Tom McEvoy’s No-Limit Texas Hold’em Review

by Josh H | Owner and Editor-in-Chief

No-Limit Texas Hold’em by Tom McEvoy and Brad Daugherty

Focuses on no-limit hold’em tournaments
Our rating: 7 (out of 10)
Beginner and Intermediate advice
Year of publication: 2009

Table of Contents

No Limit Texas Hold’em Book Overview
- My thoughts on No-Limit Texas Hold’em
The Final Score
About the authors
- Tom McEvoy
  - McEvoy’s Writing career
- Brad Daugherty

No Limit Texas Hold’em Book Overview

Both authors of this book, Tom McEvoy and Brad Daugherty, are WSOP Main Event winners so you’re going to get plenty of experience with their words.

While this book is mostly aimed at beginners getting into tournament play, I still found some redeeming fundamentals and tidbits as a more experienced player. Heck, most “experienced” players could probably use a look back at the basics.

At the beginning, you’ll learn about the basics of how to play no-limit and a section on proper betting patterns. This is important information for fixed-limit players who aren’t experienced in the format.

Everyone should be forced to read this section if only to weed out player who put in minimum preflop raises at a no-limit table after 4 people have already limped in. Jeez do I hate that!

"No Limit Texas Hold'em" is just one of books from the Tom McEvoy's rich bibliography — “No Limit Texas Hold’em: The New Player’s Guide to Winning Poker’s Biggest Game” is just one of many books from the Tom McEvoy’s rich bibliography

The next section details how to play specific hands in specific positions. This is also an important concept for beginner’s to realize as many hands become unplayable when they aren’t played in position.

Also, this section teaches player not to overvalue Ace-trash or small pocket pairs. Overall, new tournament players who need the fundamentals and those switching from limit ring games will find this to be an informative and easy to read transition to no-limit hold’em tourneys.

My thoughts on No-Limit Texas Hold’em

I have heard readers complain about this book being too simplistic, but I disagree.

It is extremely important to be simplistic not only for new players, but for experienced players who are still missing the fundamentals (you see them online by the swarm daily).

The section on playing specific hands was very thorough, and their advice on how to bet in no-limit is also solid. I think that this is a good tool for new tournament players, very good for limit players making the switch, and still useful enough for intermediate players.

"No Limit Texas Hold'em" is an excellent resource for beginners and intermediate tournament players. Unfortunately, its advice on ring games is somewhat lacking — “No Limit Texas Hold’em” is an excellent resource for beginners and intermediate tournament players. Unfortunately, its advice on ring games is somewhat lacking

One gripe that I have is the lack of advice for ring game play, which is very rare in book form. With this format becoming more popular (and my personal favorite) it would’ve been a nice addition.

The Final Score

Out of 10, I give No Limit Texas Hold’em a 7. It contains good information for new tournament players and limit players but fails to provide information for no-limit ring games. It should be regarded as a tournament book.

About the authors

Tom McEvoy

Tom McEvoy was born in 1944 in Michigan. One of his more memorable achievements is that he was the first player who managed to capture the Main Event title after qualifying for the seat. This was back in 1983.

With $3,000,000 in live tournament earnings, according to Hendon Mob, McEvoy has certainly confirmed his credentials in terms of poker expertise.

McEvoy’s Writing career

Apart from being a well-rounded player, McEvoy is also a very productive author, with fourteen titles under his belt. His career as a writer started in 1985 when he published the book entitled How to Win at Tournament Poker on the trace of his 1983 success.

After that, he took a long break from writing, returning in 1997 with his Championship No Limit and Pot Limit Hold’em. In the years to follow, McEvoy continued producing valuable poker content up until 2009 when he published his last work to date, entitled Championship Table: At the World Series of Poker (1970-2007).

Tom McEvoy is also a member of the Poker Hall of Fame.

Brad Daugherty

Brad Daugherty was born in 1951 in Missouri. He discovered poker in 1969 while he was at high school. In 1978 he moved to Reno, Nevada, determined to succeed as a professional player.

Playing with some degree of success, Daugherty’s real breakthrough came in 1991, when he won the WSOP Main Event, taking home a cool $1,000,000.

Apart from No Limit Texas Hold’em, he coauthored only one more poker book Championship Satellite Strategy, also with McEvoy.

Josh H( Owner and Editor-in-Chief )

Josh is one of the world’s most respected online gambling experts. He has been featured on outlets such as CardPlayer, the World Poker Tour, Google News, and Forbes. Josh has nearly 20 years of experience reviewing poker rooms, casinos, and online sportsbooks. He launched Beat The Fish in 2005, which has been peer-certified as a trustworthy gambling portal. Josh’s proven systems and extensive knowledge of the iGaming industry have been used by thousands of online bettors to make more informed decisions.