Recommended Reading for NL Cash Games
Can anyone recommend a book or books specifically geared towards the typical NL cash games in casinos? (i.e. $1/2/5 blinds, $200 max buy-in type games). The majority of the good books out there seem to be geared towards either limit games or tournament play. Of course many of the concepts in NL tournament play are relevant to cash games, but not all.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Cheers
Shiraz
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Cheers
Shiraz
Comments
Some books that are more helpful from a "strategic" rather than a "tactical" standpoint are "Killer Poker Holdem Handbook" by John Vorhaus and "Ace on the River" by Barry Greenstein.
Anyway, the best LLNL cash game book is Angel Largay's "No-Limit Texas Hold’em A Complete Course". I swore I wouldn't tell too many people about this book because of how essential it was to stepping up my game, but I've since realized that there are millions of fish, I figure I'll help you out.
The book goes over the basics a little which can be boring, but you'll see as you read it that the way you look at a NL cash game will be dramatically changed. Basically, it is the only comprehensive book out that solely focuses on the intricacies of the No-Limit Cash Game.
Maybe after some of the forum members read the book they'll play more than 25 cent/50 cent at the home games. (That wasn't an insult just anticipating the action reading this book should create.)
If you get the Game Show Network, I'd highly recommend tuning in on Mondays and checking it out. I am totally addicted to that show.
I know it's a TV show, not a book, but still...
Ryan
Did you read his post?
"Can anyone recommend a book or books specifically geared towards the typical NL cash games in casinos?"
How is Skalansky the best choice? I have read the Sklansky book, and yes it is good. But the "best choice" for someone looking for a book geared towards typical Low Limit No Limit casino cash games....no way! (Sorry about the rant, see my anger management thread in the off topic section)
I just don't know why you would post such a bold statement. Assuming you are a poker player, if you have read both the Sklansky and Largay book you would know how silly saying "Definitely, Sklansky's No Limit Hold'em: Theory and Practice is the best choice for your needs." is. It is SIMPLY not the best choice. I am pleading, don't waste your money buying it Shiraz just because it is the easily accessible named author one. Largay's book is the best book for LLNLHE cash games.
Just as another selling point; My ROI while playing live almost daily in Vegas for 6 months increased from 46% (three months of playing without having read the book (71 sessions of $1/2 and $2/5)) to 91% (after reading the book (86 sessions of $1/2 and $2/5). Another factor I hate mentioning is that I also quit drinking around the time I read the book...I could have left that last comment out, but I'm not going to lie. The book is cheap, solid, very repetitive and has some brutal dry humour. But I swear by it. And am willing to look as foolish as this to make you realize how much it will help your game.
Edit: I just got a pm asking why I use ROI to gauge my progression in cash games. I think it is a little unorthodox, but since I was playing a tight game where it is hard to get busted unless you get severely cold decked OR have no idea what you are doing; I figured ROI when you are playing frequently is a good indicator of how you are doing. Another reason I use ROI is because it is dead easy to calculate. Especially when you are buying in for even 100 amounts usually. ($200 or $500)
So if Largary's book is the best for the typical LLNLHE casino game, is it the best for Online NL games?
Everyone on here plays online pretty much. They must be doing well in cash games because Shark Scope says most people on here are losing in SNG's.
Also just an addendum, strategy for NL cash games is completely different from tournament play. The difference is like night and day, in a tournament you are essentially playing a game of survival where the best strategy for a hand is irrevelant compared to surviving. In tournament most play is done preflop or on the flop while in most cash games where you will more like 100-200BB in front of you the way you play the later betting rounds will be paramount.
If your experience is mostly in tournaments and sit and go's the best way to make the transition to cashgames is to begin by playing very shortstacked and as you become more comfortable with postflop pay you can slowly increase the amount you buyin for. This strategy should reduce your learning pains and make the game function a bit more like you are used to.
Hope this helps
Ekim
http://www.pokerforumsite.com
Ordered it on Wed from chapters.indigo.ca for 18.44+5.90shipping and 1.46 GST = $25.80
Recieved on Monday AM
First several chapters are quite remedial (calculating outs and pot odds and such) but I am getting into a little bit of the meat!
One lightning bolt so far. He basically says that the way you make money in Low Limit No Limit Hold'em is not winning small pots! It is done by stacking your opponents and then running over the table when you have a big stack.
My tournament success has come from building my stack by playing small ball.
I really need to shift gears in cash play.
This got me thinking about my most successful times at cash games in 25NL. I was trying to work off a bonus, and I knew that I knew nothing! So I basically folded everything but monsters and pocket pairs. When I hit my set on the flop I would immediately push and get called about 50% of the time. After I cleared my bonus I considered this play too one dimensional but maybe, just maybe my heart was in the right place.
We should have a discussion group on this book! Any interest??
Caddy
I love what the book did for my game. His theories on note taking are great also...review for the most part, but still great.
Chapters says it ships in 24hrs right now.
Largay usually limps in with any pair and AK, including pocket aces and kings! It is the opposite of what I've read in other books and how I play tournaments, so playing his way is a big adjustment for me. In my first cash game for the year, I got K-K two hands in a row, but I just limped in and was not raised. I got AA once and just flat-called a raise, and it was a five-way to the flop. I do not remember making a single pre-flop raise during the whole session! I was losing until I abandoned the advice in the book by stopping taking player notes and playing most hands. I got lucky at the end and won money.
i do believe the book has helped my cash game. couple this with sklansky's nl book and my eyes have been opened.
anecdotal evidence: i did limp with AK from the SB at niagara, with the sole expectation of either throwing it away or doubling up. and there is nothing like winning 60BB in one hand when your opponent rivers a flush against your fh and says 'i couldn't put you on AK since you didn't raise pre-flop'! i was gonna post the hand for discussion but why bother - i played it perfectly!
I've read it about 4 times sofar. Playing mainly .25/.50 online.
Making about $20/hr over the last 75hrs since I bought the book (man I hope it keeps up
My tournaments games have taken a beating cause I still sometimes apply the cash game theory to tourneys.
Not really big on note taking esp online, cause I usually don't see the same players enough.
Just remeber, who as the result of my playing this hand is more likely to go broke....me or my opponent?
He played is ALMOST perfectly...he didn't sprain his wrists calling the other guys all in...because he was afraid of a straight flush or something silly haha, then he slow rolled the guy with his Kings full of Aces.
I'm glad the book is helping your game Hobbes!
Haven't read it since it didn't end up in my stocking. The Hoe tried to order it through the local bookstore and we are still waiting. My next order from Amazon will probably include it.
LOL -- Yes I think I missed that part also. Limping AA or KK once in a blue is OK. Say 10% of the time (You are looking to do this from EP usually on an aggressive table so you can reraise pre-flop here BTW).
Consider what happens if you end up with say 4 or 5 limpers to a rainbow flop . What if someone re-pops a c-bet from you. Do you know where you stand? Does he have 2 overs? An overpair? A set?
You end up with a lot of unanswered questions here by limping AA with any regularity.
Caddy
Thanks for the recommendations all[/SIZE][/FONT]
C_Toni that is a great book. Enjoy!
BTW -- what is the title of this thread? I don't recall.
Caddy
"In early position pre-flop with a big pair (AA, KK), I NEVER raise on the strength of my pair. Yes, you read that right.
:
In middle position with a big pair, when I am the first one in, I will TYPICALLY LIMP if I feel there's a fair chance (30% or better) that I will be raised."
here's another one: see any difference between the two?
I think his point was to limp with AA or KK and hope to hit trips on the flop; if you do hit, it will be well disguised as your opponents won't put you on this starting hand ("who calls with AA KK preflop?"). If you don't hit, you have to decide if the flop makes sense to continue.