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  #11  
Old 09-24-2007, 01:39 PM
Dalek Dalek is offline
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Default Re: Any good books on playing small ball?

HOH is definately not a book on small ball.
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  #12  
Old 09-25-2007, 01:35 AM
bec1972 bec1972 is offline
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Default Re: Any good books on playing small ball?

[ QUOTE ]
HOH is definately not a book on small ball.

[/ QUOTE ]

ABSOLUTE FACT! actually I would be interested in striking up a game with any of you that read HOH and think it is a small ball strategy guide. Clearly those of you have superior reading comprehension skills and truly understand the game. You might also look for a a copy of Webster's dictionary as it is a GREAT example of fictional math.
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  #13  
Old 09-25-2007, 02:49 AM
Anamul Anamul is offline
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Default Re: Any good books on playing small ball?

Kill Phil is about how a noob/novice can beat (kill!!) The Phils (Pros) - and they specialise in Small Ball!
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  #14  
Old 09-25-2007, 12:02 PM
dubiousdrift dubiousdrift is offline
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Default Re: Any good books on playing small ball?

I certainly don't claim to be a small-ball expert, but it seems to me that at opposite ends of the strategy spectrum are small ball and kill phil (big ball).

PNL has extensive coverage of what constitutes small vs big pots based on pot size and stack size (Stack to Pot Ratio or SPR). It may not discuss small ball or big ball specifically, but it does provide a foundation for playing either style, depending on which might be appropriate at the time.

My understanding at a high level (in light of SPR) is that Small Ball is playing or stealing lots of small pots where you haven't crossed the commitment threshold, then building a whopper pot when you have the goods. Also that Kill Phil/big ball is crossing the commitment threshold when your opponent would rather play small pots and not cross the threshold.

Either style has advantages and has it's right time and position, but IMHO, at the core is an understanding of and application of SPR.

I'd welcome other's opinions who have a better understanding of small-ball/big-ball and who have also read PNL. I'm still a student of the topics, but I feel like I understand small ball better after having read PNL.
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  #15  
Old 09-25-2007, 07:36 PM
helter skelter helter skelter is offline
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Default Re: Any good books on playing small ball?

I haven't read PNL, but I have read Kill Phil. It is definitely NOT small ball since most of the strategy is move in or fold.

I haven't heard of a book titled Kill everyone. Is that a sequel to Kill Phil?
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  #16  
Old 09-25-2007, 07:51 PM
Professionalpoker Professionalpoker is offline
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Default Re: Any good books on playing small ball?

[ QUOTE ]


I haven't heard of a book titled Kill everyone. Is that a sequel to Kill Phil?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes.
Linky
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  #17  
Old 09-25-2007, 09:01 PM
helter skelter helter skelter is offline
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Default Re: Any good books on playing small ball?

Thanks. It appears that it is not out yet.
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  #18  
Old 09-27-2007, 06:56 PM
Vegaas Vegaas is offline
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Default Re: Any good books on playing small ball?

[ QUOTE ]
I have the understanding that HOH is the small ball bible. I listened to a show on Holdem Radio with Blair Rodman talking about Kill Phil and he characterized HOH as small ball strategy.

[/ QUOTE ]

I do not think HOH is small ball. My basic understanding of small ball is to play lots of hands and keep the pots small. I could be way off, hence the OP.
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  #19  
Old 09-28-2007, 04:04 AM
Copernicus Copernicus is offline
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Default Re: Any good books on playing small ball?

Lindgren's is the best, but that doesnt say too much. Only about 20 pages of it are even worth reading. There isnt that much to small ball to put into print that isnt covered elsewhere though. The emphasis is on post-flop play, and getting to the flop cheaply but with a variety of preflop actions (limp, minraise, "standard" raise) to disguise your holdings. If you understand SPR (which to me isnt much more than systemizing pre-flop implied odds) and therefore no when to play drawing hands, the rest of small ball is developing hand reading skills. It is the most direct application of the Fundamental Theorem of Poker...make your opponent play differently than they would if they could see your cards.

Kill Phil is the opposite of smallball, and HoH is standard TAG deep stacked, layered on top of what is essentially
SPR shortstacked.
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