Hold’em Excellence

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In our last post we talked about poker books, and it is nearly impossible to excel at poker without them. So here is another review of one of the classics in the poker literature: Hold’em Excellence: From Beginner to Winner (2nd Edition) – Lou Krieger

This is a perfect companion piece to Lee Jones’ low limit offering. Krieger is a long time poker player and columnist and a top notch writer. His book is an invaluable guide to playing poker, both for the beginning and experienced player. His chart on starting hands and the position they should be played from alone is worth the price of the book, and his intelligent discussion about pre-flop play can be enough to help the losing player break even.

In addition, he goes in to great depth about play after the flop, at the turn, and on the river, with emphasis placed on betting when you have the best of it. Like Jones, Krieger helps the reader appreciate that because in the lower limit games, a player will often have to show down the best hand at the end, bluffing should be done sparingly. He stresses the notion that a bet saved is a bet earned. Krieger also explores the importance of a player keeping records of their progress. He even touches on the topic of “turning pro.”

His insights into maintaining habits which will make you a winner in the long run are invaluable and his frankness about even pros making mistakes helps the reader keep their own game in perspective. Though this title is aimed primarily at beginning players, it is a poker reference that any player will find themselves going back to time and time again as their skills progress.

So if you are rather new to online poker and need to strengthen your poker skills, this one is not a bad book to have, you can probably find it second hand at Amazon for one dollar or so. Good luck at the tables and always remember to use safe bankroll management.

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If you are getting started with online poker or live poker, then it is a good idea to start by reading a few books about Texas Holdem and other poker variations. This is a highly strategic game and it could take a lifetime to master, so read at least a few reference books to have a minimum of theory under your belt. Below is a short summary of a book for beginners and intermediate players.

Winning Low Limit Hold’em (2nd Edition) – Lee Jones

The most popular form of poker out there today is limit hold’em, which is partially due to the fact that it requires less concentration than seven card stud or Omaha. Though it appears quite easy to understand and can be learned quickly, Texas hold’em can take a lifetime to master. Fortunately, Lee Jones makes navigating the low limit tables both understandable and profitable. In his book, he discusses hand selection, position play, value betting, raising and bluffing all in the context of what many call “no fold’em hold’em.” He explains why so many plays that we see advanced players make on television just don’t work with low limit players. The author also reinforces the value of playing good starting hands, correct play before and after the flop, when to play aggressively, and when to slow it down. If you’re going to tackle any game up to and including the $6-$12 limits, this book may very well save you enough money to pay for itself on your first day.

Of course you do not have to take poker too seriously and some people like to play it just for the fun, so they do not waste time reading books. But this is good news for you if you read these books, as you can easily dominate such gamblers and take their money. Or if you yourself prefer to gamble while playing Texas Holdem Poker, then just make sure to use bankroll management and to not risk more than you can afford to lose.