Which Books for an aspiring STT player

C

Campbell

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 4, 2013
Total posts
30
Chips
0
Hi
As I have mentioned in my introduction I want to get reasonably serious about playing STTs and eventually playing the odd MTT.

I have been given a lot of good advice already. Such as discussing hand histories etc but I would like a few ideas on some books and software.

I stupidly sent 'Moshman's, SnG strategy to the charity shop as I hadn't read it in years and wasn't really thinking of getting back into poker at the time.

Although my main focus will be on STTs, especially 6max as I really enjoy them and they are good for notching up rakeback I want to learn properly and have a good grasp on poker in general.

I prefer to use video coaching resources and have found a few already that should keep me going for a while I also like to read, and as my commute to Uni is over an hour each way on the train, it would probably be time well spent if I started working my way through some poker books. I mean. Who really needs to know every single drug as student pharmacist :D

Like TV shows I tend to like to watch a series at a time before moving onto something else, so I thought maybe 'Phil Gordon's' little green book would be a good place to start as well as getting another copy of SnG strategy and then progressing onto Gordon's other books. All the time grinding away at the micro SnGs.

The other piece of advice I would appreciate is on HUD software. From what I've read so far Holdem Manager seems the way to go, especially as it works with SNG wizard and I quite like the look of it. I have used tournament indicator in the past and found it simple and easy to get on with so would be happy to start of on that if people thought that was the best way forward.

Should I hold off for the time being on software and just play the micro stake STTs whilst reading up on hand charts and one of the mentioned books or another book that people think would be a good place to start or is a HUD and a way of recording hand histories really important for a begginer to have so I can discuss it with you guys and look at all the holes in my game.

I don't want to spend big bucks to start with but money isn't that super tight and I would rather spend it on books, HUDs and videos then just on a bankroll which will probably slowly decline anyway and I am prepared to put in regular hours of study. Due to work and uni commitments I can probably only put in 5 hours or so of poker study a week and a whole lot more during the Easter and the long summer break.

I do actually work part time as a betting office manager so the basics of odds etc aren't alien to me.I just want to have a good plan that maximises my available time that gets me progressing at a reasonable rate. I would love to hear from people that have gone down a similar path.

The aim is to play decent poker, eventually at around the $20 buy in range at 6max. I have no ellusions of going pro as that would probably spoil the fun for me and hopefully I will have a half decent paying job at the end of my degree so I'm not that money orientated. (The wife however is a different matter :D ) but I would be lying if I said that the thought of being able to pay for several holidays a year on poker winnings disgusted me:D
 
Last edited:
B

Blue_Fossil

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 30, 2012
Total posts
383
Awards
1
Chips
12
The first poker book I read was Phil Gordon's Little Green Book. An easy read and it provided some helpful info.
 
C

Campbell

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 4, 2013
Total posts
30
Chips
0
The first poker book I read was Phil Gordon's Little Green Book. An easy read and it provided some helpful info.
I think I will probably start with that one as well. Thanks
 
C

Campbell

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 4, 2013
Total posts
30
Chips
0
I think I will probably start with that one as well. Thanks
Just downloaded "'Crushing Low Stakes Poker: How to Make $1,000s Playing Low Stake Sit 'n Go's' by Mike Turner " for the kindle. It was only £1.91 so won't be too dissapointed if it's not much cop but should keep me occupied for a bit.
I will let anyone that cares what I think.
 
Last edited:
B

Blue_Fossil

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 30, 2012
Total posts
383
Awards
1
Chips
12
I also enjoyed "Every Hand Revealed" by Gus Hansen. It was more entertaining than it was educational - but still a good read. In the book, Hansen describes every hand he played in the Aussie Millions from a few years ago.
 
C

Campbell

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 4, 2013
Total posts
30
Chips
0
I also enjoyed "Every Hand Revealed" by Gus Hansen. It was more entertaining than it was educational - but still a good read. In the book, Hansen describes every hand he played in the Aussie Millions from a few years ago.
I will definitely keep that in mind for something easy going to read after I get a bit more confident at the basics.
 
W

WiZZiM

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 28, 2009
Total posts
5,008
Chips
0
dont buy software unless you want to make real money. It's like $100 for the full version of those things, it just isn't cost effective, as you need to know what the stats mean, and how to use it for review for it to really pay off for you(more study).

can't reccomend any books. I prefer to learn by watching so there are a number of videos out there which are really good.

Keep in mind this forum is also a good tool. If you post in the tournament hand analysis section and label it STT i will usually reply. remember to include as much information as you possible can, and ask specific questions.
 
C

Campbell

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 4, 2013
Total posts
30
Chips
0
dont buy software unless you want to make real money. It's like $100 for the full version of those things, it just isn't cost effective, as you need to know what the stats mean, and how to use it for review for it to really pay off for you(more study).

can't reccomend any books. I prefer to learn by watching so there are a number of videos out there which are really good.

Keep in mind this forum is also a good tool. If you post in the tournament hand analysis section and label it STT i will usually reply. remember to include as much information as you possible can, and ask specific questions.
Thanks for the really helpful advice. Especially the offer of helping out with questions. At the moment I feel that the questions would be so basic they would be embarrassing. I agree with you that software is a lot of money for s starter.
I am trialling Holdem 2 for 30 days as I have already read a couple of books and have watched quite a few vids to just get a grip with the basics vpip, pfr and agg and already finding them really helpful. I porbably wont buy it quite yet but must say it is so tempting. I also like the idea of using SnG wizard but am probably getting ahead of myself.
Yes I agree that this forum is a great resource and I will hopefully make the most of it. I am also reading a couple of books at the moment on micro stakes which I am really getting on with so hopefully will be able to ask some things about more specific situations. Cheers
 
C

con1

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
May 2, 2012
Total posts
10
Chips
0
I have found a site called sng planet it has a free course i only read the first section but it sounds good I hope it helps you good luck
 
S

slickset22

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Jan 15, 2013
Total posts
1
Chips
0
Honestly, if you want to get really good at SNGs, you have to study ICM through SNG Wizard. Also, I recently signed up for an ebook/video of crushingonlinesngs.com The series is done by a great coach who was once a student of Colin Moshman. His approach is so useful. Read through the book a few times, then watch his videos, which are interactive and have quizzes throughout.

It has helped my game tremendously.
 
LadyLoon

LadyLoon

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Apr 19, 2006
Total posts
30
Awards
1
Chips
0
some good advice on here... will check some out
 
woohoo sue

woohoo sue

Brings Laughter
Loyaler
Joined
Mar 2, 2012
Total posts
5,797
Awards
14
US
Chips
85
woohooo loon ...Good to see you posting......welcome back!
 
A

aircasar9876

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 21, 2012
Total posts
202
Chips
0
What's really helpful is those final table replays. Idk if poker stars still does them but I'd watch everyone just to see how they act in hard spots. Usually it's good play
 
Daniel72

Daniel72

Legend
Bronze Level
Joined
Aug 10, 2010
Total posts
2,284
Awards
2
Chips
18
Yes, they still have it (Sunday Majors Replays), you get a good feeling for card distribution (nobody has anything lol) and many other things...
 
C

Campbell

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 4, 2013
Total posts
30
Chips
0
I have found a site called sng planet it has a free course i only read the first section but it sounds good I hope it helps you good luck

Thanks con1. If you mean the blueprint course then I've actually done it lol, and yes it was extremely useful considering it was free. I actually posted on a different thread about it. It teaches ICM and equity brilliantly and my game instantly stepped up a gear.
Honestly, if you want to get really good at SNGs, you have to study ICM through SNG Wizard. Also, I recently signed up for an ebook/video of crushingonlinesngs.com The series is done by a great coach who was once a student of Colin Moshman. His approach is so useful. Read through the book a few times, then watch his videos, which are interactive and have quizzes throughout.
It has helped my game tremendously.
Thanks for the great advice. I read his book yonks ago when I wasnt really serious and gave it to a charity shop!!!! Yep feel pretty stupid now. I downloaded both the trials of holdem and SNG wizard and yes it was incredibly useful. I also read a pretty good kindle book called "Crushing low stakes poker, How to make $1000s playing low stakes SnGs" Yep, only cost £1.91 and it was a very dry read for the first 75% of it but then it actually got good. Finished on a high.

I then got a tad side tracked as you do and read BlackRain79's book as I was desperate to read it despite it being about cash games and it is simply awesome if you play at the micros.

At one point my ROI hit 111% on the SnGs but the inevitable happened. But still doing pretty good. I just had a quick look to see if I could find my ROI but couldn't. I generally I just look at the graph every few days to make sure its still on the upwards. I'm definitely not making the most of HM2 but have decided I will fork out for the low stakes version when my trial runs out as it has become indispensable for the HUD. Going to play it nice and safe before moving up buyins. I really should have moved up a while ago but deep down it will suck no longer being the good one at the table lol. I am playing really low levels I should add before someone accuses me of getting a big head lol On that note I so wish I could use them gold coins on titan as I accumulate literally 1000s of them a day when I have a day off and get a chance to play, but because Im on a RB deal I can't. Booo

Ive signed up to Drag the bar for video coaching, but still too chicken to start posting hands lol

I won't sign up to pokerstars until I can take advantage of the first deposit bonus as there is no RB deal and their points system doesn't compared to what I get at the moment but once I have a decent BR, probably not until the summer at least I will set up an account. Then maybe one for the wife as well (hint hint) :)

Must make more of an effort on here as you guys have been super cool. Thanks
 
Last edited:
Top