By mikes007

December 13, 2010

Dynamic Full Ring Poker is an excellent resource which seems to combine the best knowledge about certain topics (3betting, SPR, opponent profiling, etc) in one easy-to-use reference. The author goes into considerable depth on these topics, resulting in a tome over 300 pages in length.

Throughout the book, SplitSuit explains which lines to take versus various types of opponents, and why those lines are optimal. HUD stats are used and explained liberally. This book contains information on all topics necessary to beat today's online micro and small-stakes full-ring NL hold'em games. Particularly revealing are the analyses which Split does using PokerStove and Flopzilla to explore opponents' ranges, both preflop and postflop. Good bluffing situations are revealed, once we look at the opponent's range and what range he is likely to continue with in that situation.

Perhaps the most interesting chapter in the book is Chapter 20: Creative Line Composition. In this chapter, SplitSuit explains how to create non-standard lines in order to exploit the tendencies of a player or group of players. He uses examples from his own play in the past, where he noticed a pool of players with specific tendencies which could be exploited. He goes through the steps of identifying which tendencies he could exploit, how he created a line to exploit those tendencies, with what range he took that line, and how he determined the best betsizing to use. Perhaps most importantly, he shows how eventually those players whom he was exploiting started to recognize and fix their leaks, and then he had to discontinue trying to exploit them in the same way.

All things considered, this is a great book for learning to be creative and exploitative against a wide variety of opponents. I believe it will certainly improve the game of any 25nl through 100nl grinder. I know that I will certainly reread it several times in order to absorb the ideas contained within.

By andyhai

December 13, 2010

i have completed my first readthrough of the book, and very much like it.

i found it to be well-written and very readable considering its size; i would consider it equal to SSNLHE in terms of writing/readablility, and superior to the poker blueprint in this regard. somewhat unsurprisingly, i think it's also by far the best book about uNLFR that i've read.

in terms of content, while i didn't discover any "mindblowing new poker secrets"TM, what i found was a clear, comprehensive book, covering imho all the fundamentals of sound FR play, and seemingly covering almost every conceivable spot the reader might find himself in, with a solid thought process explained and used in the copious hand examples that accompany each idea/spot.

what i liked a lot was the format in which the author went through the thought process in each hand, explaining how each different parameter affected the validity (or otherwise) of each option we had available to us; covering ranges, board textures and how they interact with the various ranges, opponent proclivities, and considering what good or bad things we expect to happen for each of the options.

in contrast, something i've noticed in other books is for an author to say something along the lines of 'if villain does x,y and z, then use MyKewlPlay and watch the money roll in!' this book doesn't do that, and as a consequence we don't get left 'high and dry' when one of the parameters change, and have often anticipated our counteradjustment for various changes on the part of our opponents. i assume the repetition of this thought process to be deliberate, so as to more thoroughly ingrain the methodology of thinking through the hand logically ingame. (iirc the author also mentions in one of the later chapters that the relative paucity of 'default lines' in the main text was a conscious decision to stay away from 'soundbite' poker advice (my term, not authors, in case it's wrong) that can easily date very badly, and an attempt to create a resource that will remain useful for much longer.)

off the top of my head, other things i liked included the content on thinking about what sort of mistakes our opponents are likely to make, planning our lines to take advantage of this, what sorts of concepts are more or less important (his comments on how one can easily become obsessed with the idea of balance at the expense of pursuing better exploitive strategies rang true for me ,)

in short, i am the target market for this book (10NL-25NL FR player) and although i may not have learned any blinding new insights, i feel that the benefits of the book's comprehensive nature, solid grounding in the fundamentals, good framework for thinking through hands ingame, and perspective on which things are most importamnt to focus on, all make the book a very good use of 97 cheeseburgers.

all imho

By Ratboy

December 16, 2010

First of all I would like to say that the outlook of the book looks
very good. The book is well edited. DV has made a great evolution in that.
The book contains 361 pages (there are about 30 blank pages in the book, a big table of content and an introduction so there's about 315 pages of text).

CONTENT

This book is a Full Ring book. Its been a while since a FR-only book has seen the daylight (As far as I know Harrington on Cash was the last big FR-book release)so its nice to see that FR is still alive in 2010.

The book starts with a extensive table of content, intro and preface and is divided into 20 chapters that logicaly follow the progression of a hand.

PRE-FLOP CHAPTERS (first 8 chapters and about 100 pages):

This part is (surprisingly for a DV book where the focus has always
been on postflop play) the biggest part of the book. The author
focuses especially on preflop play because he thinks that's the most
important part of the hand. I quote: Because poker is very linear,
it is so important that we start a hand well. Using an incorrect
range, or making an incorrect play, can be the initial step in a
disastrous fall.
The author starts the chapter with discussing the basic concepts like
position, player types, SPR,... There's nothing new in here but its
not extensive, and well explained.

Open Raising Range Chapter:
The author gives an open raising range that is rather conservative
(tight).

The author chose not to use an overload of hand examples (about one or
2 examples per concept and the examples are always written out what
makes it easier to read). Funny thing is that the author always uses
different names in his examples instead of 'villain' or 'BTN'. The
only part I didn't liked was the part on min-raises. The author
describes the obvious advantages and disadvantages of a min-raise and
ends the chapter by saying that you can use the min-raise 'in special
situations which warrant it' without giving any example or
explication.

Raise, Isolating, 3bet, 4bet, squeezing:
Next chapters are about calling a raise, isolating, 3betting,
squeezing, 4 betting and preflop adjustments. The concepts are
explained very clear, taking into account player profiles,
(de)polarized ranges, hand combinatorics, bet size, EV equations.... I
preferred the 3bet and 4bet chapters where the math behind the
concepts is explained in a very comprehensive way. The preflop
adjustment chapters discusses mostly rather basic concepts like table
selection and image but the part on preflop stat correlation will
certainly be useful for (beginning)players that are struggling with
their HUD.

POST-FLOP CHAPTERS

The Flop:
In the first 2 chapters (20 pages) the author outlines some useful
concepts like elastic and inelastic calling ranges, polarization, pot
geometry and showdown value.

The CBet chapter (20 pages) is ok with focus on texture, (de)polarized
cbet and dynamic bet sizes.

The chapters on Calling, Check-Raise, playing 3bet pots and playing
big hands on the flop are solid. I preferred the part on playing 3bet
pots (40 pages) where the author makes a detailed analysis on certain
tough spots like small SPR pots, big pairs and AK hands.
The author concludes the Flop part with a chapter of so called
'leftovers' like donk bets, playing drawing hands, playing against
shorter stacks and some flop related HUD pointers. Since the author
promotes a TAG style, the chapter on playing draw hands is rather
short and basic (3 pages).

Multiple street plays:
The last 4 chapters are about how to construct the best line.

Firstly barreling (15pages) is discussed, followed by a chapter on
valuebetting (25 pages). Since valuebetting is the most important
concept to beat poker games, I was glad to see a rather voluminous
chapter on this. Concepts like fat Vbet, best hand checks and blocking
bet are well explained and backed with some math and EV calculations
but I've seen better texts on Thin Vbet then this one.

The Turn-River adjustment chapter talks about some 'popular' concepts
like hero-folds (calls), leveling, balancing, sticky bets and timing
tells.
The last chapter is by far the most advanced chapter of the book. It
invites the reader to 'think outside the box' and to compose creative
lines to exploit players tendencies (20pages). I wasn't familiar with
most of the concepts (massive ISO, EP steal, back-raise)so I'll have
to read this chapter over again some times to absorb all the content
but the author makes a good job in explaining them clearly.

CONCLUSION

I liked the book a lot. I don't think that the book is suited for absolute beginning players but every 10nl-100nl player will get enough value out of the book to justify the price.

By glilley

December 23, 2010

At roughly 350 pages, DFRP is considerably longer than other Daily Variance (DV) titles. If there is a consistent theme running through all of the DV titles, it is that your strategy should be based on an estimation of your opponent’s range. This isn’t a new concept and it has been covered in a number of other books, but IMO the DV books develop this idea more thoroughly and are therefore the best available at improving hand-reading skills. DFRP is consistent in using the range-estimation approach for determining the play with the best EV. The author discusses balance and its importance, but most of his emphasis is on developing more exploitative lines and counter strategies.

Here are a few things I especially liked about DFRP:
1)It develops an approach for analyzing poker lines that is different from other books and considering different approaches to the game is valuable in and of itself. There are lots of excellent Flopzilla examples that not only provide useful benchmarks, but also demonstrate how players can effectively use Flopzilla to analyze problems on their own.
2)Excellent chapter on isolation raises.
3)Very specific advice about how to interpret villain’s stats. Good precise descriptions of stats and what is considered high or low and how to exploit players based on their stats.
4)Excellent chapter on developing new lines and counter strategies in response to changing game conditions.

The book makes the point that the best layout of a HUD is dependent on your playing style, so that the stats that are most important to consult may be different for a TAG and a LAG, and doesn’t recommend any specific layout. It also mentions the value of color coding, but I would have been interested in more specific advice such as the color coding scheme used by the author. The book uses a lot of jargon and abbreviations, and it’s likely that even experienced forum readers will need to consult the glossary.

This is very much a book for players who are willing to put a lot of thought and effort into their game, and much of the advice requires that you pay attention to what is happening at the table, and will be difficult to apply without a lot of study and practice. If you’re looking for an easy read with some general advice that will quickly improve your game then this is definitely the wrong book for you, but if you have the requisite talent and are willing to spend the time required, it could prove to be a very profitable investment.

By dizlol

February 7, 2011

Best full ring book out there, bar none.

Split goes to great lengths to change your overall poker mindset when it comes to decision making, and let's face it - that's what poker is.

Instead of asking what move to make, we should be asking why. This book goes through basically every possible situation we could face throughout a hand, and examines all the different factors and information available to us to come to a logically rounded, optimal line.

By stephan_999

February 7, 2011

Be an Expert on Small Stakes Full Ring

I recently started to include Full Ring games into the mix of games that I play. To get a solid knowledge-base transitioning from mostly 6-max games to Full Ring I have read Dynamic Full Ring Poker. This was a good choice. DFRP takes a very detailed, analytical approach perfect for todays online games where you win with solid play on every street and the right adjustments to your opponents play.

DFRP does not miss out on any information. It is even more detailed than I needed it to be when transitioning from 6-max to FR. It fully covers all topics of preflop play very thoroughly and this continues through the book when later options are disscussed. A multitude of flop spots is discussed, the book also goes into detail with floating, barreling, value betting and understanding showdown value among other plays. It basically covers every spot that comes up, these spots are analysed by taking a look at the opponents range and his tendencies. Therefore SplitSuit also explains how to use HUD stats on your various opponents. This will help you to identify those scenarios during live play more easily.

My personal favorite is the chapter on Creative Line Composition which is a little more advanced but helps your understanding of the game in a way that should give you a good advantage over small stakes competition. With all the knowledge covered in this book you have all the info you need to be ahead of your opponents. It will take time to put everything into practice. When you take this effort the results will be well worth it.

DeucesCracked member stephan_999

By pentazepam

February 8, 2011

No book can make you a guaranteed winner in such a complex game as poker. But Dynamic Full Ring Poker gives you the important tools that the long term winners use for thinking about the game in a way that gives them an edge over most of the competition, so you have a chance to be one of them. It does so in an almost seductively simple, clear and concise way that is very easy to understand. It almost describes an ABC poker style on steroids that helps brings in the money in small stakes full ring. And this books has some serious poker muscles! Deceptive and more fancy play has it place in every good poker players arsenal but first you got to have a great understanding of the fundamentals. Dynamic Full Ring Poker major strength is that it shows that thinking right about poker situations can easily be taught to everyone without being overly simplistic.

By erus

February 8, 2011

“DFRP” may very well be the most valuable book written to date for the
intermediate full-ring micro/small stakes no limit player. In my estimation, most cash-game poker books available today fall into one of three categories: (a) those written by established brick and mortar players who don’t have the capability of effectively analyzing the game from the internet perspective, (b) those written by internet players who barely scratch the surface of anything beyond basic theory, and (c) those written by game theorists who fully understand the internet game, but who approach it from such an esoteric perspective that the vast majority of readers would have difficulty incorporating the stated concepts in their games.

Splitsuit’s work fills the void remarkably well. Clocking in at over 360 pages, the book is filled with concepts designed to illustrate the optimal methods of approaching the game under any circumstance – regardless of changing game conditions. If you’re the type of player who has committed to purchasing the latest database and HUD software, but wonder what in the world to do with all of the available statistics, well – the answers lie within this volume.

In addition to demonstrating the use of statistics to establish and narrow
ranges, and to project an opponent’s likely actions and responses based on
different board textures, Splitsuit also discusses broader concepts (such as the “Minimax game”) that may currently be unfamiliar to the reader, but which are absolutely essential to the development of a materially positive long term winrate.

Two specific sections towards the end of the book which I’ve found to be
incredibly valuable are (a) a reflection of Splitsuit’s default lines and (b) the database adjustment section. The default lines provide a clear
understanding of what one professional’s default actions will be, per street, under a variety of standard circumstances, absent any material reads on the opponent. The database adjustment section reflects specific items for which to filter within your database to identify and rectifysignificant leaks within your game.

Two-thumbs up and a must-read for any developing small/microstakes full-ring cash game player.

By seven1309

February 9, 2011

From my point of view, Dynamic Full Ring Poker has everything what it takes to become the new benchmark for books about small/microstake cash game.

I guess many microstake players are looking for a book that gives them exact guidelines for every hand/situation. I have to dissapoint all these guys, you won´t find it in this book.

But SplitSuit offers you much more and he gives you the chance to envolve into a thinking player that is able to devolp own guidelines for his game. And that is what makes this book so valuable. You get all the tools that will be helpful at higher stakes as well.

Reading my text you will already have realized that English isn´t my first language. So for me it´s also remarkable that SplitSuit used a writing style that is easy to understand for guys like me. Great work!

By goldganesh

February 9, 2011

This book is not another poker book, it is specifically designed to get you thinking about full ring poker. No other book is like it out there on the market. Not only will it get you on the right track about poker in general, it will get you on the right path to thinking, being creative, playing optimal, and taking standard/non standard lines to use in your arsenal. This book is outlined and enriched full on examples, pictures, ranges, and concepts that are easy to understand and read.

This book covers almost every concept you can think of from pf play all the way down to river play, 3bet and 4bet pots, raising and check raising, opponent types, how to play big hands, how to play AK, playing in positiion and out of position, isolating, playing limped pots, bet sizing, adjusting,etc. This book also helps you correlate with how to use your statistics for poker tracker 3 or holdem manager.

This book is like a years worth of coaching combined in one book. So much value. Never in this book will you get how to do a certain thing, this book is going to help you think beyond the norm.

Nothing is held back in this book. If you are beginning, transitioning from HU play, or 6max no limit, you will find that dynamic full ring poker will satisfy your taste buds to playing full ring at its best and get you on the right track to success!

By bERDS_dINI

February 9, 2011

Love this guys sight but not sure about shelling out $97 for his book. Professionals who write books dont even charge that amount.

By Claude Elam

February 9, 2011

Dynamic Full Ring Poker is excellent! It's easily the best book I've ever read for full ring no-limit holdem. The concepts are clearly explained and will benefit a lot of players. I would highly recommend it for micro to low stakes online players as well as live players ($1/2-$5/10).

By Droschopf

February 10, 2011

As I read about "Dynamic Full Ring Poker" (DFRP) the first time on poker forums, people said that the target group is mostly micro stakes players. I've been playing 200nl for a long time, so at first sight this was not exactly what I was looking for.

But then I've seen the preview with the table of contents. This book seemed to cover every poker concept and all the fundamentals I could think of. Although I'm a fairly good winner in the games, I was positive to get something out of this 361 pages strong book. Maybe I've missed an important concept in the past or misunderstood some details here and there. So at this point the investment of 50bb was a no brainer.

And I was not disappointed. Although a lot of topics looked very familiar to me, I was amazed by how deeply the individual concepts are covered in DFRP. Personally, I got the most out of the chapter "Playing 3-Bet Pots Postflop". As a longtime player of fullring NLHE where preflop aggression and 3-betting is "en vogue" not for a long time, I had increasing difficulties to handle the pressure of playing in 3-bet pots. DFRP helped me to think about 3-bet pots more analytically and range based. The breakdown of different board textures and ranges with the software Flopzilla (especially in the subchapter about playing AK in 3-bet pots) was quite impressive to me.

Fundamental concepts are picked up in different parts of the book. The minimax game stating that you should minimize your losses when behind and maximize your gains when ahead is a poker concept I was implicitly aware of but never thought of it in such an analytical manner. This concept is elaborated with the help of examples at numerous sections. DFRP makes a good job in bridging theory and practice in general.

My experience shows that DFRP can be valuable for players up to 200nl. I would be astonished if someone at even an advanced level could not get something out of this book.

By S1THL0RD

February 10, 2011

This is an excellent book and is likely to improve your game more than by reading the 3 or 4 "regular" poker books that you could get for the same money. The Poker Blueprint probably represents better value at current prices, but goes into less depth. Although I play mainly mtts and 6max (50nl or 100nl) the concepts are still applicable to me. I'm also interested in full ring material in order to improve my play in the early stages of deep stacked live tournaments.

The author outlines a TAG approach and in general looks to make most of his money value betting, rather than bluffing. As a result the material is applicable even at lower stakes where there is less folding. All aspects of preflop play are covered; opening, calling raises, 3/4 betting, isolating and squeezing. Postflop play is covered in similar detail, which is why at 357 pages this is longer than most poker ebooks.

Reasoning behind plays is well explained and significant consideration is given to the tendencies of the other players in the hand (as indicated by HUD stats). However, I did feel that the flopzilla analyses of villain's range could have been expressed in a more concise way, with the pages of tables breaking up the flow too much. So far I've only had a chance to read through the book once, but will be studying it further in the near future.