Michael Craig's Poker Blog Forum: Full Tilt Strategy Guide

I presume the book focuses mostly on NL holdem tournament play?

I've read some other reviews of it and they were mostly positive. It not only goes over Hold em but it covers(to a lesser extent) Razz, Stud and Stud Hi/Lo and highlights differences in tournament strategy and cash game play for those games. I'm definitely interested in hearing a review from someone who's read the book.

I'm currently reading chapter 6 "play before the flop". So far I like Fergunson's strategy on betting preflop and Lederer's chapter on leverage.

When reading this book, I would recommend re reading chapters periodically in order to reinforce the concepts.

So far a great read.

Edit: I have noted some things that make no sense, Fergunsons chapter and Lederer's chapter compaired to Forrest's and Bloch's ones. They seem to discount each other. I CAN see Forrest's chapter on how to change play, but Bloch's one simply makes no sense.

If I am playing tight, I'm ONLY using the top most hands. Why am I even bothering to play lessor hands especially early in a tourney? I know late in a tourney I have to change up how I play but this IS insane. Contradictions abound in this book so far, how am I an amature supposed to play like the pro's when I get advice that goes in ten different directions?

I understand my reads on other players have alot to do with it, however a tourney guide should teach us how to play and be effective IF we follow your advice.

I've read the blogs from the pro's and all you get is a smattering of nondiscript info. All in vague terms and no substance. At least in Fergunson's and Lederer's chapters they give you specifics. I am highliting what I feel whats important in the book and will continue until I am finished with it.

Its strange, **** about a book written by folks that have many years more time learning the game when you figure out some of what they say simply by playing.

I am SO confused.....

Hey! I'm the one plugging the book! I should get the signed copy, lol.

Great idea Cluss, it's been moved.

Nice job on the book Mr. Craig, maybe one of these days I can get a signed copy.

My guess is yes, even though I have not read the book, yet. The book features advice from several successful tournament pros. Some of the advice will probably be similar to the advice found in HOH, and some will contradict it.

My take on it -- with absolutely no factual information to back it up with -- is that this is more of a personality book, which suits me. Each chapter is written by a different pro (in conjunction with Michael Craig) and gives their strategy for the given topic. I'm sure it will have useful information in it regardless of what you've read before.

It suits me because it's contextual. You read varying strategies all the time and have to listen to self-important people who've read those strategies declare them to be the absolute Word of God when the none of them are worth the paper they're printed on without context. Nevermind the fact that there are many different successful styles of play.

I hope and expect this book to explore several of those different styles and I'm going to buy it from the FTP store when it becomes available.

BTW: this thread might be better suited in Michael Craig's forum since, well, he wrote the book.

Yes mostly nl but there are others. The info pages break it down pretty well.

Andy Bloch's pre-flop chapter blew my mind.

I'm pretty much a beginner, I've only been playing for money for about 4 months. I really don't know enough about poker and poker writing to write a proper review. So maybe this thread should be moved to Michael Craig's blog section, and reviews can be added when more people have read the book.