Super System 2

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...788686-1265266

ooo think I might have to get that one

been after something for some tips on omaha, I have the basics down and some strategy but could do with some more advice

be interesting to see what updates are made to the other games too

Nice, it's not available yet though, only pre-order. Tell us what you think when you've read it.

624 pages! That is way to much for me to read.

Another door stop to add to my collection.

OK, I got it from Doyle's Room 2 days ago. Games covered: Limit Holdem, Omaha 8, Stud 8, PLO, triple draw, and NL Holdem, plus a bonus general concepts section, and a tournament concept section

Mike Caro's section is all available from his site Poker1. The principles are simplified and restated, but all lifted from his online library of articles. No 5-card draw section this time.

Doyle's NLH section is a grammar and editing fix of his SS1 section. No more random paragraph breaks, bolding and italicization. Then again, if you don't have SS1, this stuff is still very useful as an approach to the game.

Jennifer Harman's Limit Holdem section is INCREDIBLE. Very worth it, covers a lot of different material from Baldwin's SS1 section and just blew me away with the situations covered and concepts offered. Internalize this stuff, and it will expand your game. Definitely gonna reread this 219483743 times and hope my play matches the quality of the section.

To those concerned about length, the sections on each game are very manageable, and a small portion of those pages are bios of the contributors and a bio of Doyle, a section on the history of NLH and the World Series, an Online section where Doyle pimps his site (nowhere near as bad as Hellmuth's book pimping Ultimatebet though), a section on specializing in games or being an all-around player, and a section on the WPT and on live multi-day tournaments (the last of which is a strategic section, and WPT includes some addressing of strategy). The 624 pages are not a big dry continuous poker text (*cough*Sklansky*cough*), you pick and choose parts you need as you want to take them, 40-60 pages at a time. At the same time, despite not all of it being directly related to gameplay, Harman's Limit Holdem section along with the only text I know of on 2-7 triple draw (by Daniel Negreanu) make it worthwile alone.

I'll continue to add to this as I get to more sections, probably PLO then O/8 then Stud 8 then the aforementioned Triple Draw. Not gonna give up the actual content, but my impressions on the quality of the content and the writing vs. the other material I've seen out there

What a great review, thanks so much for that. It sounds like a really good book to read I'm sure Grumbledook will be buying it as soon as possible.

sounds fanny flap tastic

was gonna get it anyway and if i can get vc to sort out my account I will try and get the hardback from doyles room

thanks muchos for your view, keep it coming

i'm waiting, with bells on

Alright, onto the Omaha 8 section, I guess.

It starts with an introduction to the game, explanation of split games and hand/board reading examples, all basic stuff. It gives solid coverage to the game, covering starting hands on a conceptual (as opposed to a "do this" list) level, followed by treatment of play on each of the subsequent betting rounds using general principles. Not much for people who need to learn the math or want hand-by-hand guides, but the advice is more broadly applicable. Not a starter's O8 text, more intermediate-very advanced. It also has a short bit on how to play better shorthanded O8 which is something that eluded me, at least.

Mentioning the lack of math in the O8 section, this does not have a statistics table section analogous to SS1's comprehensive set of tables for all games. However, now we have Microsoft Excel, statistics tutorials online, and calculators like the cardplayer.com ones, so its absence is understood.

Also, each section is now much more the work of the contributor as opposed to being from Doyle, with input. Sections have a lot more structural differences by each one, further dividing the book into sections to be digested separately. Don't worry, every section is more readable than SS1, which so many have made it through.

If you want me to keep going, lemme know, and which sections to read and briefly review next. Choices are: PLO, Stud 8, and 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball.

cool, been losing money on PLO recently so switched back to limit holdem to get some moola back

if you could inwardly digest that section would be cool

must say I didn't actually know the rules for triple low ball till i went out and read them last night, seems Ultimatebet is the only site with any tables for it anyway

OK, PLO has some very helpful information. Great table on hand odds that accounts for redraws, description of how the drawing nature of Omaha actually cuts into implied odds for draws, being able to bluff the river more cheaply by selling the nuts for a smaller bet, how to play with a cap, dealing with paired boards, controlling oneself with aces and little fulls. Again, a very informal set of starting requirements that helps understand how each hand derives its strength.

The chart taking into account redraws a hand is really useful; at least I've been gambling improperly on some draws and mucking some OK made hands because I only think of the draw making it, not thinking of how the draw can hit and lose or be made to draw dead. For me, that's a highlight of the PLO part of the book, but it depends on your own strengths and weaknesses in understanding the game. Another solid part of a book that I'm definitely gonna get a lot of mileage out of.

Not much more to say, except get it when it's released, or if you're real impatient, you can rack up 10,000 Absolute Poker's in a week playing 2-4 or more, and at worst a month of .25-.50 (the option my broke college student self took). Man, I sound like a shill.

Also, so far, my opinion is that Harman's Limit Holdem section is the most beneficial part to those who've read the original Super System NLH section, but all of it has some quality content.

sounds good I am still waiting for a response from the other site on the VC poker network to getting an account set up on doyles room

looks like i will have to use a different nickname :/

Just so you all know, I've been busy, but I've also finished the book, I will complete my evaluation of it by the end of the week for all of you. No time to write much tonight though, got a poker game to go crush this evening

Looking forward to it

Alright, finally back to end this for you.

Stud 8, Todd Brunson:
Presented as a list of concepts for play, it gives a good outline of how to play to scoop and how to press advantages. Has a lot of advanced advice for play in special circumstances, and is definitely oriented not to beginners at stud 8 but those needing to step up their play in tough games. Very advanced, requires good opposition for the tactics to work as described. Good stuff for mid-limit and up Stud Hi-Lo players.

The section can be difficult the first read through as the concepts it is divided into are sometimes not properly laid out in logical fashion, but read through it twice and it's a powerful playbook for the game.

Triple Draw Lowball, Daniel Negreanu:
More basic and essential information, it covers some lower-level bases of the game, such as hand selection, emphasizing the value of discards, some mathematics examples, some drawing examples, and conversion from 2-7 standard format to the sometimes-played A-5 format. It offers more advanced advice for the later streets of play and is a good treatment of a relatively new game, which is not commonly seen or played but is, of course, out there and a part of mixed games.

Overall Impression: I love this book. very useful for someone like myself who wants to get good at every game out there. Strong content from top players. The online section seems weak, but that's because it takes the stance that poker is poker; there's not great difference.

The non-poker sections on the history of Holdem and on Doyle himself are interesting and an enjoyable read, especailly to those who've read "According to Doyle" or the road tales at the end of Cloutier and McEvoy's "Championship Pot-Limit and No-Limit Holdem"

Doyle's Room can be a pain. You need to rack up 5,000 APs beyond earning the book to cash out via check. Use Neteller to dodge that. Customer service is kinda slow and seems kinda inept, but eventually got the job done. Game selection is limited. Lots of empty tables, only Omaha, Omaha8 and Holdem, and only certain levels are regularly populated. Interface looks and runs smooth. Points used for earning the book can be used to enter freerolls, some of which have prize pools up to 1,000 dollars. Also, this is in lieu of a deposit bonus. EBaying it is currently ridiculous, and it's actual release date is unkown (Doyle's Room still starts with a popup saying the only way to get it is via Doyle's Room.

That's about it.

Great ending to the review, thanks very much!

I know who Doyle Brunson and I've looked into getting his book... now books, plural, I guess. But what is this "Doyle's Room" you all are referring to?

TY
Ione

See http://www.doylesroom.com/, it's a poker site.

also try the freeplay on some sites. it helps to understand the game of omaha
with no risk !

thanks for doing the legwork and posting that sweet review. someday when i learn how to read that book definitly sounds like a good buy. seriously though thanks for the tipoff and good luck at the tables.

J.