Harpo1952

I've found the HoH series to be the most helpful of any I've read. If you haven't read Vol 1 or 2, don't start start with Vol 3 because the workbook refers to the earlier ones and uses some Harrington jargon. If you have read them, then the workbook is good to read in spurts and definitely takes you into hand analysis and a pro's thought process.Enjoy your trip!

I think I share your approach to the game (goals and low-limit tournament action). I love the game, but am not a gambler at heart. I find that people have to have something on the line to make it poker (as opposed to just topping up a play-money account). I have no need or desire to move up in the poker world or augment income with it - it's a way of "keeping score". When I grind out similar successes over time, I've cashed out - usually leaving about $500 to cover variances. I used some of the cash out to start an Education Fund for my grandson (that made my on-line time a little bit more pa

I play low-stakes ($5 and $10 SNG) and found Harrington (both volumes) helped immensely. When I do play the odd free-roll, the play is so loose that you can't really guage your game. Even having $5.00 on the line seems to encourage people to take things more seriously.Hang in there - and make sure to pick up Volume II - especially helpful late in tournaments when the blinds rise and you're short-stacked.Good luck.

Quite apart from the blind structure and other information available from the sites mentioned - you may want to get clear with the group how many tournaments you want to play and also find something for the losers to do if you're playing more than one tournament.We usually play threee or four sit and go's in an evening (just $10 buy-in, as much for the social time as hard core poker). We start with about 200 chips with blinds of 1/2, 2/4, 3/6, 5/10, 15/30, 20/40, 25/50, 50/100, 150/200 - going up every 15 or 20 minutes. Usually a bit sooner when it gets heads-up. The tourney's usually take an

Quite apart from the blind structure and other information available from the sites mentioned - you may want to get clear with the group how many tournaments you want to play and also find something for the losers to do if you're playing more than one tournament.We usually play threee or four sit and go's in an evening (just $10 buy-in, as much for the social time as hard core poker). We start with about 200 chips with blinds of 1/2, 2/4, 3/6, 5/10, 15/30, 20/40, 25/50, 50/100, 150/200 - going up every 15 or 20 minutes. Usually a bit sooner when it gets heads-up. The tourney's usually take an

Just wanted to add my two-bits worth that both his books are great. I agree with whoever found Sklansky hard to digest. Harrington (and Robertie) are good, humourous writers and use the case studies well.Because of my generally conservative style, I found no problem with his tight/aggressive approach. And like other posters, book 2 showed me the whens and wheres of being aggressive in the later rounds. The chapter on heads-up alone was worth the money.Thumbs up to "Action Dan".

Good questions - I was thinking of a NL HE sit and go tournament with fairly balanced stacks. I'm still learning the subtlies of NL and would be interested in hearing how the aggressiveness of the table would influence your decisions.

I was wondering how many players constitute "short handed" and what type of hands rise in value.When, for example, would you play A9 in middle position?

What would your chip stack/big blind ratio be to be considered "short stacked"?

Played against a guy on went ballistic on line because he thought his hand tied the winner, yet he lost. After a profanity-laced blast, it turns out he wasn't familiar with the concept of a kicker. His next chat was a very quiet "oh" - he left the table next hand.

Great site - thanks for such a quick response.

A bunch of us have been playing a friendly, monthly low-limit hold'em game. We're now thinking of trying a no-limit tournament format ($20 buy-in or so). I'd appreciate your advice and experience on such events and in particular wondered about the following:1) How does it work out as far as people who are eliminated early? I've been worried that it could get boring for the first couple of guys eliminated.2) What do you normally start the blinds at (assuming $100 worth of chips to start, say). When and by how much do you increase them?Thanks for any feedback.