Doyle Brunson's Super System II

Doyle Brunson's Super System II This is a big, big book with a lot of information to digest. If you are a Poker player and haven't read this book, you should. If you are looking for a book on the game of poker and you want to buy only one book, this is the one book to buy. It will improve your game. It is written in a manner that keeps it interesting as well as informative. Well worth the money.

I never owned the first Super System, but I borrowed it from a friend and never read much past the first few pages of Brunson's no limit section. I didn't care for where it was going, or the wrting style. I bought this book, and so far have read Mike Caro, Todd Brunson, Jennifer Harmon and Doyle's sections. And for those chapter's alone, this book is a must have. Mike Caro's words of wisdom on bankroll really made light bulbs go off in my head. I bought this book after a bad trip to Vegas. He really opened my eyes to ideas, that are simple, yet so often over looked. I have become a much more patient player, and have been able to rebound from bad beats 100xs faster it seems. Todd Brusnon's section is outstanding on 7 card stud eigth or better. I have placed in the money in 6 out of 8 online tourneys since reading this. I really enjoy this game, and wish it was more widely played. He breaks the chapter down in "concepts" Which are easy to read and understand. A real Gem! Jennifer Harmon's section is good. I am actually going to reread it again. I have been a No Limit player mainly, and I want to get into limit...but it has been a rocky transisiton. She makes some good points, some stuff that I read and said, I see. But I have only played lower level games(5/10..is about the highest you can get around me) and stuff here isn't going to be all that helpful. I am looking to move up in stakes at nearby casinos, and hopefully this info will come in useful And then there's Doyle's No Limit. He admits that it's pretty much a repint from SSI. I like his overall style, of being aggresive. Without ever reading this, alot of his ideas, I already had incorporated in my game, Im naturally aggessive. But he constantly says, "depending on the man", meaning what your opponent is like. ANd that is HUGE in NL. Some people just won't lay stuff down. So when your shoving at them, chances are they ain't falling down, and this can be very expensive. So "depending on the man" is a GIANT UNDERSTATEMENT! There is no real alternate explanation on how to fight off call stations. If you play this style, you better have a bankroll. yeah, in the long run your profit against donkey callers, but if you are in Vegas for a weekend on a budget...you can get burned easily

Brunson's first GREAT book came out in the 70's and omitted any Omaha discussion. That gap is now covered. Any serious poker player must read both of Brunson's books. Each chapter, discussing a particular topic, is written by someone BRUNSON himself considers an expert on that topic. Hold 'Em and Omaha players absolutely must read Brunson.

Super system came on the sceen in 1978 under the original title: "How I made over $1,000,000 Playing Poker and has been known as the Poker Bible ever since. There is good reason for this, while other poker books taught the rules of poker, and general starting requirements, Super System introduced many to the art of outplaying, odds, and flat out stealing and back alley mugging anyone who had the nerve to sit down at "your" table. Nothing like Super System was even close prior to its publishing and there have been very few poker books since that have been so influential to poker players. Super System 2 was released in mid-2005. While much of the information is the same, Super System 2 updates with some of today's popular games. Some key updates are the Online Poker section, tournament sections, and Omaha sections. The biggest disappointment to me was that the No Limit Holdem section is virtually identical to the 1978 version. I would have like to see this updated. Some people have complained that the Online Poker section is just one big advertisement for Doylesroom.com. I look at it this way, they had to use a site for illustrations so why not? I enjoyed this section as it will help online poker in the long run. Plus there are some very solid advice that apply to online gaming! Super System and Super System 2 are broken up into game sections. Doyle hand selected the authors of each section. My favorite section in both 1 and 2 are the Limit Holdem sections. Bobby Baldwin wrote the Limit Holdem section in 1978 and it was THE most important peice of poker literature I have ever read. Jennifer Harman wrote the Super System 2 Limit Holdem section and it is clearly the best section in the new version in my opinion. Super System is not a beginner's book and the lessons taught should not be used against bad players because they simply do not apply. These are semi-advanced concepts and require a good knowledge of the games and should be used with caution. The Original Super System contains game sections by the following: Draw Poker - Mike Caro 7 stud - Chip Reese Lowball (A-5, 2-7, Razz) - Joey Hawthorne High-Low Split - David Sklansky Limit Holdem - Bobby Baldwin No Limit Holdem - Doyle Brunson Super System 2 contains the game sections by the following: Online Poker - Doyle Brunson Limit Holdem - Jennifer Harman Omaha 8 or better - Bobby Baldwin 7 stud High Low 8 or better - Todd Brunson Pot Limit Omaha - Lyle Berman Triple Draw - Daniel Negreanu No Limit Holdem - Doyle Brunson Tournament Overview - Doyle Brunson Finally, both Super System 1 and 2 are fanatasic books and should be in your poker library. If you only had the choice of buying the original or Super System 2 then I would suggest Super System 2 as it addresses today's more popular games, besides how many times do you plan to play 5 card draw online?

If you are an experienced player looking to fine tune your game this book is a great resource. It was written as a companion guide to the original Super System and so this book covers different games than the original. Because many of the games in the original are mostly obsolete in the casinos the original book has less value than when written in the late 70's and so for most newer players they need only buy this book rather than both. You will miss 7 stud and 7 stud low(Razz)and the three draw games but you won't be missing much if you only buy this book. For example, Ace to 5 draw lowball is mostly history as is Jacks or better draw and 2-7 no limit draw is mainly a tournament game now, and 7-stud high-low without an 8 qualifier is obsolete. So, as far as an updated version, it is pretty good, covering Omaha 8 or better, 7-stud 8 or better, pot-limit Omaha, and limit 2-7 triple draw as well as limit and no limit holdem and the minor sections covering online and tournament play. One of the drawbacks in many player's views is the lack of an updated No Limit section, and while I mostly agree, I think after going through both books that the mix of games chosen for this book are thought to be more current and Brunson may truly feel that the original no limit material is in whole solid enough to reinsert into a mainly replacement version of the original Super System. Keep in mind also that he has stated over the years that he probably cost himself millions of dollars after writing Super System and had to make many "adjustments" to keep winning. If that is true why would he give away all of his "adjustment" material only to have to go back and re-invent his game once again at 70+ years old? The real value is for the more experienced players looking to fine tune their game in one of the covered disciplines rather than as a complete how-to-play each game. The book is geared for the professional or aspiring professional who already thinks beyond the basics. The average player looking for in depth tutorials in each game will probably be a little over his head until he gets a lot of play under his belt and maybe not even then. It is written by professionals and their approach to the game is several levels beyond the average players experience and understanding. There is much to be learned here but you need a certain level of knowledge and game experience to take full advantage not only of the games covered, but also to appreciate the subtle but important ideas they give you for playing at the upper levels. Likewise you need to ignore the 20% or so of "filler" and not allow it to distract you from the real value of the book. The book probably won't help a losing or average player to win because they are just not yet at the point that they can fully understand all of the discussion and since there is not much basic or foundation material covered it will be more difficult to grasp. I think it will be of more help to the already winning and advanc