No-limit hold'em may be all the rage right now, but in the United States there are still far more limit hold'em games spread in public card rooms than anything else, probably more than all other games types combined.
A plethora of books are available for those who are beginners to low limit hold'em, but much less is available for experienced players who are looking to win at the middle and upper limits. Barry Tanenbaum has had success in these games for many years. Finally, he shares some of the secrets to his poker success in his aptly named new book, Advanced Limit Hold'em Strategy.
Tanenbaum is a successful player, a long-time poker columnist, a well respected public speaker on poker matters, and a successful poker coach. Not only does he have considerable knowledge and insight into the game, but his magazine columns, seminar appearances, and coaching practice affords him a great deal of experience in communicating these ideas to poker students. Consequently, his ideas are clear and precise as they come through on the printed page.
About the first third of the book contains necessary material outlining Tanenbaum's approach to the game, setting the stage for the subsequent discussion of strategic details. At times, this part feels a little dry, but this foundation is necessary for the specific advice that follows. These fundamentals are referred to constantly in later parts of the text, so the reader should not merely skim through them on their way to the meat of the book. Part 2, the balance of the book, covers poker situations that a player commonly faces in mid limit to upper limit games, where the stakes are high and the opposition is tough and aggressive.
Those who haven't played in these games will almost certainly be surprised at the sorts of situations that are described, as well as the way the author recommends playing them. However, this is the way that bigger limit hold'em games are played, and Tanenbaum knows well what it takes to show a long-term profit in them.
Tanenbaum's advice is clearly communicated, carefully thought out, and incisive. I believe his analyses of these poker situations are very strong, and he often discusses aspects to hands that did not immediately occur to me. His strategic advice is liberally sprinkled with examples that are perfectly constructed to elaborate on the points he makes. In so many places he provides so much good advice, that I expect that multiple readings will prove necessary for most poker players to extract everything that Tanenbaum has to teach.
As a whole, Advanced Limit Hold'em Strategy more than lives up to its title.
This is a very good book fi lled with excellent analyses of how to play and win in middle limit hold'em games and beyond. I expect those who are trying to move up the limit hold'em ladder will gain a great deal from this book, I know I did. Consequently, I strongly recommend it for those who play in these games or are looking to do so. This is one of the better strategic poker books I've read in quite a while. -Nick Christenson
