Middle Limit Holdem Poker discusses holdem strategy for the $10-20 through $40-80 levels (the middle limits). The book discusses over 400 hands, nearly all taken from actual play. This extensive use of practical examples has set a standard for poker writing that many subsequent poker books have attempted to emulate.
Bob Ciaffone and Jim Brier are both professional poker players and poker columnists. Ciaffone has several other poker books to his credit. In 1987, he captured third place in the World Championship tournament.
Independent Expert Reviews
While I disagree with a larger percentage of this book's contents than I would have expected from a book co-authored by Bob Ciaffone, it has probably improved my Holdem game more than any other book I've read in recent years. This book is not light reading. It should take an advanced student quite a bit of time to absorb all the material it contains, and this information should not be accepted uncritically. Those folks who are not sophisticated poker players or who confine their play to low-limit games can probably pass on Middle Limit Holdem Poker.(Nick Christenson)
Ciaffone and Brier delivers many good tips and effective strategic advice that really will be useful to the intermediate player. The book is well written and the concepts presented are easy to learn and I think they will work well in real games. However, a respectable amount of poker knowledge is required if you want to make the most of the specific and detailed content in this book. Beginners should perhaps look elsewhere.
(Toptexasholdem.com)
Of the dozen or so poker books I've bought in the last two years, this one has gotten by far the most repeated use. The writing is clear and logical, and the quiz/explanation format is perfect when I'm wondering whether I played a hand correctly. In the last four months I have gone from someone who was terrified of hold'em to a consistently winning player, thanks in large part to repeated study of this book. I think most people will find it much more useful than Sklansky and Malmuth, simply because the practical examples are such an ideal teaching tool.
The choice of a poker room is also an
essential poker strategy. It is maybe
even the most important one, as it can,
in the long term, have a tremendous
impact on your earnings.
