Input requested plus introduction
 

Hey... nice to meet you all. Im about 2 weeks into learning Texas Hold'em, and am currently playing .1/.2 Limit at Casino.net (clearing bonuses - thanks Homer!). I have been lurking for about a week, and I am a bit confused as on where to go from here as it pertains to literature. My first book was "Winning Low Limit Hold'em" by Lee Jones, 2nd Edition. From there, i am currently reading "Winning Small Stakes Hold 'em - Winning Big with Expert Play" by Miller, Sklansky, and Malmuth. I am curious where to go from here? I have been given 3 other books as gifts, and am not sure what to read first...

Super System 1 by Doyle Brunson
Theory of Poker by David Sklansky
Hold'em Poker for Advanced Players, 21st Century Edition by Sklansky and Malmuth.

Any input would be appreciated, I would just like to optimize the learning process. Thanks in advance, and I can't wait to get involved! [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Input requested plus introduction
 

One vote for Theory of Poker.

Re: Input requested plus introduction
 

Second that. A tough read, but worth it.

Re: Input requested plus introduction
 

tough as in hard to understand? I have been a bit overwhelmed by what I have read so far, just a whole lot to take in. I assume the best way is to read, practice, reread, practice, etc.. so would Theory fall into the same category? Thanks for the replies so far guys

Re: Input requested plus introduction
 

to be honest, id reccoment you reread thoose first 2 books rather than start another just yet. or perhaps something like Schoonmaker's book would be more useful to you than either of the 3 you list - given the stakes you are currently playing.

Re: Input requested plus introduction
 

keep reading what you have.

you'll definitely want to read "Theory of Poker" in the future, but right now, two weeks into learning the game, you're most likely not going to get a lot out of it.

if anything i would recommend another book you haven't listed there - Ed Miller's "Getting Started in Holdem". Take back "Hold'em Poker for Advanced Players" (you're probably a ways off that book being really useful for you) and pick that up instead - it's a great introduction to concepts explored in more detail in "Small Stakes Holdem".

and I personally didn't find a whole lot in Super System 1 that was useful to me when I was learning to play low-limit holdem.

Re: Input requested plus introduction
 

[ QUOTE ]
tough as in hard to understand? I have been a bit overwhelmed by what I have read so far, just a whole lot to take in. I assume the best way is to read, practice, reread, practice, etc.. so would Theory fall into the same category? Thanks for the replies so far guys

[/ QUOTE ]

another vote for TOP next. I think TOP will make you start understanding a lot of the theory behind the concepts covered in the other books.

rereading SSHE is not a bad idea. I read it cover to cover twice, and now I just pick it up and read a section every now and then. I have skimmed through WLLHE, there doesn't seem to be enough there for me to attempt to steal it out of the gf's purse.

I usually try to pace my studying and playing at about 1 book/5k hands or so.

check out King Yao's new book as well, it's a good read.

hold off on HPFAP until the material in SSHE is second nature. I happened to read HPFAP before SSHE and probably absorbed about 10% of it. You really need to get a feel for the theory behind what he's talking about in that book, as the games that it is geared for are not necessarily applicable to the party .5/1 - 2/4 games, and directly applying the concepts can be a mistake. for example, you will probably be value betting more than inducing bluffs on the river more often I think then HPFAP might advocate.

Re: Input requested plus introduction
 

Fantastic advice guys... thanks a ton! I think im gonna merge two of the ideas... gonna go pick up Getting Started by Ed Miller... then move on from there, re-read SSHE to cement the topics some more, then move onto theory. My goal of course is to get to the 5/10+ games, but right now, naturally, its a bad idea =D Thanks again for your replies, feel free to add more ideas if you have any. Off to read up!

Cheers!