Small Stakes No-Limit Hold'em

I started playing poker online about 6 months ago after a paragliding accident which kept me in a wheelchair for about 2 months.

Play on a local site, Silversands poker, on the play sites and after a week realised that it was a complete waste of time, even with my limited knowledge I could see that the playing styles on the play money tables just did not make sense most of the time, so i started playing the freeroll.

What an eye opener! Suddenly there were only two or three players pre-flop, smaller pots, more strategic playing, I was hooked but also got my ass kicked time after time.

I got a copy of Phil's "Play Poker like the Pros", and stuck to his top hands with some success on the freeroll for about 2 months, when i decided to try my hand at playing for real.

I also had some success, playing (micro) small stakes, winning some bigger pots, but then losing again, always staying at about breakeven, sometimes dipping below my starting bankroll, then making a small comeback, but I lways felt that there was something I as missing, the X-factor, what was worse was that I could not put my finger on what that factor was. I could not understand why I would play tight, make great hands and then still not get paid off.

I revisited Phil's book, expanded my starting hand selection, won again, lost again, no real progress.

Then I bought your book about ten days ago- 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Houston we have Liftoff!!!

I am only at the end of section 1 and the book has almost payed for itself!!! I cannot believe the difference in my approach. I do not even use tracking software (yet), and with some opponents it's almost as if I can actually see what they are holding! I now understand that my playing style was like an open book to some of my regular opponents, that's why they were not paying me off on big hands.

All of a sudden when join a table some guys get u and leave!! The good players that stay behind have a much tougher time bluffing me, the other (weaker players) are at my mercy!

Maybe I am exaggerating a bit there, but I cannot wait to read and apply for the rest of the book.

My opinion is that this is NOT a book for someone that started playing poker last week, unless you have more experienced player to explain some of the terminology and concepts to you, but if you've read one or two more basic books you should pick up fairly quickly.

So, In summary, even after only having read Section 1, I am so excited I just had to let someone know!!

Rudolph Hiemstra

Knysna

South Africa