I only started playing online for $$ in May of this year. TigerGaming gave me $5 for free (I was amazed at this at the time - I thought they were the most generous poker room ever...) and I started playing the 0.10 + 0.02 SNGs and the 10c/20c limit tables.
I soon learned that I couldn't beat the 10c/20c games having only watched some poker on TV, so I started reading some books. Here are the books I've read:
Playing Poker Like The Pros (Phil Hellmuth)
I didn't find this helpful. It's basically an ad for Phil Hellmuth and didn't help me at all. He professes the super tight play methodology, which is ok but not that efficient. I mean, I've only been dealt AA 6 times in ring play since May...
Winning low limit hold'em (Lee Jones)
This was a great first book. Teaches a style looser than that described by Hellmuth in his book, but still far tighter than most other authors. A good start.
Small Stakes Hold'em (Miller/Sklansky)
I'm now re-reading this. I think this book got me in trouble because I was trying to blindly follow a system that doesn't exist. Miller simply lays out the foundations for solid low limit play, but relies heavily on the reader's experience at the tables to help make the appropriate choices when necessary. This is probably the best small stakes limit book out there (IMHO).
Internet Texas Holdem (Hilger)
Hilger seems to profess a style that balances Jones and Miller. A great book with lots of sample hands and examples. I'm going to re-read this a bunch of times too - it's pretty good. Don't let the cover or the title fool you - Hilger's got the goods.
For NL tournament and SNG play:
Harrington on Hold'em Vols. I and II:
These books are required reading for anyone who wants to play NLHE tourneys and SNGs. Volume 1 covers tournament play when the blinds are small and lots of people are in the running (I don't remember how far he goes in this book - read it a couple months ago). Volume 2 is great for teaching you how to play when the blinds are getting gross, final table play, and for your typical SNGs. These books are awesome!
I've also read parts of Super System 1 and 2 and some of Sklansky's Theory of Poker. Both of these books don't seem to apply all that much to the limit games that I play since no one's any good (except for those guys who keep taking my money, that is...). They may help for the NLHE play, but I'm a Harrington fan myself. I do believe that Super System can really help when you've got a good sized stack and want to bully people. Brunson is famous for his aggressive play.
I'm also reading the Psychology of Poker because I want to seem smart...
Hopefully this will help anyone wanting to start their own poker library - I'd recommend all these books (except the Phil Hellmuth one - sorry Phil...) without reservation.
K.  |