It seems appropriate that a review of Harrington on Cash Games Vol. 1 should follow my post about my good day at the casino, since this book is largely responsible for my win.

Harrington’s definitive work on tournaments is well known, but he clearly has as good of an understanding about cash games. Cash games are a bit different in some regards to tournaments and it has always been a stumbling block of mine to be able to adjust my game to make allowances for these (seemingly) minor differences.

1. The blinds never increase in a cash game.
2. You can buy-in for 100 BB or sometimes much much more.
3. You can reload chips if you lose what’s in front of you.

These differences don’t seem like much, but they actually do make the two games very different.

In my case, I numerous holes in my cash game because I was playing cash games too similarly to the tournament games I play. For instance, I was over valuing top pair and a good kicker. With hands like this in a case game, I was often building big pots. Two things would happen here. I’d either win a small pot when I bet and everyone folded or I’d lose a big pot by losing sight of what was probably beating me if someone was willing to go into a big pot with me.

Also, I played too tight. It’s hard to win big pots playing hands like AK in a cash game. It’s easier in a tournament because the blinds/antes go up so often that opponents are forced to be more aggressive with weaker holdings. Whereas, with a cash game, the only time someone is going to play back at when you have AK on a board of K T 9 is when they have the straight. Otherwise, like I mentioned, you’ll win a small pot but lose the big ones.

Major hole and thanks to this book, a hole I’ve hopefully plugged. The cash game I played Wednesday was evidence to me that perhaps I have.

The first volume of this book teaches small ball, tight-aggressive, big-stack strategy pre-flop and after the flop. Volume two will carry on where this book left off with turn/river play, tells and observations, loose-aggressive play and finally bankroll management.

It’s a MUST have for anyone serious about winning cash games, especially small stake no-limit cash games (the limits for which this book is aimed).

There have been two well talked about no-limit cash game books to come out this year, Professional No-Limit Hold ‘em: Volume I and this one. I’ve read both now (review of the latter forthcoming) and I have to say (unfortunately, as much as I like Ed Miller) Harrington does a far superior job of improving at least MY no-limit cash game.

As always, I only recommend books/sites/etc that I truly believe make good on their claims and help a person improve their game. This is such a book, as are the other books listed in the sidebar.

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