Tournament Poker for Advanced Players: Expanded Edition |  | Author: David Sklansky
Publisher: Two Plus Two Publishing LLC
Category: Book
List Price: $29.95
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Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 128,592
Media: Paperback
Edition: 3
Pages: 346
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9
ISBN: 1880685418
Dewey Decimal Number: 795.412
EAN: 9781880685419
ASIN: 1880685418
Publication Date: December 1, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Tournament poker is very different from standard ring game poker. While they might appear the same from a distance, there are many differences in proper strategy that are often unknown to many experienced cash game players. Some players excel at tournament poker. This is not luck -- these are players who have a very strong understanding of what the proper strategy adjustments are, and when they come into play. It is no coincidence that the same players make it to final tables far more than their fair share. This book explains tournament strategies that only a small number of players have mastered. It assumes you already know how to play poker well, but aren't knowledgeable of tournament-specific concepts and when and where to use them. Some of the ideas discussed include the effect of going broke, the Gap Concept, how chips change value, adjusting strategy to rising stakes, all-in strategy, final table play, making deals, the "System," focusing on weaker opponents, unusual plays with aces and kings, moving in against the blind, and much more. This newly expanded version contains over 100 new pages of updated material dedicated almost entirely to today;s most popular form of tournament poker: no-limit hold 'em.
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| Customer Reviews:
 reasonably well-written, useful strategic advice with some caveats December 17, 2007
J. R.
30 out of 34 found this review helpful
First, some of you may be interested in how this new expanded edition compares to the previous edition. I don't have the previous edition, but in this new expanded edition, there are viii + 346 pages, including the 8-page index. The principal new portion is Part Five: "Additional No-Limit Hold'em Concepts" which runs from page 214 to page 282. The rear cover flatly states that this edition "contains over 100 pages of updated material."
Having read about 1/3 of the text so far, my conclusion is that this book will be helpful to those who are beginner-to-intermediate tournament players, but who are already familiar with the basics of No-Limit Hold'Em (NLHE). This volume contains many useful hand examples, but it is not loaded down with irrelevant mathematics of the "if you have this and he has that or that or that, and he then does this X% of the time, then you should bet Y% of the pot" etc. In other words, this book focuses more on effective strategies at different parts of the tournament rather than on the supercilious "I'm a math genius and you're not" writing that characterizes the NLHE: Theory and Practice volume, also by Sklanksy and Miller.
There is advice on what to do if you want to maximize your expected gain, or what to do if you want to maximize your chance of winning outright with expected gain be darned. Several alternative suggestions are presented on how to play certain hands depending on stack size, stage of the tournament, etc. The advice strikes a balance between being specific and general in nature.
Part Four: "Hand Quizzes" runs from page 156 to page 211. Unfortunately, only 11 out of the 50 hand quizzes are specifically concerned with No-Limit Hold'Em, although maybe another 9 or 10 questions concern Limit Hold'Em. The rest concern Omaha and Hi-Low and Stud and other uninteresting forms of poker.
There are a few typos and inadvertent grammatical errors, but not enough to be too annoying.
If you are already an experienced NLHE tournament player, then you probably don't need this volume.
Another solid book by Sklansky, but not his best. March 12, 2009
curtiswash (Minnesota, USA)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Sitting down to read a book by David Sklansky there's a comfort knowing that he's not going to steer you wrong. Which is more than can be said about a lot of the poker books that are out there. This is a man that knows his theory, and is not shy about letting you know it, to be frank.
In Tournament Poker for Advanced Players Sklansky is his typical informed self, and the advice he gives on how to play based on stack, blinds, and other contextual information is pretty useful, if a little broad in places. His suggestions on maximizing value and winning percentage is also pretty solid and one of Sklansky's real strengths. Still, I can't help thinking that there are better books out there, and some of them by Sklansky himself. If you have a particular love of Sklansky's insight and writing style you should definitely consider adding this to your shelf, but otherwise you may just want to save up for Harrington on Hold'em 1 & 2.
In the Money February 20, 2010
Ricardo Lopez (Texas, Mex Border)
It's informative in specific tournament types. It zeros in on details for that specific game.
 Recomended with caveats June 26, 2009
Twoclouds Wolf (Oakland, CA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
David Sklansky is quick to use words like 'moron', 'idiot', and 'illiterate' when describing people who don't play poker well. Because someone doesn't play poker well does not make them an idiot or a moron just as someone that doesn't play guitar well is not necessarily an idiot or a moron. Instructors I've had that displayed this tendency to berate people seemed to not be all that secure about their own convictions, talents, and skills. Lashing out at others to prime oneself up however is not to me a viable solution.
That being said this, like all of Slansky's books, is probably a must have for anyone serious about playing poker. A lot of things that are mathematically correct but not intuitively obvious are presented here. The adjustments that need to be made from ring game play are also pointed out in detail.
This book seems geared more for brick and mortar play than online play but online play is addressed. He uses more hand examples in this than in other volumes. They are not nearly the caliber of, say Harrington's, but they are helpful none the less.
He's dispensed with a lot of the '105 calculations you should make' in the 40 seconds prior to having to make a move which is a relief but there's no getting around the mathematics of the game. Using math he does describe some of the motivations for his recommendations.
It got three stars from me because it's a recommended must have for any serious poker player. It did not get four stars because calling people idiots and morons is unconscionable (especially by an author to potential customers - yes Mr Sklansky, some may buy your book who do not play poker well to help improve their game). It did not get five stars because it is simply not in the league as far as writing, style or work put into it that would deserve five stars. Again I would refer you to Harrington's volumes on tournament play.
An arrogant author, with some clear ideas July 13, 2009
J. A. Font (Madrid, Spain)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
I won't dispute David's master of poker in their various forms and games, that's out of question. However as an author I believe that being a Subject Matter Expert is not enough. You need to be able to express your self with clarity and without judging the others. By that I mean that he's always classifying other players in bad terms, you should respect the ones that are not at your level if nothing else but because they will give you money at the tables and at the library.
Then, about his style, he's too frequently using tow phrases to share a message, one will do if properly written and it's always worth re-reading a phrase IF needed, rather than being forced to.
Having said all that, and having purchased other books by Mr.Sklansly in the past (also showing that behaviour) Why I bought this one? well simply put, the books has some good advices for the medium to advanced side game player willing to move into the tournament space. But... I would go for other books before this one, including the FTP Tournament Strategy Guide by Chris Fergusson,Gus Hansen, Mike Mattusow and up to 11 other Pros.
It presents various strategies and concepts well structured for diferement games, No Limit Holdem, Limit Holdem, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, Razz,... and contrary to Sklansky book each games has his own chapters, rather than everything being throw up at the same time.
Also I would recommend you the "Every Hand Revealed" by Gus Hansen before this one if you already have covered the basics of what a poker tournament is.
Another questionable approach arises in this expanded edition two fold. First and foremost the back cover claims well over 100 new pages in a new NLH section ... ironically, it way short of 100 pages this section.
Then why he has been so lazy to put the new section in place rather than incorporating it in the relevant sections, oh, yes it would have been more tedious and have forced him to review / rewrite a book originally written in 2002.
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