Small Stakes Hold 'Em

[PShabi]

Started snooping around 2+2 a bit and just had to get this book by Miller, Sklansky, and Malmuth. It's their bible over there. The main reasons I had to get it were:

1) There were posts over there about normal hold 'em hands where the poster would do something in a hand that I normally wouldn't do and then have about 50 people agree with him.

2) There were terms being used that I hadn't heard before. (I hate this, should actually be #1).

3) Lost $$$ in February.



Anyway, the first bit has been great and I'm off to take my son to Little League. I'll get a good bit of reading in there.

You limit giuys need this, I can already tell that. Lots of new approaches and thinking at the table. I think this is going to change my game for the better in a big way.

[Talking Poker]

Keep us posted. Sounds interesting.

[Tony Cheval]

I am reading this as well, I would say that it and Killer Poker Online are a good complement to start anyone on serious online play.

[Vatrlrman]

Take this for what it's worth but Ed Miller states in the introduction that this is not a book for beginners and I must agree. This book is, IMHO, superb but you must have an understanding of the game first.

Enjoy the read and keep in mind that your varience will tend to go up !

Its worth it though!

I would read Internet Texas Holdem and/or Lee Jones and be comfortable with it before I read SSH.

[PShabi]

He said start anyone in "serious" online play, which is what this is. I agree though, not beginner's stuff. Read Jones and get some time in at the tables.

[Vatrlrman]

I agree, didn't mean to come across bad.

I have seen so many threads were people blame SSH for there downturn after reading it a not fully understanding the "why" behind some of the plays.

[Kurn]

Great book. The focus on the concept of pot equity is priceless. It's the first book that stresses that the first question you need to ask at any point in a hand is "how big is the pot?"

It's also improtant to note that "Small Stakes" is a bit of a misnomer. "Loose Passive" is more the thrust. Often, the 2/4 at 'Stars is too tight/aggressive for the book, while on most weekends the 20/40 at Foxwoods is exactly the kind of game this book addresses.

[PShabi]

I've noticed some really tight/aggressive tables at 2/4 and 3/6 as well. Haven't gotten past the pre-flop stuff yet though. Is there a point to reading it if you're playing in more tight/aggressive games? I'm sure they put an emphasis on knowing your opponents.

The pot equity intro at the beginning is interesting but complicated. I can't wait to get to some postflop discussion where this concept is shown in application.

[Talking Poker]

Sounds like this might be a good prize for the next TPFI...

[Kurn]

Well, even in tight/aggressive games, the pot gets big sometimes and then the concepts work.

You know the old joke about the guy who goes to the doctor and says "Doc, it hurts like hell when I do this" and the doctor says "so stop doing that."

That's a long way of saying that with all the games available online, once you see that your table is tight/aggressive, leave.

I go by the simple test that if you can't play AJo profitably UTG, or can't limp with small pairs UTG, get out and find another game.

Game selection. Game selection. game selection.

[PShabi]

I like that. Thanks for sharing.

[drewjax]

Great point, couldnt agree more. If you have all these choices, it makes sense to scope out the best games. How much time does everyone spend scoping out the games first? Do you take 5 or 10 minutes to look around, spy on a table for awhile, or do you just jump right in?
Curious to see what most of you do.

[PShabi]

Not everytime, but I should:

[2Tone]

For 2/4 Limit bad beats, I tend to jump right it, though I at least wait for the blinds as opposed to posting early. For 25NL, where I’m less experienced, I will scout the tables a bit, looking to avoid sitting in front of a huge stack, and hoping to find a table where at least a couple of the players are at $15 or less.