Harrington on Hold ’em

Based on my review, Harrington on Hold’em Volume I provides a comprehensive overview of no-limit Texas Hold’em tournament strategy that would significantly improve one’s poker game in several key ways:

1. It explains fundamental concepts like pot odds, implied odds, and hand analysis in depth, giving players the tools to make mathematically sound decisions.
2. It covers different playing styles (conservative, aggressive, super-aggressive) and how to adapt one’s style situationally.
3. It provides detailed guidance on hand selection and betting before the flop based on position and other factors.
4. It teaches how to analyze the texture of flops and adjust post-flop play accordingly.
5. It explains continuation bets, probe bets, and other post-flop betting strategies.
6. It covers how to play drawing hands and how to play against drawing hands.
7. It emphasizes the importance of position and how to use it to your advantage.
8. It teaches players how to “read the table” by observing opponents’ betting patterns and physical tells.
9. It provides insight into tournament-specific strategies and how to adjust play as blinds increase.
10. It includes many example hands with analysis to illustrate concepts.
11. It emphasizes the importance of balancing one’s play to avoid being predictable.
12. It covers both live and online tournament play.

Overall, the book provides a solid strategic foundation for no-limit Hold’em tournaments, covering pre-flop and post-flop play, bet sizing, hand reading, and tournament dynamics. The concepts and strategies presented would help players make more profitable decisions and avoid common mistakes. For players looking to improve their tournament poker game, studying and applying the principles in this book would likely lead to significant improvement.

By reading the first volume we gained a more structured and comprehensive understanding of the strategies and concepts that are important for success in no-limit hold ’em tournaments.

1. The importance of balance and unpredictability in playing styles. While I was aware of different playing styles, the book emphasizes how crucial it is to vary your style to keep opponents guessing.
2. The Gap Concept and sandwich effect in pre-flop play. These  concepts highlight the importance of considering your opponents’ positions and actions when deciding whether to enter a pot.
3. The nuances of post-flop play, such as analyzing board texture and making probe bets. The book provides a detailed framework for thinking about the many factors that influence post-flop decisions.
4. The significance of stack sizes relative to the blinds and antes at different stages of a tournament. The book underscores how this dynamic should shape your overall strategy.
5. The many example hands that illustrate how these concepts are applied in practice. Seeing the reasoning behind each decision in concrete scenarios helps to solidify the lessons of the book.