Harrington on Cash Games

zuutroy

A two volume book to be released next month. Anyone reckon there's much to be learned from it? Would it be worth it to $50nl/$100nl player if only to drill in the basics a bit better. I know in general poker books suck but HoH was very good and I like his writing style, so I'm wondering if he can follow it up with a good book on cash games

http://www.twoplustwostore.com/twoplustwo/IP.php?type=Category&ID=11&productID=233

Hitman Actual

Did Harrington really write these from scratch, or are they just putting his name to it? I've never heard anything about him even playing cash (although he could be awesome for all I know). In saying that, if the writing style is the same as his tournament books they could be okay. And they're guaranteed to be very popular with the masses, so reading them just for that sake could be important. I'm sure there will be loads of "new concepts" that will become popular, like the way he "invented" the c-bet, and how to play short stacks in tournaments.

LuckyLloyd

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ntlbell

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

The chapter listings seem to indicate that this will be comprehensive; aswell as taking a "modern" approach to the subject. But what the **** does Dan Harrington know about cashgames???!!!

I don't tend to be an expert on Dan the one and only man Harrington.

But My hunch would be he's spent many of his years playing side games I could be totally wrong, But I'm pretty sure I've heard him talk about the "big games" in the "old days"

If it's anything like what HOH was to tournament play this is going to be.

Absolutely f*cking average.

I would just like to add, just because you're not plastered all over HSP doesn't mean you don't play cash.

My guess the majority of the best cash players out there we never hear or see anything about them

(not directed at you llyod)

Heisenberg.

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zuutroy

The Scientist wrote: »

I'm gonna hold out for the tv series....
'Ross Kemp on Dan Harrington.'

RedJoker

Dan Harrington plays a LOT of cash games. It's fairly well known at this stage if you spend any time in the books and publications forum on 2+2.

I can't see any reason not to buy these books.

ianmc38

Apparently Bill Chens book is the best one around according to several HSNL players on 2+2 anyways.

zuutroy

ianmc38 wrote: »

Apparently Bill Chens book is the best one around according to several HSNL players on 2+2 anyways.

The maths one...I think I remember flicking through it in a shop before and quickly putting it back on the shelf....scary looking!

LuckyLloyd

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zuutroy

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

Additionally, I am half way through Chen. It's difficult, but worth it.

Is this the maths book? I heard it was more Poker for Maths people than Maths for Poker people.

cooker3

How hard is chans book to grasp?
I can just get it free with fpps on stars but have been wary.

RedJoker

zuutroy wrote: »

Is this the maths book? I heard it was more Poker for Maths people than Maths for Poker people.

Yeah I've read it. That's a pretty good description of it.

It shows a good way of analyzing the game and thinking about situations. It also draws some very good conclusions about how to improve your play.

LuckyLloyd

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cooker3

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

I think I grasp most of what is going on and I am possibly the worst person at maths you will ever meet.

Good enough for someone who got a B1 at ordinarly level maths in leaving?

LuckyLloyd

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doke

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

Mmmm, I think I may have gotten a C1 in ordinary maths. Could be a B though. Really not sure. I was kicked out of the honours class early enough though is about all I am 100% on!!

A on Higher Level.

We didn't have A1's back then but if we had I'm reasonably sure I'd have got one. Not to boast or anthing, or rather, to boast like anything, I came top in the country in a worldwide maths competition (and 12th in the world) when I was 13.

My youngest son, who is autistic, is the only one of my kids who seems to have inherited the aberrant maths gene which I think comes from my maternal grandmother (a few maths profs in her family, including one of the founders of Boolean algebra, and the "inventor" of quaternions). He understood complicated maths concepts long before he started talking.

I was crap at history though. Didn't know my IRA's from my IRB's.

On the topic, irregardless of his cash game experience, I find it impossible to believe a Harrington book on cash games wouldn't be worthwhile. In my experience, there are two types of people who are good at any particular game:
(a) people who are just good at that one game and crap at everything else (their talent is specific to one game or variant)
(b) people who are good at every game they try (their talent is for games in general).

I think Harrington has clearly demonstrated that his game strategy skills are transferable given that he transitioned into poker from chess and backgammon.

Hitman Actual

cooker3 wrote: »

Good enough for someone who got a B1 at ordinarly level maths in leaving?

I'd say you'll be grand. The first ten chapters are very important, imo, for all the main concepts like probability, variance, EV, playing against ranges, etc. Rather than pure maths, it's more important that your statistics knowledge is okay, so I'd brush up on that if you're rusty. I think every player would do well to read the early chapters on probability. It gives you a very good sense of the whole "long term" issue as regards poker.

The rest of the book is more to do with exploitive play, but I haven't touched that yet (I'm unexploitable anyway ). I think thats much more geared towards Game Theory mathematics.

cooker3

lenny_leonard wrote: »

I'd say you'll be grand. The first ten chapters are very important, imo, for all the main concepts like probability, variance, EV, playing against ranges, etc. Rather than pure maths, it's more important that your statistics knowledge is okay, so I'd brush up on that if you're rusty. I think every player would do well to read the early chapters on probability. It gives you a very good sense of the whole "long term" issue as regards poker.

The rest of the book is more to do with exploitive play, but I haven't touched that yet (I'm unexploitable anyway ). I think thats much more geared towards Game Theory mathematics.

Ah that sounds ok, I basically did every question on probability and related areas in leaving, that was my area. Still may have to find a copy of texts and tests and start some revising!

The_Daddy_H

The mathematics of poker is an interesting read in its own right. The first few chapters are definitely useful for any poker player especially with regard to bankroll management. The latter half of the book, although interesting, you'd really have to be playing against an incredible player or a machine to really find much use for it.

bourkeylxp

so has anyone read the book since its come out or have an opinion on it?
i was thinking of buying it, anyone know where i can get it in ireland or buy it using laser on the internet,credit cards off service at d mo:mad:

malinh

ianmc38 wrote: »

Apparently Bill Chens book is the best one around according to several HSNL players on 2+2 anyways.

Iv read this book, I was doing a masters in Quant finance at the time and alot of the game theory stuff was common to a class I was taking. Interesting read but a little tough tedious to get through in places.

ZZR1100

While his books on tournaments were excellent i wouldn't be to confidant on his cash game theory. i saw him playing 1/2 nl in vegas last year twice in the paris