Poker Forums

I read a lot of poker books and for the past few months I have been writing little "mini reviews" on them. Hopefully these will give you a broad idea of what each book has to offer and can help you choose which book to buy.
I have also created a little ratings system to simplify things as between this site and others I have many many mini reviews floating around.

The level is the level of player I believe will get the most out of the book. The Reading Difficulty suggests wether a particular writing style was an easy read for me or if I felt that I was constantly reading thing 2 or more times to fully grasp the concept. Organization has to do with how the book is organized, mainly will the book be easy to reference or will you have to re-read it to find what you are looking for. Usefullness is pretty obvious but there are a few factors. Mainly: is the information right and can it be applied at the table or in simulation and make an impact on your game.
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Level: Beginner but I suggest tourney veterans read it
Reading Difficulty: 2
Organization: 5
Usefullness: 7 (a book on pre-flop tourney play and nothing else)
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I have read a bunch of poker books and this one definetly breaks the mold. This book is a crash course in no-limit Texas Hold em tournaments if I have ever read one before! This book brings forward a strategy to beat the best poker players in the world, the "Phils" (Laak, Hellmuth, Ivey, Gordon, etc....). The idea behind this book is that you could hand it to a newbie today, let him read it, and he could take down the pros at thier own game tomorrow. To the serious player that already knows the game it is quite obvious how they do this, this book is 110% pre-flop strategy.

That is right, this book is all about pre-flop. With a modified "system" similar to Dan Harringtons "M", Rodman introduces what he calls his "CSR" which basically calculates your stack relative to the blinds and when it is time to just move all-in. Now you would think that there are only so many ways to describe all-in situations but Rodman goes into great detail in many many situations where all-in is the best play to put the pressure on the big guys and no let them use thier tricks and moves after the flop.

The interesting thing about this book is that the marketing, the reasoning, and everything behind the publication of this book is guided toward beginners but I for one would be scared to death to see this book in the hands of a true beginner that is not afraid to heed this books advice! I guess that is the point! Even though this book is 110% pre-flop (there might be one sentence about post flop play in the entire book) I do suggest the crafty nl hold em tourney veterans check it out. I must admit that after reading the book I felt like my pre-flop game was pretty well improved. I also feel like my short stack game is much better since reading the advice in this book!

I honestly don't reccomend this book for the beginner. It tends to magnify the luck factor in tourneys and take advantage of the added luck and I for one think beginners need to form strong foundations rather than lucky systems to help them win. I do think the tournament player with some tourney time under thier belt can actually get something from this book. Although at first I thought it was insane I mast say that after reading this book my shortstack and pre-flop play definetly improved.

PoWdA, nice review of this title. Have read it and followed the advice within its pages. It is 70% responsible for my recent improvements in my tournament results. The strategy actually works!

The second volume written by Rodman and Lee is called "Kill Everyone". Much more indepth and very strategic from what I've gathered, but haven't yet read it myself. Will probably be the next book I purchase.

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ertrauma


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As my father always said, "Son, choose your sword wisely for some day you may find you must fall on it".

I haven't read it, but I belive I understand the basic premises of the book.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong

The basic philosophy is to always be the aggressor and don't ever give someone a chance to outplay you, basically just move all in most of the time and put the decision back on the other person.

Oversimplification probably, but it is a solid strategy for new players when faced with very tough, seasoned opponents with all the moves.


It's one of the reasons I actually dont' care for a lot of tournaments because the luck factor goes way up, you make a big raise with say AK suited and newbie employing this strategy goes all in with a hand like 8-8 or 9-9, regardless if it is a ridiculously oversized all in bet or not. If you call your risking your tournament on basically a coinflip, if you fold, your getting steamrolled by an inferior player.

Tournaments where most of the action takes place preflop really aren't poker in my opinion, I really like "Deep Stack" tournaments, you have some room to raise, and then fold if re-raised and not be crippled, you can just wait, maybe let them getawy with this type of "all in" play a few times, then have them trapped for all their chips when they try it the 3rd or 4th time.

Just my two cents, I think it is a great strategy for newcomers, I just don't like it when players do it to me

Jason

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I'm Not Lucky, I Have Good Karma !

I have been "told" that I'm not playing poker when I'm going all in by a few online players...then I felted them...and finished in the money. Some get a bit tilted about it. Kill Phil Basic IS a beginner's strategy (an effective one, at that) which attempts to place the other player into a coin flip situation...Luck is heavily relied upon using this strategy. I have evolved as a player and don't play Kill Phil at every avenue of a tournament ( I don't need to anymore), but I have found it to be a very effective bubble strategy to get into the money.

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ertrauma


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As my father always said, "Son, choose your sword wisely for some day you may find you must fall on it".

I agree with your whole post but this part especially.

Also you pretty much nailed it. The book gives the beginner a way to play pre-flop and put the good player to tough decisions over and over. I was suprised how well this strategy can work.

I use this strat a lot when I feel the people at the table are better than me.

I never read the book or even any excerpts other than what you posted. I was taking an educated guess based on observation.

As previoiusly mentioned, it actually is a very effective strategy when you are outclassed especially with the structure of most tournaments.

Jason

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I'm Not Lucky, I Have Good Karma !

Yeah like I said in the review, I would hate to see this book in the hands of a true beginner, especially one that is not afraid to follow the books advice. I would hate to be put in the spots the book teaches you to put others in. Still, even though it would suck to be at the table with someone playing this way it is a pretty reckless strategy and that is why I don't think actual beginners should play this way. I believe they should learn right, solid, good, poker first and later down the road read this book. I do think seasoned tourney players should read this book and be aware of this playing style.