Is there a good PL or NL book even out there?

IaHawk · #1 08-02-2003, 04:34 PM

I have seen so many posts trashing all the NL and PL books that people have suggested to me. I really want to improve my NL game and I need some reading material. Can someone suggest a book or section of a book or even a website or articles...give me something!!!

IaHawk

Copernicus · #2 08-02-2003, 04:54 PM

The best Ive read is still Super Systems NL Hold Em section.

Daliman · #3 08-02-2003, 10:06 PM

1. Pot-limit and No-Limit hold'em, by Stewart Reuben and Bob Ciaffone. Excellent book and well thought of all around.

2. Super/System, By Doyle Brunson and a cast of thousands. The bible of poker, if a bit,(and in some cases, a lot)outdated. Good NL advice, but not all agree w/ Brunson's "Open the chip cannon" approach. Still a book no serious player should be without.

3.Championship Pot-Limit and No-Limit Hold'em, by T.J. Cloutier. This one has about equal amounts of praise and detractions, but I still believe it has enough worthwhile information to barely justify its overpriced cost of $39.95.

In that order.

John Feeney · #4 08-02-2003, 11:08 PM

That about sums it up, I think. The Ciaffone/Ruben book is generally well thought of, and there's little enough written on the topic that you might as well read all of it.

crockpot · #5 08-06-2003, 05:52 AM

the main reason you're seeing so many trashing posts is that there are only two books on the subject that are widely owned, and one of them, cloutier's, is overpriced and generally not very useful. the other, ciaffone's and reuben's, is dynamite and i strongly recommend it if you already play limit poker well and are looking to step up.

you can find poker book reviews at my website below if you click the poker homepage link.

PuppetMaster · #6 08-06-2003, 07:36 AM

Unless you play multiple forms of poker this book is very over rated. Like most books, you will probally get your money back if it saves you a bet, however, dont get excited about this book. It is very short and alot of the information is directed towards a live player in a casino.
For instance there is talk of betting ethics, tells, dealers, proper bet amounts, rules, ect. All of this has NOTHING to do with online play.
If you only play online and strictly Hold'em you will be disapointed.

nicky g · #7 08-06-2003, 08:45 AM

It's true that those sections aren't much use to the internet player. But there are also multiple sections on how much to bet, bluffing, dealing with bullys, no limit play etc etc outside the hold'em section.

Luke · #8 08-06-2003, 10:57 AM

Ciaffone and Reuben's book is good but keep in mind that many games are covered - not just Hold 'Em. Each game has their own section - in the ballpark of 50pgs if I remember correctly. But read the other sections even if you're not interested in that specific game as there are some general PL/NL concepts that are worthwhile and can be gleaned. Good luck.

Luke

crockpot · #9 08-06-2003, 10:07 PM

i agree that this book is not perfect, but one of its major selling points is that it is so much better than any other book ever written on big-bet poker that the comparison is not even close. also, probably more than any other book, it teaches several important concepts that are not correctly mentioned in any other literature.

Rick Nebiolo · #10 08-08-2003, 05:10 AM

I'm just getting my feet wet at pot and no limit but after the Ciaffone book the pickings are thin. Once you know who to read, woulnd't the 2+2 Pot and No Limit forum be the place to go?

I'm just guessing, as I barely have time to keep up with the few other fourms. but I'd be surprised if their wasn't writing at least as good as Ciaffone's.

Regards,

Rick