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Shane Smith and Tom McEvoy's newest book "How to Beat Low-Limit Poker" is correctly subtitled "A Beginner's Guide" as it is not aimed at anyone who knows the difference between a set and trips. While some of the strategies discussed in the book would be helpful reminders to all players regardless of skill level, the main focus of the book is in providing a simple, clear and easy to follow introduction to poker and a helpful guide to some solid strategy for a variety of low-limit games.
Smith is actually female poker pro Dana Smith, who has written a number of other poker guides, notably a volume on beating low-limit Omaha Hi-Lo. McEvoy is a multiple bracelet winner and author of his own dozen poker strategy books. Their collaboration here is a breezy 158 pages that is designed, in their words, to take the novice from "diving to thriving." It covers low limit and no-limit cash games for Texas Hold'em, low limit Omaha Hi-Lo and low limit hold'em tournaments.
Assuming no starting knowledge of poker, the book begins with the basics - the really basic basics - such as mundane poker terminology (hole cards, flop, and community cards) that is second-hand to anyone who has watched poker, let alone played any. Its focus is on the type of game the vast majority of players play but is not shown on TV - low limit poker. And it is an important difference. These games usually have more people seeing flops and are often played down to a showdown. Bluffing is much less of a factor and varying the size of one's bet is a non-issue. Instead, the focus is on position, starting hands, and reading the flop.
Adapting, of all people, the Reverend Robert Schuller's "Possibility Thinking" to poker, the authors identify four stages of poker play - diving, surviving, striving and thriving. The first phase is identified with a few simple mistakes - playing too many hands, chasing too many draws, and staying in too long. To move out of this stage the authors recommend employing some simple discipline reminiscent of the Kenny Rogers song - basically, know when to hold 'em and know when to fold'em. Playing tighter, knowing where you stand and getting out if you are beat is a simple mantra that can help the low limit player avoid big trouble.
To move from avoiding big losses to winning, according to the authors, you have to recognize the problems with your play, study your opponents' tendencies, and learn to read the board. The last phase is where you do what many claim is impossible - actually winning money at low limit games. That can be accomplished, the authors tell us, if you play fewer hands, make fewer calls, learn to read your opponents hands, play assertively, pay attention to how many people are in the pot, and look for chances to steal blinds.
The book then uses practice hands to discuss how you should play various hands depending on a number of differing factors including, your position, the action in front of you, the pot, and the board. It is a good reminder that you are not just playing your cards, but a whole host of other factors, even in the low limit games. The discussions show new players that there are no rules that apply every time and that you have to adjust your play to where you are sitting, what happens before you have to act, who will be acting after you, and what the board shows. Particularly good advice is realizing when a great starting hand has been overtaken by the flop and learning not to fall in love with your hand to the exclusion of evidence that it is no longer ahead.
After taking the beginning player through the basics of hold'em and Omaha hi-/lo, the book then goes on to the basics of tournament play and strategies for handing various hands. Again, the authors assume no previous knowledge of tournament poker and begin their discussion with all the different types of tournaments and various considerations in choosing a tournament. Not all tournaments are created equal, and the book helps new players to think about blind structure, rebuys, starting chip stack, prize pool, and other factors before they jump into a tournament. Admittedly, the book is not offering high level strategy for someone looking for their first WSOP bracelet, but the book directs those interested in upping their game to other, more in-depth books.
There were a few problems of the book, not the least of which was its title as there were over thirty pages devoted to no-limit, rather than low limit, poker. There were also discussions of tournament play in the cash play section, which might confuse the novice. And there was some repetition of key concepts and phrases. But, none of these are fatal flaws.
At bottom, this is solid, basic strategy guide for the beginner. It is not written over their heads, using undefined terminology or omitting certain basic information. Beginners can feel comfortable reading this book and using it to learn or improve their game. The book even comes with a glossary of poker terms at the end. If, however, you are a seasoned poker player, this may not be a book you would buy for yourself, but you can still buy it for your less experienced friends or family members who want to start playing and are not sure whether a flop is the first three community cards or what Vlade Divac does underneath the basket.