|
Super System 2 by Doyle Brunson
Overall:  
Content: 
Organization:
General:
This book follows Doyle Brunson's original masterpiece, Super System. This updated and revised book offers players a chance to read relatively brief sections on a variety of games including limit hold'em, no-limit hold'em, Omaha eight-or-better, Pot-limit Omaha high, 7 stud 8/b, triple draw and tournaments. Players will also enjoy reading about Doyle Brunson's life story (one of the most fascinating parts of the book).
Book Content:
Although I cannot claim to know enough about games like triple draw to comment on some of the strategies, I found the information in Super System 2 solid but far from ground breaking. Anyone who attempts to follow the advice given in the section about no-limit hold'em cash games might soon find themselves cleaned out by today's calling stations because the section advises far too much aggression based on the assumption that no-limit games induce fear in one's opponents. Today, low limit no-limit has eliminated the kind of "fear" that might exist in a no-limit live game without a cap on the buy-in. This should certainly not be a player's primary reference for NLHE.
Jennifer Harman's section on limit advises you to play solid and straight-forward, with only the occasional suggestion of deception or change in play. Certainly this is a reasonable approach to limit, but the section itself is almost too bland for my liking. For the length of the section, the advice is good, but as with the no-limit section, I would suggest that one consider picking up a book that deals specifically with the kinds of games you'll be playing in.
One definite strength of Super System 2 is that it combines several games into a single book, which is definitely cost-effective for players looking to get their feet wet in several types of games. One could easily spend over a hundred dollars trying to accumulate books on each of the games listed, and although one does not get a complete background in any of the games, Super System 2 gives solid advice in each area.
The book also gives regular players a glimpse into the life of high stakes gambling in the past as well as today. Brunson's tales of road gambling and his experiences as a young man are well worth reading, as is his incredible story on a health scare. I think the book could have done without the gratuitous sections on the WPT and Brunson's personal poker site considering the book is expensive, and I didn't pay to read advertisements, no matter how well they are disguised.
Organization:
Super System 2 strikes the right balance between form and function. There are decent breaks between chapters with pictures, charts or caricatures that keep the book from becoming a long, unbroken chain of text. I especially liked some of the rare photos from the early World Series Of Poker events. The use of actual cards instead of just numbers and letters (eg. 7s or 7c) makes the strategy sections easier to follow and less of a strain on the eyes. I thought that the appendix (glossary) could have included more information. At over 670 pages long, the book may scare some readers away, even though it is actually a fluid read.
Book Audience:
The book is intended for an intermediate to advanced audience, although if you are experienced at hold'em and want to try something new, it could be a decent introduction to other games. From there you could continue to read more books specifically designed for the game you are trying to learn. There is no reason that players with only limited experience but a good grasp of the fundamentals would not appreciate Super System 2.
 
| 
