Friend of mine gave me these books. I know they are a few years old. I've never read a poker book, but have played for years. I'm on the + side of a rec player but probably not profitable on the long run. I'm aware of position, but still find myself in questionable spots post flop.

Looking for something to improve live play, mostly 1-2, some 2-5.


Swayne's Advanced Degree in Hold'em


Power Hold'em Strategy Daniel Negreanu

Harrington on Holdem I - II - III

No Limit Hold 'em: Theory and Practice - Sklansky / Miller

The Theory of Poker: A Professional Poker Player Teaches You How To Think Like One Paperback – Sklansky

Also any recommendations on books focused on terrible regulars at casinos would be welcomed.

The Negreanu book doesn't show often here, so never read it; suspecting it is outdated. For curiosity, one might try to get some insight by reading it.

I read one useless Harrington book and never saw a reason to read another one. Still some valued, I guess.

These Sklansky's theory books are outdated as he just wrote a new book that replaces them if you ask me.

I am not aware there is really anything for live play that I could recommed and what is live play anyway? It is more an issue when it comes to PLO and less so when it comes to NLH. There is some training site material for live games (and Youtube and Twitch.tv videos of live play). The tourney books are generally from live tourney players.

I still think No Limit T&P has value and is worth reading.

Thanks! I didn't want to waste my time reading them if they werent super useful. some reading on the forum here seems to mention Beat The Donks book

Seems like that may be something worth looking at.
Thanks!

I also have Hole Card Confessions
Any idea on it?

Theory of poker is useful, even if most of the examples aren't from no limit hold'em. It's not very practical of course, being a theory book. But there aren't really mistakes/bad thinking in it, like in some other books

Harrington on Hold'em books are for tournaments, and still useful for that IMO, especially against a weak field.

No Limit Hold'em: Theory and Practice is a bit weird. I don't agree with many of the things said in the book, but then again I'm not a pro (anymore) so...



I actually read these books (+ others) like the last 2 weeks, as I decided to read my old poker books just for fun.


But, since you said you're a recreational player I think they're worth a read. Absolutely nothing wrong with playing a bit nitty (like old books tend to teach how to play) in 1-2 live cash games and these old books (often) assume games with some really bad players in them.

Thank you! Would my time be better spent reading The Theory of Poker Applied to No-Limit since its a newer book?

No. 2+2 is behind the times on cutting edge Poker knowledge. There have been 2 excellent books released recently titled "Modern Poker Theory" and "Play Optimal Poker" that are worlds better than anything published by 2+2 in the past 3 decades.

Would you recommend these to a slightly above average rec player?

Also Where can you buy modern poker theory? It looks like it hasn't been published yet?

If you want to win when you play, then yes.

Modern Poker Theory is available to buy on the publishers website, D & B Poker.

I forget if it was Mason or Nick Christiansen (sp), but one of them didn’t much care for Swayne’s book and that was when it was still fairly new.

Doug Stanhope is proud of you.

Really. How do you know this? especially since, according to Amazon, Modern Poker Theory hasn't been released yet. So much for your credibility.

Mason

Don't take my word for it. Brandon Adams, who won more than $1,500,000 at the 2019 WSOP said this about Modern Poker Theory,



I don't know about you, but I would rather take the advice of a proven winner.

Brandon Adams Hendon

https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=43952

Mason Malmuth Hendon

https://www.thehendonmob.com/search/?q=Mason+malmuth

First off, I know nothing about the Acevedo book. Perhaps after it comes out and (if) I get a chance to read it my opinion will be very positive. But I do know this, I don't make comments on books, and certainly don't recommend them until I know what the words on the pages say. You obviously didn't. Also, if you had said something like "While I haven't read this book, it's endorsed by highly successful poker player Brandon Adams," then my reaction towards you wouldn't be so negative.

By the way, the subtitle of Acevedo's Modern Poker Theory which is Building an unbeatable strategy based on GTO principles can certainly be applied to our book Applications of No-Limit Hold em; a Guide to Understanding Theoretical Sound Poker by Matthew Janda which was published in 2013 and has been highly acclaimed. As for Acevedo's book being "world's better," I suspect that you've never read Matt Janda's book. But again, I haven't read Acevedo's book and thus have no comment on it.

As for tournaments, I've never enjoyed playing them and thus don't. But I also know that I've been associated with a number of books as either an author/co-author or just the publisher who's involved with editing and giving the author(s) detailed comments on content, and many of these books, which come under the banner of Two Plus Two Publishing LLC, have simply revolutionized how poker is played.

If you're critical of many of today's poker books, go back to the 1980s when I first started. While there were a few books at this time which were worth while, there were lots that were not.

And just to finish up, I have started to read Play Optimal Poker: Practical Game Theory for Every Poker Player by Andrew Brokos. This is an author we're quite familiar with since he has written for our Two Plus Two Online Poker Strategy Magazine for over ten years (even though his book is not published by us), and I believe it'll be a very strong book, and since it's out has been positively received (and most poker books are not).

Mason

Hi Doc:

My review of the Swayne book was quite negative.

Best wishes,
Mason

Hi lilmaniac:

Since I'm involved in this thread here are my opinions.

I was negative towards the Swayne book and see little value in it.

Going by memory, the Negreanu book is only half written by him. I thought his material was quite good but thought the stuff written by the other authors was some good, some not so good.

The Harrington books are produced by my company Two Plus Two Publishing and we think quite highly of them. But the ones you list are tournament books.

Same for the two Sklansky books (which are for cash games), and, as far as I can tell, The Theory of Poker has been the best selling poker book for many years. In addition, we have just come out with The Theory of Poker Applied to No-Limit by David Sklansky.

Also, in this forum we have some threads that are stickies. One of these threads has many book reviews by my so you may want to look at them:

https://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/3...views-1663503/

Best wishes,
Mason

Thanks for the info. I did search, but didn't see alot of recent posts on these specific books.

I don't mind to pay for a new book, its more so the time investment, and also don't want to learn habits that are exploitable via GTO play. I really thought it would be a straightforward answer.

I know the play at 1/2 2/5 live poker is terrible, and playing GTO against it may not be optimal, that's why i was trying to ascertain which book may be the best for me.

I already ordered Brokos' book and waiting for it to arrive.

Brandon Adams is a very intelligent man - his credentials both in and out of poker is impressive. I think I will pick up the book as well based on his recommendation

I've got Brokos' book and just waiting to find time to read it while I've got Modern Poker Theory on order.

I just wonder how applicable either one will be at $1/$2.

That was my concern. Playing against thinking players is alot different than the craziness that happens at the 1/2 table.

Often I've considered bumping up to $2/$5 just to get more rational play.

I did have a Nook with lots of books both poker and otherwise, but it died.

I replaced it but don't have any books on that as I found I didn't really like reading books on an electronic device.

Brokos' Thinking series may lead me to buy a Kindle.

What Brendon Adams did is pretty stupid. My name hasn’t been attached to a strategy book in 15 years.

Mason

No disrespect, but just because you haven't done something for a long time doesn't make it stupid for someone else.

And it is Brandon, not Brendon.

As I can't edit my previous comment, I will post a new comment.

Mason,

As you are the publisher, isn't your name attached to every strategy book published in the past fifteen years by twoplustwo?

Hi Everyone:

I misread this post (#13). I thought Brandon Adams had written this stupid stuff but now see it was the poster LSD. My apologies to Brendon Adams. As for LSD, you obviously have an agenda.

Mason