[jkercher]

Super System is old, but I wouldn't call it outdated. Definitely still worth a read. The more books you've read, the bigger your tool set. The key here is that it works in both directions because each style you learn, is a style you may recognize other players using. The pitfall of Super System, is by now, everyone's read it, and it's quite easily recognized:

- limp-shoving under the gun

- always trying to go on runs

- over playing suited connectors (JTs specifically)

But, you still get the advantage of being able to recognize it. There's lots of good wisdom in there that isn't as prescriptive either. Read as many books as you can. Poker is information warfare.

[furyofantares]

I thought it was outdated to the point of useless when I read it in the mid aughts. I didn't find any real wisdom in it either. I'm open but pretty confused as to what you think someone could get out of it today.

[jkercher]

I certainly would not use it prescriptively as I said originally. I wouldn't use any poker book prescriptively. You make your own style and pull pieces from others just like any other trade. I like the way Joe does X.. I like the way Jane does Y.. I have my own way to do Z. That becomes my style.

There are nuggets of wisdom in every poker book I've read even if I disagree with some parts or some are just flat out wrong. Super System, in particular, provided insights into the mind of one of the greatest player of all time. I particularly liked the psychological view on things. If nothing else, it provides context for the ones that came before you. Its been 15+ years since I read it, but beyond the fundamentals, I recall picking up (hopefully not misattributing anything here)...

- a quick, in-your-head method of calculating odds based on outs

- psychology of playing runs and others perceptions of you at the table

- the pitfalls of playing AA

- a realistic look at "tells"

- the general psychology of aggression

- how/where tight players make money and how/where aggressive players make money

Super System is the seminal book of poker. It is the book that your opponents are most likely to have read. As I alluded in my original comment, you wouldn't want to be the only person at the table who doesn't recognize someone playing the super system to the letter. IIRC, the goal was to make the player just appear lucky. It was meant to be confusing. It's like reading K&R as a C programmer. Sure, some of the information might not hold up today, but it provides a lot of context.

[furyofantares]

Thanks. Maybe it's because I read all the more modern books, the 2+2 library etc, before reading Super System that I don't really appreciate it. I guess also because I was a volume-based online player.

But I do really appreciate hearing your perspective on it.