Book Review: Play Poker Like the Pros by Phil Hellmuth

[folded_a_monster]

I think if you take the holdem advice he gives and apply it to a 3, 4, 5, or maybe 6 handed game, the advice holds up. I play limit holdem shorthanded online and I play it very aggressively and do quite well. I don't know if these are the types of games Phil is used to, but calling 3 bets from the bb with QJs and capping preflop with 88 is not bad strategy shorthanded if you want to maintain a loose table image (jackal), which will help you get paid off on all your big hands (you will get called down by K high for example). His PLO advice is also very good for the most part, and some concepts are new. I like how he explains the mistakes he made in the past and why they were wrong, such as raising on the flop with a good wrap, which is one of the more common mistakes you see in PLO. Also, counting your outs and knowing how many you need to justify a call at each stage of the hand. And finally, some of the stuff on Omaha 8/b was good, but it's not really a hard game to figure out. The different strategies he describes that he and other pros have experimented with were kind of funny, such as the guy who played every hand and still made money. I would say there's some redeemable advice in the book, but you have to know what to separate from the crap. It seems to me from watching him play and reading the book that Phil is a fairly impatient player who likes the action and plays post-flop better than most, and that type of player can't really "teach" what he does because it's mostly instinctual. I think he might have just phoned it in and collected a paycheck for the most part here, but like I said, it's at least worth a read.

[jedmb]

Here's an off the wall theory for everyone:

Look at how much Hellmuth objected to the content of McEvoy's book...maybe with all the publicity that poker is getting right now he wanted to sow some misdirection to the new fishes. He's very well known, and along with his glossy cover (no offense to Mason or David, but HP and HPFAP need a new look!) the book will probably net him a lot of money. Why shouldn't he throw in some bad strategy to generate a new crop of tourists?

He only needs the poker advice to be good enough to get past the casual player who tells all his friends about the 'great book' he just read and the book critic who likes the 'fresh approach.' I think he's making money and laughing all the way to the bank (or casino).

Just my 2 cents. [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Jed

I've read the book recently and I think is has given me some ideas about how to act in specific situations (Limit hold'em) but it hasn't affected my overall strategy. One thing that I found a little bit problematic is the continous marketing of Ultimate Bet which Phil Hellmuth seems to be associated with in some way. For instance he writes: "This is the only site I currently recommend" and he gives arguments such as regulation honesty etc. By browsing a couple of news forums online such as twoplusttwo and rec.poker he would have discovered very positive experiences that players have of other sites such as Paradise and Party. So he seems to be somewhat biased by his involvement in Ultimate Bet.

/knö[img]/forums/images/icons/smirk.gif[/img]

[RollaJ]

Mr. Malmuth my post was only a theory which you adequately shot down [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img] , thanks to you though I have saved my money and will not buy that book. I am actually kind of unhappy that I bought "Middle Limit Holdem" before checking for opinions here. I am now afraid to open it as I am afraid some of the advice may actually cost me money.

As for HPFAP needing a new look I fully disagree. The Old Testament doesnt need a new cover, the yellow pages dont need a new cover...... neither does HPFAP. If people wont buy it because the cover isnt flashy enough they certainly wont understand the content. Conversely, the cover depicts a most painfull situation in holdem, the suck and resuck I love the cover albeit a little bland

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

The Old Testament, HPFAP & the Yellow Pages. 3 books for the ages. [img]/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img]

Of course, I would have substituted Atlas Shrugged for the OT, but that's just me. [img]/forums/images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

[tdiddy]

[ QUOTE ]
I haven't been playing much in the last month (too busy) but has anyone seen people using/attempting to use his strategy at the table??


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Some of the players at Ultimate Bet, which Phil recommends in the book, are using his strategy. They even talk about the animal types at the table sometimes.

[scalf]

[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] mason..

you forgot the most important part...phil is married to a psychiatrist!!

gl [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]

[jwp]

[ QUOTE ]
I haven't been playing much in the last month (too busy) but has anyone seen people using/attempting to use his strategy at the table??


[/ QUOTE ]

I suffered it the other night with someone who admitted to reading the book after I asked. He capped the betting pre-flop with 77. I had AA. Of course he draws his set and wins. He then proceeded to quote me the wrong odds for flopping the set.

Serenity Now.

[AliasMrJones]

[ QUOTE ]

If the book was called winning at casino poker, or something like that then he would be way off, but that is not the audience the book is for. It is for those looking to play like a pro

[/ QUOTE ]

Nice theory, but all throughout the HE sections he talks about how using his strategies you're going to beat the boys in your local game. He is DEFINITELY talking about beating your typical ring game.

[Webster]

WOW - I feel better now - I was reading this book (before reading this) and kept thinking that some of the ideas were a little aggressive for MY taste. I've played enough poker to know I'm a winner but I was thinking I was not getting all I could because I was not as aggressive as Phil.

I'm glad to know that I don't have to be a maniac before the flop LOL

Thanks everyone (an MM)