Championship No Limit & Pot Limit Hold 'Em (Championship Series)

I just reviewed Championship Hold'em a few moments ago and relayed there the way in which that book specifically helped me earlier in the week when I played in a couple of live tournaments out in Vegas. Now this book, independent of the other, was quite useful when I sat at the 1-2 No Limit game at the MGM Grand and also when I played the 2-4 at the Tropicana in their Poker Room.Previous to reading these two books by Cloutier and McEvoy, I had finished three by Sklansky. I found that by following Sklansky's Small Stakes Hold'em I was playing far too conservatively to win. The blinds were eating me up and I rarely got any good cards to enter pots with. The opinions of Cloutier and McEvoy are far more practiceable I believe.What we have here is a weed's eye view of what one should do when playing pot limit and no limit hold'em. There is some overlap with the other book but both are valuable on their own. The authors conclude that pot limit requires more skill than limit but that no limit requires the most skill of all.While I was in Vegas, outside of the Rio where the World Series of Poker was being held, I did not see any mention of pot limit games but I've been in them a couple times online and have to state that it's one a most exciting variety of poker. It can get crazy fast and the book is quite insightful in describing the way in which one should specifically play.The reader is given crystal clear advice on what to do in particular situations and the two authors seem to cover every single contingency that should arise. I was helped by the plain language and non-condescening prose of these two champions. I also liked the practice hands that were included. "Doing" definitely enhances learning and I found that to be the case here.

The flood of players coming into poker is overwhelming and the books to learn poker are many. Keep in mind that what looks like the same game is actually quite different. Low stakes limit holdem is much different than high stakes limit holdem and no limit and pot limit are significantly different than limit holdem. And finally no limit cash is different than no limit tournament play. That said this book is excellent for pot limit and even more so for no limit mid to high buy in tournaments. A quick hint- the use of the word "Championship" in the McEvoy and Cloutier titles can and should be completely interchangeable with the word "tournament". That is the player these books are written for. Many of the super tight approaches that Cloutier uses to be successful in tournament play are unprofitable in cash game play. Because the average player is so ultra loose, tighter is probably better than looser but again this is geared primarily for tournaments where if you lose your chips you are through for the day. Survival is one of the most important ideas in tournament play but ultra tight in cash games will often get you too little action on your better hands. Overall a very good book for tournament play; Cloutier is a proven and durable winner and has much to teach the budding no limit holdem tournament player in this book. Several now well-known winners have credited this book as "the" reason they won. Worth reading IMO.

Before reading this book, I was a decent NL holdem player, playing up to the $2/4NL games. I was a money making player, but i found that i was often playing extremely inconsistently, often losing my entire initial 400 buy-in, then having to climb the ladder back up, which i was usually able to do, although with much anguish and lack of patience. This book took me to the next level. It clearly explained differences between starting hands in nolimit holdem and reasons why other hands (ie k/j q/j a/j) are trash. Although i had won plenty of money playing those hands in the past, i found that those hands were "leaks" in my game, as i would sometimes lose everything with them. I found that i was playing too many hands and overvaluing certain other hands like a/k. Another aspect of this book that is not usually covered as well in other books is how to play your monster starting hand after the flop; how to be creative with your hands against different types of players; how to extract that last dime from yoru opponents.As johnny cash puts it, "You got to know when to hold 'em; know when to fold 'em. Know when to walk away..."

This book is a must for those who love tournament style poker play. It is written by a couple of old timers (when I say old timers, I do so not as slight, not in the least, just as a statement of fact) who perhaps two of the greatest poker tournament players of all time. Their reasoned insight and experienced wisdom is just what the doctor ordered for players who are struggling to get to the next level in their tournament performance's. Quite bit of the advice and strategy in the book ran counter to how I was approaching tournament play. The authors helped me to understand that what may be the right play in a certain situation isn't necessarily the right play in another one. The book is an easy read, the most determined players will finish it in one sitting and will be applying the authors sound advice at a casino or online just as soon as they can get registered in the scheduled poker tournament with with an improvement in their play. I highly recommend this book.

You might not make it to the World Series of Poker table, but you might learn enough to take money your friends and family. Then again, a reporter once used this exact book and finished second at the World Series of Poker so who knows. It really is a great book and unless you're already a professional it will improve your game. It's an interesting read. Oh and btw, if you do take money from your friends and family using this you're a heartless animal.