For the last ten years, Winning Low Limit Hold'em has been the reference standard introduction to Texas Hold'em. Experienced hold'em players give this book to their friends who want to learn the game. Recently updated and expanded to include coverage of online poker and no-limit hold'em single-table tournaments, this is the one book that you need to start your hold'em career. "I always thought poker was a game of luck. After reading Lee's book and applying the techniques recommended, it was as if I were in The Matrix. It all came clear to me. I simply saw the truth at the poker table." - Antonio "The Magician" Esfandiari, Winner, 2004 L.A. Poker Classic and 2004 World Series of Poker $2000 Pot Limit Hold'em event. "I wish this book had been out when I started playing hold'em, because it is a great way to learn the game. If you want to put yourself on the path to becoming a top hold'em player, Lee's book is the place to start." - Greg Raymer, Champion, 2004 World Series of Poker.
BEST HOW-TO PLAY HOLD'EM EVER! I've read a few books about "winning" poker from players who've won and I found this to be the best, most comprehensive book for the beginner. It really holds your hand and walks you through the basics, so that by the end you should be a regular winner at your local "home game" table.
Sklansky and Malmuth's books are good too, especially with all the visuals and hands that they take you through step-by-step, but they don't quite explain the fundamentals in layman's terms like Jones' Winning Low Limit Hold'em does. Get this, get the basics down, then move on up!
Winning at the crazy loose tables you find at the lowest limits of hold'em involves playing a different game than winning at higher levels or no limit, and this book walks the reader through the strategies that are most effective for low limits. In the end, the best tactic to combat this level of competition is very straight forward tight-aggressive poker. Patience and discipline are the keys to long term success. In this sense, the book does not reveal anything Earth shattering. There are a few sophisticated ideas such as raising (or check raising) with a draw on the flop to get your opponent(s) to check on the turn and allow you a free card (if you still need it.) Primarily, though, it's a very simple book. It takes an organized look at every phase of poker from a realistic perspective in terms of playing the loose, multi-pot low limit games. Thinking through poker strategy from such a specific point of view helped me tighten up my game and feel more confident even if each basic premise along the way was nothing new.
It's limit hold 'em, a very different game than no limit, which is the only reason that I didn't rate it higher. I needed to get that in upfront.
That being said, it's a great primer for anyone who wants to learn that game, and if you have good handle on the no limit game, reading this book will help your play there.
Like most good books for beginners, he reminds the reader that it's better to play fewer hands and win big, than play many hands with smaller pots. Hand reading is a tough art, and for beginners it's better to know you have the best of it than figure out if you want to do hand-to-hand combat with a rock.
Jones also ends each chapter with a quiz, an effective teaching technique that reminds players on the concepts learned in each chapter.
I happen to think there are more tactics and math in Limit Hold'em than there is in No Limit Hold 'em. I, like everyone else who watches poker on television, started playing the No Limit game but I have moved to low stakes limit poker because I believe there's more opportunity to win money over the long run. This is the perfect instruction manual for that game. It steps through every part of the hand - Preflop, flop, turn, river, and shows how to tighten up your game, plug leaks and show a steady profit. I can tell you that it works - I'm consistently winning 3 Big Bets an hour playing the game now and online multitabling 4 tables, that adds up to some good money.
This isn't a comprehensive limit hold'em book but it will teach you the basic strategies for the lower stakes. Things like preflop starting hands by each position, how to avoid common mistakes, pot odds, calculating odds, how to read the board, what adjustments you should make, how to play your hand from deal to the river. It's divided into 3 chapters, each one with quizzes. I'm playing 100% online and most of the strategies from this book are for full ring tables ( 9 players), most of the tables found online are 6 max. Written in 1994 it was clearly intended for live play and there's no reason for reading it if you don't have where to play full ring tables.
As someone who knew the rules of poker but very little strategy, this book was perfect for me. Helped me tremendously and pointed out ideas I would have never thought of. Clearly written and decently entertaining as well. Highly recommend for newbies looking to improve their game.
Another good poker book. Good for 1-2 and1-3 games. I actually read it twice but still can't remember everything. So much to learn so little time. Jones mentions the specialness of the JT hand. I played it a number of times with mixed result. Just yesterday in I was low stack with JT, went all in, was called by a 8K and was good until the R was a K. Oh well. Good book for novices.
Only read this one if you're playing the 2/4 or 4/8 Hold'em tables at Flamingo on the Vegas strip. Obviously a book on Low-Limit isn't going to win the big bucks, but you'd be surprised what a little persistence, -- 8 hours of it -- can turn into...at least a free buffet.
A good book for those who are interested in playing low limit hold em games. While the book won't make you a huge winner the strategies involved will keep you losses to a minimum and should, over time, allow you to post a small profit.
This book was the first time I saw how a simple framework could create a consistent edge in decision making for situations of financial uncertainty involving other humans.