Doyle Brunson's Super System II

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Super System 2 was hyped seemingly forever before it was finally released, with the release date pushed back several times. Was it worth the wait? Not really.

First of all, as another reviewer mentioned, parts of the book, especially the online poker section, read like an infomercial for Brunson's new site - just as blatant and irritating as on TV. He refers to it over and over (and over), with no purpose except as a shameless plug.

Another aspect that's hard to miss is the authors' ego-stroking of themselves and each other. Yes, Brunson's a great player, did a lot for the game, won the World Series twice 30 years ago, etc. Most readers already know that, and don't need to be endlessly reminded. Reading the introduction, one can almost imagine Doyle pausing to allow us time to bow down and worship him. The superlatives flow again before each chapter as he introduces each author, and then most of the others reciprocate by reminding us of Doyle's greatness. In case we'd forgotten.

Some have complained that the book includes other games and doesn't cover hold'em exclusively. I think this is one of the book's strong points. Hold'em has been beaten to death, with several great books on the game and new ones coming out regularly. It's very hard to find good information on some of the other games; for example, this is the first time I've seen Triple Draw covered in print. Also, the original Super System also covered several games, so this shouldn't surprise anyone.

As one might expect from a book where each chapter has a different author, the quality varies substantially from section to section. One thing they all have in common is fairly poor writing. The problem isn't as much glaring errors and misspellings (although there are some of these) as lots of extraneous wording and logical structure that could have easily been made clearer. I don't expect beautiful prose from a bunch of poker players, but hiring an editor and proofreader could have helped a lot.

The format, where each game is covered in 60 pages or so, has its pros and cons. It is able to cover a lot of topics, like Triple Draw, that might not merit a full book on its own. However, most of the games are much more complicated and so the chapters must necessarily leave out lots of information. I've been playing hold'em and stud for years, but don't have much experience in other games, so this format is perfect as a survey of other games.

To various degrees, the material is geared toward players with a decent amount of experience. There is a brief introduction to game mechanics (who posts the blinds, how the betting works) at the beginning of each chapter, but there are much better sources for the beginner.

The No-Limit Hold'em section, by Brunson himself, was one of the main reasons for the first book's popularity, and the most anticipated for this one. With a few minor exceptions it's just a reprint of the original, mostly word for word. Very disappointing, and misleading considering a lot of players will buy it for the NLH section alone.

The Stud/8 or better section by Todd Brunson (Doyle's son and a top pro himself) is excellent, covering lots of material in its
50 pages. This is particularly valuable since there isn't very much good material on the game elsewhere.

Jennifer Harman on Limit Hold'em is also excellent, but again, it would need to be hundreds of pages longer to be truly complete. As it stands, it's a good supplement for thought after reading other books on the game.

Pot Limit Omaha coverage by Lyle Berman is not great. Omaha/8 or better by Bobby Baldwin is good, but not spectacular. I really liked Daniel Negreanu's Triple Draw section, but that's probably because the game is totally new to me and any information is great.

The list of "contributors" for the book overall is very impressive, but also seems deceptive. Johnny Chan is listed... for writing the preface, which is another Ode to Doyle. No poker content. Negreanu is well known because of all his Hold'em success recently, and he covers Triple Draw, which is rarely played except at the highest limits. Most readers probably didn't even know he played Triple Draw, if they've heard of the game at all.

As primarily a stud player, I was very surprised and disappointed that it wasn't included at all. With the possible exception of hold'em (which was invented as a variation on stud), 7-card stud is the most consistently popular, most skillful poker variant. It was well covered by Chip Reese in the original Super System - they must have decided that the game hasn't changed much (which is mostly true).

Another oddity: the book is almost 700 pages, making it quite thick and heavy, but the first section covering a game doesn't start until over 200 pages in, with more filler at the end - a glossary (defining terms like "sucker"... someone who buys this book?), and a few more pages of ads at the end.

Overall, Super System 2 has a place in any serious player's library, but only as a supplement to more in-depth coverage of the various games. The original achieved the popularity it did because it was the only decent book on the market at the time, in the early '70s. Today, there's a lot of good poker books, and this one wouldn't be particularly notable without the names on the cover. Fortunately, it's relatively cheap, and a good value for the amount of material it covers.

I love Doyle Brunson, I love "Super System," and I love poker, but I cannot figure out why he chose to make this book as scattered in focus as he did. In 1978, it was easy to understand why a manual that covered numerous forms of poker would be released, but nowadays, all you see on TV (with a few WSOP exceptions) is Texas Hold 'Em. So why did Doyle make a book that wastes the talent of Daniel Negreanu on "Triple Draw?" I concede that the reader may be a far more in depth player than I am, but most of us play Hold'Em and little else. "Seven-Card Stud High-Low-Eight-or Better" also seems rather pointless to me. Who cares? I was further deflated to see that he reprinted his life story and original No Limit advice in these pages. I know all of that stuff from "Super System." If it's not new, don't waste our time. The best parts of this book are Doyle on internet poker, the tips from Mike Caro, and Jennifer Harman's section on Limit Hold'Em. These sections are why I give it three stars, but honestly, I looked forward to getting it and am dissatisfied with its quality.

The original Super System is a classic, and can make big changes to your game, especially if you play a lot of no-limit hold'em (the biggest chapter in the book and the one written by Brunson himself). Super System 2, I have to say, is an interesting read but if you're after a good chapter on no-limit hold'em then just buy the first book - the chapters are almost identical! Considering that the chapter on NL HE is probably the reason most people buy this book, I think it's out of order that the book is billed as a sequel, when it's actually much more of a revision. Great writers, good advice, but if you want good NL HE tips, stick to the first book and save yourself some money. If you haven't read the first one then you might as well buy the second one instead, as the other games covered are much more relevant and the tips are better.

If you are an experienced player looking to fine tune your game this book is a great resource. It was written as a companion guide to the original Super System and so this book covers different games than the original. Because many of the games in the original are mostly obsolete in the casinos the original book has less value than when written in the late 70's and so for most newer players they need only buy this book rather than both. You will miss 7 stud and 7 stud low(Razz)and the three draw games but you won't be missing much if you only buy this book. For example, Ace to 5 draw lowball is mostly history as is Jacks or better draw and 2-7 no limit draw is mainly a tournament game now, and 7-stud high-low without an 8 qualifier is obsolete. So, as far as an updated version, it is pretty good, covering Omaha 8 or better, 7-stud 8 or better, pot-limit Omaha, and limit 2-7 triple draw as well as limit and no limit holdem and the minor sections covering online and tournament play.

One of the drawbacks in many player's views is the lack of an updated No Limit section, and while I mostly agree, I think after going through both books that the mix of games chosen for this book are thought to be more current and Brunson may truly feel that the original no limit material is in whole solid enough to reinsert into a mainly replacement version of the original Super System. Keep in mind also that he has stated over the years that he probably cost himself millions of dollars after writing Super System and had to make many "adjustments" to keep winning. If that is true why would he give away all of his "adjustment" material only to have to go back and re-invent his game once again at 70+ years old?


The real value is for the more experienced players looking to fine tune their game in one of the covered disciplines rather than as a complete how-to-play each game. The book is geared for the professional or aspiring professional who already thinks beyond the basics. The average player looking for in depth tutorials in each game will probably be a little over his head until he gets a lot of play under his belt and maybe not even then. It is written by professionals and their approach to the game is several levels beyond the average players experience and understanding. There is much to be learned here but you need a certain level of knowledge and game experience to take full advantage not only of the games covered, but also to appreciate the subtle but important ideas they give you for playing at the upper levels. Likewise you need to ignore the 20% or so of "filler" and not allow it to distract you from the real value of the book. The book probably won't help a losing or average player to win because they are just not yet at the point that they can fully understand all of the discussion and since there is not much basic or foundation material covered it will be more difficult to grasp. I think it will be of more help to the already winning and advanced players looking to fine tune an already solid grasp of each game.

I'm a NL player, so for me this book is basically worthless because I already own the original Super System and Super System II doesn't update the NL section for some reason. The NL section of Super System II is 99.9% word-for-word an exact copy of the original Super System.

I already know most of Caro's tells, and I play mainly online, so they aren't as useful to me anyway. Furthermore, Doyle's section about online poker is just full of ridiculously basic things that you can find covered in much more depth elsewhere.

If you don't own the original Super System and are interested just in general in poker and would like to learn about all different forms of poker from limit and NL Hold Em, to Razz and Stud, then this is a great book to get. HOWEVER, this is just a complete waste for a NL player who already owns/read the original Super System.

No disrespect to Doyle the man, the myth, and the legend, but to Doyle the editor and author, you could have at least warned us that the NL section wouldn't be updated.

There is much debate on whether this book is simply an update to the old classic or a bona fide second volume and whether one should buy both (as the author recommends) or just the new one. For the majority of people (whose primary interests lie in various forms of Hold 'em and Omaha) you really only need to buy Super System 2. The chapter on no-limit is essentially the same and the section on limit in the original book is outdated because of the changes in blind/ante structure that have occurred over the years. The new book has chapters on pot-limit Omaha, Omaha high/low (Omaha8), Eight or Better (7 stud high/low), Triple Draw (2 to 7 and A to 5 lowball), tournament strategy, and Mike Caro's section on tells. If you get the new book and don't get the original, you're mostly missing out on a bunch of games that casinos rarely, if ever, spread (although you might see them in some home games). You'd miss things like 5-card draw (lowball and jacks or better), Razz (7 stud for low), etc. Probably the only meaningful (by that, I simply mean mainstream) chapter you'd be missing would be Chip Reese's section on Seven Card Stud. I personally don't think it's profound enough to warrant buying the original book just for that chapter, but great 7 stud books are hard to come by (compared to hold 'em).

Yes, the book has its share of "filler" (preface, forward, intro, history, and plugs for his poker site) as you might expect from a book of this size, but you basically get all that "filler" at no charge, because the book is still reasonably priced for what you get. Even if you were only interested in Hold 'Em and Omaha, you'd be hard-pressed to take the same money and get decent books on limit Hold 'em, no-limit Hold 'em, pot limit Omaha, and Omaha8. You could probably find a single book on one or two of those four and have some money left over, but that's about it. If you're really interested in all of the chapters in Super System 2, then you could probably rate this book a 5. If you're going to ignore or gloss over half of it, then a 4+ is about right.

I was really looking forward to this book, but it was quite a let down. A great deal of the book is just filler and hype for Mike Caro's and Doyle Brunson's poker sites.

The strategy chapters do not start until page 210. The first section is Jennifer Harman's Limit Hold'em chapters. This chapter suffers the same problems that most of the strategy chapters do. It assumes the player is familar with the game, so it doesn't get into much detail, but it also never gets into much depth. All chapters are aimed at high-stakes player. (50/100 PLO with a $100,000 cap anyone?).

The Omaha 8/b chapter is passible, the PLO chapter is horrible as is Doyle's NL and tournament sections. He gives advice, such as playing Q6 because you can flop a double belly-buster draw to it, nevemind you will only flop the DRAW .3% of the time. He also did not update his chapter for the use of blinds instead of antes.

The stand-out chapters of the book are Todd Brunson's Stud 8/b section and Daniel Negraneanu's 2-7 triple draw. Both chapters go into a surprising amount of detail from starting hands to the final street or deal of play for the space they are given.

"The Most Anticipated Book in the History of Poker!" exclaims a blurb on the cover. Well, if so, I can tell you that a lot of people have been, or are going to be, VERY disappointed. Comparing the classic Super/System from 1978 with this book is, to paraphrase Mark Twain, like comparing lightning to the lightning bug.

This book is more of a tribute to Doyle Brunson than it is "A Course in Power Poker." Johnny Chan writes a fairly vacuous Preface in which he lauds Brunson, but doesn't say anything about how to play. Then we have Brunson's Introduction in which he tells us mostly about the contributors to the first Super/System. Next there is an autobiographical sketch by Brunson entitled, "My Story." (If you want a book that gives the real flavor of Brunson's "story," get a copy of According to Doyle (1984). It contains 47 chapters in which Brunson recalls his early days and life on the road.)

Following "My Story" is a short history of Texas Hold'em by Crandell Addington which isn't much, and then there is the first chapter that could actually be considered part of a course in power poker. This would be 43 tips from Mike Caro cribbed from his lectures and books. However the tips are hardly "exclusive" for SuperSystem2 as claimed. Beginning with Caro's cute but now very familiar, "In the beginning, everything was even money," most or all of the tips have been recycled. For example, Tip #18, page 146, "WHEN A FREQUENT BETTOR CHECKS TO YOU...don't bluff" is just about the same as Tip #10 "Seldom bluff if frequent bluffers have checked into you" found on page 137 in Caro's Fundamental Secrets of Winning Poker (1996). In fact Caro even recycles his "exclusive" tips in this very book. Tip #31 says that PLAYERS STARING AWAY...are almost always more dangerous than players staring at you," while Tip #40 says in part that "OPPONENTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BET OR RAISE IF THEY ARE: ...(3) staring away."

Jennifer Harman's chapter on limit hold'em is so ordinary that it's remedial. There's not even a hint of anything new. There are a number of books on the market that cover the same ground much more thoroughly. I especially recommend Small Stakes Hold'em: Winning Big with Expert Play (2004) by Ed Miller, David Sklansky and Mason Malmuth or anything by Sklansky. Also her insistence on referring to hands backwards, "6-7" (e.g., on p. 252) instead of "76" is annoying and contrary to a well-established convention.

And the caricatures by Russ Braun! They are so bland and flattering that each may have passed prior inspection by the subject's mother. Comparing these to the witty and sharp work by Stan Hunt in the original is like comparing a cliche to something alive and vital. Brunson doesn't even look like himself. Here he's just a generic, smiling, dough boy kind of guy--except in the small, clever, lifelike drawing gracing page 7 which WAS drawn by Stan Hunt, copied from the first book.

Good are the chapters on Omaha and Stud Eight-or-Better. However, although Brunson has Bobby Baldwin billed as his author of the Omaha Eight-or-Better chapter, actually it was written (as acknowledged) by Mark Gregorich. He does a good job of introducing the game and giving some of the strategies, and I'm sure he is a fine player, but what about Bobby Baldwin? Well, as CEO of Mirage Corporation and President of the Bellagio Hotel and Casino, Bobby is far, far too busy to write the chapter himself. So he just lent his name and his supervision. Can you spell R-I-P-O-F-F?

Perhaps the most embarrassing part of the book is Doyle's chapter on no limit hold'em. It is little more than a reprise of the same chapter in the first book published 28 years ago.

Also recycled is the section on "Colorful Names of Various Hold'em Hands" on pages 628 and 629. The dated references to Raquel Welch ("38") and Broderick Crawford ("10-4") seem more than a little out of touch. Indeed, this book is nostalgic tribute to Brunson and the great success he and the original book achieved. And that is a shame, because this book is billed as an exciting event in the history of the publication of books on poker when in fact it is something hastily put together to flatter Brunson and, hopefully, the pocketbook of those involved.

One final thing: there is a Glossary, suitable for beginners, which is okay as it defines such things a "Deuce," "Flush," "Four of a Kind," etc., but seems a little basic for "A Course in Power Poker." Worse though is this definition of a "Cold Deck": "A term often used to describe the deck by players who feel they're not getting enough playable or winning hands." Players may indeed remark that "the deck is cold," but the origin of the term comes from the fact that a stacked deck used by cheaters that is switched into the game tends to be "cold" to the touch since it has not been handled since it was stacked.

Bottom line: pass.

I think it's a book that belongs on any serious poker player's bookshelf, but it shouldn't be one of your first books.

Let's start with what your expectations should be of the book, because the title is misleading. This isn't a coherent, unified system of approaching poker. Instead, it's a collection of essays from an all-star cast of contributing authors on a wide range of poker games. I think that's a fine thing, and I appreciate the different approaches and insights, but the title could lead you to expect something very different.

I think it's fair to say that I took away a profitable nugget from most every chapter. I play predominantly limit hold 'em, and Jennifer Harman's chapter on the game is fantastic. While most books I've read spend the bulk of their time on pre-flop hand selection (understandable), Harman does a great job of discussing how to approach common flop & turn scenarios. I ended up recouping the cost of the book the day I purchased it by following some of her advice on how I approach catching middle or low pair on the flop.

Downsides to the book:
Personally, I could live without the long waxing on Doyle's life history. Don't get me wrong, I'd happily buy a well written biography of Doyle's life, but I bought this for poker theory and strategy. (And Doyle shouldn't be the one to write the biography... he may be a brilliant poker player, but his writing is so so.)

Another reviewer mentioned this, but it deserves repeating: the plugs for Doyle's online poker site are annoying at best.

In the end I think this is a great follow-up book to any of the great fundamental books on the game.
fyi, by fundamental books on the game I mean...
For general poker theory: Sklansky and Malmuth
For hold 'em limit discussion: Lou Kreiger or Ed Miller
For no limit: Dan Harrington

I am a proud owner of the first book and have read it through several times. It is an excellent read and interesting throughout. To some extent its greatly outdated as almost no one plays high/low split or 5 card draw with one joker anymore. Even the no limit hold'em chapter is slightly outdated.

The chapters on Hold 'em, however, are the reasons to buy the book. I have to admit, the chapter on No-Limit has really made me a better overall player and added a confidence to my game that never existed before.

This 2nd edition, released 27 years after the original contains several new games including Omaha and several new contributers.

However, the best chapter in the original book, (NLHE) written by Doyle himself, remains almost UNCHANGED! No new strategies, no new stories or scenarios, no updates from Doyle on the increased popularity of Hold 'em, not even an excuse from Doyle as to why he hasn't won the Tourney in 28 years.

The main reason people bought the original book was to win at Hold 'em, and I suspect every scared money college student that I wipe clean at The Borgata will go out and buy this edition for the same reason.

I really don't understand why this, of all the chapters, was not updated. Is Doyle getting lazy? Trying to make a quick buck?

Like I said the original book is the Bible of poker. If you own the original, keep reading it and save some money, do not buy this book.

If you a serious Hold 'em player and do not own the original, What are you waiting for? Buy the 2nd edition immediately.

If you are the previously mentioned college type....you know... the one that enjoys watching Chris Kattan go heads up with Mary McCormack on Celebrity Poker Showdown....do whatever you want....just keep bringing your dead money to my table.

I read Doyle brunson's first book, and waited with great anticipation for "Super System 2". WHAT A WASTE! If you read "Super System", and are primarily interested in Hold'Em, there are much better uses of your money. His chapter on "No-Limit" is almost exactly the same as he wrote twenty-seven years ago. It's as if he is telling us he hasn't learned anything, in all that time. It really just appears he didn't have either the time, or energy, to write this book. As someone else pointed out, better use could have been made of Daniel Negreanu. If he had been willing, it would have been enlightening to have him contribute to the "Hold'Em" section to give a fresh perspective.

None of the other chapters were just re-writes of his previous book, so why would he think it was acceptable to just re-print his previous writings? "Hold'Em" is what most people are interested in, and the game has changed since the original book was written. It's sad and disillusioning, that a legend like Doyle Brunson, released a book solely to capture additional profits for the same work, and to promote his own poker site.

This belongs in any poker library, just not on the top shelf. It's a hyped-up "good" book, but not a "great" book like the first Super System.

Doyle's chapter is basically a slightly updated version of his NL chapter from SS1, and that's half the reason I bought it, so I was a little saddened there. The other half is Jennifer Harman's Limit Hold'em chapter, which is outstanding and easily worth the cost of the book on it's own, a nice surprise.

Negreanu and Todd Brunsons' are also very good, and I feel that I understand thier games much better now, though I still have a lot fo work to do on Triple Draw.

Also, as some have mentioned, Doyle's constant self-promotion is getting a little tiresome, and there's quite a bit of that in this book.

Most people only play No limit hold'em now because it is so popular with ESPN and lots of other stations showing the tournaments. If you want to "get the best of it", as doyle would say, then you have to become a selective aggressive player which doyle outlines to perfection. This book will give you the guidelines on how it works but there is no substitute for experience. The rest of the book is great also, love daniels section on triple draw, but most people skip it because its not no limit hold'em. Heres a secret for the fish out there that are planning on buying this book and becoming good to great players, it wont happen for a long time. As with any skill you want to master it takes time. If you try to play doyles way, or any winning poker players strategy, at a novice level you will go broke...... fast.......

Super system came on the sceen in 1978 under the original title: "How I made over $1,000,000 Playing Poker and has been known as the Poker Bible ever since. There is good reason for this, while other poker books taught the rules of poker, and general starting requirements, Super System introduced many to the art of outplaying, odds, and flat out stealing and back alley mugging anyone who had the nerve to sit down at "your" table. Nothing like Super System was even close prior to its publishing and there have been very few poker books since that have been so influential to poker players.

Super System 2 was released in mid-2005. While much of the information is the same, Super System 2 updates with some of today's popular games. Some key updates are the Online Poker section, tournament sections, and Omaha sections. The biggest disappointment to me was that the No Limit Holdem section is virtually identical to the 1978 version. I would have like to see this updated. Some people have complained that the Online Poker section is just one big advertisement for Doylesroom.com. I look at it this way, they had to use a site for illustrations so why not? I enjoyed this section as it will help online poker in the long run. Plus there are some very solid advice that apply to online gaming!

Super System and Super System 2 are broken up into game sections. Doyle hand selected the authors of each section. My favorite section in both 1 and 2 are the Limit Holdem sections. Bobby Baldwin wrote the Limit Holdem section in 1978 and it was THE most important peice of poker literature I have ever read. Jennifer Harman wrote the Super System 2 Limit Holdem section and it is clearly the best section in the new version in my opinion.

Super System is not a beginner's book and the lessons taught should not be used against bad players because they simply do not apply. These are semi-advanced concepts and require a good knowledge of the games and should be used with caution.

The Original Super System contains game sections by the following:
Draw Poker - Mike Caro
7 stud - Chip Reese
Lowball (A-5, 2-7, Razz) - Joey Hawthorne
High-Low Split - David Sklansky
Limit Holdem - Bobby Baldwin
No Limit Holdem - Doyle Brunson

Super System 2 contains the game sections by the following:
Online Poker - Doyle Brunson
Limit Holdem - Jennifer Harman
Omaha 8 or better - Bobby Baldwin
7 stud High Low 8 or better - Todd Brunson
Pot Limit Omaha - Lyle Berman
Triple Draw - Daniel Negreanu
No Limit Holdem - Doyle Brunson
Tournament Overview - Doyle Brunson

Finally, both Super System 1 and 2 are fanatasic books and should be in your poker library. If you only had the choice of buying the original or Super System 2 then I would suggest Super System 2 as it addresses today's more popular games, besides how many times do you plan to play 5 card draw online?

Super System 2 is a very good poker book, of course everyone knows about the legendary original--at first and "underground" publication that was very hard to get. I got hooked on poker about 2 years ago (I don't play live that much due to my budget) but it is a fascinating, addictive game, and my best thing about playing for real, is you aren't playing the casino, you're playing the other players, therefore your chances overall of making some money are much better (well depending on the other players, of course)

Anyway I agree with many, in that I was sort of disappointed that the book was not more in depth on hold em; I don't play the other games, and I don't play limit. I am interested in low stakes, no limit, hold em. Mike Caro's chapter probably meant the most to me as its advise is good across the board. I would recommend this book to someone who is intermediate and interested in learning a bit about the other games, but it s NOT for a beginner and quite frankly I don't see it as that good of a "strategy" book, because most players in the casinos are not playing for the stakes that the authors are. Which leads me to my advice--remember these VERY IMPORTANT points:

1. This (these) books are NOT FOR BEGINNERS. It (they) assume you know something about the game(s) and are looking for an (edge)

2. You can't learn poker from a book. The most important thing to remember about playing live is, every player, therefore table, will be different. In most casinos you will be playing strangers and will have no idea how good (or bad) they are. All those pages about what hands not even to call to the flop won't mean anything if you are at a table full of weak timid players. And as we know a hand that wouldn't be so good with 8 players and small blinds, becomes more urgent and favorable to play, say late in a sit and go you hsve been tight and are short stack, when there's 3 players left, the blinds take 10% of your stack and you've seen 2 of the 3 players left are weak. Or, if you have chip lead and can afford to cover everyone's crazy calls, you would follow that path. That's just basics you can learn at a home game, you shouldn't need a 50 dollar book.

3. Proably most important; a lot of folks seem to be missing this: The no limit hold em chapters in these books are NOT talking about no limit hold em. THEY COVER HIGH STAKES NO LIMIT HOLD EM. When you see these programs on TV like World Poker Tour, Poker After Dark, etc; these events (usually) have buy ins of $10-$30,000! Most people (I know myself) for sure) will never be playing for those stakes. So I can tell you, if you take your $100 buy in and go to the Bicycle Club, and try to play like Doyle plays high stakes, you won't be sitting at that table long. But if you take the general advice, adapt to the other players, and play carefully, you can win a few dollars (even I've done it).

Written by one of the true goliath's in poker history, I eagerly bought this book, excited by the fact that Doyle had enlisted the aid of a dozen other top poker authorities to each tackle a separate chapter, each discussing different poker games. The book, in my opinion, could have used a good editor, as it reads in an extraordinarily disjointed manner - I suppose that's inevitable when every chapter is written by a different author, but developing a consistent voice is one of the tasks of a good proof-reader or editor. That being said, I found the different writing styles somewhat refreshing, especially since the book covers so many different games, resulting in the stylistic differences not being nearly as noticeable as they otherwise would have been. I particularly liked the sections on limit hold'em and omaha, which are typically my two games of choice. I was somewhat disappointed with the NL hold'em section - I know that's Doyle's bread and butter, but I was at least hoping that he would have updated some of his material since Super System I - alas, I found many of the chapters had been lifted verbatim from that text, which incidentally isn't regarded all that highly by many of today's poker authors. Surely he has learned some new tips and tricks in the last 20 years that he could pass on to the reader, hasn't he??

One thing I could have done without are the endless (and shameless) plugs Doyle makes for his own online website. I know we've all probably done some self-serving promotions in our time, but I thought Doyle's talk as though his website was the king of all online poker sites was sorely, sorely misguided - anyone who plays online will tell you that Doyle's site is no more than a bit player that nips at the heels of the larger sites such as Party, Empire, Stars, Ultimate Bet, and the like. Presenting it as the be all and end all of online poker I thought was quite misleading, although readers are naturally advised to draw their own conclusions. Regardless of what site you choose as your online home, you can find sign-up bonus codes floating around the internet that will make your sign-up far more worthwhile. Some reviewer here pointed out that pokercroaker.com kept theirs updated fairly frequently. Regardless, I have no reservations in recommending this book to anyone looking to improve their game, if for no other reason than Doyle is one of the living legends, and it gives fascinating insight into his poker game. That being said, I much preferred the chapters written by other authors, especially Harman and Negraneau.

As the new generation of poker superstars are coming through the ranks, DB has released the new version of the original Super System. After reading some sections of the book, I can already see it as a nice reference for some time. Think of it as a legendary poker champion pulling you aside and telling you how to make it. Add the fact that Mike caro is practically giving away information for the price of this book and Jennifer Harmon doing a complete section on limit, very nice. I am no expert on Omaha or Stud, but I plan to reveiw those sections.

A lot of criticism has been placed on the messiness of the book. Consider that deadlines were pushed back due to the hectic tournament and business schedules of the pros that participated in this book. All of their chapters were just put together as they came in. I can overlook that and think of each section as a different mini-book. Some people criticized the waste of Daniel Negreanu on triple draw poker. First of all, Negreanu is awsome at explaining triple draw poker. But he will eventually write a Hold'em book of his own. Do you think he is going to give away hold'em tips in a Doyle Brunson book? The purpose of this book is to learn how Brunson kicked butt with his aggressive style. When Negreanu ever writes a book, the information will be a lot different. I would have like to see Brunson call on a lot more greats to contribute to sections, but this book is good and well worth the attention it has received. You may never see this many professionals combining their expertise into one book.
Hope this helped some of you. You know you have to get it and see for yourself. If you pick up one thing from it, you are going to play that much better at the tables.

Super System is a great addition to any Poker library. SS2 is no exception it includes key chapters on Holden, Stud Hilo and Omaha (PL).

I will not bore you with elaborating on the NLHE chapter or the Aceball Chapter (Who's going to play that anyway?) or the online chapters other reviewers have commented on those.

One of the book's strong points is that it covers so many different games some of which have very little information or erroneous information particularly Stud 7 hilo and Omaha Pot Limit

Each card variant is covered by a world class player in about 60 pages, and much of what they talk about is not covered anywhere else. It's a good format you get the fillet mignon rather than the whole side of beef.

All sections assume that you know the games basics leaving plenty of space for advanced concepts and play.

The No-Limit Hold'em section, by Written by Brunson himself, has been revised to a much greather extent than the other reviewers are stating. I would say at least 15% has been changed with about 10% being new info or stated differently. The typeset is also much easier to read. Doyle's recent 55th placing in the WSOP main event at age 70 plus and 1st place on one of the WTP events shows he still has what it takes. Also his 10th braclet at the 2005 WSOP shows he's still cutting edge.

The Stud/8 or better section by Todd Brunson is fantastic, covering lots of material which has never been printed elsewhere. It is compulsory reading for all Stud Hilo players. Its great to note that Tod has finally won a WSOP 2005 bracelet.

Limit Hold'em by Jennifer Harmon is also excellent, it's a great supplement and refresher to any other HE books you may be reading or have studied. She emphasizes several new concepts not focused in other books. I would rate her section as a must read for any HE player. The chapter is very complementary to the SS1 HE chapter by Bruce Baldwin. Baldwins chapter was more basic and mechanical.

The Pot Limit Omaha chapter by Lyle Berman is outstanding and is probably the best chapter ever written on Omaha (btw there are only a handful of books on Omaha). Berman is the best living player in PLO (This is confirmed in the TJ Cloutier Omaha book) and he introduces several new learning's including the use of small connectors with a suited ace e.g. A,4,5,6, and double suited pairs. In the case of double suited pairs I would advise only play QQXX and up, from computer simulations I have seen every pair down have negative expectations. My guess is that a lot of negative comments in respect of poker book is from players that do not want others to read the book and improve their play.



Omaha/8 or better by Bobby Baldwin is very solid. The essentialness of having an Ace in the hand is interesting. In fact many pros are commenting on how good the chapter is.

In terms of stud, I was not surprised to see that it wasn't included at all in SS2. It was covered by Chip Reese in the original Super System 1 (SS1) and his chapter remains a great reference chapter.

Finally Barry Greenstein was supposed to write a chapter for SSII but instead he released his chapter as a full fledged Advanced strategy book.

Overall, Super System 2 has a place as a supplement to other books that give greater coverage to a particular game. The chapters are great for revision and alternate points of view. Also if you do not currently play the particular game they should get you into the black.

I haven't read the original Super System so I can't compare the two and tell you if this one is worth buying if you already have that one, so I'll just stick to reviewing "Super System 2".

The book starts out with an introduction and a short autobiography by Doyle Brunson. Some of it is interesting, some of it not so interesting. And I really don't care about seeing pictures of Doyle's son Todd catching an 18 pound trout or deer eating from Doyle's apple trees. Early in the book there's also a section on Online poker, which feels a bit too much like a commercial for Doyle's poker site, but it does have its intersting parts too.

The section written by Mike Caro contains a number of interesting tips regarding winnings and losses that's worth keeping in mind.

Then comes the meat of the book, the chapters about different poker types, all written by different professionals. I especially liked Brunson's No Limit Hold'em chapter (although his style of play might be quite risky for inexperienced players and could cause some pretty big bankroll swings) and Jennifer Harman's Limt Hold'em Chapter. The chapter on Omaha Hi/Low was interesting too, although it refers to fixed limit. To compensate for this, there's also a chapter on Pot Limit Omaha. Todd Brunson has written a chapter on Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo, but I wish there was a chapter on regular 7 Card Stud, which is one of my favorite poker games.

The book ends with a short chapter about the World Poker Tour. This chapter is also more or less a commercial and not very interesting at all.

Overall, this is not a perfect book, but it's good and will give you some good advice on your game of choice (unless it's 7 Card Stud High-only) as well as provide some basics other poker games.

Brunson is to poker what Brazil is to soccer. The same can be said for his game of choice, Texas Hold 'Em.' You see it on ESPN and in casinos all over America and it's become one of the most popular games in the world.

Supersystem I used to sell for 100 bucks back when 100 bucks was worth twice was it is today. At this price, Super System 2 is a steal. I also find it to be surprisingly fresh even though his ideas are nearly 25 years old. The writing is not great. Its left and right bold print bangs you over the head a little bit, but, even so, the author's verve and style are incredibly appealing.

From a technical standpoint, his techniques are unusual and very creative. Although, I can see why Brunson regretted publishing the book in the first place. Most of the things he says about No Limit I would not have thought up myself. Brunson's open style is preferable to Sklansky's closed and tight one in my mind. After you read it, you'll hear yourself saying again and again, "I came here to gamble."

A strategically mixed, and adaptive, style is what made Brunson a double world champion in the first place. His wisdom is valid because even if one always waits for "the nuts" there's absolutely no guarantee that you'll win anything from them. Super System II has helped me be a better poker player and I'm sure it will help you. The only negative thing I can say about it is that its size makes it tough to transport and read, but, other than it, it's sterling.

[...]

not much different from SSI. Both books are great..but you only need one.

I have read alot of poker books, but none were as helpful or as informative as this one. The biggest selling point has to be the wide array of games that this book covers. Omaha hi/lo, stud 8 or better, triple-draw... these games are extremely hard to find any useful information on, but they are all included in this book. The one weak point in this book though is that the information for each of the games is very general and doesn't offer as much as it could. However,since there are so many games in there, I can overlook this. I would definitely recommend this book to beginners who are looking for a way to get their feet wet in poker.

Nearly universally hailed as the greatest poker player of all time, Brunson is the master of self-promotion. And this book is very much about self-promotion. Because it's referred to as the Bible of Poker, I've read and re-read Brunson's chapter on No Limit Texas Hold'em trying to unearth something valuable that I missed in my earlier reads. There's little hand analysis and little advice that's worthwhile, just general advice that won't equip you for cash or tournament play. For example, Brunson claims that with pocket Aces you either win a little money or lose a lot of money. He also says he intimidates players by his willingness to "go all in." Just what you're to do with the aces in particular situations or when you should be willing to shove all your chips into the middle he leaves unexplained. He provides little valuable guidance to beginners and no guidance whatsoever to experienced players.

In contrast, Dan Harrington's three volume set on No Limit Hold'em is a masterpiece. Chapter after chapter, Harrington teaches the reader how to really evaluate a hand, based on position, the competition, the stacks, the raises, the checks, and the pot odds, as well as how to put another player on a hand. With a mix of created and actual play, with descriptions of the players' styles, the portion of the tournament, and "your" own play, Harrington dissects the ensuing action. I'm already a much better player for having read Harrington's books.

Caro's chapter on tells (in Brunson's book) and poker philosophy is great, full of sound practical advice. Since I only play No Limit, it's the only chapter I found worth reading. However, you would be better off buying Caro's "Book of Poker Tells," than wasting money on Brunson's overrated "Bible."

Was looking forward to new material and with all the hype this book got, this was a huge disappointment. Whats really annoying is doyles plugging his online site over and over.... and endless self praise (which i think is disgrace).

I enjoyed reading original Super System and think that is better book to start with. And if you have read the orig super system, you dont need to waste money on this one at all.

I never owned the first Super System, but I borrowed it from a friend and never read much past the first few pages of Brunson's no limit section. I didn't care for where it was going, or the wrting style.

I bought this book, and so far have read Mike Caro, Todd Brunson, Jennifer Harmon and Doyle's sections. And for those chapter's alone, this book is a must have.

Mike Caro's words of wisdom on bankroll really made light bulbs go off in my head. I bought this book after a bad trip to Vegas. He really opened my eyes to ideas, that are simple, yet so often over looked. I have become a much more patient player, and have been able to rebound from bad beats 100xs faster it seems.

Todd Brusnon's section is outstanding on 7 card stud eigth or better. I have placed in the money in 6 out of 8 online tourneys since reading this. I really enjoy this game, and wish it was more widely played. He breaks the chapter down in "concepts" Which are easy to read and understand. A real Gem!

Jennifer Harmon's section is good. I am actually going to reread it again. I have been a No Limit player mainly, and I want to get into limit...but it has been a rocky transisiton. She makes some good points, some stuff that I read and said, I see. But I have only played lower level games(5/10..is about the highest you can get around me) and stuff here isn't going to be all that helpful. I am looking to move up in stakes at nearby casinos, and hopefully this info will come in useful

And then there's Doyle's No Limit. He admits that it's pretty much a repint from SSI. I like his overall style, of being aggresive. Without ever reading this, alot of his ideas, I already had incorporated in my game, Im naturally aggessive. But he constantly says, "depending on the man", meaning what your opponent is like. ANd that is HUGE in NL. Some people just won't lay stuff down. So when your shoving at them, chances are they ain't falling down, and this can be very expensive. So "depending on the man" is a GIANT UNDERSTATEMENT! There is no real alternate explanation on how to fight off call stations. If you play this style, you better have a bankroll. yeah, in the long run your profit against donkey callers, but if you are in Vegas for a weekend on a budget...you can get burned easily

This book made me go from a pathetic loser to a billionaire!!!! I've read it at least 10 times now and dominate bitches!!! I highly recommend getting this book and relying it as your 2nd Bible!!!

I have looked over this book and I feel much of people's criticism is just unfounded. There is a lot of good advice in this book. Several people were complaining that the book talks to much about games other than holdem. This book is great because of that! Being able to play games other than holdem is a skill that is good to know. Since fewer people play things like stud, triple draw, etc the people that do play them play them bad! It is nice to see advice on these games all in one place. I particularly like the section on triple draw. Although Daniel is correct when he says it is only played at higher limits, a few onlin sites have low limit triple draw which is a gold mine since people play so badly. Overall, this book is a great place to get solid advice on a large variety of games and poker in general. I guess if you are on the all other games besides holdem suck bandwagon this isn't the book for you. For real poker players who enjoy all forms of poker this a a great book.

I have played poker for three years. I have been average a lot of this time. This book deals with a variety of games. I mainly read it though for poker's national past time no limit Texas Hold'em. I wasn't dissapointed. Doyle Brunson wrote many pages on strategies and many other things. Unlike Phil Hellmuth, he doesn't say, oh I'm the best poker player in the world. I'm going to cheat you out of your money so you will by my book and hear crao that i will tell you. This section is well done. I also enjoyed the other sections and can play more than one game now. This book is immensely helpful and a great read. I have raked in a lot of winnings and have drastically improved. This is the first book about poker I have read and definatley not my last. I completely recomend this book.

Doyle Brunson's Super System II is a must have for any poker player, regardless of experience.

When poker's living legend puts out a new edition of The Bible, how you can you not read it?
There's great advice here, advice that will make your game sharp.
Though uneven (some sections are lacking, and J. Harmon as the Limit Hold 'Em expert is a stretch), this is a must-read.
Brunson helped define the modern era of poker.
Even if you disagreed with everything in this book (you won't), or didn't learn a thing (you will), you still should read it for its place in the poker pantheon -- or at least because, if you know your opponents have read it and are following the advice, you can counter their strategies.

I have read both super system I and II along with four or five other poker books and I think super system II is a must read for anyone who is serious about poker. The knowledge you get from it would take you many years at the table to learn. Also I think you must read it because Doyle is the most popular player out there and the majority of the people who are looking for a book on poker will buy this one before any other because of Doyle's popularity so I believe you have to read it because you will meet a lot of players at tables who have read it and will be using the power poker style he has learned in this book and you will immediatly pick up on that and be able to adjust to it. The authors he has choosen are all great, I think the chapter by author Mike Caro was a great addition making it better than super system I but I have to agree with a review I read earlier that it is such a waste to have daniel negreanu who I believe to be one of the better players out there today do a chapter only on triple draw, seriously how many people are playing that game today. Doyle should have given us what we really want no limit no limit no limit !!!!!!

This book has good information for a newbie, but I've been playing poker for 4 years and it really didn't provide me with any new or insightful strategies. This was the first poker book I have ever read, so I don't have much to compare it to, but I thought it would go into specific details such as hand analysis, timing, bet amounts and so forth...but the details are not there...he may say, "I'll put in a big bet or overbet," but that's about it. Mike Caro's section on "tells", however, is decently insightful. Since I mostly play online, I'll look forward to applying this info next time I go to the casino. But overall, if you're already relatively versed in poker strategy, this book will do you little good.

A great poker book for 'a fox'. This book gives great advice on not only hold 'em, but also 7 card stud hi-lo, omaha hi, omaha hi-lo and a lowball. If you just want a hold 'em book read Dan Harrington's book on tournament hold 'em. However, this book is written for a well-rounded poker player.

I first bought the book just to complete the set and at first review of the book I thought it was OK but not as good as the first book, which was simply incredible at the time it was published.

The second book has grown on me in the last few weeks. I now think this is a good book and a great bargain for someone interested in playing multiple forms of poker but is not currently booked on the different games. The sections on Stud 8/b, Omaha Pot Limit, and Omaha HiLo are solid. If you were to go and buy books on each of these games you would probably have to pay $15 a piece for books, those sections alone probably amount at least $45 worth of material.

In addition the section Limit Hold Em is very good. I have not read the No Limit section but it was done by Doyle so I would reckon that it is solid advice.

The Mike Caro section is good also if a person has not already read advice such as this elsewhere.

I currently appreciate the book more now than when I first bought it. I think if someone plays on-line poker in one form or the other and wants to venture into other variations this would be a good one stop source for info on several types of games.

this is One Big Book. It will take many hours to read, but when you are finished your game will thank you

This book will Inspire You to become a Winner. I suggest you read it and devour it. Over the course of time you will win as long as you aplpy the principles in this book

This is an incredible book. If you want to learn to master the game this is a great read. Doyle has shown time and time again that he is not only a great player but an exciting player to watch with his unpredictable plays. Although some of the book contained information that was discussed in the first super system the book was definitely interesting.

Another book that i have found good was Issa Jouaneh's No limit Texas Hold'em tournaments book. This book is also good for beginners and advanced players and explains a unique way of playing the game. A must read!!

I almost didn't order this book, after seeing other reviews about how this book of a biography of Doyle than a poker book.

This book is 624 pages.. less than 100 of them are Doyle's story.

One of the things about this book is it's not for the beginner in that it doesn't go too deeply into winning percentages of specific hands. I found that much of the book had to do with improving your table image and style of play as opposed to teaching basic fundamentals of poker.

All in all, I thought it was a great book.

Some other reviewers have complained about this book including too many other forms of poker besdies no limit hold 'em. While I concede I would have liked a longer no limit section,this book deserves the acclaim it recieves. The no limit section helps the reader understand how important a system is to playing poker (hence the name). Brunson gives useful insight into stragety. It provides a very helpful foundation to be a better-than-average player. This chapter alone would give a clear advantage over the everyday poker player.Brunson describing the framework of his system helped me develop a system best adopted to my strengths. The other chapters are useful too, even to someoone only interested in no limit. Learning other game helps improve one's game in no limit. Variety is also the spice of life. The organization isn't bad either. It's quite good. I've read the no limit section three times and found that writing extensive notes was extremely easy because of the logical format. The authors boasting isn't overwhelming either. Sure, they mention their creditals, but it's not irritating, and even if it is to someone, the reader could just skip that part. It's not imperative to understanding the stragety part of the book. In sum, I highly recommend this book. It is truly a must read.

This is for sure the best poker book I have read to date. I like the style Doyle Brunson is writing in but as I only play no-limit poker I might have bee better of buying the book Doyle have made dedicated purely for nolimit poker.

This book is similar to the previous book. However, this is great book anyway. You must read either SSI or SSII.

I thought I learned it all with "Super System". The only way to learn is from the master himself. Fanstic input from other greats of the game. Will be great future reference.

As other reviewers here have noted (and I have to agree) there is a certain messiness to the way this book was written and it could have used a much stronger editorial hand.
Those quibbles aside, there is plenty of new and valuable info inside, including Brunson's tips on playing online poker (and suggestions as to why someone might prefer to do that compared to playing poker in real life, offline). There are additional tips on tournament play and then there is the advice by other card playing experts.
All of this makes the book worth buying because - when it comes right down to it- you never know when the right kernel of info might just be what you need - at that crucial moment. And face it - if you're a pro (or aspiring to be one) you aren't going to be able to resist reading this or you'll drive yourself nuts wondering if there is some little tidbit that could help you win that next hand. So don't fight the urge.

To the folks dissing Doyle Brunson, whoa, just wait a minute here!

Oh no, he's not won a tourney for years? Well, have you? On a consistent basis he still makes it to the final table against the greatest players in the world today. Have you?

Most of us out there will never enter tourneys on a regular basis. Most of us will play a regular game, perhaps, and the occasional jaunt into the casino. With a book like this, we're given a better chance to succeed as the hope is that your friends around the table haven't read it.

Stop all this nonsense and see the book as what it is - a well-versed guide to improve your game.

Shuffle up & deal!

That was good. "Danny Niegro?". I can't stop laughing. My copy is on the way. Cannot wait - I agree and suspect it will be awesome as well. BTW - Just got "Harrington on Holdem". That is a college course on poker (be prepared to study) and I highly recommend it. I've been waiting for Super System II for quite a while. 5-stars on rep alone.

Super System is the "Bible of Poker", not the Babe Ruth. I mean, c'mon.

Also, I have never heard of Danny Niegro, but I think Daniel Negreanu contributes to this book.

Did the editor really look at this book?

Regardless, based on the first, I am sure the second will be a 5-star.

For those who want to learn the fundamentals of different poker games there isn't a better primer out there than Super System 2. Doyle Brunson has chosen some of the most entertaining and insightful professionals around to share their strategies and advice to new and experienced players alike for each of the six different games covered in the book. As a bonus there are tips from Mike Caro, a chapter dedicated to on-line play, and a tournament overview which will be especially helpful to those without alot of large-field tournament experience. Doyle's own life story is almost worth the price of the book alone and is a must read for those who truly want to appreciate the roots of the game today!

This book should be in every poker player's library. No other book covers so many forms of poker in such depth.

you don't get better then Doyle Brunson. And anyone he would pick to write for him has to be world class. a must read. but his chapter really isn't different from SS 1.

Super System II provides some great insights into playing poker.
The book provides a great overview of a number of variations of poker.

Simply; Dolly has written the best book on poker. period!!!

This is one of three texas holdem books I bought after I became interested in playing online poker.

I can see why they call Brunson's book the Bible of poker.

Each chapter is written by an expert in that particular titled chapter.

The book was very helpful and quite easy to follow, even for a beginner.

Yeah, you'd better pack a lunch when you settle in to read this one. While covering a great deal of information, the verbage is NOT for a starting player.

Doyles section is basically the same and is why it got 2 stars in the first place. I feel the poker pros were not used properly for this book. Daniel negranu is a coward for doing three card draw that has no merit on real card tables and he should of just declined it in the first place,he is a no limit and omaha 8 or better expert and should of wrote on that instead. Bobby baldwin was the most sound poker player during his time, kind of like alan cunningham of today. So I dont know why he didnt write the limit chapter again, I think modern day limit players would have really been in for a treat. I have nothing against jeniffer harmen writing it but I think it was better served for baldwin. Please save your money and dont buy this book. If need be they should have it at your local library.

The book is very informative. The only suggestions would be in the layout. It was a little cumbersome in reviewing.

Brunson's first GREAT book came out in the 70's and omitted any Omaha discussion. That gap is now covered. Any serious poker player must read both of Brunson's books. Each chapter, discussing a particular topic, is written by someone BRUNSON himself considers an expert on that topic. Hold 'Em and Omaha players absolutely must read Brunson.

It was everything I expected. I have watched Doyle for years and expect to profit from his book.

The section over limit hold'em by Jennifer Harman is very well done. Maybe about 70 pages are not enough for covering every detail of lh. On general it's very usefull.

As others complained Doyle Brunson just copied with a few new sentences the no limit hold'em section. But the most disappointing thing on this was the added chart about Double Belly-Buster (Straight) by Richard Englesteen. There are too many mistakes for such a short work!

It is True Doyle Brunson is one of the Legends of Poker primarily because of the high risk reputation he gained through all the back room card games in Texas. He has won 9 WSOP Gold Bracelets, including 2 back to back Titles in the 70's. But the question has to be asked , What have you done for me lately? Most of the younger, and newer players to the game have read Super System, and Brunson basically spilled his guts, and strategy out on the table when writing that book. Which can possibly explain why he has not won a title since. On World Poker Tour show 2/16/2005, Brunson with a 9 to 1 chip lead lost in 5 hands to David Sklansky, now that would be like Michael Jordan playing one on one with someone leading 40 to 10 going to 50, and losing, that is total embarasement. You can take all the odds, strategys, philosophys and what ever is being sold to hype Texas Hold 'em right now, and the game boils down to the LUCK OF THE DRAW. Yes the strategies, and odds can help keep you in the game longer, but when all is said and done the Luck of The Draw makes or breaks the player. Texas Hold 'EM is a good if not the best poker game, but all the media hype, and overkill is going to cause a negitive back lash in a year or two that will seriously deminish the interest in the game. Craps at one time was the big casino glamor game, but it is seldomly mentioned any more, just like Rubex Cubes were all the rage in the 80's. All the hype, is doing Texas Hold 'EM a dis service, because it will fade in the sun set as yesterdays fad.

Doyle Brunson's Super System II This is a big, big book with a lot of information to digest. If you are a Poker player and haven't read this book, you should. If you are looking for a book on the game of poker and you want to buy only one book, this is the one book to buy. It will improve your game. It is written in a manner that keeps it interesting as well as informative. Well worth the money.

If you have bought the first super system then don't waste your money on this one. It basically is super system one on doyles part. If you want the other authors views on stud, draw ect... then but it.

Some people say they dont like this book and i imagine its becuase they only play nl hold em and thats only like 100 pages of this book. The many number of games it covers made this a must buy for me. NLHE gets boring after a while, right? If you want to learn some limit games get this book, it covers pot limit omaha (the new nlhe) also. I also enjoyed the non-game sections like the tourney chapters and the caro section which had many general good tips. There are scattered "live tells" tips given in the book which was cool too.

This book it's so amazing, if you play poker you must read it, it helps you a lot in your game.

Now this is the "new testiment" of the poker books. Doyle is a very smart man and knows who to talk to about playing poker. This book is NOT for beginners. Well, worth the time spent reading (well we will see if it pays off).

My son, a corporal in the United States Marines, serving his third tour in Iraq at present, called and asked me to go online and purchase Doyle Brunson's Super System and Super System II. I did, sent 'em to him. I asked him if he liked the books. "They're pretty good." That's all the review we're going to get out of him. He's a serious Texas Hold'em player, and he wants to be the best--which he is why he's in the Marines, I suppose.

Although I'm not DBs biggest fan (more a TJ Cloutier man myself), I do appreciate his achievements, and to say he hasn't won a tournament since his last book is just ridiculus, 2003 Legends tourney, 2003 WSOP H.O.R.S.E tourney etc etc... the list is huge, not to mention the many cash finishes like at the 2004 WSOP