy works best in live PLO games. I am right now "sharping my teeth" playing short-stacked in online PLO400. Just adjusting to having shallow stack.

I am preparing for PLO 5-5(min buy-in 200)/10-10(min buy-in 500) games during live tournaments. I play pretty regularly NL 5-5 live and I have played PLO 2-2 against some of the "big boys", so I think I have possibility to succeed.

My usual games online are NL600/500/400(not short-stacked) and PLO400(different stacks).

[Kellermann]

LA Price you are the best poster in this forum. Maybe Big Dave D comes close.

[beset]

ok are any of these short-stack specialists regular posters/lurkers here?

evafunk
suckoutter
jolemick
superboydan

?

I'd be curious to see long-term stats on you if you keep them. Frankly, and it is nothing personal, I hope you all suddenly lose the ability to see or stars adds 6max tables or something because I am sick of playing with all of you. LA really lays out how to deal with your kind but you slow the games down.

[CrushinFelt]

all 4 are pests