If you were to ask one of the many recent converts to poker about Dan Harrington, most would identify him as the player who made back to back WSOP Main Event final tables in 2003 and 2004, finishing 3 rd and 4 th respectively. Fewer people would likely know that Dan actually won the event in 1995, prior to poker's TV-fuelled popularity explosion, and also has another final table appearance (in 1987) to his name.
It was this record that led 2+2 publishing to secure Dan's services for a book on No Limit Hold'em tournament strategy. The timing of its release, a few months after the 2004 World Series had finished airing on TV, couldn't have been better planned with regard to the profile of its key author. However, upon reading the book, there can be little doubt that this was a fortunate coincidence rather than an opportunity for a quick cash-in.
The first thing that hits you upon picking up HOH1, as it is generally abbreviated, is its sheer size. A quick flick through the 381 pages, laid out in 2+2's clear, concise style suggests that a considerable amount of information is contained within. A first read of the book will do little to change this opinion.
The book is actually the first book of a 3 part series, and covers the beginning and middle stages of no-limit hold'em tournaments of varying structures. Volume II, released in 2005, covers the end-game strategy relating to the same tournaments. Volume III, intended to be a further collection of hand examples, is yet to be published. The underlying assumption of Volume I is that, in the early and middle stages of play, the blinds and antes are relatively small compared to stack sizes at the table. Consequently, the book is also highly relevant to the majority of restricted buy-in no-limit hold'em cash games available today, both on the internet and in casinos.
The book is divided into seven sections. Section 1 is a short section on the game of no-limit hold'em itself, and attempts to convey the complexity of the game and the number of factors requiring consideration in every decision. Section 2 covers styles of play and discusses the differences in structure between various types of no-limit tournament (e.g. single table Sit 'n' Go compared to a large buy-in major event).
is unlikely to be overwhelming to those with an adversity for numbers!
The final 3 sections provide a structured discussion of the stages of a poker hand, broken down into sections on pre-flop considerations, betting on the flop, and fourth and fifth street strategy. The final 3 sections account for roughly half of the book's total content.
The layout of each section is easy to work through, with frequent examples being provided to highlight points of discussion. Consequently, the book is relatively simple to pick up and put down, as each element of discussion tends to be relatively concise. Each section (apart from the first) ends with a series of problems to be worked through and it is from these that the bulk of the reader's understanding is achieved. The layout of the problems is good, with a question being posed and a discussion immediately following it. This negates the need for the frequent turning of pages towards an answer section and allows the book to be 'worked through' in a straightforward manner.
The main strength of this book is its sheer readability, which is a rare achievement in a poker book. In a way I feel that this has led some readers to underestimate its value. One of the main criticisms I have heard from readers of HOH1 is that "I knew it already." Whilst it is true that much of what is written may appear obvious to an experienced player, the fact is that the discussion preceding the hand examples is so clear that it tends to make the understanding of the problems which follow much more straightforward.
In many ways the book reinforces, and in some cases formalises, a player's existing thought process. A good example of this is the betting on the flop section, which discusses value betting, continuation bets and probe bets. In my own experience I found that, after reading the book, I started to think about my post-flop decisions in these terms, whereas previously I'd applied similar logic in a much less-structured manner. Consequently, I found that it clarified my thought process considerably and made decision making much easier. It also allowed me to interpret bets made by knowledgable opponents in this situation much more easily. I suspect that the book will have much the same benefit for many other readers, even if it not immediately obvious on first reading it!
Another criticism I've heard is that the book provides a basic strategy which is too predictable to be used effectively. However, much of the book relates to clarifying the thought processes required when playing no-limit hold'em. This provides a solid foundation of understanding for the game from which it is possible to develop an individual style of play. Consequently, I did not get the impression from reading it that I was being taught to play in a particular way.
In summary, there is little doubt that this book is, at the present time, the best available written material on no-limit hold'em and it is unsurprising that it has achieved an unprecedented level of popularity in a short space of time. In this particular case the popularity is well merited. In many ways, HOH1 has become a 'must read' for anyone seriously interested in tournament play. For me it is a book that I have gained something new from on each re-read and, as such, it has undoubtedly improved my game.
Score: 9 out of 10
Easily the best currently available material on no-limit hold'em, including cash game play. Ignore it at your peril!
