Harrington on Cash Games, Volume II: How to Play No-Limit Hold 'em Cash Games Paperback – Illustrated, August 23, 2023

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 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.

I liked this book because it gave me insights and things I hadn't thought about.

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 have always been a fan of Harrington's poker style. He seems to be able to take advantage of the other player's mistakes. And in Volume Two of Harrington on Cash, he tells you how to do the same. After only reading through the book once, I have already had $20 winnings each time I play online poker.The book stars out right where Volume One left off, talking about being a tight-aggressive player. So, I would suggest buying them in a set. Harrington also gives great 'problems' for you to work out after each chapter. I find Harrington on par with Sklansky and even Doyle Brunson with their poker advice and the edge that they will give you for the game.See you at the felt!

Harrington uses tons of examples, likely scenarios for hands. He explains the thinking behind a lot of decisions. this book (set) is huge. I would recommend vol. I first (covers preflop and flop play) then vol II.(turn river).Worth reading many times to really learn some of the methodology and randomizing he suggests. Anyone who can read this and follow the advice in a disciplined way, coupled with decent table observation skills and memory can really step their game up a notch.(I have read a ton of poker books and VOL I and II would rank near or at the top)