Killer Poker Online, Vol. 2: Advanced Strategies for Crushing the Internet Game...

[bigloser2448]

...by John Vorhaus




I'm about 1/2-way through this Book; and so far I like it, at least a little. It's not so much about specific hand strategies but deals more with the thought processes of both the winning player and your (hopefully) losing counterparts. It's starts with the assumption that you know all the basic fundamentals and at least a breakeven pokerplayer, which is refreshing from having to start from scratch with most of the books out there.

He has sections on Single Table SnG's, Heads-Up SnG's, MTT Tournaments, and Cash Games. The Heads-up Chapter itself has me itching to try some HU tourneys but my bankroll isn't ready to tackle that quite yet.

Anyone else read any of his books? It was real cheap in the sub $15 range, which is pretty rare among the poker books. IMO, you get at least what you pay for & maybe a little more. Stay Tuned.

[bigloser2448]

A couple more things I forgot to mention about this book.
The reason I picked up this book was because it's based on Online Poker moreso than Live Poker. Most of the other poker books around are not based on Online Poker exclusively.

Here are some things discussed that I really dug:

* Taking Notes- A simple enough concept, but this guy takes it to a whole new level complete with Codes for describing playing styles such as:
CWC = Calls with "Cheese"
CB = Automatic C-Better
RWC = Raises with "Cheese"
RRR = Raises R Real & and many more...

He recommends taking quicky abbreviated notes on (all) players. I usually took notes on some very obvious Call Stations or Bluffers, but never really bothered with all the "in-betweens". I started taking more detailed notes on ALL players and am already reaping some rewards from it. Especially the RRR tag. If I have seen somebody Raise only with the goods more than once, I'll tag him RRR until I see something that makes me change that opinion of him.

* Sit N Gos are not made up of people looking to profit.
Now I know Darin and some other obviously make tons of cash at them, but the average SnG player (especially at my level) isn't in it to make money. I'll paraphrase what he says in the book, but if someone can truly profit from playing one or two SnG's at a time over a long period of time, then he can likely make much more $$/hour doing something else. With this knowledge, you can approach the SitNGo differently.

Comments?

[PoorManBilly]

Originally Posted by bigloser2448

* Taking Notes- A simple enough concept, but this guy takes it to a whole new level complete with Codes for describing playing styles such as:
CWC = Calls with "Cheese"
CB = Automatic C-Better
RWC = Raises with "Cheese"
RRR = Raises R Real & and many more...

He recommends taking quicky abbreviated notes on (all) players. I usually took notes on some very obvious Call Stations or Bluffers, but never really bothered with all the "in-betweens". I started taking more detailed notes on ALL players and am already reaping some rewards from it. Especially the RRR tag. If I have seen somebody Raise only with the goods more than once, I'll tag him RRR until I see something that makes me change that opinion of him.

This is the only part that I think would be interesting to me. I don't take enough notes like this. The more you multi-table, the harder it is to do.

[hiho]

Originally Posted by PoorManBilly

This is the only part that I think would be interesting to me. I don't take enough notes like this. The more you multi-table, the harder it is to do.

Notes are for queers and sissys ....

[bigloser2448]

hehe, Yeah, it kind of sucks doing it, but it can pay off. In fact, it's the subject of my latest blog entry. (Shameless plug )

PMB has a point about multitabling though. It's nearly impossible to take notes on everybody when you're playing 4 or more tables. In fact, Vorhaus says pretty early on in his book that he does not play more than one table as he's not capable of "talking book" (as he calls it) on everyone that way.

I'd be curious which is more profitable: A. Play only one table, take incredible notes and absorb everything everyone does. OR B. Play 4 or more tables and play ABC poker, giving up some value here and there and missing a read here and there as well.

Hmmm.

I'm pretty confident that at my level, there's only a handful of decent players at any given time online, and more than likely not more than one at any given table at a time, but running into one at the wrong time can take away a whole hour or more of "fishing".

Anybody else want to weigh in on the NoteTaking debate?

[sevens]

The most useful note I take (and admittedly one of the ONLY notes I take) is what a player will go to the felt with. This helps me to make big pot/small pot decisions with medium hands like one pair.

[PoorManBilly]

Originally Posted by hiho

Notes are for queers and sissys ....

Bah. I bet you say teh same thing about HUDs!

[LadyWrestler]

I have not read that one yet. I should probably pick it up and give it a quick read. Thanks!

[bigloser2448]

I'm almost done with it. (I haven't been doing a lot of traveling & that's when I do most of my reading.)
The rest of the book states what will be mostly obvious to everyone here, but was a good 1st look for me being a beginner.

Now that I'm just about finished with it, I can say that this book is probably 90% pschycology (spelling?) of poker and opponents & 10% strategy, which actually wasn't that bad for me. It was a nice break from the "odds this & EV that" books that I read prior to this one.