My birthday present to myself

LouBlue · #1 04-21-2007, 06:20 PM

I'm thinking of buying a book or two for my upcoming birthday.

I've been playing a little over a year. Am roughly a break even SnG player, playing low entry fee games. Haven't played much live, but I'm currently 4th in a local league, after 3 games. Have finishes out of the money in each game though.

I have read Phil Gordon's LGB, and some book on poker tells. I'll admit that I'm probably weak on pot odds and hand strengths, but I think I have decent instincts in that respect.

If I were to buy two books, what would you recommend and why?

Oh, I also have ADD and don't finish a book if it isn't pretty well written. I only made it halfway through the poker tell book.

Thanks in advance!

phydaux · #2 04-21-2007, 06:43 PM

Harrington on Hold'em I & II

Double-up on the adderall and read them. They're important.

LouBlue · #3 04-21-2007, 07:35 PM

Why the Harrington books as opposed to Doyle's or any other? What makes them stand out to you?

Gelford · #4 04-21-2007, 07:55 PM

They are systematic, they have problems to solve and are well worked thru

Such a thing is common in the limit litterature, but this is the only NL book which does it so well.

The only thing to say is, that they are solely geared towards MTTs.

In a flat price structure sng with the usual online structure of shallows stacks, they are too loose and wild.

In a cash game, too nitty

But they are by far the best place to start [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

LouBlue · #5 04-22-2007, 12:55 AM

I assume it's best just to take them in order, or did you find one more helpful than the other?

phydaux · #6 04-22-2007, 01:06 AM

Yes, take them in order. In fact, the chapter numbers in vol II start where vol I left off, so even the author considers vol I & II to be all one book.

LouBlue · #7 04-22-2007, 05:03 PM

Gotcha. Thanks for the advice!

steamboatin · #8 04-22-2007, 05:06 PM

Come down to Caesar's IN and play a little live poker. Cross the Sherman Minton and follow the river downstream.

LouBlue · #9 04-22-2007, 05:17 PM

Thanks for the invite. I'm not really much interested in Casino play. Home games are much more my style. Poker for me is mostly about having an opportunity to meet people. I read up on the game because I enjoy the competition and so I don't lose my shirt playing. ;-)

LouBlue · #10 07-18-2007, 12:09 PM

Thanks to all who have recommended Harrington's books, in this thread and others. I am about halfway through the 2nd book. My game has actually gotten worse, though. I think I'm overthinking in some cases, and in others just not applying what I have read. There's so much there that I haven't really digested it all. Still, I think that in the long run, my game will get better.