25 May
You need a library that boasts the very best poker literature written by the most successful players. Here is a list of my top 10 best poker books that combines some of the classics with more modern releases. Taken as a body of work, your poker game will thank you for having read and understood the wealth of important tips and techniques you will learn from these books.
Doyle Brunson’s Super System: A Course in Power Poker (1979)
When this book was released it caused a scandal. Other poker professionals of the day were shocked and angry that Doyle Brunson would be so foolish as to release the secrets of poker to the public. But it turned out to be a great move for Brunson and for poker. 25 years later this book has achieved hallowed status and is considered to be a bible for the game. It’s 600+ pages contain advice on various poker games including Draw Poker, 7-Card Stud and High-Low Split. Less than a quarter of the book is dedicated to Texas Hold’em, yet it’s popularity led to a re-release in 2003 and it is still sought after today.
David Sklansky – The Theory of Poker (1987)
2+2 author David Sklansky first released this critically acclaimed book in 1987 and it has been re-released regularly ever since. Covering important concepts in great detail such as bluffing, slowplaying, the free card, and hand reading, this book marked a step forward in teaching some of the more advanced concepts of poker. Sklansky has a fantastic grasp of strategy and provides clear tactical advice for many situations you will encounter during a hand. Many poker players call this book “the greatest poker book ever written” and many other books cite it as essential additional reading. Players should note that this book covers many variations of poker and is not limited to Texas Hold’em.
Caro’s Book of Tells – Mike Caro (2003)
Just prior to the poker boom Mike Caro released his book of tells, which is now considered a poker classic. It contains over 170 photographs in it’s 300+ pages giving detailed advice on physical movements, what to look for, how players will attempt to hide their emotions at the table, and how you can exploit their mistakes. The book goes into great detail and following your study of it you will be armed with a working knowledge of poker tells that you can use alongside your understanding of hand reading and hand strength to build a picture of your opponents play.
Harrington on Hold’em (Three volumes in 2004, 2005 & 2006)
Dan Harrington won the 1995 World Series of Poker Main Event and with co-author Bill Robertie they put together a three volume series one year after the poker boom. The books offered poker players valuable tournament poker advice about Strategic Play in volume 1, Endgame play in volume 2, (which introduced the ‘M’ concept and changing your style when considering the blinds) and a workbook in volume 3 designed to test players understanding of the concepts taught in volumes 1 and 2. Harrington has often said he has fallen victim to the concepts given in his books, but without a doubt his series on tournament poker contributed to the overall improvement in the standard of poker post 2004.
Phil Gordon’s Little Green Book (2005)
Written to do for poker what the hugely successful “Little Green Book of Golf” by Harvey Penick did for golf back in 1993, Gordon achieved his objective by avoiding the wordy approach taken by other books and providing a snappy but useful summary of all the key poker concepts. Reading this book solidifies your fundamentals. The book might appear large at 320 pages but is written in a flowing style that covers a lot of ground without the reader ever feeling trapped in a topic. The book has also enjoyed success on the Amazon Kindle and in audio format.
Sit ‘n Go Strategy – Collin Moshman (2007)
Collin turned his own SNG success into this classic poker book. Back in the days where you had to race to join any SNG with a buy-in of $20 or less, the play was wild and profits could be made with solid play. Moshman splits his book into four main sections. The sections are low blind play, middle blind play, high blind play, and sng career play, with each part of a single table tournament given careful scrutiny. At the end of the book you get additional material such as push charts and pair statistics. As per any 2+2 publication, the style of this book is factual, accurate, and balanced and has therefore stood the test of time. It remains useful to any SNG player looking to find and maintain an edge at the tables.
Harrington on Cash Games (Two volumes in 2008)
By 2008, tournament poker was getting very tough. We were still three years away from Black Friday, so the appetite for cash game strategy books was high. Following the successful formula of Harrington on Hold’em, Harrington released two books on cash game strategy. Released to mixed reviews, some calling the books “shallow and rudimentary,” I feel this is harsh criticism. It is important you get a solid understanding of the concepts you need to master. These books will give your cash game that solid base and you can go from there.
Every Hand Revealed – Gus Hansen (2008)
During the Aussie Millions Main Event of 2007, Gus Hansen sat with a hand-held recorder and verbally recorded his comments after every hand. Gus won the event and the $1.2 million first prize. Known for his madcap, crazy style, Hansen’s book takes you through every hand and every decision. While you may not wish to emulate Hansen’s style, understanding the thought process from a top professional is a great learning experience, and you will simply not find a better resource. The concept of this book was unique and no similar book has subsequently reached the mainstream.
Power Hold’em Strategy – Daniel Negreanu (2008)
Cameos from Paul Wasicka, Evelyn Ng and Erick Lindgren masked the true appeal of this poker book which was for us all to learn Negreanu’s ‘small ball’ tournament poker style. Negreanu has been a huge winner at the cash and tournament poker tables for nearly 20 years now, and love him or loathe him, it is undeniable he is one of poker’s all-time greats. Most poker reviews of this book agree that Negreanu’s section on small ball strategy is worth the price of this book alone. His results since publication continue to be amazing, so I would say take any opportunity you can to listen to his advice.
The Mental Game of Poker – Jarod Tendler (2012)
Even if you read the above nine books carefully, you will still go on tilt from time to time. The progression of poker means the edges are smaller and the variance more severe so Tendler’s advice on how to control your emotions and control tilt is essential learning for any winning poker player. You learn motivational tactics from players who achieved Supernova elite status and tips from professionals who used Tendler’s techniques to great effect to dramatically improve their results. Tendler has since released a sequel to this book, which is worth a read too.
These books are just some of the many poker books that are worth reading. But if I had to pick 10 of the best poker books to take with me onto a desert island (which hopefully has wifi so I could play online poker) I’d start with these.
