Hello to the forum,
I'am new to the forum and a relatively new tournament poker. Been playing for about a year and I'am ready to turn my game up a notch and do some studying.

A poker friend of mine has offered to lend me his Harrington on Holden series and also Harrington on Modern Tourmanent Poker.

Will these books help make me a competitive player....and do you recommend one of these books over the other or should I read all of them?

Thanks so much for your advice!

The first series is gold. I haven't read the second, but if you read,do the exercises. and understand the first series, you will be +EV in almost all live donkaments (vs the other players, given the rake in live tournaments, you may often still be -EV overall).

My understanding is (again, haven't actually read it) that the Modern book will talk about concepts/plays that you'll run in to online and in $1K+BI tournaments live.

+1

Thanks for the responses Garick and BenjOTB. You confirmed what I was thinking, just needed to hear it I guess. Always best to start with the foundation and build from there, just wanted to make sure this was still the correct foundation to study.

Yeah, people like to say that HoH is outdated, but when you play live against people who have never studied at all, I think it's more useful than some of the most modern theories. Just like in cash, if you are playing more than one level above your opponents, you just end-up leveling yourself.

Even if it's obvious that some of the players I'm up against have studied and definitly appear to know what they are doing, am I still in good shape with the original series? In all fairness, I'd say there is a broad scope of players in the tournaments I play, from not good, all the way to regular final table players. The tournaments I play in are under $500 buy-in's. Usually $100 - $200.

Definitely. If you really understand that book, you're ahead of most players playing WSOP circuit events.

Thanks a lot Garick, I really appreciate the help/advice. Already well into volume one and has helped with some major leaks that I've had for a while. Thanks again for the help!

I have to agree with the other replies the Harrington Books are good. They are a lot like good books in any topic or field. They withstand the test of time. Does it mean its all you should read? No but its a solid place to start.

Harrington on Holdem is one of the best books to start with the guy is a great teacher and he writes in a great way where anyone can understand the material.


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i think harrington's books are more "cooking theory" books than "recipe books"... of course, any "cooking theory" book is going to mesh somewhat with current cooking styles i.e. semi-recipe.

also, harrington's end game book will never change too much. you can adjust on your own i would think. the book is more "recipe" but i think we all realize we can change our push/call ranges moderately on our own - people call more, tighten up some. people push more, then you call more but NOT MASSIVE CHANGES to these ranges.

and his early game book is to a large degree just deep stack poker of which there are tons of books on. and of course, as i said i think he's "cooking theory" to fair degree vs. "recipes"

Hey rivercitybirdie....can you tell me what you mean by "cooking theory" and "recipe" books?

No book will help you if you are incapable of placing the concepts into use. There are people who read everything out there but cannot place theory into practice once cards are in the air.

If you are capable of putting theory to use, then Harrington is as good a place to begin as any. Just remember that there is no one magic solution to this thing we call poker...take as much as you can and do NOT become beholden to one theory or style. Nothing will mess with your opponents as much as being able to change styles and gears with ease and frequency...provided that you can do so adeptly.

very well said my friend... bruce lee said something similar when he was asked what style he uses...

"i studied all styles so that i have no style"

Thanks everyone for your replies and advice....helped a lot. I'm 1/2 through Vol. One and love it so far! Already helped with some major leaks I was having.

Not only will the Harrington books improve and add new plays to your game, but you will be able to pick up on if other players are using some of the techniques mentioned in the books. I consider myself a rec player and those were two books I purchased when I decided to get a little more serious about the game 7-8 years ago.

One thing I have noticed, is that there doesn't seem to be any mention of "donk betting" (at least not in the 1st volume)....whether to do it or not to do it. Does Harrington talk about it in volume 2 or did the concept of donk betting (or not to, for that matter) come after his books were released?

"donk betting" is hipster douchebag terminology. Harrington doesn't play into the "name game." He shows you how to play.

Every time I hear s/he "donk bet;" it's usually nothing more than taking the lead post flop; which is not always a bad thing. But those hipsters just can't be taught anything.

That's what "donk bet" means. It means betting as the first to act when the other player was the aggressor on the prior street.



And it has been like 10 years since I read them, but the Harrington on Holdem books were very very good.

Thanks for the replies everyone.....and Lego05, have you read his latest book and if so what are your thoughts?

I haven't read it, so I can't say anything. Sorry.