In the spirit of things, Happy Valentines Day everyone.

Anyway, I am trying to get better at small stakes ring games because I have focused so much on tournys that I have become terrible at ring games. I am trying to decide between 3 options to improve my game. I will likely end up purchasing all 3 (or atleast the 2 books if I decide the software isnt worth it) but I don't have the money to do it all at once, so my question is which would be more beneficial first. I am looking at Small Stakes Hold Em by Sklansky and gang, Zen and the Art of Poker (or something to that effect) by someone.. its in another post and it seems like it could help me cause I sometimes get worked up... and Turbo Texas Hold Em. I played the demo and even though the hands were preset it was great, I really enjoyed the different statistical data you could gather and would love to use the simulator.

My thoughts are that, since I am not a terrible ring game player but I need to improve, practice couldn't hurt. So I am leaning slightly towards the software right now. I have other books I can re-read to get some important small stakes concepts re-solidified. And it seems that in the end dropping 90 bucks on a simulator (a very good one) that I can practice my game in every kind of situation could really help a ton and save a lot of money in the end, because even if i go with either of the books, i have to practice with real money.

Really interested on feedback for this and if you think this approach will work. Appreciate anything you have to offer, thanks.

Not read te Zen book myslef but am considering it. I too started in a similar situation to yourself coming from a NL tourney back ground and now play cash games. Cash games have potential to be far more profitable than tourneys. Anyway back to yor point. SSHE is a really good book that will help you a great deal. Being a good tourney player you will have developed a very solid game. Quite a defensive style about playing the best hands and surviving a while. This will already make you a winning player and could do so in Cash games. But to play cash games and earn every last peeny of profit you need to know how to losen up a LITTLE and learn to attack pots and take the best gambles. Very Tight in cash games doesn't work. I found SSHE a great book to really develope my attacking game to compliment my defensive game I got from the tourneys.

Great book. Go buy it.

Great response. Really appreciate it. I think i will pick up SSHE first and then at some point grab the Zen book also because I tend to tilt easily and that may be helpful to staying centered. Thanks for your input.