Poker Book Report

In his poker book, Harrington on Holdem, Dan Harrington gives warning to players who think they can bluff their way through low buy-in online poker tournaments. This is also one of the downfalls of many new online poker players when they first make a deposit. They burn through it trying to bluff everyone in a macho kind of way, simply because it looks so easy to do on television.

Many players say game selection is the most important skill for a player to half.  I don't agree, as I think learning poker strategy is more important than picking a good game, I promise that poor game selection is a recipe for disaster.  There's an old adage that says, you could be the 10th best poker player in the world, but if you sit in a game with the best nine then you are a fish.  We make money in this game from bad players.  We don't make money getting into kissing contests with professionals.  You should play against good players, every once in a while to improve your game, but you shouldn't play for high stakes.  And you certainly shouldn't play again, you don't know well. 

Let's take a homemade, but very realistic scenario.  Jimmy has 6 million left, and Andy and I have 3 million each.  Prize money is as follows: first place gets 1.5 million, second place gets one million, and third place gets 700, 000, so the total pool is 3.2 million.

We reviewed this poker book more than 2 years ago but I still find myself referring to it time and again, especially when taking up a new game or referencing holdem rules, if just for a reminder.

Sometimes you face a situation that doesn't fit the requirements shown on the starting hands chart.  What should you do, for example, when you're dealt the medium to big pair in early position and someone raises before it's your turn to act?

James A. McKenna from Beyond Bluffs. Master the Mysteries of Poker.

An excerpt from the chapter: Determining Buffing Styles.

First, determine how structured a player handles play.  Is the player reserved, demonstrating left brain dominance - has a lot of structure?  Or, is the player more responsive, indicating right brain dominance - plays more out of hunches and impulses?