From there, a few game-specific titles from 2+2 publishing came out through the 90s, followed by Super System 2 in 2005, a very thorough nearly 700-page effort by Ken Lo titled A Poker Player’s Guide to Mixed Games in 2014, and most recently Chris Wallace and the Mizrachi brothers’ 2022 release, Getting Started with HORSE.
Each of these books has its merits, but what I and many others feel is the must-read for comprehensive mixed game information is Mastering Mixed Games by Dylan Linde, first published in 2019.
For those unfamiliar with Linde’s extensive resume, his Hendon Mob profile lists over $6.6 million in career tournament earnings in No-Limit Hold ‘em, Pot-Limit Omaha, and of course a litany of mixed games. He’s a WPT champion, a WSOP bracelet winner in Mixed Omaha, and has multiple big scores and victories in high-roller events.
Linde is one of poker’s best and most well-rounded players, but his love and knowledge of mixed games are what he’s chosen to share with the poker world, and Mastering Mixed Games (MMG) is a book that can be appreciated by both those just dipping their toes into the mixed game waters, and by experienced players alike.
Mastering Mixed Games: What’s Inside?
While books may have taken a back seat to online content when it comes to poker training over the years as people’s time has become more and more valuable, I can absolutely recommend MMG for not just the quality of content throughout, but because that content is laser-focused and very consumable. If there are criticisms to be made of previously written content on mixed games, it’s that they can be like a Michael Bay movie in that if you shave a good 20 minutes to a half-hour from it in the edit suite, you get an infinitely more watchable movie.
Coming in at a very readable 304 pages, with no game-specific section more than 42 pages long, Mastering Mixed Games is the equivalent of a smash-and-grab 90-minute thrill ride, with no wasted words throughout.
Those sections are separated within the formats of flop games, stud games, and draw games, with all games covered listed below.
Flop games:
- Limit Hold ‘em
- Limit Omaha 8 or Better
- Pot-Limit Omaha 8 or Better (40 BB Cap)
Stud Games:
- 7 Card Stud
- Razz
- 7 Card Stud 8 or Better
Draw Games:
- 2-7 Triple Draw
- Badugi
- Badeucey and Badacey
Single Draw Game:
- No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw (40 BB Cap)
Each section has a brief introduction explaining the rules of the game being discussed before getting to the heart of the lessons. A short quiz with answers and explanations follows at the end of each section.
As mentioned, Linde’s teachings of each game are incredibly efficient and well-written. There are no skippable pages anywhere. Consistent lessons in each game include opening ranges by position, playing versus raises and three-bets, the importance of playing to scoop in split pot games, types of hands that play better heads-up versus multi-way, and strategies for every street of play within a hand, be it flop, turn, and river; 1st, 2nd, and 3rd draw; or 3rd-7th streets.
Dylan Linde with his book
Something that is illustrated very effectively throughout Mastering Mixed Games is how close equities run in many spots, no matter the game. As such, equity comparisons are shown throughout, providing visual and mathematical examples including variations of hands showing how what may appear to be a slight difference in hand strength can have a notable impact on its value. In particular, I found the various equity comparisons included in the Stud and Draw games sections to be very helpful.
With each section clocking in at roughly 20-40 pages, readers can quickly navigate the book to study the specific game they want and get an intense yet easily understood lesson in a very reasonable amount of time. With the aforementioned breakdowns of street-by-street play clearly identified in each section as well, intricate and specific study modules can be easily found. Need to brush up on your 5th street play in Stud 8 or your post-2nd draw play in Badugi? These specifics can easily be found.
If I must drop a bit of criticism on MMG, unfortunately, deep-stacked, non-cap play in big-bet games and tournament-specific strategies are areas not covered. Big-bet games are only taught with consideration for a 40 BB cap, as is quite common in mixed cash games. Pot-Limit variations of Triple Draw and Badugi are also not discussed. Strategies throughout are primarily based on a 6- or 7-handed mixed cash game format.
Those are small drawbacks though, considering the wealth of information throughout the rest of the book.
Conclusion
As mentioned earlier, MMG is a great resource for mixed game players, no matter their experience or skill level. As with most mixed game players, I consider myself more proficient in certain games than others, however, I was still able to boost my knowledge significantly with this poker strategy book.
As for the games that I don’t get a chance to practice regularly (shout out Badeucey and Badacey), MMG provides a great primer for when I do get to splash around in the split-pot triple draw streets, giving me the perspective for this review of both experienced and novice players.
I appreciated MMG’s efficiency and readability in teaching both types of players. What a reader may already understand is elaborated on effectively, while those with limited knowledge of a game also receive easily understandable instruction which will quickly get them acclimated to their new game of choice.
Mastering Mixed Games is truly the gold standard for mixed-game poker instruction for players of all skill levels. And if you’re crazy enough and really want to learn Pot-Limit Triple Draw, Linde is a super friendly and approachable person who I’m sure would be happy to personally pass along his knowledge in that insane game as well.
Lastly, Linde is a regular attendee at Cardplayer Lifestyle’s Mixed Game Festivals and will happily autograph your copy of his book as well as help you get your reps in in the low-limit mixed game streets.
]]>For the seventh consecutive year, Cardplayer Lifestyle is proud to do precisely that by offering you, our readers, this Holiday Gift Guide for Poker Players. As always, there’s a lot to give thanks for. I, for one, am grateful to continue this annual tradition as I look back on what’s thankfully been another successful year both personally and professionally.
We always try to put together an eclectic mix of poker-themed products, services, and paraphernalia, and this year was no exception. In the guide below you’ll find a number of new, creative entries on our list as well as some annual stalwarts with top-tier wares to proffer.
Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift for your poker-loving partner or, alternatively, just want to treat yourself to something nice, be sure to take advantage!
We hope you enjoy this year’s guide!
SKIP TO: 1. D&B POKER BOOKS | 2. THE GTO+ RANGES APP BY RED CHIP POKER | 3. CUSTOM ENAMEL POKER PINS | 4. POKERCODE | 5. BBO POKER TABLES | 6. RUN IT ONCE TRAINING | 7. HALL OF FAME POKER ROOM | 8. RUNGOODGEAR APPAREL | 9. THE POKER COURSES VAULT | 10. POKERGO SUBSCRIPTION |
D&B POKER BOOKS
D&B Poker is the leading poker book, ebook, and audiobook publisher in the world. With over 40 poker books in print, many others in production and 19 audiobooks, D&B is where poker players go when they want the highest quality content, written by the most respected authors in the poker world.
Some of their bestsellers are pictured and described below.
Modern Poker Theory – acclaimed by many as the best poker book ever written, Modern Poker Theory, has made an impact that few poker books ever have. this truly remarkable book is the ultimate guide to no-limit hold’em poker based on GTO principles.
Secrets of Professional Tournament Poker: The Essential Guide – a landmark in poker publishing and undoubtedly THE definitive guide to tournament poker.
The 100 Biggest Mistakes that Poker Players Make – written by highly experienced professional player and leading poker coach, Alexander “Assassinato” Fitzgerald.
Mastering Small Stakes No-Limit Hold’em – Jonathan Little constructs a basic strategy to crush small stakes games and also identifies the adjustments that need to be made when facing more competent opposition.
Mastering Small Stakes Pot-Limit Omaha – a thoroughly comprehensive guide that will give you all the tools you need to gain a huge edge at lower stakes play.
Jonathan Little’s Excelling at Tough No-Limit Hold’em Games – a must-have book if you have ambitions to move up the stakes.
Mastering Small Stakes Cash Games – Renowned poker coach Evan Jarvis shows you how you can achieve your goals to become a better cash player.
D&B books can be purchased through all retailers. Their books, ebooks, videos and audiobooks can be purchased directly from their website: D&B Poker
All of the company’s books make for excellent stocking stuffers, so be sure to treat yourself to some of their finest, most popular titles this holiday season.
THE GTO+ RANGES APP BY RED CHIP POKER
Not all preflop ranges are created equal. Solid GTO poker charts are both complex to set up and costly to run, and that’s before trying to visualize them!
This is why the team at Red Chip Poker spent more than a year developing The GTO Poker Ranges App. This app was released in 2022 with a complete suite of preflop ranges for 6max and live cash game players, along with tournament ranges – and the app has only gotten better.
Since launching, Red Chip added the “world’s-first” most complex live GTO solve allowing for multiple callers which took the server multiple months to compute running 24/7 on a custom server with 2TB of RAM (not a typo!). There have also been two additional tournament GTO solves added for both 40bb and 60bb stack depths.
Red Chip’s server is still running and there are new ranges slated to be released in 2023, including solves for straddle pots and additional tournament ranges too. The free version of the app includes all open-raising ranges, and the paid version gets you everything from preflop calls to 3-bets to 5-betting ranges.
Learn more about The GTO Poker Ranges App here, or search for it in your Android or Apple app store.
CUSTOM ENAMEL POKER PINS with FREE DESIGN SERVICE
Poker is a way of life, not just a hobby or a career. If you have a friend or relative who loves to play poker, or earns a full-time living at it, honing in on multiple poker tables or online poker rooms every night, often sacrificing money, comfort, and sleep in pursuit of their dreams, they’re very important to the World Series of Poker. As much as the rest of us focus on the Super Bowl, the World Cup, or the Oscars.
The ideal gift for poker players is not only to express their passion but also to make a stressful lifestyle easier, more fun, and more comfortable. High-grade customized lapel pins – these have a unique process of hand sanding to a glossy finish. Besides the delicate surface, the enamel is vibrant, giving people a sense of noble luxury. The price is also very affordable. This material is widely used in the company’s high-end pins, high-end commemorative pins, high-end collection pins, etc.
GS-JJ.com is an enamel pin manufacturer with 20 years of production experience. Order No Minimum Hard Enamel Pins from them and enjoy the best quality and factory direct prices. Custom enamel pins made by them are of the highest quality and are made exactly to your specifications. Card dice and poker chip pins as well as a variety of hobby and interest pins support a free design service. Let them make your poker tournament and personalized card pins, allowing your recipient to add a sign of his/her passion for poker to the pin, perfect for poker players, poker tournaments, or event volunteers!
POKERCODE
Treat yourself during the holiday season and take your game to the next level with Pokercode. The mastermind behind this powerful all-in-one poker solution is none-other than Fedor Holz.
Pokercode is way more than just a poker course. It combines all the building blocks of successful poker in one place: Premium poker content, live coaching by some of the game’s best, excellent ranges, and at the heart of it all access to the exclusive Pokercode community.
On their buzzing Discord server, you can talk strategy with thousands of members and take on challenges to drill preflop and postflop spots. You can also take part in community events and free home games (with nice prizes). But most importantly, you have direct access to your mentors Fedor Holz, Matthias Eibinger, and Steffen Sontheimer.
You can fuel your poker development with not one but two top-of-the-line masterclasses. Tournament poker is covered by strategy wizards Eibinger and Holz, whose track records speak for themselves. Cash games are taught via a unique holistic approach designed by Sontheimer, the Purple Jacket Winner who has been crushing the games for years.
Everything is rounded out by multiple world-class live coaching sessions every month, which range from streamlining your fundamentals to taking a deep dive into advanced concepts. Pokercode covers both online and live play, regular tournaments, and knock-out formats to give you an all-around poker education to excel in every area.
BBO POKER TABLES
The ultimate thoughtful and lasting holiday gift for the poker player in your life is a personalized BBO poker table. BBO is the leader in customized poker tables and their tables are guaranteed to invoke table envy!
Choose from the largest selection of armrest materials, custom layouts, and accessories to create your own dream poker table, hand-built in Las Vegas. They are the only poker table company that offers free shipping and a lifetime guarantee and have been powering unforgettable poker nights for over 15 years.
Your BBO poker table will utilize exclusive materials and can even feature customized layouts as well as hi-tech built-in USB chargers. They’ve been recognized as the premier supplier to many of the biggest names and events in poker, including the World Poker Tour!
They are currently running holiday specials for a very limited time so head over to BBOpokertables.com and build a dream table for the special poker player in your life, or for yourself!
RUN IT ONCE TRAINING
If you want to start taking your game seriously in 2023 you’ll find everything you need to back up your commitment at Run It Once Training. Launched in 2012 by high stakes legend Phil Galfond, Run It Once has always been the place for dedicated poker players to advance to the next level and stay ahead of their opponents.
The slogan ‘Train With the Best’ doesn’t only reflect that you’ll learn from the highest tier coaches like 2022 Main Event Champion Espen Jorstad, Kevin Rabichow, or Phil Galfond himself. It also means you’ll benefit from a community of students that have the highest aspirations in poker and are often professional players themselves.
Members of Run It Once Training Plans get access to an expansive library of over 7,200 training videos, with two brand new videos every single day to make sure you’re always learning the newest strategies. No matter which form of poker you play or which area of your game you need to work on, Run It Once has you covered.
Just starting out in poker or want to transition to a new game format? Run It Once Courses were specifically designed for new players who want to start learning poker from the beginning, the right way. The courses follow a carefully crafted learning journey until you have the proper foundation you need to expand your game to the highest levels.
Want to give yourself or loved ones a special gift? For a limited time, you can now save $200 on a full year of the Run It Once Elite membership while also locking in a bonus gift and the chance to get your play reviewed by a Run It Once Pro.
HALL OF FAME POKER ROOM HORSESHOE LAS VEGAS
The Hall of Fame Poker Room at Horseshoe Las Vegas, home of the World Series of Poker, features 18 tables and offers many exciting varieties of live poker suited for the recreational poker player or the seasoned veteran.
You are sure to find your favorite with games ranging from $1-$3 to $5-$10 No-Limit Hold’em, $3/$6 and $4/$8 Limit Hold’em as well as Pot Limit Omaha and Omaha Eight or Better.
Our High Hand Madness promotion pays $200 every 20 minutes for the highest hand of that period of time.
Players earn $1 per hour and 17 tier credits for $1/$3 No-Limit Hold’em and $3/$6 Limit Hold’em, or double that at $2 per hour and 34 tier credits for any game $2/$3 No-Limit Hold’em and above.
Test your luck with six exciting tournament times daily, highlighted by our Horseshoe Saturday Special with a $5,000 guaranteed prize pool.
Call 702-976-4403 and get your name on the Hall of Fame Poker Room waiting list this holiday season.
RUNGOODGEAR APPAREL
RunGoodGear is poker’s premier clothing line for apparel both on and off the felt. Based out of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and founded by Tana Karn in 2012, our clothing line goes hand-in-hand with the two-time Global Poker Award-winning RunGood Poker Series, where we do regular apparel giveaways to some of our events.
We carry your favorite items including our ultra soft flagship RUNGOOD Classic tees in a multitude of colors and sizes up to 4XL, priced at $20 across the board for all sizes (some long sleeve T-shirt options are available as well). We also stock a variety of sweatshirts including hoodies, crewnecks, full zips, and quarter zips in plenty of colors and styles that are all priced at $50. Our hats are a top-selling item and we have both flex-fit and snapback mesh back trucker cap options, and those are $25.
We pride ourselves on staying stylish and comfortable while remaining affordable to low-stakes NLH poker room grinders. We also offer a few other items like golf shirts, drawstring bags, and Oakley brand backpacks.
Use code RUNGOODFREESHIP for free shipping on all orders placed within the United States!
THE POKER COURSES VAULT (FROM SPLITSUIT)
There are few poker coaches more prolific than James “SplitSuit” Sweeney. From his VLOG to his hosting of the Red Chip Poker podcast to his excellent free poker quizzes – you’ll find training content for all cash game players.
So SplitSuit bundled up all of his best courses and put them together inside of a membership he calls “The Vault”. Vault includes 24/7 streaming access to courses like The Hand Reading Lab, The One Percent, The Mental Advantage, and more.
Instead of paying hundreds of dollars per course, you can study everything for just one monthly price. On top of the courses, you also get access to a private Discord server, homework, and pay nothing extra for new books & courses he releases in the future.
Join The Vault today and take control of your poker training for 2023.
POKERGO SUBSCRIPTION
If you are looking for the perfect poker player gift, or just want to treat yourself this holiday season, look no further than a PokerGO subscription. Think of PokerGO as the Netflix of poker. Home to the iconic High Stakes Poker, poker’s hottest new show No Gamble, No Future, World Series of Poker live broadcasts, and an enormous portfolio of live and on-demand content, PokerGO is an absolute must-have for any poker enthusiast.
PokerGO offers monthly, quarterly, and annual subscription plans. The best deal is an annual subscription. At a regular price of $99.99, a PokerGO annual subscription breaks down to less than $9 per month — less than the price of two grande peppermint mochas for all you Starbucks lovers out there. But, for a limited time, Cardplayer Lifestyle readers can get an even better deal.
Purchase a new PokerGO annual subscription using the promo code CPLHOLIDAY2022 at checkout to save $20 off the regular annual price. That will give you the gift of unlimited PokerGO access for $79.99 for the year, which comes to less than $7 per month. If you’re already a PokerGO subscriber on a monthly or quarterly plan, you can use the CPLHOLIDAY2022 discount code to upgrade to an annual plan for some cost-saving.
The best holiday gift for a poker player is a PokerGO subscription. Head to get.PokerGO.com to purchase one today.
*Ed. note: Enter our contest to win a FREE 1-year PokerGO subscription. Details here.
There are far fewer books around that let you know of the poker player’s greatest enemy, namely the mistakes you make. If you could only identify them, you could cut them out of your game. It stands to reason that it is easier to cut out mistakes than learn skills, so why isn’t there a poker book out there that targets those mistakes and bids to remove them from your current poker make-up.
Fortunately for you, there now is.
If you prefer to work from the perspective of eliminating negatives, then The 100 Biggest Mistakes That Poker Players Make by Alex Fitzgerald might well be the book for you.
About the Author
It’s often the footnote on a book such as this, but just as the tome itself references the author first, we wanted to make mention of it in reviewing the masterpiece, because it is undoubtedly that. Alex Fitzgerald not only provides a background of genuine success to call upon, both live and online, where he has starred in World Poker Tour and WCOOP events among others but as a career of being a poker coach par excellence.
Fitzgerald’s name is synonymous with poker coaching and in hundreds of training videos and articles and in his consultancy role, he has doubtless improved the game of poker overall; such has been his impact on those who play it. Ed. note: PLUS, Alex just became a Cardplayer Lifestyle contributor, too!
What’s in the Book?
As you might expect, 100 mistakes is a vast variety of blunders you can make at the felt. The book is — much like the last time this reporter made a final table — a catalogue of errors, and there are going to be plenty of occasions where you think “I’m so glad I don’t do that” while reading one chapter, then blush with guilt at your through-the-fingers enjoyment of the next knowing it is discussing a mistake you definitely do make.
Fitzgerald’s aim is not to humiliate us all for our errors, though. He only seeks to shine a light on them so that they might be identified, scrutinized and eventually, eradicated from our game. Much as a psychotherapist might try many methods in order to access that harrowing memory of missing out on the last sticker that would have completed your 1994/95 Premier League soccer album (or whatever your own trauma might be), Fitzgerald utilizes a number of clever ways in weeding out those mistakes that you’ve pushed under the carpet for too long.
D&B Poker published this hefty 398-page work (including the index), so The 100 Biggest Mistakes That Poker Players Make is not a pocket-sized handbook, but more the kind of poker bible that you should devour before referring back to, like the bible might be if Jesus played poker badly and liked to raise before the flop. As it happens, we reckon the master carpenter would have had the smarts to read this bible all the way through before sitting down and that would be our tip for new players who ask how they should play the game.
Honesty is the Book’s USP
Many of the ways that Fitzgerald highlights what we commonly identify as mistakes made by others is by helping you acknowledge that you’ll sometimes make the same missteps yourself. How many times have you begged the elite pro you watch on television to stop acting like a petulant child, only to find yourself doing similar but in a slightly less grandstanding way when you donk off a stack with four players remaining?
The book makes a sweeping statement in its opening that in the opinion of this reviewer should be writ large in the banner at the top of any poker website or above the door of any casino – never go pro unless you have to.
There are a number of these simplistic tips for how not to become a bad player, but they are expanded on really well and often turn out to be deeper than you may first have thought, leading into techniques for how to avoid making the same mistakes. This method of exploration and self-improvement take place almost without you knowing it and later in the book, there are more detailed breakdowns of specific plays that if you’d started with them, might have felt complicated.
The Big Takeaway
For this reason, it bears to read the book with a pretty rigid discipline to the order in which the mistakes are listed. It’s not that you can’t check the mistakes individually and go back and review the ones that apply to you (there’s a final chapter handily devoted to doing just this), but it makes way more sense to read from start to finish. The book comes across like a well-honed classic rock album – every song is in the right place and if listened to in the order it was designed in, will have you singing throughout.
In the end, The 100 Biggest Mistakes That Poker Players Make is the kind of poker book that everyone should have on their bookshelf. Whether you’re a first-time player looking to join in with the most popular card game played for profit worldwide or a honed professional looking to eradicate a couple of mistakes that you’re struggling to identify,
The 100 Biggest Mistakes That Poker Players Make is highly likely to root them out for you. All you then need to do is make sure that you have the wherewithal to put the mistake behind you and – using the book as a strong reference tool – maintain your distance from the error and never make it again. One thing is for sure – buying this book is definitely not a mistake.
]]>A number of wonderful partners have stepped up to provide us with plenty of extra value to offer our festival participants, both those who play in our €230 HORSE tournament, as well as those who opt to just play in our dealer’s choice cash games.
So, I’m proud to release some additional announcements about the festival that everyone who attends will be able to enjoy.
Tournament Structure
Our €230 HORSE tournament will feature 20-minute blind levels, with unlimited re-entry open for the first 10 levels of play.
Players will receive a starting stack of 40,000 chips, with the initial blind level being 200/400.
Click here to view the full, printable schedule (PDF).
Extra Value for our Tournament Winners
Pokercoaching.com will be awarding a Malta Poker Festival Main Event seat (€550 value) to the winner of our €230 HORSE tournament. The winner will also receive a 1-Year PokerCoaching.com Premium membership ($1188 value).
The remaining five players who make the final table of our €230 HORSE tournament will receive a 1-month free PokerCoaching Premium ($99 value) added to their payout.
Our €230 HORSE tournament will also feature “Bubble Protection” from BadBeat Clothing. If you’re unfortunate enough to get eliminated on the bubble, BadBeat Clothing will sooth that pain by giving you your €230 buy-in back.
Freebie Merch and More
BadBeat Clothing has also provided us with dozens upon dozens of T-Shirts to distribute to our €230 HORSE tournament players as well as players who participate in our three nights of dealer’s choice cash games from October 25-27.
Throughout the €230 HORSE tournament as well as our cash games, I’ll be giving away a bunch of extras via “bomb pots” as well as random seat draws. These include:
- Pokercoaching.com hats
- 1 month free of Pokercoaching Premium
- Getting Started with HORSE by Chris Wallace
- Mastering Mixed Games by Dylan Linde
- Some other freebie merch I’ll be bringing with me
Come Join Us!
We’re just over a month away from the festivities and Malta beckons. The local Malta mixed game crowd is excited and plenty of folks who share that excitement are slated to fly in for the festivities from around Europe… and even as distant as the United States.
Be sure to join us at the Portomaso Casino and get your mixed game poker fix. While some of you will walk away with big winnings, anyone who comes to participate in our Mixed Game Festival is assured to walk away with great memories.
Just booked my flights! Malta I’m coming for some sweet mixed game action
@cardplayerlife
— Milko (@DegenOnTour) September 18, 2022
So looking forward to this… https://t.co/6pYod9LGSI
— Martin Smith :-: Pot Limit Sviten Special (@poker4leisure) September 8, 2022
]]>In more exciting news (to me), I’ll be heading to Malta to try and earn a
between Oct 26 – Nov 4 for the annual @TheHendonMob Summit and play The Hendon Mob Championship, a part of the @maltapokerfest https://t.co/HCCsZCaKaA
Are Maltesers available in Malta?
— Kevin Mathers (@Kevmath) September 12, 2022
One of the common misconceptions about getting the better of small stakes cash games, for example a no-limit hold’em full ring table at blinds of $1/$2, is that experience guarantees results. Nothing in poker does that, so if at any stage of picking up the game recreationally you also pick up this book, then you’ll be doing your bottom line a big favor.
Mastering Small Stakes Cash Games — Overview
The book covers many of the aspects of beginner level cash games that you might expect, with tips on how to prepare for gameplay, the science of hand selection and how to use aggression correctly. It’s all about putting yourself in the optimum position to make a profit and Jarvis explains the fundamentals to take into consideration before you even begin really, really well.
Jarvis writes a lot in the early section of the book about a ‘Triple Threat’ tactic that has carried him through what is a highly successful poker career and its clear from his learnings that he is passing on what is really important to him and that has lasted to boot. As he puts it at the start of the book, the heart of poker is “a battle of wits between you and many varied opponents.” This comes through in his teachings and really gives you a competitive edge if you start using the tips he shows you work over time.
Jarvis sets out the terms for what he considered small cash games early; he’s talking about $0.50/$1 up to $2/$5, which some might say is the cusp of turning a hobby into a profession. That’s very handy, because Jarvis covers that too later in the book, but we’ll come back to what he feels need to be achieved first, namely crushing the lower stakes cash games first.
The Importance of Turning a Profit
As Jarvis explains in the early stages, becoming a winning poker player is not about turning pro, only turning a profit. Winning more often than you lose in these games is all about maximising your edge at the right time and pressing home when you feel you have your opponent beat. Part of the reason we do anything as human beings is our focus and what we are aiming for. While poker cannot always be measured in terms of a bottom line, working to targets and focusing on what you need to do to get there can be highly motivational.
Let’s say for example that you deposit $20 and want to make money playing cash games. If you sit down with that mindset, a bad diet or exercise plan and no focus on how to get there other than trying, then you could be beat before you click ‘Take Seat’. But the polar opposite is true if you are feeling healthy and rested, plan to turn that $20 into $50 and have a structured method for how you aim to get there.
Many of poker’s greatest lessons come from those who have already walked the path we ourselves want to tread, and Jarvis’ journey should be an inspiration to those who push for poker profit in small cash games. Working out your odds of winning hands is one thing, but Jarvis teaches you how to objectify your chances of winning based on that ‘Triple Threat’ theory of position, selection and then aggression.
Seeing your chance to make a profit in poker is everything, but after reading this book, I saw how it’s about a whole lot more to the consistent winning player. Winning the hand isn’t enough, and nor does losing the hand matter. What really matters most is putting yourself in the best possible position not only to win as often as you can, but to make the most money while you do it. One of the biggest takeaways from this book for me was how well communicated this obvious yet marginal difference between ambitions is explored by the author.
Takeaways from Mastering Small Stakes Cash Games
Inside the book, there are charts, diagrams and examples that are used sparingly but wisely in illustrating each theory as the author shows you how to put each tip into practice. Should you work your way through the book and take the lessons on board, it is the belief of the author – and this reader! – that the competent reader can utilise these pieces of advice to turn a consistent profit in playing the game.
From that baseline, there’s every chance that the useful, informative and entertaining knowledge that is revealed in Mastering Small Stakes Cash Games will make you want to read much, much more of Evan Jarvis’ work. It certainly did that for me, and I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to work on leaks in their cash game play, or is starting out with the ambition of turning profit into a professional career, too.
There is a lot to learn in Mastering Small Stakes Cash Games and across over 350 pages, Evan Jarvis does a superb job in helping any reader take it all in and, most importantly, put it to practical use.
]]>For the sixth consecutive year, Cardplayer Lifestyle is proud to offer our readers this Holiday Gift Guide for Poker Players. In much of the developed world, things seem to finally be heading back towards what we knew as normal, and there’s a lot to give thanks for. Thus, it’s important to try and focus on things that can make us happy and bring us smiles.
As always, we’ve put together a wide variety of gift giving ideas for you to consider this holiday season, including a number of new, creative entries on our list as well as some annual stalwarts.
Moreover, many of our featured vendors are offering exclusive holiday discounts to Cardplayer Lifestyle readers, so whether you’re looking for the perfect gift for your poker-loving partner or, alternatively, just want to treat yourself to something nice, be sure to take advantage!
We hope you enjoy this year’s guide!
SKIP TO: 1. DIGITAL POKER TABLES | 2. THE GTO+ SOLVER BUNDLE BY RED CHIP POKER | 3. THE MENTAL GAME TUNE UP FOR TOURNAMENT POKER | 4. RUN IT ONCE TRAINING | 5. FADED SPADE PLAYING CARDS | 6. CAESARS PALACE POKER ROOM | 7. SHUFFLE TECH MDS-6 MULTI-DECK SHUFFLER | 8. D&B POKER BOOKS | 9. POKERCOACHING PREMIUM | 10. THE POKER FORGE | 11. FLOPZILLA PRO CUSTOM SPLITSUIT EDITION | 12. RUNGOODGEAR APPAREL |
DIGITAL POKER TABLES
Take your home game to the next level with your very own Digital Poker Table. This holiday season is the perfect time to purchase your very own electronic gaming table, where you can play up to 18 different poker variants at the touch of a button.
No cards or chips necessary! Just an outlet, WiFi, and you’re ready to play poker with your buddies!
Whether you opt for the 2-, 4-, 6-, 8-, or 10-seat Digital Poker Table, you’ll always have access to the latest software updates and upgrades.
Choose to play limit, pot limit, or no-limit, whether in cash game or tournament format.
Best of all, the Digital Poker Table doubles as a family gaming table! You can play popular favorites like Rummikub, Trivia, and more with your kids, neighbors, and even invite the grandparents over for game night.
Don’t have room in your home for a table? No problem — for just $25/month you can purchase a premium subscription to the Digital Poker Table software and play on your iOS devices, even broadcasting the game onto your Apple TV!
Visit DigitalPokerTable.com or call (702) 628-1900 to order in time for the holidays, and be sure to mention Cardplayer Lifestyle!
THE GTO+ SOLVER BUNDLE BY RED CHIP POKER
Red Chip Poker has officially partnered up with GTO+ to offer you the best introduction to GTO. As game theory optimal (GTO) poker continues to increase in popularity and importance, now is the time to invest in a quality solver and training. So their new GTO+ Bundle includes a lifetime license to the GTO+ solver AND a complete course so you know exactly how to set up the tool, explore the trees, and analyze solves like a pro.
GTO+ allows you to do everything from simple solves to complex bet sizing exploration. Plus, you can “play against the solver” to test your skills between sessions. And for the more advanced players, this solver allows for node locking, various display methods, and even scripting.
Buy the GTO+ bundle for the poker player in your life (or as a nice holiday gift for yourself!) to start seeing GTO poker more clearly.
THE MENTAL GAME TUNE UP FOR TOURNAMENT POKER
The Mental Game Tune Up for Tournament Poker is a video-based course that walks players through the same steps that Jared Tendler takes his clients through to prepare for tournament play. Comprehensive yet simple, it consists of eight modules covering key topics, such as tilt, handling swings in variance, burnout, and distractions.
The most popular feature of the course are the unscripted coaching sessions called “Coaching the Pros” featuring two notable professional poker players: Diego Ventura and Matt Affleck. Go inside to see how top online and live professionals think and prepare for WCOOP and the WSOP. Now is the time to get yourself ready for 2022. Don’t wait until the next series to get started. Invest in your game and let Jared guide you through the steps to get it in shape.
“I can’t recommend the Mental Game Tune Up course and Jared’s work highly enough. I really found it valuable to work through leading up to my last WSOP trip which was my most successful trip by far. Thanks for another amazing product Jared!”
Lara Eiesenberg, 2021 WSOP Ladies Champion
Claim your special $125 discount this Holiday Season by using promo code CPL125 when you enroll in Jared’s course.
RUN IT ONCE TRAINING
If you want to start taking your game seriously in 2022 you’ll find everything you need to back up your commitment at Run It Once Training. Launched in 2012 by high stakes legend Phil Galfond, Run It Once has always been the place for dedicated poker players to advance to the next level and stay ahead of their opponents.
The slogan ‘Train With the Best’ doesn’t only reflect that you’ll learn from the highest tier coaches like Dan ‘Jungleman’ Cates, Kevin Rabichow, or Phil Galfond himself. It also means you’ll benefit from a community of students that have the highest aspirations in poker and are often professional players themselves.
Members of Run It Once Training Plans get access to an expansive library of over 6,500 training videos, with two brand new videos every single day to make sure you’re always learning the newest strategies. No matter which form of poker you play or which area of your game you need to work on, Run It Once has you covered.
Just starting out in poker or want to transition to a new game format? Run It Once Courses were specifically designed for new players who want to start learning poker from the beginning, the right way. The courses follow a carefully crafted learning journey until you have the proper foundation you need to expand your game to the highest levels.
If you need help planning the perfect poker gift for your loved ones, reach out to Run It Once Support and we’ll assist you every step of the way.
FADED SPADE PLAYING CARDS
As the preferred playing cards of the World Poker Tour, Faded Spade has fast become the most popular playing card brand for poker players across the globe.
Poker players in many countries and continents have switched to Faded Spade playing cards for their poker home games. The cards are known for their modern face card designs and high quality 100% plastic that has an intentional balance of strength and flexibility. Two-deck sets are available in Poker Size 2.0 (Wide), Bridge Size 2.0 (Narrow), and 4-Color 2.0.
Beyond WPT programming, you might have also played with Faded Spade cards at your local poker room! Plus, you may have seen Faded Spade poker playing cards on many popular poker live stream shows or in play on NBC Sports, PokerGO, and more during poker programs like Poker After Dark, Super High Roller Bowl, Poker Masters, and the U.S. Poker Open.
The best poker players and highest stakes poker games in the world choose Faded Spade cards. So can you this holiday season, by using the promo code CPL for 20% off at fadedspade.com!
CAESARS PALACE POKER ROOM
There’s perhaps no more enjoyable time to take a poker trip than the Holiday season, and similarly there’s perhaps no more enjoyable poker room to play in than the one at Caesars Palace! Once you hit Las Vegas, head straight to the center of the famed Las Vegas Strip to the one-of-a-kind Caesars Palace Poker Room.
With 18 tables, and located right next to the casino’s sportsbook, the 4,500-square-foot poker room offers all the action you can handle at limits ranging from $1-3 right up to the nosebleeds. Comps are offered at $2 per hour, with Caesars Rewards Members also earning 34 tier points/hour.
Beyond cash games, the room also offers multiple tournaments each day and is staffed by some of the most professional, friendly dealers and floorpeople you’ll find in the city.
Staff are happy to speak with you anytime, so feel free to call (866) 227-5938 and get your name on the waiting lists this holiday season at Caesars Palace, home of champions!
SHUFFLE TECH MDS-6 MULTI-DECK SHUFFLER
The new Shuffle Tech MDS-6 is perfect for this upcoming Holiday Season. As you gather with friends and family to spend time together and play games, this makes a perfect addition to your game night.
This multi-deck card shuffler can shuffle up to 6 full decks of playing cards. Whether you play canasta, blackjack, or any other multi-deck card game, this will streamline your hand shuffling. Paper cards will shuffle, but not as well as with 100% plastic playing cards. So, quality playing cards are always recommended. And as always, our products come with a 1-year warranty.
The MDS-6 runs both on direct power or battery operated (4 x D-sized). Plus, as with all Shuffle Tech products, you also get a 1-year warranty!
We ship worldwide! For more information, visit www.shuffletech.com.
D&B POKER BOOKS
D&B Poker produces the best poker books out there and their latest publication from the highly successful coach and author Jonathan Little is no exception. Secrets of Professional Tournament Poker: The Essential Guide can rightly claim to be the definitive guide to tournament poker. As per our own review, “The poker world was ready for an age-defining poker book in a period of global flux; it has found it in this book.”
This holiday season, you can get your hands on either the beautiful hardcover edition, the ebook, or the audiobook (recorded by Jonathan), all of which can be found HERE.
Also due out in the coming weeks is an addition to D&B’s Mastering Small Stakes series, Evan Jarvis‘ Mastering Small Stakes Cash Games. Evan’s reputation as a top notch coach at Gripsed.com is well established and in this book he brings his full arsenal of knowledge and skills to help players master cash game play. Evan takes a holistic approach, recognizing that being able to master people and master yourself are equally important in order to achieve poker success.
This book makes for an excellent stocking stuffer, as the paperback edition will be publishing in December in UK/Europe and January in the US, with the ebook due out in January.
POKERCOACHING PREMIUM
This holiday season PokerCoaching.com is rolling out the red carpet and giving you up to 61% off on PREMIUM memberships!
Beyond their already massive suite of training materials, you’ll also get FREE access to two of Jonathan Little‘s exclusive courses — the all-new Cash Game Masterclass and his Tournament Masterclass — PLUS his vast library of 1-on-1 coaching videos!
Cash Game Masterclass
- 32+ hours
- 156 lessons
In this completely new course, Little teaches you everything you need to know to crush small and medium stakes cash games. Via numerous hand examples and quizzes, you’ll internalize how to consistently win in both online and live cash games, with starting stacks of 100 and 200 big blinds.
Tournament Masterclass
- 30+ hours
- 180 lessons
In this highly regarded course, Little teaches you everything you need to know to play every stage of a poker tournament optimally, maximally exploit your opponents, and maximize your tournament equity.
1-on-1 Coaching Videos
Best of all, if you act now and join PokerCoaching Premium, you’ll get FREE ACCESS to 240+ hours Jonathan Little’s 1-on-1 coaching videos!
Ring in the holidays by joining the 120,000+ poker players who are using PokerCoaching.com to increase their win rate through active learning!
THE POKER FORGE
The Poker Forge helps online small-stakes players build valuable skills for a fun and profitable journey. You will go through 9 Masterclass courses that teach foundational and advanced poker strategies in a logical progression. This will build you up as a player with useful skills one upon the other, while helping you avoid poker overwhelm: That feeling of having too much to study and not enough time. The Poker Forge helps you learn where you must focus your efforts and guides you in that direction.
You can start booking wins right away with course #1, the Quick Wins Gameplans, which help you earn quick profits with easy-to-use strategies. Or, you can bounce around from course to course. Maybe start with the Hand Reading Course (to learn poker’s #1 skill) or the Finding the Fold Course (to plug that costly leak of poor post-flop calling). The journey is up to you, but along the way the Poker Forge gives you checklists, calendars and study guides to keep you on track.
All Poker Forge training is built upon the idea of “learn then apply”. Each video teaches you important strategies to use in-game or during your study time. Plus, every video gives you action steps to take that force you to practice what you just learned because… action is the greatest teacher.
Give yourself or the poker player in your life the gift of a profitable and fun online poker journey with The Poker Forge.
FLOPZILLA PRO CUSTOM SPLITSUIT EDITION
One of the best tools for poker study is Flopzilla Pro. Flopzilla can do everything from analyzing single hands to complex ranges, break down post-flop situations statistically, and even do advanced range-vs.-range analysis.
If you’ve never used this app before, here’s an example of using Flopzilla Pro to study a common $2/$5 hand:
To make things even better, the SPLITSUIT EDITION of Flopzilla Pro not only includes a lifetime license for the software, but it also includes custom range presets and additional training videos. This bundle sets every poker player up for success to make off-table time easier and on-table time more profitable.
Get the SplitSuit Edition of Flopzilla Pro today and book yourself a winning holiday season!
RUNGOODGEAR APPAREL
This holiday season it’s time to scroll past the parody shirts send your favorite poker player something they want to wear both at and away from the tables.
Since 2012, poker players have been gearing up with RunGood, the industry’s leading apparel company. Focused on producing clothing with an emphasis on comfort and style, the RunGoodGear brand is a popular sight in poker rooms around the United States, with a wide variety of hats, hoodies, and shirts available online.
“As a poker player, we don’t make anything we wouldn’t wear ourselves on or off the table.” says Tana Karn, Founder of RunGoodGear. There is a reason items become out of stock, don’t delay and pick up an item today.
Also, be sure to visit www.RunGoodGear.com to see what’s happening next with the multi-time GPI Award-Winning Mid-Major Tour, the RunGood Poker Series, while picking up your next hat or hoodie.
Wishing all of our readers here at Cardplayer Lifestyle a happy holiday season!
]]>In this episode of The Bernard Lee Poker Show on the Cardplayer Lifestyle Podcast Family, Bernard Lee conducts his annual Question and Answer (Q&A) show where he answers numerous questions that have been submitted to him by his loyal listeners throughout the last couple of years (as the show didn’t have one last year due to COVID 19 pandemic).
During the show, Bernard discusses topics that range from his radio show, his latest book, Poker Satellite Success, WSOP advice, hosting mixed games in New Hampshire, online poker, and future plans.
| 0:00 | Welcome to The Bernard Lee Poker Show as this week will be the show’s annual Q&A show (Note: the show didn’t have one last year due to COVID 19 pandemic). |
| 0:10 | Bernard talks about the 2021 U.S. Poker Open, including David Peters winning two events. |
| 2:11 | The RunGood Poker Series started again at the Jamul Casino in San Diego. The Main Event was captured by Armando Mesina. |
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3:32
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Chance Kornuth captured the $1600 MSPT Venetian Main Event for $412,086, which had 2,011 entries over three days. |
| 5:44 | Triton Poker Tables Ad |
| 6:41 | Bernard begins his annual Q&A show where listeners sent question via Twitter (@BernardLeePoker) or email ([email protected] or Facebook. |
| 7:32 | Bernard discusses who were the most memorable guests on the radio show. |
| 12:30 | Bernard was asked about the One Step Closer Foundation (@1scf or www.1scf.org) and the poker tournament that we hold to help raise money for the charity. |
| 17:46 | Bernard talks about his latest book, Poker Satellite Success. |
| 31:07 | RunGood Gear Ad |
| 31:50 | Share My Pair Ad |
| 32:23 | Bernard continues his annual Q&A show. |
| 33:01 | Bernard gives advice on going out to the WSOP for the first time. |
| 36:27 | Bernard talks about the mixed game he hosts at Boston Billiards Club & Casino in Nashua, NH. |
| 42:10 | Bernard gives his prediction of the U.S. online landscape and future. |
| 44:14 | Bernard discusses his future plans for the remainder of 2021. |
| 47:10 | Bernard talks about people who he would like to have interviewed. |
| 49:48 | Bernard discusses his Metrowest Daily News Column. |
Poker Satellite Success by Bernard Lee
In this episode of The Bernard Lee Poker Show on the Cardplayer Lifestyle Podcast Family, Bernard Lee has the roles reversed as he is interviewed by guest host and Cardplayer Lifestyle founder, Robbie Strazynski. They spend the show discussing Bernard’s latest book, Poker Satellite Success, which can also be found on Amazon.com.
| 0:00 | Welcome to The Bernard Lee Poker Show as he discusses his latest book, Poker Satellite Success with guest host Robbie Strazynski. |
| 1:49 | WPT Seminole Hard Rock Main Event has a record 2,482 entries creating prize pool of almost $8 million with 1st prize $1.26 million. The final table was set on April 27 and will be played on May 18th at PokerGO Studio. |
| 3:12 | WSOP announced its WSOP.com and GGPoker.com summer Online Poker Series schedule which will include 33 bracelets for each site, making a total of 66 bracelets. |
| 4:52 | Triton Poker Tables Ad |
| 5:50 | Bernard will discuss his latest book, Poker Satellite Success with guest host Robbie Strazynski this week. |
| 7:02 | Robbie begins his interview of Bernard about his latest book, Poker Satellite Success. |
| 8:16 | Bernard talks about how the idea for this book, which is published by D&B Poker, came about. |
| 14:11 | Bernard discusses playing satellites, especially during each summer at the WSOP. |
| 17:30 | Bernard reveals why he asked Chris Moneymaker to write the foreword to his latest book. |
| 22:02 | Bernard discusses difference of satellites and tournaments and the skills you need to play satellites. |
| 25:04 | RunGood Gear Ad |
| 25:48 | Bernard continues his discussion of his latest book, Poker Satellite Success with guest host Robbie Strazynski. |
| 26:57 | Bernard discusses the history of the satellite. |
| 31:48 | Bernard talks about the last chapter where he describes real life scenarios. |
| 34:16 | Bernard discusses the format of the book which is mostly words and no charts, but certain informative formulas. |
| 38:00 | Bernard describes how the tips and strategies will stand the test of time. |
| 40:41 | Bernard recalls the joy of writing the real-life scenarios chapter. |
| 44:30 | Bernard discusses the unique value and learnings of the book, especially the practice examples and real-life scenarios. |
Despite these setbacks, I was and still am determined to improve my game to climb up the proverbial ladder, so when I found out D&B publishing were releasing Mastering Small Stakes Pot-Limit Omaha by Fernando ‘JNandez’ Habeggar, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy.
If you’re familiar with the game of PLO and PLO content in general, then you’ve likely heard the name ‘JNandez’. One of the bigger names in this sphere, the PLO specialist is one of the most recognised and sought-after coaches for those transitioning to game of four cards. The information you’ll be getting from this book is gospel and if you are still sceptical about JNandez’ credentials then his results ought to do the trick.
READ MORE: Interview with Fernando “JNandez” Habeggar
Making the move from No Limit Hold’em to PLO in the latter stages of 2010, JNandez has won $150,000 – $400,000 each year since then. His coaching has also benefitted hundreds of students thanks to his PLO training platform, PLOMastermind.com and now with this latest release, you too now have the chance to establish the fundamental framework to master small stakes PLO.
The book is split into three sections and is packed with everything you need to know.
Preflop Play
This section looks at preflop concepts, ranges and hand categories. Did you know there nine of them?! Before reading this book, I thought I had a decent grasp of basic preflop play and it was my actions postflop that were my biggest downfall. In reality, my understanding was just extremely poor in both areas.
Like with No Limit Hold’em, having sound preflop fundamentals in PLO is the first step towards developing a positive win rate. However, in PLO it isn’t as simple as remembering preflop charts. In PLO there are other factors you need to take into account when you decide you want to commit chips to the pot. Mastering Small Stakes Pot-Limit Omaha is great in explaining these nuances in an easy-to-follow matter and gives you all the tools to make correct decisions preflop.
Postflop Play
For many others and I, The Four Pillars of Postflop Analysis has been identified as one of, if not the most important chapter in this book. Once you have a full understanding of what JNandez is telling you, you’ll be in great shape to make the correct decision when the flop is dealt. Recognising spots where you need raise, call or fold will help you when you are playing later streets and you’ll find yourself in stronger positions more often in these situations.
The postflop play chapters also look at concepts like c-betting, blockers and bluffing. As well as this, you’ll have all the information necessary to navigate single raised, 3-bet and multiway pots. There’s no stone left unturned and when looking back it is extremely embarrassing how little I knew and how much of an misunderstanding I had when playing PLO.
Miscellaneous
Whilst the meat and bones of this book is made up in the first two parts, this section is not to be skipped over, especially if you are new to studying poker. There’s little point in consuming this content if you don’t have an effective study plan. Luckily for you, JNandez has got you covered here as well.
There’s also a great chapter on what to do when playing PLO in a live setting. Reading it and internalizing its lessons will allow you to identify the different types of live players that exist and how to make the correct adjustments against each player type – an integral part of maximising wins when playing at the casino.
Final Thoughts
It can be argued that progression in PLO could be a more realistic avenue in achieving ‘the poker dream’ than No Limit Hold’em. Once you have a solid understanding of the fundamentals and approaches that JNandez explains to you, you are going to be ahead of much of the player pool at the lower stakes and you could potentially see some fantastic scores.
So, if you’re thinking of making the switch to PLO as your main poker game of choice, this book is without doubt required for you in order to have a smooth transition. Like with most D&B books, Mastering Small Stakes Pot-Limit Omaha is well paced, and the concepts discussed are done so in a manner where anyone can understand the lessons being taught. You may have to read the odd paragraph a few times to fully understand certain theoretical aspects, but that’s to be expected so don’t be disheartened if you have to go over the same page multiple times.
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Excelling At Tough No-Limit Hold ‘Em Games has everything I have come to love from D&B poker books. It includes practical tools that can be implemented to exploit recreational players and more advanced GTO fundamentals when playing against seasoned regulars. Jonathan Little and the Pocarr team drive home the GTO and exploitative principles using hundreds of real-world examples. For instance, Richard Hoadley, Main Coach at Pocarr, has an entire chapter filled with hands from his personal hand history. Have you ever watched a poker tournament on PokerGO and wondered what the pro was thinking as they choose their line from betting round to betting round? Wonder no more!
Jonathan Little has all of his bases covered in this one. He hits on all the aspects of the game that can take you to the next level. When we first start out playing poker, we develop tendencies that can be exploited by other vigilante players. We may still be winning at our current level overall, causing us to overlook these leaks. Think you know everything there is to know about continuation betting and defending against a continuation bet from OOP? Jon Van Fleet, with over $15 million in online cashes, would bet that you don’t! His insights into c-betting are so extensive and profound they couldn’t all fit into one chapter but instead needed two.
We can take for granted lines we have developed since we first started playing without knowing why we do it or if it is even optimal. Yeah, sure, you can be a winning player at the lower stakes but have unknown leaks that, if sealed, could propel you to a whole other level. The only way to do that is to accept that you don’t know as much as Jon Van Fleet and other Pocarr coaches about almost every aspect of the game.
It is actually a hard thing to acknowledge. In our heads, we are big shots cause we are crushing the low stakes. The truth is, if we concede that we may have shortcomings, we can then look to overcome them. Even professional poker players haven’t arrived. They continue to fight for an even greater edge against their opponents, never settling. They hire coaches. Well, guess what? Excelling At Tough No-Limit Hold ‘Em Games is written by those coaches that the pros seek out. The bottom of the book cover says, “How To Succeed Beyond the Small Stakes.” You want that, and Jonathan Little and the Pocarr crew can get you there! The ROI purchasing this book can’t be overstated.
One example I overlooked was how I played from the big blind in tournaments when I was shallow stacked. I had my default ranges that I called or folded along with a mix of premium and marginal hands I would check-raise. Pretty standard. Or so I thought. Pocarr coach Alexandre Mantovani to the rescue! He blew my mind when he suggested defending the UTG min-raise open with 77% of my range from the BB when nobody else ahead of me calls. This range seems incredibly wide! He points out that I can check-raise bluff with my OOP range when UTG’s range misses the flop, and it often does. Of course, this is an oversimplification, but you’ll get all the details in the book. Jonathan Van Fleet‘s hand history database shows that he is -68bb/100 when defending from the BB against a raise in non-all-in situations. He admits it seems like a bad result, but it is a fantastic win rate when compared to -113bb/100 when folding. This stat is a game changer!
Besides continuation betting strategies and c-bet defense from OOP tactics, the book covers a range of topics from mastering ICM to Progressive Knock Out Tournament strategies to basics such as passive exploits to crush the small stakes to adjusting your pre-flop game. All aspects of the game that I don’t want to take for granted. Even as a winning small stakes player, I can have tendency and frequency leaks that need to be plugged. There is always room for improvement, and the only way to increase my edge is to continue to study and research. The game changes; it is not the same game today as it was in the 2003 poker boom. D&B Poker keeps me up-to-date with the current cutting edge poker trends. This book is a must if you want to stay on top of the ever-changing game and move up the stakes and crush it.
Also, if you know someone who is an aspiring up-and-coming poker player themselves, this book makes for a perfect gift for the holidays! I know if I ripped into a present Santa left under the Christmas tree, and it was this book, I would be like a little kid who just got their first bike! So don’t be a Grinch; hook the poker player in your life up with Excelling At Tough No-Limit Hold ‘Em Games. Tis the season!
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