Kill Everyone by Lee Nelson, Tysen Streib, and Kim Lee is a bold, cutting-edge IDN Poker book that revolutionized the approach to tournament poker when it was first released in 2007. Building upon the success of Nelson’s previous work, Kill Phil, this book dives deeper into advanced strategies for No-Limit Hold’em tournaments. The book’s title reflects its central theme: an aggressive, unrelenting style of play that aims to dominate opponents, putting them on the defensive and forcing mistakes. For players looking to elevate their tournament game and adopt a more fearless approach, Kill Everyone offers a comprehensive roadmap.
Overview of Kill Everyone
The book focuses primarily on tournament poker, including multi-table tournaments (MTTs), sit-and-go tournaments (SNGs), and even some cash game strategies. What sets Kill Everyone apart from other poker books is its combination of game theory, mathematical modeling, and psychological analysis. Rather than relying solely on traditional wisdom or a conservative approach, the authors advocate for aggressive tactics that exploit common tournament dynamics.
The book is divided into clear sections, each targeting different aspects of tournament play, including early-stage strategies, late-game tactics, and heads-up situations. It also provides detailed insights into risk management and understanding opponent behavior, making it a valuable resource for both online and live poker players.
Key Concepts in Kill Everyone
- Hyper-Aggression
One of the book’s standout themes is the use of hyper-aggression, especially in short-handed and late-stage tournament play. The authors explain how increasing aggression can put pressure on opponents and force them to make mistakes, particularly when they are playing defensively to protect their chip stack. This aggressive style can lead to accumulating chips quickly and setting yourself up for a deeper tournament run. - The Independent Chip Model (ICM)
The Independent Chip Model (ICM) is a key focus in Kill Everyone, particularly for sit-and-go tournaments. ICM is a mathematical model used to determine the value of your chip stack relative to the remaining players in the tournament. The authors explain how to apply ICM to make more informed decisions about risk and reward, particularly in bubble situations where survival is critical. - The Kill Phil Strategy
While the book builds on Kill Phil, it refines and advances the strategy introduced in that earlier work. The Kill Phil strategy involves playing in a way that simplifies decisions, often using an all-in or fold approach in the early stages of tournaments. Kill Everyone takes this concept further by exploring how to adjust this strategy for more sophisticated opponents and later tournament stages. - Short-Stack and Deep-Stack Play
The authors provide detailed advice on how to play with both short and deep stacks. In the short-stack strategy section, they emphasize the importance of pushing or folding when your chip count is low, avoiding the trap of being blinded out. For deep stacks, they discuss how to leverage your chip advantage by playing aggressively without putting your tournament life at risk unnecessarily. - Heads-Up Play and Final Table Tactics
Kill Everyone offers in-depth strategies for final table play and heads-up situations, which are often the most crucial moments of a tournament. The authors explain how to exploit opponents who tighten up when the stakes are highest and how to dominate heads-up play with an aggressive, unpredictable style. This section is particularly valuable for players who often struggle to close out tournaments. - Psychological Warfare
In addition to the mathematical and strategic aspects of the game, Kill Everyone dives into the psychology of poker. The authors explain how to read opponents, manipulate their emotions, and use psychological pressure to make them uncomfortable. By adopting a fearsome table presence and using tactics like bluffing and varying bet sizes, you can create uncertainty and anxiety in your opponents, which often leads to mistakes.
Strengths of the Book
One of the greatest strengths of Kill Everyone is its modern, aggressive approach to poker, which is perfectly suited to the current tournament landscape. The strategies presented in the book are highly effective in online poker, where aggression is often rewarded, but they are equally applicable to live tournaments. The focus on mathematical models like ICM and Nash equilibrium ensures that readers gain a deep understanding of the technical side of the game, helping them make smarter decisions in high-pressure situations.
The writing style is another strong point. The book is clear, concise, and avoids unnecessary jargon, making it accessible to both intermediate and advanced players. The use of real-world examples and hand breakdowns helps readers understand how to apply these aggressive strategies in actual tournament play.
Weaknesses of the Book
While Kill Everyone is a fantastic resource for tournament players, it may not be as useful for cash game specialists. The aggressive strategies that work well in tournaments don’t always translate effectively to cash games, where chip stacks are often deeper, and the risk-reward dynamics are different. Additionally, beginners might find some of the more advanced concepts, such as ICM and Nash equilibrium, difficult to grasp without a solid foundation in poker theory.
Another minor drawback is that while the book emphasizes aggression, it doesn’t provide as much guidance on when to dial it back. Hyper-aggression can be a double-edged sword, and less experienced players may find themselves overdoing it, leading to early eliminations.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Kill Everyone by Lee Nelson, Tysen Streib, and Kim Lee is a groundbreaking book that offers tournament players a fresh, aggressive approach to poker. With its focus on hyper-aggression, ICM, and psychological tactics, the book provides a comprehensive strategy for dominating opponents and consistently reaching final tables. While some of the concepts may be challenging for beginners, those willing to invest the time and effort will find Kill Everyone an invaluable resource for improving their tournament results.
For players looking to refine their tournament game and embrace a fearless, results-driven approach, Kill Everyone is a must-read. It offers the tools and insights needed to gain an edge over the competition, whether you’re playing online or in live tournaments.