No Limit Hold 'em: Theory and Practice

This book is excellent. I should note that it is highly conceptual. Rather than offering "starting hand charts" or a detailed analysis of how to play different hands, it discusses the things a player should think about at a no-limit table. That being said, I do think the "Concepts" portion of the book offer an excellent bridge from the theory to the practical. As another reviewer wrote, some people may want to start with the Concepts portion and then later read the more theoretical portions of the book. It depends upon your own learning style. Of particular interest... the book again and again highlights the differences between limit vs. no-limit play. As an example, blind stealing is very important in limit play, but not as important in no limit when there are deep stacks still uncommitted. For anyone making a transistion from limit to no-limit, you absolutely must read this book to understand the subtle differences between the two games.

This book covers so many key adjustments from making the transition from limit to no-limit it blew my mind away. I really learned a lot of new ideas from this book. I still have trouble acting on the information at the table as I get quite nervous and the higher thinking aspects of my brain shut-down. Clearly, if you are able to think on your feet you can suceed by applying the different strategies outlined. The take home message of the book is NLH can't be taught as a formula (do this here, fold here) as it requires several layers of thought to analyze what a $200 bet means. I am sure to need to re-read this one many times, but it is far better than P. Gordon's first effort.

In my circle of poker geeks and fanatics, there are few publications whose release was as eagerly anticipated as No Limit Hold `Em Theory and Practice. We've been talking about it since January at my internet discussion forum. Some of the initial responses were not flattering so I wasn't sure what to expect by the time my copy arrived. Frankly, upon completion, I'm astounded the book is as great as it is. Theory and Practice is consistently interesting and pertinent. My guess is that, in a few months time, this one will be as tattered and reread as my copy of Hold `Em Poker for Advanced Players. Those individuals who were disappointed by these pages are players in the stratospheric limits who are so skilled and talented that most of us average Joes are incapable of relating to them. Perhaps it is too basic for the NL 25,000 gang, but do guys like Taylor Caby and Prahlad Friedman really need books or advice from others at all? As for the rest of us, perhaps 99 percent of active online players, NLHETP will have tremendous worth. The most striking thing about it is its unconventionality. Practically everyone I know says that playing with a short stack is "leaving money on the table," but the authors refuse to endorse this assessment. They illustrate times in which playing with a short stack can actually be optimal. The playing draws and blocking bet sections were quite necessary as they are ideas which most of us recognize but still manage to execute poorly. The Sklansky-Chubukov ratings of hands are for use in specific circumstances only, yet are so valuable I think the edition will lay alongside my computer for a good many months to aid in future decision making. New readers may also want to consider starting from page 244 and reading "The Concepts" section first as their insight and applicability will help you right away. Some of the clever phrases and descriptions here are as fine as what were shared in Harrington on Hold `Em Part I. I particularly liked the description of the weak tight player as possessing "monsters under the bed thinking" and also their notion of "The Hammer of Future Bets." This is a book that had to be written, and, from here, I'll wager that Two Plus Two will come up with texts more specific that theoretically lie within the territory carved out by NLHE Theory and Practice. My only reservation is due to a bit of political correctness engaged in by the authors. They purposely used the pronoun "she" in reference to unknown poker players in their examples. That they do this in relation to poker competitors is absurd as most poker players are men (as are a gigantic majority of those who read poker instructional guides). I suppose that next we'll be describing unknown iron workers and pipe fitters with "she" and "her" as well. It came across as quite contrived on these pages. Poker, in my mind, stands outside and above, society. We don't need to embrace whatever mischief devious social engineers happen to concoct; althoug

I started playing poker 4 years ago. I've read over 40 poker books in order to improve my understanding of the games well enough to become a top player. I've been playing full-time as a pro for almost 2 years now and I have to say that the best poker books on the market are nearly always by Two Plus Two Publishing and this book is no exception!!! This book is THE DEFINITIVE work on NL Hold'em. Because NL Hold'em strategy can require big adjustments even when the game changes only slightly it makes correct NL strategy very complicated and difficult to write about. This book will teach you about what sort of things you need to think about when certain situations occur. And for those of you who seek solid mathematical evidence for why certain plays are correct and others are not, Sklansky and Miller won't let you down. As for the other reviews (the two who gave the book 3 stars), I'm not sure what they were thinking. Perhaps they were wanting a simple cookie cutter strategy (do this with this hand, do that with that hand, and you will be a winner!). Sklansky teaches you how to think like a pro. Sklansky's books aren't the most entertaining...in fact, they can sometimes be a difficult read filled with math, theory, and other complicated material. But the truth is that poker strategy books aren't meant to entertain. Poker is complicated and if you really want solid advice and you really want to be a winner then Two Plus Two is what you need. Also, I'm not sure about Poker for Dummies...I hear that it is surprisingly solid and I believe it because Lou gives solid advice in his other books, but as far as Hellmuth's Play Like the Pros...I know many solid players and we all agree that it is the worst piece of garbage that we've ever read. I bought it, read it, read it again later hoping that it would make more sense the second time, then I threw it in the garbage. A friend asked if he could have it and I told him that, "as a friend, I couldn't." It is that bad, and for the reviewer that gave NLH: Theory and Practice 3-stars but said Hellmuth's book was better...well, I think everybody should desregard that review.

Those of us who have been playing and studying poker for years know what huge contributions David Sklansky has made to poker and this book is no exception. No limit holdem had all but disappeared(except for tournament play) until about three or four years ago and any one playing today understands the explosion in poker is primarily centered around no limit holdem. Many veteran players like myself have tried to adopt and adapt a solid limit approach to no limit and achieved mixed results. Often the mixed results have left us wondering if were are getting better or just experiencing a good run. This book will help you think about and understand the game better than most of the previously published no limit material. Many of the "greats" that we have come to know play and teach the game through their own experience and developed "feel" for the game, which is nearly impossible to teach. By learning the underlying theory of no limit holdem as taught by Sklansky, the student comes to understand how "situational" especially no limit is and how to think about the game in numerous situations. Those players willing to study this book will accelerate past the players who are primarily playing an adapted limit game or by trial and error. I have already expanded my approach and thinking process after only one reading and am eager to re-read it after a few more sessions of play. Highly recommended.