Harrington on Holdem
Review by Jon Eaton
Dan Harrington has finally written a definitive book on the basics of no-limit hold 'em tournament poker. For the first time in print are many of the techniques that pros today use to their advantage to win major poker tournaments.
Many of you are familiar with Dan, but for those who don't know who he is' his list of accolades start with the 1995 World Series main event championship, and most recently he reached the final table in the 2003 and 2004 world championship events. He's won numerous tournaments in his lifetime and has two total World Series bracelets.
In Harrington on Hold 'Em: Volume 1, Dan teaches basic fundamental pre-flop and post-flop play as well as how to change it up and how to bet your hands. Dan also goes through some basic bluffs and reads on hands. It's not for the novice-you really must know how to play poker fairly efficiently first.
However, if you are like many other poker players and are new to no-limit tournaments, this is an excellent foundation for you to have underneath you. For those of you who already know most of this material, it never hurts to have a little refresher.
Knowing your own game inside and out is a key thing, and Dan teaches that to you. He teaches you to know your own table image and how to play off of it. You can see this in action-watch Dan bluff in tight spots at the 2004 World Series final table on ESPN! Dan gets respect for his image at the table, and he can make bluffs as such.
I highly recommend this book. I was so highly convinced this one book took my tournament game to the next level of steady cashing, I told my friend if he didn't cash in his next tournament after finishing the book I'd pay his entry fee back. He made the final table and was convinced of it himself.
The one thing he told me was the book made him in control of his play throughout the tournament, and he was more observant of everything that went on around him. One thing I notice is the book has me looking at every detail going on around me at the table-noting every time someone bets and raises and noting the amounts and when and where in my mind.
Two Plus Two publishing have been innovators for years in the field of poker publishing. This book follows their last hit in the poker world, Small Stakes Hold 'Em. That book was one of the first ever produced for play against loose, low-limit games. Others have touched on the topic, but they dominated the category with that book.
Likewise, Harrington On Hold 'Em is a very good read that will teach some fundamentals of play in no-limit tournaments never available elsewhere. If you're a tournament player, you must read this book-your opponents will be.