blackaces13
12-20-2003, 02:31 AM
Unfortunately, this was the first book I ever read and I've since come to realize that as far as the $3-6 games that I typically play this book is HORRENDOUS. I really don't know who the target audience for this book is but I'd have to assume its for beginners based on the lack of depth he goes into. However, advising a beginner to raise on the flop with poket 7's or 8's (or AQ and AK for that matter) regardless of what the flop is is suicide. After reading this Hellmuth book I've since read Lee Jones (whose book I think is absolutely MANDATORY as far as beginners are concerned) and HEFAP both of which I think are LIGHT YEARS ahead of Phil's book.
Hellmuth makes little or no reference to position, doesn't discuss which cards play well in multi-way pots and need improvement as opposed to cards that can stand unimproved on their own shorthanded. Frequently he says "read, read read" in deciding whether to make a particular play which at the lower limits is not very important, particualrily for the beginner at the loose/passive lower limits. He also seems to greatly overvalue poket pairs and doesn't even make any distinction between cards like AK or AQ being suited or unsuited.
All in all I really have to say that the Hellmuth book is NOT a book I would recommend to anyone although maybe his ideas of the game have been altered by the fact that he mostly plays in either big $$$ buy-in tournaments or higher limit games. However, the fact that his book seems aimed at beginners coupled with the fact that his advice could only be (concieveably) effective at higher limits or in big $$$ tournys makes his book almost completely worthless. Does anyone else have any thoughts on this book???
Hellmuth makes little or no reference to position, doesn't discuss which cards play well in multi-way pots and need improvement as opposed to cards that can stand unimproved on their own shorthanded. Frequently he says "read, read read" in deciding whether to make a particular play which at the lower limits is not very important, particualrily for the beginner at the loose/passive lower limits. He also seems to greatly overvalue poket pairs and doesn't even make any distinction between cards like AK or AQ being suited or unsuited.
All in all I really have to say that the Hellmuth book is NOT a book I would recommend to anyone although maybe his ideas of the game have been altered by the fact that he mostly plays in either big $$$ buy-in tournaments or higher limit games. However, the fact that his book seems aimed at beginners coupled with the fact that his advice could only be (concieveably) effective at higher limits or in big $$$ tournys makes his book almost completely worthless. Does anyone else have any thoughts on this book???