Harrington on Cash Games, Volume II: How to Play No-Limit Hold 'em Cash Games

The Harrington cash game series makes an excellent addition to any poker player's library. Of course, players must realize that cash game play is not as dynamic or exciting as tournament play (the subject of Harrington's three volume hold em series). To profit in cash game play, you need to be patient, avoid serious mistakes and maximize value on each and every hand you play. There's no larger macro-tournament strategy to keep in mind: you simply play the cards that you're dealt and try to wring whatever value you can from your hands.In a lot of ways cash game play is more basic than tournament play, though in practice you need a lot more skill to turn a consistent profit. Raw aggression can often compensate for a lack of subtle hand reading skills and value betting in tournament play; raw, untamed aggression in a cash game will get you felted.Harrington knows his subject well, but he's not an expert cash game player. There have also been many books written on cash game play, starting with Doyle back in the late 70s. So there's not the groundbreaking effect we saw with Harrington's tournament books in these two volumes on cash game play: but as I said with Vol. 1, they're well-worth the price of admission. You can learn a lot about playing the turn and river for maximum value in Vol. 2 here, and that can make all the difference between a winning and losing session. This may not be a must-read, but you'd be hard-pressed to find too many other capable books on no limit hold em cash game play.I'd also recommend  Poker Tips that Pay: Expert Strategy Guide for Winning No Limit Texas Hold em  for readers that are looking beyond the Harrington series, for additional hand-based poker strategies and techniques.

Well...I've always been a tournament player for as long as I can remember, but started playing cash games a year ago and was always looking for a good book on cash games. For those who have looked for poker cash games books, you know that its quite difficult to find great books on this subject until Harrington came out with this cash games book almost 2 years ago. Now I'm not any big time cash player, so my primary interest was low stakes NL cash games ( 1-2,2-4 ). Now, to my pleasant surprise, there is an entire section on beating weak games toward the back of the book. This was EXACTLY what I was looking for...." how to beat weak low stakes games " Anyhow I found the information remarkable and indispensable to say the least. I already knew how to make adjustments from playing tourneys to cash games and now this book has allowed me to understand the thinking behind playing a certain way against players at this level. I've already made a good profit in the last 3 sessions Ive played at local casinos.Now...let me be clear on one thing....by following these tips, you are by no means guaranteed to win as many of you know....but it does give you a guide and framework to work with, adopt and practice against these low stakes games.As in any poker game, cash or tournaments, the caveats of poker success like flexibility, making proper adjustments to your opponents, knowing proper odds, as well as mixing up your play hold true as ever.

I'm just now getting back into the game after a hiatus of 5 years. The first thing I noticed is that the games at the local casino, "the boat," are far wilder than what I used to play for years on line. I picked up a couple of books on Amazon as a way to improve and dust off the rust. This book was excellent. In particular, I found the last section of this book on Wild Games to be invaluable. The specific advice was absolutely necessary as when I go there I feel as if I'm playing with a foreign species of poker players. I got an immediate benefit from reading it. I also enjoyed the interview with Bobby Hoff whom I had never heard of previously. I also found the section on bankroll management to be helpful and I know I'll be consulting it again in the future. 2+2 rocks and so do the authors! In the old days, 2004 and 2005, I read the Harrington on Hold 'em series religiously along with several other 2+2 books. It's good to get back to Action Dan. I have infinite respect for the man.

I think someone else pointed out a small flaw in the book, where it seems like sometimes one piece of advice would contradict another. For example, I think in one place, the book might have recommended that you bet a certain way with a single pair, but elsewhere recommended betting a different way when you are bluffing and pretending that you have that pair.However, there were very few issues like that, and the rest of the book was excellent.In particular, it was amazingly readable. The sample hands had enough rich and interesting and specific detail, that you wanted to just keep reading one after another as they told their little stories.That alone makes me recommend this pair of books.Well, that and the fact that they taught me all sorts of interesting things that I didn't learn in the tournament book.

I am writing this review for both of Harrington's books on cash games.There are a lot of good, and not so good books on playing Texas Hold'em cash games. Harrington's books, "Harrington on Cash Games", I and II are a couple of the best. Granted, 85% of the series repeat what many others have written, many times. This series is very well written, Harrington's concepts are clearly expressed.The difference between these and other books are in that 15% extra. For example his discussions on how to play deep, moderate and short stack games. Or how he sizes bets under different circumstances. Discussions like these are where Harrington really separates his books on cash games from most other books.I would rate this book a notch (abet a very small notch) above David Sklansky and Ed Miller's book "No Limit Hold'em in Theory and Practice", since Harrington's book is a bit easier to read, and concepts are presented a little clearer. Both are great.

Has helped my game

Firstly, make sure that if you buy this book you are either really good at Cash games or you have read and own the first book in the series, Harrington on Cash Games 1.This book focuses primarily on good turn and river play, as if you are playing good pre and post flop play against what stacks you have, then most of the bets on 4th and 5th street will be for a large proportion of your stack, so this book will help that critical large amount of your stack stay intact!A definate read, with loads of hand analysis and interesting discussions on key moments of the hand, you get a great insight into how Harrington plays the game, and you certainly go on a journey that will definately improve your play.Buy with the first book!

A fantastic continuation of Volume 1.If you enjoyed the first volume but felt like it ended so suddenly without telling you how to play the turn and river and stuff.... get this one. It's basically the second half of the book.5 out of 5 stars because Harrington's poker books are the best I've ever read. I'm never disappointed by anything by him.

Excellent.

The 'theory' sections are interesting and useful as a general guide for things such as starting hand ranges. The worked hand examples are very useful and it's also enjoyable to see the thought processes that go through (or at least should go through) each player's mind as the hand progresses. A very thorough book.

Excellent