Poker Book Review - "Winning Tournaments, One Hand At A Time"

Well, Mathew Hilger's publishing house (DIMAT Enterprises) has released the book that poker players will be talking about for years to come. If it has the staying power of "Super System" it surely will be a cornerstone for everyone's poker library. The authors, noted poker players (Eric "Rizen" Lynch, John "ApeStyles" Van Fleet and Jon "PearlJammer" Turner, have provided the relevant theory and concepts fundamental to becoming an outstanding player.

Each author has their own section, taking the reader through tournament play (hand by hand), very similar to the outstanding illustrations provided by Bob Ciaffone and Jim Brier in their classic poker book: Middle Limit Hold'em. Although the three have some similar thoughts, the insight and approaches by each author are readily recognized and appreciated by an astute reader.

Volume I, which covers play up to the bubble, include discussions on stealing blinds; continuation bets, building a big stack, short-stack strategies, deep-stack play, playing draws and what seems like the most important aspect to some readers, bubble play!

Volume II will discuss hands in the money and I can't wait for its release. As a bonus and I mean a bonus, the final section of the book contains 20 collaborative hands (all illustrated with responses from each author on the hands-without consultation). Clearly their views differ based on the situation and their individual styles, which I found to provide a fresh way to look at each hand from different perspectives.
Here are a few PSO forum comments from the members at PokerSchoolOnline.com:

• "BTW I'm reading this book too, just about 20 hands into the first section which is by PearlJammer, so far EXCELLENT. I love Jon's style early on because it's similar to my own, and he does a fantastic job of explaining his thought processes."
• "I am also reading this book and it is great to see the thought process revealed, and the reasoning for a fold of a big hand, or a call with a marginal hand. Great read, very informative!"
• "I have started reading Winning Poker Tournaments-one hand at a time and this book says it all, I love it."

Matthew was kind enough to arrange for a radio interview with Eric "Rizen" Lynch in September on "Rounders Radio" where I co-host a monthly radio show with Konan Luce of PokerPages.com. The podcast is available at pokerschoolonline, pokerpages, roundersradio and internettexasholdem (Matthew Hilger's own site). The discussion was lively and spirited, with Eric answering my questions and those provided by PSO members.

For some beginners, he discussed "floating," "a dry ace," and more facts about the "hijack seat." Most intriguing to myself and others listening (which I found out afterwards), was his discussion (in the book and during the interview), pertaining to tournaments online that often are "filled with satellite players." His play and the expected play of others (especially early in the event), is quite dependant on how the field was set (with either a paid entry, or by a majority of players who satellite in, that often may not have the same skill sets of advanced players).

Winning Poker Tournaments One Hand at a Time Vol. III–

Volume III does not disappoint! Since some readers might not have read my previous reviews on this series, let me remind you what I said just a few years ago when Vol. I was released:

“Well, Mathew Hilger’s publishing house (DIMAT Enterprises) has released the book that poker players will be talking about for years to come. If it has the staying power of “Super System” it surely will be a cornerstone for everyone’s poker library. The authors, noted poker players (Eric “Rizen” Lynch, John “ApeStyles” Van Fleet and Jon “PearlJammer” Turner, have provided the relevant theory and concepts fundamental to becoming an outstanding player.”

In Vol. III, each author/pro-player, once again gives sharp analysis and unique critiques of hands illustrated, however, publisher/author/poker pro Matthew Hilger has added input that summarizes their “lines” of attack or (in some instances), declination to engage, and more importantly: Why Not!
This volume covers final table strategy, in-the-money play, impact of stack sizes, value of position, adjusting strategies, game theory, and 3 betting.

To cover those subjects in just 250 pages forced the authors to condense so much critical information into bite size pieces for the reader to understand and incorporate these factors into their own game. At least that is the hope and I believe the material presented is easily assimilated. Additionally, I would think players will not readily want to share this information with opponents that could use it to defeat them (wink). I’m sure the avid reader and winning poker players will get their own copy and complete the “set.”
There are many instructive poker tips throughout the book, however, quoting Matthew Hilger on page 98, I’d like to share with you one important observation:

“On the flop, it is important to note that top players aren’t always trying to make plays. Sometimes players get too fancy and try to make plays at every pot. Top players do make a lot of plays, but as you can tell, they generally have specific reasons why they do what they do. Be careful not to “gamble” by making too many risky plays without solid reason.”

Without hesitation, get your copy ordered today (the book, in fact the entire set, is available through the Dimat Enterprise's website, InternetTexasHoldem.com and book stores everywhere.

We discussed specific passages and hands from the book and I identified the page and hand number so that anyone replaying the podcast could follow the conversation "after" reading the particular pages from which the question came. Additionally, the conversation turned to playing certain cards, of course Ace/Jack in early position was of prime interest to the listeners, and raising two and a half times the big blind (an emerging trend lately), which proves to be a tactical as well as strategic move for an advanced player in or out of position as it turns out.

It is an outstanding book with great insight and is easy to read and digest. A real find! You can't give a book a higher rating without lying. This book is only the start; Volume II can only make this the best matched set since Harrington released his books after his WSOP successes.

Without hesitation, get your copy on order today (the book is available at the Dimat Enterprise's website, InternetTexasHoldem.com), and send one to a friend who thinks they know everything about poker, but haven't actually scratched the surface!

 

Other than Rondster who is winning on a regular basis, has anyone read these books yet?

I am a believer that if you invest in these books for tournament play, you will never regret it.

 

i have quite a few books, super system, i have 2 of different ones. reading books and playing are two different thinks to me,. i have online ace,. one hand at a time, yes,. i think when you say one hand at a time, should also make you think one table at a time., i have some phi Gordon books also,. the green and the blue one,. i have probably over a hundred dollars worth of books,. but now , i intend to play more live games at the casinos in laughlin, and play some in Vegas,. i will try to start another bankroll from bottom,.

 

I have all three of them. They are not beginners books, but are great for learning MTT strategies, how to react to and what players with different play styles think. These three are a must read for anyone serious about playing tournaments.

 

My wish list for poker books. This series (all 3 books). Little's Secrets Series (all 3 books) I have read first two but don't own them. The Raiser's Edge. Can you tell I am a tournament player?

 

i have all three of Harrington's books and one Doyle Bronson super system, i used to have the first volume now only have the second have not read the third,. even though i have read these books over the years, when sitting at a table, i seem to be to busy watching the play, to recall all that i have read,. every now an then i get an idea out of one and try it., my first books and ideas were from Phil Gordon,. they worked for a little wile, yet i find poker to continually evolve,. i have read em and reap also,. my game has only recently evolved to the point of relaxed , watch and play. i have Daniel Negreanu's; holdem wisdom, also,. i even got two Phil Hellmuth book,. i also have DVDs by Phil Gordon, and Phil Hellmuth and a final table one with a lot of the poker pros from 2005,. it has interviews with some of them,. one of the best interviews i liked most on that DVD was, Amarillo slim., were he said he did not go to Vegas looking for a sucker, he went looking for a pro to make a sucker out of him. LOL; of all these things only recently have i come across something that has helped me more than all others when playing poker,. i remember at poker at a training seminar,. i was on the button with king rag, and the instructor was saying bet bet, yet i only called, than the instructor tells small blind to bet bet,. she bets, i fold, to find out she had king rag lower than mine,,. this kind of teaching did me more harm than good, because, there was no rhyme or reason to me at the time to do so, and no one ever told me why on the button i should try a raise which was a steal, i did not even know that was why i was being told to raise., later on i learned what he was doing, cutoff , button. small blind are prime stealing spots,. so to put it mildly, if you do not understand why they do these things in the books, they will have no value, till you understand the concepts and why,. now if i reread some of the books they will have more value because it will give me incite as how they think and why they do the things they do,. the thing that has helped me most was just recently being able to put things in perspective,. my bankroll has always up to this point , up and down, break even or start over., now have a full view of beginners, amateurs , and novice, i am probably an amateur or novice at this point., and up to this point the worst bad beat i have ever had, was when a dealer was not paying attention to what a player did, which goes to show you they are not infallible either.