Reuben & Ciaffone

[QBert]

Has anyone read Pot-Limit & No-Limit Poker by Reuben and Ciaffone who can offer a short reason to buy or not to buy the book? I am looking for a good NL ring game book and saw some good reviews of this one on amazon.

[-Skeme-]

It's the best big bet book there is. That's all the reason you need. Buy it. I also reccommend Improve Your Poker, it's awesome as hell.

Improve Your Poker [link (http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?page=proframe&prod_id=560936)]
PL & NL Poker[link (http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?page=proframe&prod_id=804638)]

There you go. Cheap prices for priceless books.

[QBert]

Thanks for the links, those are good prices.

What is the focus of Improve your Poker? I am specifically interested in small stakes limit and no-limit cash games of texas hold 'em.

[-Skeme-]

It's about everything you can imagine. It talks about tells, bankroll management, going pro, reading opponents, bluffing, tournaments, etc. Basically covers everything poker related. It's awesome. It's cheap, buy it.

[benfranklin]

[ QUOTE ]
Has anyone read Pot-Limit & No-Limit Poker by Reuben and Ciaffone who can offer a short reason to buy or not to buy the book? I am looking for a good NL ring game book and saw some good reviews of this one on amazon.

[/ QUOTE ]

Review (http://www.thepokerforum.com/bookreviews15.htm)

[StLouisMike]

I haven't read the book yet mainly because it's not in any book store in St. Louis (if it is please tell me). This is the kind of content in a book I have been looking for in a NL/PL book since I started playing. So this is basically the "Theory of NL/PL Poker" correct? Sorry for using that term but, this is the exact kind of content I have been looking for in a NL/PL book and thought that until Sklansky came out with his NL book I would have to wait. Ciaffone's books always get great reviews how come Borders and B&N do not carry them? Thanks for the replies in advance.

[barongreenback]

[ QUOTE ]
So this is basically the "Theory of NL/PL Poker" correct?

[/ QUOTE ]
Not a bad description but both books are unique in their own right. The material is more haphazard than TOP but is similar in the sense that it isn't a simple how to book. You'll have to read it more than once. Also a lot of the book is about games other than HE but even if you never play those games the ideas in those chapters still have great value. At first I thought some of Reuben's anecdotes were more entertaining than useful but later I started to see they pointed to some huge ideas.

James

[salloch]

Enough Talk! Just buy the book. It's gold.

If nothing else, it will allow you to completely butcher any quote related to the "5 and 10" rule. (that is until you have read the book for the fifth time and finally understand it)

-salloch

[kong98]

I just finished reading it, and after all the great reviews, I was pretty disappointed. I'm not a NL player in any way shape or form (that's why I'm reading the book!), so take this for what its worth.

After reading the 2+2 books where things are logically presented and laid out, I was disappointed that this book just sort of buckshots information at you. It presents things almost randomly. There is definitely good info here, but you have to really dig to pull it out.

For such a tiny book, it also covers a lot of games, most of which I have no interest in playing.

If this is the best NL book out there, I'm really, REALLY looking forward to the new NL book by Sklansky and Miller.

Kong98

[Nato76]

[ QUOTE ]
I just finished reading it, and after all the great reviews, I was pretty disappointed. I'm not a NL player in any way shape or form (that's why I'm reading the book!), so take this for what its worth.

After reading the 2+2 books where things are logically presented and laid out, I was disappointed that this book just sort of buckshots information at you. It presents things almost randomly. There is definitely good info here, but you have to really dig to pull it out.

For such a tiny book, it also covers a lot of games, most of which I have no interest in playing.

If this is the best NL book out there, I'm really, REALLY looking forward to the new NL book by Sklansky and Miller.

Kong98

[/ QUOTE ]

Wow. That bad? First bad review that I've heard.

[poboy]

Unfortunately no, it's not even close to being as good as TOP or any other 2+2 book. However it is the best book on NL cash games that I've read, but it really doesn't have much competition outside of SS. If you are expecting the kind of depth that a 2+2 book has you will be sadly dissapointed(I was). The ideas presented are not at all complex and the book lacks any real organization. That said you should certainly buy a copy , it is the best that is available until the new Sklansky/Miller book. JMO

[FreakDaddy]

What's the biggest thing you felt was added to your game as a result of reading this book? I really don't feel like it added anything to my game, so I'm curious if I'm forgetting something or perhaps not understanding something.

[Jester999]

[ QUOTE ]
What's the biggest thing you felt was added to your game as a result of reading this book? I really don't feel like it added anything to my game, so I'm curious if I'm forgetting something or perhaps not understanding something.

[/ QUOTE ]

When I first played no limit and read this book I felt very lukewarm about it.

Then I played alot of no limit and I started to understand the following:

1) In limit, position is useful. In No Limit it's paramount.

2) In limit, stack sizes are...uh...stack sizes? In no limit, if you don't understand the importance of stack sizes you are simply doomed.

I play live in Shreveport at the Hollywood Casino in the 2/5 300 max NL buy in game every couple of weeks. Each time but once when I've played I've had a stack of chips approaching $1000 in front of me and have been covered in several places. I have read the book many, many times and it keeps me out of trouble.

Furthermore, I take lessons from Mr. Ciaffone by email. He is 'no nonsense' and very 'nuts and bolts' about the game. He doesn't suffer fools gladly and has been a great help to my game.

If you have his Middle Limit Holdem book (which is Gold Jerry, Gold!), he's coming out with NL one this summer under the same format. I will buy it and put it in the bathroom.

[Allinlife]

[ QUOTE ]

I take lessons from Mr. Ciaffone by email.

[/ QUOTE ]
Elaborate please

[Jester999]

[ QUOTE ]
Elaborate please

[/ QUOTE ]

I like polite people.

thecoach@chartermi.net

He responds quickly and will give you the details himself.

[-Skeme-]

Friends of mine have done this aswell, and when I'm at $200 NL I will be receiving his instruction aswell.

[Malachii]

Any idea how much he charges?

[-Skeme-]

Yes, but I don't think it's appropriate to discuss his prices in public. Just not really my position to say. Just shoot him an email and he'll reply with whatever you need to know.