Heads-Up No-Limit Hold 'em [Perfect Paperback]

Collin Moshman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 20, 2008

Heads-up confrontations can occur in any game, even when every seat is occupied. Yet, most hold em players who transition to the heads-up form, especially if they are from full ring no-limit games, do not succeed. Adjusting to the amount of aggression can be difficult since heads-up battles require you to bet and raise with many more hands than what would be considered standard at a full table.

Despite this, no-limit heads-up hold em is growing rapidly, especially on the Internet. So mastering this form of poker can be invaluable for those seeking to add a winning loose-aggressive component to their game. In addition, with the increasing number of heads-up matches now available, becoming proficient in them can be highly profitable.

This text, written by expert heads-up player Collin Moshman, is the first poker strategy book devoted exclusively to no-limit heads-up play. Through extensive hand examples and accompanying theory, you will learn to: 1. Master expected value, equity, value betting, and the fundamental mathematics of heads-up strategy,
2. Play and exploit each of the most common playing styles,
3. Manipulate the pot size based on your hand and your opponent,
4. Attack button limps, bluff multiple streets, and aggress in the most profitable manner,
5. Distinguish between optimal cash and tournament strategies,
6. Exploit your opponents tendencies and perceptions through metagame mastery, and
7. Maximize your heads-up profits through game theory and fundamental business concepts.

So whether you are an aspiring heads-up professional, or want to be ready for the next time you re challenged to a one-on-one battle, Heads Up No-Limit Hold em provides you with the tools you need to succeed.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Collin Moshman has always held a deep interest for mathematics and games. He received an honors degree in theoretical math from the California Institute of Technology in 2003. He then abandoned his graduate studies in economics after discovering that he could make a better living gambling.

Although Collin started by playing 10¢-25¢ cash no-limit hold em, he quickly began specializing in 1-table sit n go tournaments. These games require a specific math-based approach which Collin mastered through his own online games and detailed in Sit n Go Strategy: Expert Advice for Beating One-Table Poker Tournaments. Also published by Two Plus Two.

Collin started off playing heads up poker for the challenge; he quickly discovered that the tight strategy required for normal sit n go s was inadequate for these matches. A loose-aggressive style with strong elements of unpredictability was required, and he set to work mastering fiancé math and logic of this new game. He consulted with experts in cash and tournament play to verify his theories and put them to paper. The result is this book.

Collin earns the majority of his income playing online poker, both full sit n go s and heads up matches. He has written articles for publications such as Poker Pro and the Two Plus Two Internet Magazine. He also produces instructional videao fStoxpoker. Collin lives in Washington, DC with his fiancee Katie.

Product Details

• Perfect Paperback: 393 pages
• Publisher: Two Plus Two Publishing LLC (September 20, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1880685442
• ISBN-13: 978-1880685440
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #318,015 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Collin Moshman graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 2003 with an honors degree in theoretical mathematics. After depositing $50 onto an online poker site, he studied the game extensively, soon turning professional through his math background.

Collin wrote strategy books on the first two game types he specialized in, "Sit 'n Go Strategy" and "Heads-Up No-Limit Hold 'Em," both of which became instant poker bestsellers. He recently co-authored "The Math of Hold 'Em" with Douglas Zare. His latest project is the poker thriller "The Superuser" which he co-authored with his wife, professional poker player Katie Dozier.

Collin produces poker training videos for Cardrunners and heads Team Moshman, one of the most renowned teams of staked and coached players worldwide. He has personally coached hundreds of students into beating their games through his math-based approach to hold 'em, and spends much of his time playing many different poker variations. He lives in Las Vegas with his wife, yellow lab Wilbur, and cat Mr. Ed.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Place to Start, but no Game Theory, June 28, 2009

By 

Seth Baldwin (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Heads-Up No-Limit Hold 'em (Perfect Paperback)

If most of your experience is at full tables, this book will certainly help you. What I find frustrating is chapters relating to game theory have tantalizing titles, then almost no content. The chapter on "Unexploitable Short Stack Play" has no reference to the Jam-or-Fold table developed by Bill Chen in The Mathematics of Poker (and Andy Bloch before him). The chapter on "Nash Equilibrium" merely describes what a Nash equilibrium is, not how to calculate one or use it in your game. Moshman argues that it's better to play exploitively of your opponents, and while I agree, I don't see how you can omit what unexploitable play looks like because you have to play a basic strategy until you determine what your opponent's style is to exploit.

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps the toughest part of any hand - the Heads Up play, September 27, 2008

By 

Horse Trader (Brooklyn, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heads-Up No-Limit Hold 'em (Perfect Paperback)

This is a great book that focuses 100% on heads up play. Like Moshman's last book on sit and goes, this one gives you both the math and general sound strategy for playing these games. He describes how to beat aggressive opponents, attack weak players, and bet for "price-setting."

The material on Metagame and Pot size manipulation was new for me and very useful. There is also a nice review of fundamentals that includes how to make the mathematically correct decision in almost any hand.

Highly recommended.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent insights, December 12, 2008

By 

Jeffrey D. Neuman - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Heads-Up No-Limit Hold 'em (Perfect Paperback)

The authors first book was one of the most informative and profitable poker books I have ever read so I was very interested in reading more of his ideas and I was not disapointed . Heads Up NLHE is very informative and has some very innovative ideas on how to handle the difficult situations you face in a heads up confrontation. Moshman's thoughts on exploiting different playing styles and pot size control and manipulation were particularly useful . This is a excellent advanced poker book .