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Doyle Brunson's Super System II
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9 new or used available from £19.98
Average customer review:
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #52671 in Books
- Published on: 2004-10-18
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Binding: Paperback
- 624 pages
Editorial Reviews
Synopsis
The original Super System, written and edited by Doyle Brunson, the acknowledged "Babe Ruth of Poker," is hailed by players as the single most influential book ever written about the game of poker. Now, Super System II pushes the envelope further, expanding on the original with new games, new strategies, and new experts. This is a brand new book - not an update. The who's who all-star studded lineup for SSII includes Chip Reese, who Doyle recognizes as one of the top three players in the world, if not the best; Johnny Chan, two-time WSOP champion and tied with Doyle for the most world series bracelets with 9, Doyle Brunson himself, two-time WSOP champion and the greatest poker player of all time, Lyle Berman, founder of the World Poker Tour, the world's best Omaha player, and owner of three WSOP gold bracelets; Bobby Baldwin, former WSOP champion and CEO of the Bellagio; Mike Caro, the greatest poker theorist and best-selling author; Jennifer Harmon, the best woman player in the history of poker and one of the top ten overall; Todd Brunson, winner of more than twenty tournaments and the future successor to Doyle's throne; as well as Danny Niegro, and Barry Greenstein.
Customer Reviews
Strategies from a true legend, with a few flaws
Written by one of the true goliath's in poker history, I eagerly bought this book, excited by the fact that Doyle had enlisted the aid of a dozen other top poker authorities to each tackle a separate chapter, each discussing different poker games. The book, in my opinion, could have used a good editor, as it reads in an extraordinarily disjointed manner - I suppose that's inevitable when every chapter is written by a different author, but developing a consistent voice is one of the tasks of a good proof-reader or editor. That being said, I found the different writing styles somewhat refreshing, especially since the book covers so many different games, resulting in the stylistic differences not being nearly as noticeable as they otherwise would have been. I particularly liked the sections on limit hold'em and omaha, which are typically my two games of choice. I was somewhat disappointed with the NL hold'em section - I know that's Doyle's bread and butter, but I was at least hoping that he would have updated some of his material since Super System I - alas, I found many of the chapters had been lifted verbatim from that text, which incidentally isn't regarded all that highly by many of today's poker authors. Surely he has learned some new tips and tricks in the last 20 years that he could pass on to the reader, hasn't he??
One thing I could have done without are the endless (and shameless) plugs Doyle makes for his own online website. I know we've all probably done some self-serving promotions in our time, but I thought Doyle's talk as though his website was the king of all online poker sites was sorely, sorely misguided - anyone who plays online will tell you that Doyle's site is no more than a bit player that nips at the heels of the larger sites such as Party, Empire, Stars, Ultimate Bet, and the like. Presenting it as the be all and end all of online poker I thought was quite misleading, although readers are naturally advised to draw their own conclusions. Regardless of what site you choose as your online home, you can find sign-up bonus codes floating around the internet that will make your sign-up far more worthwhile. Some reviewer here pointed out that pokercroaker.com kept theirs updated fairly frequently. Regardless, I have no reservations in recommending this book to anyone looking to improve their game, if for no other reason than Doyle is one of the living legends, and it gives fascinating insight into his poker game. That being said, I much preferred the chapters written by other authors, especially Harman and Negraneau.
Wow, what a disappointment!
"The Most Anticipated Book in the History of Poker!" exclaims a blurb on the cover. Well, if so, I can tell you that a lot of people have been, or are going to be, VERY disappointed. Comparing the classic Super/System from 1978 with this book is, to paraphrase Mark Twain, like comparing lightening to the lightening bug.
This book is more of a tribute to Doyle Brunson than it is "A Course in Power Poker." Johnny Chan writes a fairly vacuous Preface in which he lauds Brunson, but doesn't say anything about how to play. Then we have Brunson's Introduction in which he tells us mostly about the contributors to the first Super/System. Next there is an autobiographical sketch by Brunson entitled, "My Story." (If you want a book that gives the real flavor of Brunson's "story," get a copy of According to Doyle (1984). It contains 47 chapters in which Brunson recalls his early days and life on the road.)
Following "My Story" is a short history of Texas Hold'em by Crandell Addington which isn't much, and then there is the first chapter that could actually be considered part of a course in power poker. This would be 43 tips from Mike Caro cribbed from his lectures and books. However the tips are hardly "exclusive" for SuperSystem2 as claimed. Beginning with Caro's cute but now very familiar, "In the beginning, everything was even money," most or all of the tips have been recycled. For example, Tip #18, page 146, "WHEN A FREQUENT BETTOR CHECKS TO YOU...don't bluff" is just about the same as Tip #10 "Seldom bluff if frequent bluffers have checked into you" found on page 137 in Caro's Fundamental Secrets of Winning Poker (1996). In fact Caro even recycles his "exclusive" tips in this very book. Tip #31 says that PLAYERS STARING AWAY...are almost always more dangerous than players staring at you," while Tip #40 says in part that "OPPONENTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BET OR RAISE IF THEY ARE: ...(3) staring away."
Jennifer Harman's chapter on limit hold'em is so ordinary that it's remedial. There's not even a hint of anything new. There are a number of books on the market that cover the same ground much more thoroughly. I especially recommend Small Stakes Hold'em: Winning Big with Expert Play (2004) by Ed Miller, David Sklansky and Mason Malmuth or anything by Sklansky. Also her insistence on referring to hands backwards, "6-7" (e.g., on p. 252) instead of "76" is annoying and contrary to a well-established convention.
And the caricatures by Russ Braun! They are so bland and flattering that each may have passed prior inspection by the subject's mother. Comparing these to the witty and sharp work by Stan Hunt in the original is like comparing a cliche to something alive and vital. Brunson doesn't even look like himself. Here he's just a generic, smiling, dough boy kind of guy--except in the small, clever, lifelike drawing gracing page 7 which WAS drawn by Stan Hunt, copied from the first book.
Good are the chapters on Omaha and Stud Eight-or-Better. However, although Brunson has Bobby Baldwin billed as his author of the Omaha Eight-or-Better chapter, actually it was written (as acknowledged) by Mark Gregorich. He does a good job of introducing the game and giving some of the strategies, and I'm sure he is a fine player, but what about Bobby Baldwin? Well, as CEO of Mirage Corporation and President of the Bellagio Hotel and Casino, Bobby is far, far too busy to write the chapter himself. So he just lent his name and his supervision. Can you spell R-I-P-O-F-F?
Perhaps the most embarrassing part of the book is Doyle's chapter on no limit hold'em. It is little more than a reprise of the same chapter in the first book published 28 years ago.
Also recycled is the section on "Colorful Names of Various Hold'em Hands" on pages 628 and 629. The dated references to Raquel Welch ("38") and Broderick Crawford ("10-4") seem more than a little out of touch. Indeed, this book is nostalgic tribute to Brunson and the great success he and the original book achieved. And that is a shame, because this book is billed as an exciting event in the history of the publication of books on poker when in fact it is something hastily put together to flatter Brunson and, hopefully, the pocketbook of those involved.
One final thing: there is a Glossary, suitable for beginners, which is okay as it defines such things a "Deuce," "Flush," "Four of a Kind," etc., but seems a little basic for "A Course in Power Poker." Worse though is this definition of a "Cold Deck": "A term often used to describe the deck by players who feel they're not getting enough playable or winning hands." Players may indeed remark that "the deck is cold," but the origin of the term comes from the fact that a stacked deck used by cheaters that is switched into the game tends to be "cold" to the touch since it has not been handled since it was stacked.
Bottom line: pass.
Great Book!
Brunson is to poker what Brazil is to soccer. The same can be said for his game of choice, Texas Hold 'Em.' You see it on ESPN and in casinos all over America and it's become one of the most popular games in the world.
Supersystem I used to sell for 100 bucks back when 100 bucks was worth twice was it is today. At this price, Super System 2 is a steal. I also find it to be surprisingly fresh even though his ideas are nearly 25 years old. The writing is not great. Its left and right bold print bangs you over the head a little bit, but, even so, the author's verve and style are incredibly appealing.
From a technical standpoint, his techniques are unusual and very creative. Although, I can see why Brunson regretted publishing the book in the first place. Most of the things he says about No Limit I would not have thought up myself. Brunson's open style is preferable to Sklansky's closed and tight one in my mind. After you read it, you'll hear yourself saying again and again, "I came here to gamble."
A strategically mixed, and adaptive, style is what made Brunson a double world champion in the first place. His wisdom is valid because even if one always waits for "the nuts" there's absolutely no guarantee that you'll win anything from them. Super System II has helped me be a better poker player and I'm sure it will help you. The only negative thing I can say about it is that its size makes it tough to transport and read, but, other than it, it's sterling.
