For Those Who Have Read ALL The Harrington Books...

Hey I've got a quick question. I'm primarily a cash game player and while at the book store I saw Harrington's book on cash games and the other HoH series. What I would like to know is this... Should I get both books if I'm primarily going to play cash games? Does the HoH series offer something not present in the HoC series that could help my cash game play? Or Should I pass on the HoC series for now?

All help and time put into responses are appreciated.

Later.

HoC are not books I'd ever recommend. His HoH series is excellent for tourney play, his cash books frankly stink. No-Limit Holdem Theory and Practice and Professional No Limit Holdem are the 1st 2 cash game books I would recommend.

The cash game books stand on their own, no real need to buy the MTT set if you're primarily a cash game player. The MTT books are excellent and a nice addition to the poker library though.

You might want to search for a library list here on the forum by AlienGenius (I should just bookmark it, but I never remember to). He includes recommendations in that list.

Not to dissuade you from buying Harrington (cuz I think his cash game books are very good), but I prefer Ed Miller's books for cash game players - there's one I haven't read that everyone likes, I forget the name (it's older than these two), but I really like the Professional No Limit Hold'Em and Small Stakes NLHE books. They're very well written, examples are very good, concept presentation is excellent, and they're very thorough.

Edit - pwned by WV before I could post...

WVH, why wouldn't you recommend the HoC books?

Because basically no one on this forum is playing $2Knl+ live with the same 7 or 8 people every day. HoC, outside of 1 brief chapter, is based around beating very tough regular opponents, so a great deal of the book focuses on balancing ranges rather than getting max value. At the levels we're all playing getting value is all we ever need to do. We don't have to worry about ch/folding KK as an overpair a certain percentage of the time in 3bet pots or bet/folding AA in 3bet pots.

That's an interesting, and true, point.

The Harrington on Hold 'em series is specific to NLHE tournament play. No real point getting them if you're playing cash games.

Well I think HoC is a good book, particularly for a beginner. The emphasis on small pots for small hands / big pots for big hands, is basic but a fundmental of cash game play. But I do agree with many of your points.

Thanks for the input so far... I think I might check out the Professional No Limit Holdem.

All the reviews I see about the theory book is that its a hard read.

If anybody else wants to chime in... go ahead.

I'd pretty much agree with this... I might not go so far as to say they "stink", but there are far more useful reads out there for basically anyone outside of the nosebleed stakes.

Any good points harrington makes in his cash books are all made in other (better) cash books that cover more useful material.

Probably could have worded my initial response better. Something like "... stink for micro/small stakes online players". I have read both the HoC books twice so they're not bad books just not what I'd recommend for most.

Having read HoH Tournament play Vol.1,2 &3 a few times over (maybe more than a few), I was looking forward to reading the Harrington On Cash (although I'd heard mixed reviews about it).
When I did read the HoC books I was kinda disappointed. Not sure what I was looking for?? It seemed mostly straightforward tag stuff imo.

I'm mainly a Tournament-style player (MTT & SNG) and have considered transitioning over to playing cash game instead (motivated by many articles I've read online by others who started out with SNG/MTT play and then switched over to FR & 6-max). As with any form of poker, I do my homework prior to jumping in & then continue to do so while playing (reviewing, reading more, analysing, paralysis due to analysis, etc.).

I actually liked reading a free guide online... Ryan Fees 6-maxNL strategy guide. I'm not sure if it's still available on his site.

I'm still a tourney player by heart.... the cash game bug didn't hit me... .yet. My opinion on HoC wouldn't be one coming with much experience but all in all... I didn't really like it much & wouldn't purchase it (I was lucky to pick it up from the local library).

If you are just a cash game player then almost any other book will be of more value than harrington's. The third vol. is the one that would have some value as you can study the problems and adapt to the cash game situations.

Thanks rugby I'll keep that in mind.

Meanwhile I just got PNO and No Limit Theory and Practice in the mail.

I just started reading PNO... Has some good stuff so far. Not that hard to read if you enjoy the game.

Thanks fellas.

I read Harrington On Cash v.1 and found it very useful. I played better/won more cash games as a result of reading it.

Like all these books, yes, you have to adjust their written instruction with the reality of the games you actually play. At least at the Micros, the cost of your education is minimal.

I also found Sklansky to be extremely valuable.

Huh??? I think you're referring to Harrinton's Tournament series (because there isn't a 'third volume' in the Cash game series).
Perhaps you're unaware that Dan Harrington also has a Cash Game series of books - 2 volumes, 1 & 2. I believe it was published in 2008 (not sure.. I read them in 2009).

OP I think you've made some good book selections here.
Sidenote - Personally I prefer to watch poker training vids., both of them talking ''live' during play, reviewing afterwards, sweating other's play, & Lecture series of vids. I did have prior book knowlege before checking a bunch out so perhaps this made a difference but did find I got more from the vids. than the books.

Yea I'm also on the 7 day trial at duecescracked.

If you are at that site... are there any video series you suggest?