No Limit Hold’em
Theory and Practice
by David Sklansky & Ed Miller
2006, Two Plus Two Publishing LLC
This is one of those books that you want in your No Limit Texas Hold’em library. One that you will read two, three, and even four times. It is loaded with good fundamental information, plenty of examples and diagrams, and oh yeah, tons of math!
Miller and Sklansky provide a view of the game that eliminates the stubborness, the ego, and the emotion. Laying down and forging ahead are unemotional decisions based on what you understand about the math, statistical probabilities, current stacks, and, of course, the players.
Miller and Sklansky’s approach is to teach you how to fish and not give you the fish. So, there is no advice like “with this hand in this situation, do this”. Instead, they present a list of things you should be considering while playing a hand, then methodically discuss each item on the list. As you read the examples – and there are plenty of those – you get used to thinking about the list of things…hummm…training your brain. Next time you go to the tables, you can’t help but put some of what you learned into practice.
Some topics:
- How to
- induce your opponents to make bad choices
- control the size of the pot
- play the nuts on the river
- adjust your play based on stack sizes
- Implied odds, bet sizing, check-raising, playing position, preflop play, bluffing, blocking bets, playing the short stack, and much much more!
Does anyone, indeed can anyone, consider everything on the list while playing each hand? Not anyone that I know. BUT…having read the book elevates your game because some of those things stick with you. You go back for a re-read when you need to, refresh your memory, and re-arm yourself.
Note: Must read; Assumes some experience; Not for beginners
Get it now on Amazon.com