Which book next

chucklhead · #1 10-31-2003, 05:33 AM

Howdy all,
My wife limited me to a $30 buy in (yeah, so we know who wears the pants in the family). Well, I have built my $30 to $400+ and I would like to invest in a new poker book. I have the Theory of Poker and have digested most of it, which is probably why I am winning. I have Winning Low Limit Holdem, which has been very profitable at the microlimit at planet poker. But I find I am playing tight weak most of the time. I also have Seven Card Stud for Advanced Players, which came in very helpful in an old homegame, but 7 stud high is never going at Planet at microlimit.

I am playing Holdem, but am making only .17 BB per hour at a .5-1 table that has only 2-4 people seeing the flop. I am playing .5/1 Omaha Hi/Lo and actually losing .1 BB per hour, but have logged less than 10 hours (If it's possible I might be playing too tight on a table where 8 are seeing the flop routinely. I can usually get away from hands that aren't getting the right odds to call. But have been playing pretty tight so far.) I am playing .5/1 7 stud Hi/Lo and winning 2.3 big bets per hour. (a recent post on the stud board leads me to believe I am playing sub-optimally.) I am playing .5/1 5 draw high and winning .25 big bets per hour. (My deviation is almost nil on draw).
Finally, I am making about 5 times my investment on a limited number of tournaments (40-100 players, 1 win, 1 second, 1 8th). I am a losing player at all forms of pot and no limit that I have tried.

What would your suggestion be for my next book?
Holdem for Advanced Players would hopefully make me a winner at the game that got me to this limit.
Someone suggested Zee's book for my stud game, which seems to be the most profitable at this limit.
I also have thought about Tournament Poker for Advanced Players or possibly Super/System for my no limit game.

Are all of these the best books in there area of expertise?

Am I leaving out any of the top books?

Thanks for you help,
Chucklehead

crockpot · #2 10-31-2003, 07:29 AM

my first suggestion is that you try out some new sites. not only will you find looser games on sites such as party and pacific, but you can collect some great deposit bonuses along the way, and find some software you're more comfortable with.

as for books, zee's book will be a big help for your high-low split game. HFAP is really designed for much tougher games than yours, but it will still more than pay for itself in the long run. Tournament Poker for Advanced Players is a great read too. i have an archive of book reviews at my website if you want to check them out.

RydenStoompala · #3 11-02-2003, 01:40 PM

Try the book "Some Poker Books Suck Wind" by Anonymous. Seriously, the Skalnsky-Malmouth book for Advanced is good and Brunson's old bible is still worth the read. But, going from $30 to $400, I'll buy your book.

whalekock · #4 11-02-2003, 10:42 PM

I have to agree with Ryden. What ever you are doing keep on doing it until you hit some sort of wall. If you read a book now and change your style because of it, you may make less or worse actually lose money. You are doing well and hopefully when your bankroll reaches five figures, don't buy a book, buy your wife something nice for limiting your loses in the beggining. 30-400 dollars, damn. I am only up $150 in a month of 3-6 in brick and mortar rooms.

chucklhead · #5 11-03-2003, 04:12 AM

Two things, one I feel that I really understand TOP. I hesitate to say that as it sounds really cocky. But that is probably the biggest reason I am winning. The other is that I have hit a table I can't beat. At least pulling a quarter of a big bet off the table doesn't feel like I am beating it. The game is this .5-1 holdem table. The average pot size is between $5 and $6. Is this just an unbeatable table?

I figured HFAP might help me beat it but who knows.

Thanks for the advice

Chucklehead

chucklhead · #6 11-03-2003, 04:15 AM

It helps that I'm switching jobs and putting in 8 hours a day playing. But still not bad for a couple months.

Chucklehead

RydenStoompala · #7 11-03-2003, 08:35 AM

I did not mention one book I am re-reading because I like it so much. It's called "77 Ways to Get the Edge at Casino Poker: Playing and Beating the Best" The author is Fred Renzey. He avoids reference to low limit games, but the way the book is organized is exceptional and his reasoning is sound. It is really an under-rated book for people who want to get better at the casino games in middle or high limits, but it will help you with some basic strategy on-line. This one actually made me a better player, right away.

RollaJ · #8 11-04-2003, 12:49 PM

[ QUOTE ]
But, going from $30 to $400, I'll buy your book.

[/ QUOTE ] Thats just funny, most online players have built huge rolls from small starting amounts, in general you dont deposit over $500 to an online site but there are many, many players with rolls of $2,000 or more.

As for which book to read, do not listen to people who tell you to just keep doing what you are doing. The day you stop studying and learning is the day you start falling behind to the competition. Id suggest HPFAP is a good way to go, but stay away from some of the more advanced bluffing techniques, as it is hard to bluff a player who doesnt think.
Also, switch to PartyPoker where the games are much easier than on Planet. With $400 you have more than enough to play $.50-$1 and even work your way up to $1-2 soon.