I have not read HOC. Its still on my shelf waiting until I have time. But it seems every time I run into someone just killing a 1/2 table and strike up a conversation with them, they mention that book.

And I'm not asking about strategy or anything. I'm just chit chatting asking about their wife or kids or whatever, and they're just happily stacking chips letting their lips run about whatever's on their mind. And seriously on several occasions its been that book.

i agree about the every pot heads up thing. and also, it seems the opponents always check in the example.

however, there is great advice in this book and his chapter specifically about pot control, starting hands and position, and other stuff too. i think it is worth reading for concepts.

Both of the books I recommended while not specifically targeted at live 1/2 players, they are excellent for live play at many levels.

I've read HOCv1&2, PNLv1, and NLHTAP. I would say all three are great books.

NLHTAP will give you a lot of concepts to think about and some tricks for specific situations. It's a toolbox of sorts, abstract in spots and immediately applicable in others. Hence the name "theory and practice."

PNLv1 gives you a paradigm for beating small stakes games, in the form of SPR. It's a concept you can also apply in tougher games, but at first I found myself getting trapped against set miners in online games when blindly applying it, so you have to adjust your SPR guidelines when your opponents are also TAG or TP. The other stuff in this book won't shock anyone who's been around the game for a year, but there are some good points made.

HOC has a lot of hand examples, and you should think about them from different perspectives, not just Harrington's conservative view point. He does emphasize using position and reads as leverage to making plays. And I like that he uses the idea of randomizing your plays, which is something we rarely do in strat posts. We usually say "do X" rather than "do X 30% Y 70%" The hand examples will give you guidance on when you can afford to play a mixed strategy and when you must be closer to taking a pure strategy. The prose is very dense and I imagine you could get a lot from multiple critical readings. I will have to revisit this book soon.

I strongly recommend Professional NLHE by Ed Miller et al.

Harrington on Cash Games are solid books but not that relevant to small stakes live IMO. I learnt pot odds etc from HoH the tournament books. Which also appears in Harrington on Cash. That knowledge is of course essential but can probably also be found in other books.

Negreanu's power holdem book was not that good for me. Only thing I learnt was the theory regarding checking behind with TPTK and the nut flush draw.

HOC II is probably worth the $ just for the interview with Bobby Hoff at the end of the book (probably can read it at the store.)

Both books are pretty good though and as u move up in stakes the info becomes more pertinent.

I've actually told many people this myself. It was good to hear from someone who has quietly been crushing live cash for so many years, and somehow managed to stay out of the spotlight. He seems to be one of the few older players who really understands the game. There was a good interview with him on the podcast a while back, could hav used more strategy talk but nontheless was still good.

Time to bump this thread.

I've read Elements of Poker but want to sharpen up my ABC game a little more for live play.

My question is which 2+2 member in this forum would be best to listen to?

Noob to this site but I always believe in following success.

Me, ldo.


KURTSF, KNEEDURDOUGH,PERCULA,VENICE10,and I believe on the rise would be AINTNOLIMIT, although he is fairly new but I think adds a different element round here. I also like to think I add a tip or two from time to time, but more than likely IMA fish.

Edit: there are some others also if I forgot you im sorry. Theres a few also that i havent seen in a while that id like to see again.

I think everyone would recommended...

No Limit Hold'em Theory and Practice

followed by...

Professional No Limit Hold'em Volume 1

then disregard half of what you just read and reread...

No Limit Hold'em Theory and Practice ...again

then you could read these... (FREE)

Ed Miller

Alan Schoonmaker

also, a lot of these translate very well... (FREE)

****Concept of the Week" Schedule and Table of Contents****

as well as... (FREE)

#2000...random shyt

Lymon's Podcast w/Bart Hanson

Lymon's Podcast w/Bart Hanson Part II

Bart's Other Podcasts on Deuces Cracked

Bart's Podcasts on Pokerroad - 2008 <-Jeremiah Smith does a good job as well

I agree with everyone that has mentioned NLHTAP, PNLv1, and HOCG 1 & 2. After you've worked your way through those, I'd suggest The Poker Blueprint by Slowhabit. It's a fairly pricey e-book that is mostly geared towards online 6-max games, but the sections on math and post-flop play are among the best I've read in any book. You shouldn't blindly try to apply every concept from the book to live games, but there are plenty of nuggets of wisdom that will make you money if applied correctly.

Thank you so much for this.

Forgive me for a moment of self-promotion, although not exactly of my own self. Tommy Angelo and I did a series for DC called The Eightfold Path to Poker Enlightenment. It was very well-received and we have been told it was helpful to a lot of players. Tommy and I are basically live cash game players who tried to include Internet players as much as possible, but frankly live players will get more out of it. Tommy is the star. I'm just the faithful sidekick.

(If you do sign up, please do so through the link on Tommy's website so we get credit.)

No more spam, I promise, and apologize if anyone is offended, but I really think the series is worthwhile.

I just listened to both of the podcasts with Lymon, and I'm absolutely blown away. I think I will have to listen to both of the casts at least 10 times to get the most out of them. I cannot recommend those links highly enough to all live players.

I always perk up when I see Venice's posts because the strategy and fundamental thoughts are very solid.

Percula has great insight into the flows and ebbs of live games and how to play your opponents.

A lot of other excellent posters too, you just have to find them, look for someone who puts thought into their posts and gives more than 1 word glib answers to posts.