The Poker Tournament Formula

by Arnold Snyder

This is the first book to provide winning strategies for the small buy-in ($100 or less) no-limit hold'em tournaments that have exploded in poker rooms all over the country-and on the Internet. The strategies for small buy-in no-limit hold'em tournaments are similar to the big-money games, but the important factors-hand value, position, aggression and others, and speed of play-cause a radical change of strategy. Snyder recounts his own experience with these methods at a win rate of almost 300% and gives readers specific strategies for winning the big money available in prizes at the hundreds of small buy-in no-limit hold'em tournaments taking place weekly around the country and on the Internet.

Genres: Games

368 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2006

About the author

I’ve been writing nonfiction for more than thirty years, mostly books about professional gambling, and most challenging the conventional wisdom on how to beat blackjack or poker games. The reason I wrote these books was because I was actively making a living playing blackjack and poker, and it drove me crazy to see "experts" who didn't play putting out bad information for newbies.

I published and edited a trade journal for professional gamblers, Blackjack Forum, for more than twenty years. In 2002, I was inducted into the Blackjack Hall of Fame.

I’ve also written three books on how to solve Sudoku puzzles. Those came out of working Sudoku puzzles whenever I got stuck in another writing project.

In 2009, I wrote a book called Topless Vegas that reviews all of the strip clubs and topless shows in Las Vegas, which I update online every few months or so. Gotta keep current with this all-important cultural scene. (Yes, this is culture in Las Vegas, and yes, I get paid for this.)

Indisputably, I’m a whore. I’ll write just about anything if you pay me. (But that “just about” is significant. I’d split an infinitive before I’d ever write speeches for politicians. I have some standards.)

I recently finished writing my first novel, Risk of Ruin, which will be published by Vegas Lit, a new fiction imprint of Huntington Press, on September 30, 2012. (Actually, it's my forty-first published novel, but the first forty--all pseudonymous hack fiction--have happily disappeared from the face of the earth.) It's about a biker tattoo artist professional blackjack player who becomes obsessed with a stripper who believes she's God.

Reviews

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t read this book. It is by far the best poker tournament book for the beginning player and will result in a dramatic increase in the amount of times you cash in a poker tournament. I don’t want players using the same positional and big chip tactics at my table as are outlined in this book as they will make it harder for me to win in future.

[Liquidlasagna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Malmuth rates this one about an 8

[Sammy Tiranno · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a lot of good books out there for poker in general, but this was the best book I’ve read as it relates to fast, No-Limit Hold’em tournaments. It goes well beyond gameplay strategies to the mathematics of patience factors and bankroll requirements, which is important information to understand for serious gamblers, but the focus on these particular tourney types makes it a highly advantageous tool for recreational players as well.

[Alexandra Chauran · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had some interesting nuggets of info as food for thought. It was written in an understandable yet engaging manner. I was especially fascinated with the information about chip dumping and other angle shooting that I hadn't read about previously. There was a bit of the edge of trying-too-hard that happened with his mathematical formulas for bankroll management and "patience factor," but I get what the author was trying to say.

[James L · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far the best poker book on low stakes no limit tournaments I have ever read! Fantastic insights in strategy. I can honestly say this has improved my game 200 percent. I still have a ways to go, but this has given me the edge I need to compete at the level I'm currently at. Looking forward to my next tournament.

[Seytin · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I think it is helpful how the author demonstrates the raw power of position, I question the wisdom of raising in the dark as often as he recommends. The Rock, Paper, Scissors analogy is VERY effective though. There is good information to glean from this book but I would NOT recommend it for inexperienced players.

[CV Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is exactly what it's advertised to be - a formula or system to run deep in poker tournaments. It'll work against normal, unsophisticated competition and will easily get you through the top half of the field and maybe even close to the money. I plan on incorporating some of the techniques into my own game.

[Eddie Sulecki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the first books that made me rethink how I played MTT's. While most people are clamming up this book just encourages relentless agression in the middle stages of tournaments. My game took a huge jump after reading this.

[Christoph Weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://www.weberseite.at/was-ich-gera...

[Randal Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I've read so far about the right way to play small buy-in poker tournaments. Buy this and the "Book of Bluffs" by Matt Lessinger and you'll have a very good start in tournaments.

[Frankx99 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting ideas about aggression levels in Tourney Poker

[Matthewphoenix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty much essential for fast tournament beginners. it unveils crucial mechanics to the game that may appear invisible to the layman.