Poker Books
Enthusiastic poker players can improve their knowledge of the game by reading books teaching poker theory and strategies. Below are some classic poker books, in addition to some newly published ones, that address a wide variety of details and angles:Doyle Brunson's Super System
Doyle Brunson
Paperback: 624 pages
Publisher: Cardoza, 3rd edition, 1979
ISBN: 1580420818
The information in this book though is slightly dated since this classic was published in 1978. However, this collection of writings from some of the best poker experts (Brunson, Sklansky, Caro, Reese, etc.) still has a much to offer. An Amazon reviewer says “each and every section of this book has some very valuable insights from odds to game theory to various ways to approach different hands.” But the reviewer recommends the book “only to advanced players with significant experience and the desire to vary their play.”
Poker Books Recommended |
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Play Poker Like the Pros
Phil Hellmuth
Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: HarperResource, 2003
ISBN: 0060005726
Having nine World Series Of Poker bracelets to his credit, Phil Hellmuth offers his tournament-tested strategies to beat any type of player. He starts by laying out the rules and set-up of each game and then moves on to easy-to-follow basic and advanced strategies. Hellmuth explains exactly which hands to play, when to bluff, when to raise, and when to fold. Further, Hellmuth provides techniques for reading other players and staying cool under pressure. There are also particular chapters on how to beat online poker games and an inside look at tournament play.
The Theory of Poker -
David Sklansky
Paperback: 300 pages
Publisher: Two Plus Two Pub., 3rd edition, 1989
ISBN: 1880685000
Regarded by many to be the best book available on the theoretical side of poker. Sklansky’s Fundamental Theorem of Poker, as found in the book, says: “Every time you play a hand differently from the way you would have played it if you could see all your opponents’ cards, they gain; and every time you play your hand the same way you would have played it if you could see all their cards, they lose.” One Amazon reviewer, says the book “focuses on the math of poker—how to calculate odds, pot odds, reverse implied pot odds, etc. It’s not a fun read (it reminds me of some of the college textbooks I dreaded) but it rewards hard work with a new depth of insight that will make you a smarter, more insightful player.”