'Don't Listen to Phil Hellmuth', Says Dusty Schmidt

The Poker Brat is no stranger to mockery and now he can add Dusty Schmidt's book 'Don't Listen to Phil Hellmuth' to the insult pile. Schmidt, cash game legend, outlines why we should discard Hellmuthian tendencies quicker than a busted draw.

Phil Helmuth's self-proclaimed poker prowess has been called into question yet again. And this time it's in paperback.

Dusty Leatherass Schmidt, a respected cash player who claims never to have had a losing month and over $3 million in live winnings, has penned a book debunking outdated poker strategy. The title 'Don't Listen to Phil Helmuth' is elaborated on in the sub-title 'Correcting the 50 worst pieces of poker advice you ever heard'. Just to clarify the content of the 450-page needle in full.

Schmidt doesn't just target Hellmuth, but also other poker authors, TV commentators and other self-proclaimed experts who he believes impart questionable advice. The aim of the book is to tackle the modern game, to discard old, outdated strategies and to make the reader a more successful and adaptable NL cash game player.

Schmidt's thinking

"Many of these folks don’t have any idea how to beat today's games. They are often players who may at one point have done well at poker, but whose games have not evolved to match the aggression of today's games."

Advice like 'always make your preflop bet sizes the same' or that 'calling is weak' are thrown out the window as Schmidt attempts to update the way we think about poker.

Whether the Poker Brat pulls a trademark tantrum is yet to be seen but there's not long to wait. The e-version is expected on the 6th of December and you should be able to get your hands on a hard copy on the 2nd of January.

Daniel Negreanu's gold-plated copy may already be in the post.

20 of the misconceptions covered

Misconception 1. Avoid Tough Decisions
Misconception 2. Preflop Play Doesn't Matter That Much
Misconception 3. Starting Hand Charts Are For Beginners
Misconception 4. Pick A Style And Stick With It
Misconception 5. The Key To Getting Paid Off Is Playing Loose So No One Can Put You On A Hand
Misconception 6. Supertight Is Better Than Tight
Misconception 7. Make All Your Preflop Raises The Same Size
Misconception 8. Punish The Limpers!
Misconception 9. Punish The Nits!
Misconception 10. 3-Betting Makes Me Tough
Misconception 11. Do Not Touch My Blinds
Misconception 12. The Small Blind Is Impossible To Play
Misconception 13. Suited Connectors Win All The Big Pots In No Limit Hold'em
Misconception 14. Bring Your Big Guns To A War!
Misconception 15. Make Big 3-Bets To End The Hand Now
Misconception 16. Make One Decision At A Time
Misconception 17. "The key to No Limit Hold'em is to put a man to a decision for all his chips"
Misconception 18. Calling Is Weak
Misconception 19. You Can’t Make That Play Unless You Balance It
Misconception 20. I Have To Bet This Flop Because I Don’t Want To Give Up