The Full Tilt Poker Strategy Guide: Tournament Edition

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I was suspicious of this book and wasn't sure it would include any new information that isn't in other poker books (Harrington or Sklansky and Malmuth). Many poker books rehash concepts (play tight early, more aggressive later). This book has several new concepts I haven't read before. For example, Howard Lederer talks about a hand versus Phil Ivey when Ivey raised. Howard raised all-in. Ivey folded. Lederer analyzes this nondescript hand and explains the concept of leverage. Andy Bloch in his preflop hands goes far beyond "play early tight, play quality hands" and gives a chart for the "Jam or Fold" game (small blind v. big blind). His chart, he believes, is superior to the Sklansky-Chubakov Jam of Fold ratings because in the S-C rankings the small blind turns up their hand. In Bloch's chart, the small blind does not (which is more realistic). Andy explains that the S-C underestimates hands such as 9-T s Jam value. Howard Lederer's chapter on Limit Holdem made me excited to play Limit holdem. He gives the reader a good limit system that the blinds can play out of position against a raiser. Chris Ferguson's chapter on postflop No Limit play is also valuable. Ferguson's chapter is like a minilesson with him. Other games besides Holdem are covered. Matusow in the 08 chapter explains why he raised with K-Q-J-6 facing heavy preflop action! The book is full of things like this. I was afraid that this book was an attempt to make a quick book on the poker boom with many authors writing a chapter for a quick paycheck and not taking responsibility for overall shoddy work. It isn't the case. You will find material here that you will not find elsewhere.

Imagine having several of the world's top poker players each send you a personal communication describing their secret inner thoughts and winning strategies for Texas Hold `Em and other popular tournament poker games?

That's exactly how the Full Tilt Poker Strategy Guide (Tournament Edition) reads. The book, edited by Michael Craig, is a collection of priceless essays from final table regulars like Chris Ferguson, Ted Forrest, Howard Lederer and even Mike "The Mouth" Matusow. It's a deep goldmine of information, including pre- and post-flop strategies, styles of play, and hard lessons learned from countless poker hands and years of experience.

More than half of the book's 400-plus pages are dedicated to No-Limit Hold `Em, the game with the annual weeklong championship offering a multimillion dollar purse televised on ESPN. The rest of the text provides strategy essays on other games, including Limit Hold `Em, Omaha, Seven Card Stud and even Razz.

The essays get into specifics, such as how to play big and small stacks, and to play certain hands in early and late positions. Everyone will learn something to improve his or her game from this book. The only soft spot in the text was the minimal use of statistical tables, but those can be easily found on-line in more detail.

Overall, Craig has put together a real winning hand with the Full Tilt Poker Strategy Guide and players shouldn't hesitate to go all-in and get a copy.

Armchair Interviews says: This book deals you a hand of good advice

This is destined to become one of the "must have" poker books. Brunson's Super System (I and II) covers the spectrum of poker as played in ring games at casinos. This volume is the counterpart for tournament play.

The title suggests a joined-at-the-hip connection with the web site. Nothing could be further from the truth - the primary connection I see is that the book covers the games played on the site, and the site covers the games played at casinos, the World Series of Poker, etc.

Michael Craig (author of "Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King", probably the best told tale ever of the biggest poker game ever) has done a masterful job of organizing the book. Though I did note a few small grammatical problems, none interfere with either the flow or the message.

Games discussed include: (1) No-Limit Hold'em (of course), (2) Limit Hold'em (similar name, different game), (3) Pot-Limit Hold'em (different strategy requirements), (4) Pot-Limit Omaha, (5) Omaha Eight-or-Better, (6) Seven-Card Stud, (7) Stud Eight-or-Better, and (8) razz. Long, long ago and far, far away I was a Draw Poker and Five-Card Stud player. Things I learned from those games make me a better Hold'em player, and if you'll learn a bit about other variations of poker you will find your game improves.

A story has been told about Chris Ferguson and Andy Bloch in which Ferguson spotted Bloch setting in a restaurant. When Chris went over to Andy's table he saw that Andy was poring over a binder of computer-generated tables, the result of Bloch's extensive simulations of hand versus hand, hand versus table, etc. Ferguson had done precisely the same sort of computations prior to launching his highly successful career in tournament No-Limit Hold'em. The similarity of their style of play - and their success - stems from this mathematical analysis away from the table. In one fact and concept filled chapter of 57 pages Bloch presents a series of tables showing some of the results of his simulations. This chapter alone is worth far more than the price of the book.

Other notable chapters include:
- A chapter on Seven-Card Stud by noted Stud authority Keith Sexton.
- A cram session on Razz strategy by Huck Seed and Ted Forest.
- Chris Ferguson on Pot-Limit Omaha.
- Ironically, Mike Matusow on Omaha Eight-or-Better - a game in which bluffing is particularly difficult written by a master of bluffing at No-Limit Hold'em.
- Limit Hold'em by Howard Lederer.
- Rafe Furst and Andy Bloch on Pot-Limit Hold'em.
- Phil Gordon discusses Short Stack Play in No-Limit Hold'em.
- Gavin Smith shares some of his tricks for Big Stack Play at No-Limit Hold'em.
- And more.

This book does for tournament poker what Super System did for ring games. If you aspire to be good - really good - at tournament poker, you need to study this book.

In the midst of the poker frenzy that has erupted as a result of all the tv coverage and marketing, one clear result has been the emergence of myriad poker how-to books. It isn't surprising that many individuals and writers are capitalizing on a profitable opportunity and terrific timing, but the consequence is that there are so many out there which just don't produce quality reads or aren't from well-known names. This book is the answer to that!

In The Full Tilt Poker Strategy Guide: Tournament Edition, Michael Craig has assembled and drawn from some incredible talent who possess invaluable insights and lessons to share. But don't be fooled - this isn't necessarily going to try to instruct you on every possible hand with every possible strategical approach to each given situation. That would be impossible. What this guide does is far more impressive - it encourages the reader to consider the mindsets of the pros and how they approach their hands and the situations at the table. This book gets you, the reader, to think for yourself why you should play a given hand or utilize one type of approach in a particular manner. And as the various experts suggest, different hands can be played differently, depending upon given situations. As Howard Lederer says regarding his chapter on the theory of "Leverage," which is a concept that not previously been written about to my knowledge, "The goal here was to get you thinking about how leverage can help you after the flop" (p.45). There are, certainly, plenty of statistics and math to consider which are graspable to those whose trade isn't math, and Andy Bloch's charts are a nice reference for the strengths of pre-flop hands vs. all other hands you may face. There are new concepts as well as clarification and elaboration on some of those ideas that are familiar to the serious student of poker. I like that it really doesn't try to sell you on a particular overall method, but suggests some different and, even contrasting, approaches (especially chapter 5, titled, "[Don't] Play Like Ted Forrest)."

This strategy guide makes for not only good reading but also deep thinking. And that is a tremendous aspect of this book - the concepts are very deep, but the language and manner in which they are described are very comprehensible. It flows well, and you get the feeling that the different authors are almost conducting thoughtful interviews and are right there explaining why and how to do what they sugget. It doesn't have that stiff, didactic manner that some instructional books do; rather, it is told matter-of-factly and clearly. It reads quickly, and I found myself going back and rereading portions over again because there is so much substance in each of the chapters. And, as something of a relief, you don't have to be a math genius or have played for decades to grasp the principles in this book (but, as is suggested throughout the book, it all becomes more clear and applicable with practice at the table).

These are among the greatest and most successful poker minds alive, and what they have done is present their sometimes very different theories, approaches, and perspectives regarding No-Limit Hold'Em, but there are also chapters dedicated to Pot-Limit Hold'Em, Limit Hold'Em, Omaha Eight or Better, Pot-Limit Omaha, Seven-Card Stud, Stud Eight-or-Better, No Limit Hold-Em Online tournament strategy, and the enigmatic Razz. It even finishes with a chapter dedicated to Roshambo! Each chapter has conclusions that summarize the important details presented in the very full chapters. And Michael Craig's "Editor's Notes" and narration are vivid and entertaining in how they regard and present the pros with whom he has collaborated. Again, it reads as more conversational than lecture, which makes it a pleasant yet thought-provoking read.

I consider this an absolute must-have for any serious poker player. Super System was the first of the classics of poker instruction, and Sklansky's books and Harrington's volumes are at the top of their genre, but this compilation and edition is also a true masterpiece. It is a very intelligent read, and those who want to improve their games at any level would do well to absorb the concepts in this, although what they present are ideas and strategies that apply to the highest levels of poker. The advice given, and the smoothness of the delivery, make this the diamond that it is among all the other how-to books on the market.

This is the type of book I hate to recommend to other players. It just flat out gives away too much information (see previous reviewer's comments re: content). Novices and those of us who have only been playing hold'em for 5 years or less could spend another 10 years on the felt to ever absorb this much knowledge.
I own 50+ poker books and countless DVD's. This is among the top 3, including the Harrington on Holdem series (1-3) and Super System. Michael Craig has produced another poker gem.
If you paid $100 for this book you would still be receiving a great bargain. Buy this book now while you still have time to exploit your opponents (that is before they read it too).

A book that goes along with others on tournaments such as the Harrington on Holdem series in that it discusses more how to intrepret your opponents actions and how to take advantage of it instead of just charts and specific hands. Don't get me wrong, Andy Bloch's chapter has the most detailed charts you'll ever see if you want to really add some high-end math game theory to your game. But it's just a nice book that's laid out like mini-lessons from many of today's respected tournament players.

Like others, I was a bit skeptical seeing the Full Tilt logo, thinking the book could be promotional in nature. But the amount of quality material here is excellent.

The book is geared primarily toward no-limit tournies, although the Huck-Forrest Razz chapter is a particular highlight due its highly user-friendly dialogue format. C. Ferguson's post-flop chapter is a must-read, and I like that he begins by analyzing the purpose of a bet:

1. Getting a better hand to fold (e.g., bluffing)
2. Getting a worse hand to call/raise (e.g., value betting)
3. Protecting your hand (e.g., flopping a low top pair heads up)

But my favorite chapter is Gavin Smith's short text on exploiting the big stack. He advocates going after pots before the ante to build a big stack by the time the ante's introduced, and then discusses specific plays to accumulate the big stack. One very interesting play is the flat-call steal, where a player raises and you flat-call widely if you have position and feel confident out-maneuvering the initial raiser post-flop.

A lot of very interesting material and quite well-edited. Highly recommended for tournament players.

- Collin Moshman
Author, Sit 'n Go Strategy

I wasn't expecting much from a branded book, but the impressive list of authors convinced me to give it a try, and I'm glad I did. So far I've read through the sections on hold'em (about half the book) and, while the authors give contradictory recommendations at time (this is intentional) I picked up an idea or two that I'm now using in my tournament play. I was particularly interested in seeing Chris Ferguson and other authors explain their differing opinions on how to play before the flop.

I recommend you don't get this book; I don't want the competition!

I tried looking for this book at shops here in Melbourne and was unable to find it. I was forced to buy it from Amazon and I would have to say that this is one of the best books on Poker you will find. The book is geared to tournament poker.

The chapters are interesting and set out in the form of essays. i.e Post flop play, pre flop, Limit chapter, PLO Chapter, Razz, Online etc. and a chapter on the theory of leverage which after reading seems so simple that it should be common knowledge, yet it isn't.

It is a book that will really challenge your thinking and approach if you read it properly and if you grasp the concepts, it will improve your play.

The book is in the same league as the best of the Sklansky books and Harrington on Hold em. (although you will see things in here that contradict them!)

This is one of the better books available and I would fully recommend it to anyone who wants to improve their tournament game.

I hope this book doesn't surface in the shops here in Australia!

This is a true gem in the wacky world of poker books. After Sklanski & Malmuth, Super System I/II, and the Harrington trilogy, there are very few poker books that actually offer original content or any new insights into the game of poker. True, Bill Chen's "The Mathematics of Poker" offers both - to some extent - but in a format that is better suited for someone working on dissertation research more than for someone looking to get an edge at a poker table. The value of this particular book comes from the differing perspectives of the authors. Gavin Smith, Howard Lederer, and Chris Ferguson (just to name a few) have disparate playing styles and it is reflected in the portions of the book they write. Some go as so far as to implore the reader to ignore some of the advice from the earlier authors. While Ferguson doesn't care for flat calling raises, Gavin Smith loves it, and both explain the reasons why. Ted Forest goes as so far as telling the reader to ignore his advice in the aptly titled "Don't Play like Ted Forest" chapter.

If you are considering buying this book, there's a good chance you know about position play, starting hands, and most other basics. What I loved most about this book is the fact that these pros tell the reader how they play, not how a hand should be played. Due deference is given to Sklanski and Malmuth, but the advice doled out is original and unique. It's refreshing to read how differently two pros would play the same hand and their explanations for doing so.

The only weak point in the book is the discussion about online poker is not as in depth as one would expect (or in my case, hope) in a "Full Tilt" title.

I would strongly recommend this book over most any other in the soup of modern poker books.

As an avid poker player (I play at least 5 hours a week) who makes decent money, I was looking forward to this edition. The problem with books these days is that there isn't much new material out there. Doyle wrote his supersystem which laid the groundwork for aggressive play which wasn't the norm back in the day. Then Harrington came out with his three volumes which are the definitive go-to for all no-limit holdem play.

If you want the best no-limit holdem book out there, then this probably isn't your book. The Harrington books trump this book by a long shot. However, if you're looking for a one-stop-shop for the other games then this is the answer. The only section that I felt was subpar was the section on Razz which gave very subpar advice, data, or basic strategy. The stud sections are excellent and lay very good groundwork for both cash and tournament play.

So...if you're only going to stick with NL holdem, then go with the Harrington books...if you're looking for a little bit of everything, then i highly recommend this book.

I was really looking forward to this book. After reading the reviews and seeing listed names that had participated I knew it was for me. I have to admit though, that I haven't read a section about razz because I don't know the rules of the game) and a chapter about Omaha 8 or better so I won't comment them. Besides, there are plenty of material to be read in this book even if you're not crazy about razz strategy. Essays I loved the most were the ones written by Phil Gordon and Chris Ferguson (also, I was pleasantly surprised with sections about limit hold'em, a game that is a bit ignored here in Europe) so I refreshed my memory a bit with those parts. I think this book is definitively not for beginners since it expects from you to know a lot of poker terminology and besides that, authors sometimes advise completely different approaches to the game or some specific parts of it (like playing pre-flop: if first to enter should you limp in from time to time or, as a rule of thumb, raise every single time?) So I think it might be confusing for the beginners who still haven't developed feel for the game or some style that works for them. Interesting book that let's you see how all the different poker personalities play this game.

I haven't completed reading the entire book yet. The parts I have read are well written and easy to understand.
Each contributor is describing how to play from his/her point of view. I like that they go into their personal thought processes. We get several perspectives on playing styles. There is no one correct way to play poker.
I have studied both Supersystem I & Supersystem II and Scklanki's books on Holdem along with Harrington's set of books.

This new book should be a part of any new up and coming tournament poker player.

This is a very good book and I have added it to me Poker library.

I thought this might just be a quick Full Tilt hack job, but it it truly excellent. The Ted Forrest and Chris Ferguson chapters are worth the price of the book.

Brilliant all round book, which I've learnt and gained much more poker knowledge from. Im not one for reading books but I couldn't put this one down!

My order came promptly and it is a very good book to get some tips from

Enjoyed this book.I would have liked to see more about online play but whats here is great and alot of it is applicable to online. Its a great complement to the Harrington books.

If you're serious about improving your tournament play this is a good book to add to your poker library. Lots of advice from well-known pro's for the various stages of hold'em tournaments (and even a few chapters on omaha and stud). While you may not agree with everything written in this compilation, and at times it's hard to follow all of the various contributors, it's a good insight into the minds of some of the best players around!

If you are really serious about your poker tournament strategy, so you have to purchase this book. I put it at the same level of Dan Harrigton's books. Some concepts are so advanced that you should read more than once to understand it.

In the world of poker literature, no limit hold em advice dries up and becomes useless pretty quickly these days. One year after its release, this underrated and underread book still holds advice that has yet to find its way into most tournaments. Almost every chapter regarding NLHE offers insights into the game that blows almost everything else away. Dare I say it, I think it even makes HOH begin to look dated.

Andy Bloch's chapter on preflop play is worthy of its own 5-star-rated book (even if I disagree with some of his advice, such as reraising with middle pairs while in position). Lederer's chapter on leverage is knowledge only a miniscule percentage of your opponents will be even vaguely aware of. Chris Ferguson's chapter on bet sizes is all you'll ever need to know about that subject. Gavin Smith's chapter on LAG play is a must-read for both the player wanting to learn to play that dangerous style, or for the TAG wanting to understand his loose-aggressive opponent.

In addition, there are great chapters on other poker games such as Omaha, Stud, and Razz (the Razz chapter being my personal fave). I honestly don't think there is a better tournament book out there. I also honestly hope it continues to fly under the radar for at least another year.

Great compilation for those interested in all forms of poker. Great instruction from some of the greatest names in the sport.

I have read over 30 poker books, and I feel that this one is one of the best all around reads. You get view points from a dozen professionals in all aspects of all the games. Definitely a must read.

There's a lot of material in this book and I certainly haven't absorbed it all, but this is a really valuable book. I highly recommend it.