Books, tips, general advice wanted

W

WilliamR88

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Jun 15, 2017
Total posts
2
Chips
0
Hi all

This is my first post on this site. Ive read some interesting stuff here so far. Im looking for some advice to take my game up a level or two. I've been playing poker for almost 10 years on and off (live and online both cash and tournament) but haven't seemed to improve too much. I used to quit playing for months at a time after bad beats but I'm now trying to keep playing consistently in order to keep learning. I'd describe myself as totally amateur but id like to get to a decent level. I think I have good poker instincts. My highest online tournament cash is around $700 and won a fair bit playing cash, made several final tables etc so I do believe I have ability but just want to take it further. Often when listening to professionals or people online, the strategic terminology can confuse me. So id like to learn a lot more. What I'm looking for from this post is some recommendations on some good books, video series on YouTube, podcasts or just some general advice on how to move forward. My preferred game no limit Texas hold em. Any advice would be much appreciated

Cheers all

William.
 
T

tim.kling.7

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Apr 12, 2017
Total posts
9
Chips
0
1st tip: learn to search 2p2.

This has been answered several times before
 
R

ragemine

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 18, 2017
Total posts
35
Chips
0
1st tip: learn to search 2p2.

This has been answered several times before

What is 2p2?? Is that some sort of book, or site, or soemthing?

I would recommend a book that has a bit of emphasis on statistics, especially for end-game type scenarios
 
Grinderella

Grinderella

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 19, 2017
Total posts
92
Chips
0
Starting Out

Hi William,

I'm a cash game player who began as a tournament and SNG regular. It's good that you've got experience in both variants. One of the things that I found that really improved my overall Poker knowledge was to learn the key differences between Cash and Tournament play. I was at a simillar stage to where you are now, and one of my biggest leaks was using Cash game strategies during tournaments and vice versa. This happened because I learned a lot of different things like you are now, but I wasn't sure how to use this knowledge properly. It sounds like you need to investigate the differences between Cash and Tournament play.


Although these two game variants are still part of the Poker family, you need to treat them as them as two separate disciplines (Like Physics and Chemistry) ... there are overlaps between them but they are two completely different games with completely different strategies. I think Dan Harrington's analysis of Cash Vs. Tournament is the best description so I will leave you with that. I'm including this for beginners reading this post who are wondering what the main differences are.


Cash Vs. Tournament Play


Cash Play

Larger bet sizes (3-4bb+)
Less All Ins
More 3 and 4Betting
Lower Starting Requirements
Less flops seen
Larger bets postflop
More Aggression
Static Blinds


Tournament Play

Smaller raises and bets (To conserve chips)
More open shoves and All Ins
Less 3 and 4 Betting
Higher starting requirements
More flops seen (as players are limping & checking more to conserve chips)
Smaller post flop bets (0.33x to 0.5x) ..... again chip saving strategy
Less Postflop aggression
Dynamic Increasing Blinds + Antes



I hope this helps you. My advice is that you focus on cash first as this will increase your postflop skills. Postflop play is much more important than preflop because the bet amounts are bigger at this stage of the hand. Therefore mistakes made after the flop have a much larger effect on your winrate.


The way to become a very strong player, is to study cash game strategy and master it. Then gradually build tournament Poker skills on top of this. Knowing how to adjust in every type of game is the key to success.

Here's a reading list:



  • Play Poker like the Pros - Phil Hellmuth
  • Read Em and Reap - Phil Hellmuth & Mike Caro
  • Mike Caro's Book of Poker Tells - Mike Caro
  • Super System - Doyle Brunson
  • The Theory of Poker - David Sklansky
  • Tournament Poker for Advanced Players - David Sklansky
  • Cash Games Volume 1 - Dan Harrington
  • Sit & Go Strategy - Collin Moshman
  • Gus Hansen - Every Hand Revealed
  • Poker Math That Matters - Owen Gaines
  • Let There Be Range - Nguyen
  • The Poker Mindset - Ian Taylor
  • An Ace on The River - Barry Greenstein
  • Phil Gordon - The Little Green Book

  • Nathan Williams - Crushing the Microstakes
  • James Sweeney - Dynamic Full Ring Poker
  • Jared Tendler - The Mental Game of Poker
  • The Course - Ed Miller
  • Poker's 1% - Ed Miller


Get on YouTube also and check out:


The Poker Bank
'James Splitsuit Sweeney'
The Smart Poker Study Podcast






Best of luck man!



 
Grinderella

Grinderella

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 19, 2017
Total posts
92
Chips
0
2 Plus 2

What is 2p2?? Is that some sort of book, or site, or soemthing?

2P2 is shorthand for "Two Plus Two". They are a major publisher of gambling related books and Poker resources. They also have a large forum online for learning about many different topics.


G
 
W

WilliamR88

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Jun 15, 2017
Total posts
2
Chips
0
Grinderalla

Thanks you very much for your very detailed reply. I appreciate it a lot. I enjoy tournament more than cash games but I will take your advice onboard and experiment with the two formats. Also thanks for the reading list.

William
 
Grinderella

Grinderella

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 19, 2017
Total posts
92
Chips
0
No Prob

You're very welcome. I've gotten a lot from reading Cardschat so just giving some back. Definitely start by working on your Cash game skills and then move on to Tournament study later. You will find it much easier than trying to move from Tournament > Cash. Strong players who move over to cash after a career in SNG/MTTs find themselves on the rail very quickly. Do it right ;)
 
UberKadet

UberKadet

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 19, 2017
Total posts
118
Awards
1
Chips
0
out of all those books mentioned which are your top 3 picks ??
 
UberKadet

UberKadet

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 19, 2017
Total posts
118
Awards
1
Chips
0
Here's a reading list:


[/FONT]
  • Play Poker like the Pros - Phil Hellmuth
  • Read Em and Reap - Phil Hellmuth & Mike Caro
  • Mike Caro's Book of Poker Tells - Mike Caro
  • Super System - Doyle Brunson
  • The Theory of Poker - David Sklansky
  • Tournament Poker for Advanced Players - David Sklansky
  • Cash Games Volume 1 - Dan Harrington
  • Sit & Go Strategy - Collin Moshman
  • Gus Hansen - Every Hand Revealed
  • Poker Math That Matters - Owen Gaines
  • Let There Be Range - Nguyen
  • The Poker Mindset - Ian Taylor
  • An Ace on The River - Barry Greenstein
  • Phil Gordon - The Little Green Book

  • Nathan Williams - Crushing the Microstakes
  • James Sweeney - Dynamic Full Ring Poker
  • Jared Tendler - The Mental Game of Poker
  • The Course - Ed Miller
  • Poker's 1% - Ed Miller

I MEANT OUT OF THESE BOOKS ??
 
UberKadet

UberKadet

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 19, 2017
Total posts
118
Awards
1
Chips
0
i am always trying to continually improve my game. my weak area is in bluffing and knowing how to read people. i mostly play the cards and maybe 20% on the basic nature of the player im against. but i def need to improve. so out of all those books you mentioned or even if there is a good youtube vids or anythng that will help me imrpvoe my overall game, especially for tourneys and emphasis on bluffin and how to read players. thanks .
 
Grinderella

Grinderella

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 19, 2017
Total posts
92
Chips
0
Hi Uber,

Thanks for commenting. My 3 picks for you based on the criteria you mentioned are:

David Sklansky - The Theory of Poker
Dan Harrington - Cash Games - Volume 1
James Sweeney - Dynamic Full Ring Poker

my weak area is in bluffing and knowing how to read people. i mostly play the cards and maybe 20% on the basic nature of the player im against
Just on this point you made in particular. There are many situations in Poker where the cards you hold are not important, and we play our opponent rather than our hand. For instance, you mentioned bluffing and paying only 20% attention to opponents. I'm not certain what stakes you play at but I will assume you are playing at the micros unless you say otherwise. It's important to note that bluffing at the microstakes level should be done very rarely (if ever) and only when you have a solid read on your opponent. The reason for this is, many of the players at this level are playing their own hands [Level-0] and not really thinking that deeply about what you have. The best strategy at this level is to play tight and try to only go to showdown with the strongest ranges. If you're using a hud then spend the time when you're not in a hand studying the other 8 players at the table and profiling them into player types. I use 4 player categories (Regs, Fish, Maniacs and Unknowns).... this list can be subdivided again into (Nits,Tags, Passive Fish [P-Fish], Aggressive Fish [A-Fish], Lags and Drunks, mystery players and regs who are manufacturing their stats during play) ... I recommend you visit Blackrain79 and check out William's work on player profiling, he will tell you exactly how to correlate player stats with player types and this in itself is printing money .... Stay away from the regs in hands! Let them torture the donks and fish while you study their lines and make notes. [Attack Weakness, Avoid Strength]. Player profiling is much more important than learning how to run bluffs. It's more important to know WHO you can bluff and who you can't. At the micro's bluffing against weak and loose players is suicide. They don't have a fold button so trying to bluff them is burning money. The only player types who are bluffable are Nits and Tags because they are actually thinking about your hand, and about what you think they have [Level 1-2]. Bluffing becomes much more prevalent as you move up stakes into NL25/50/100 etc. But for now, focus on solid strategies with strong ranges and let the donkeys bluff off their rolls instead.
 
Last edited:
M

mikow_k

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Jul 25, 2017
Total posts
2
Chips
0
You Read My Mind!!

Well, you took the words out of my mouth WilliamR88!

I am a new player and have been devouring information like a mad man! Maybe to a fault. Your request was just what I needed. Thanks to all of the helpful players who responded with info!
 
Poker Tips
Top