Poker books & classifying yourself as a player

[Raven 0]

I have a little question for you guys. I want to buy a few of Sklansky's books but I'm unsure which of them I need. He has books for beginners and for advanced players but I'm having a hard time classifying myself as a player and I figured if I gave some background, maybe some of you who read his books would be able to help me pick which ones to buy.I've been playing for almost a year now. I understand the game pretty well but obviously there's room for improvements. I play mostly online, won a few sit n goes and make the money in a couple of 2000+ player tournies. I like playing live more but I don't have many chances to do so. When I was in vegas a while back I placed 5th in 65 man tourney. I like playing no limit more but I do play limit here and there. I have pretty good instincs at the table and for the most part I know how to bet when I flop top pair with a flush draw and things of that nature. The math side of things still eludes me...not cause I'm an idiot but more because I never really got into it, hehe.I wanted to get Theory of Poker to settle the math issue as well as Hold'em for Advanced players as well as Tournament Poker for Adanced players. The thing I'm unsure of is whether I should get the 1st Hold'em book he wrote. I undersand it's more for beginners but I don't think I could really clasiffy myself as a beginner. I'm also unsure of which order I should read these books in when I get them. I obviously want to try to read them in an order that'll maximize my learning. I don't wanna read something and completely miss the point cause I didn't read something else in an earlier book.Anyway, any help or advice you guys can give me from your own experience would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[bubbad 0]

I can only suggest you read everything from the bottom up... I consider myself an advanced player as I have played for 5+ years and hav even placed in 3 WSOP events... highest 3... I had never read a book about poker until last year when I was laid up in the hospital and a buddy of mine brought in Sklanskys first book (I forget the title) but alot of it was very beginner oriented but there was SOOOO much information in it that I had no idea about... and ever since I have been a book fiend I read everything I can get my hands on.Anyway thats just my humble opinion

[ddudley 0]

If you are worried about missing something, his first book "Hold 'em Poker" is only 100 pages long. How long could it take to read? But, as you say, it is for beginners so you may not learn much. I think he reviews most of that stuff in "Hold 'em Poker For Advanced Players".Don't forget about "Small Stakes Hold 'em", it's for advanced players playing in low limit games. It doesn't sound like that would interest you much, but it has a very good explanation of pot odds, implied odds and reverse implied odds.

[Raven 0]

thank you both for the replies, you both made some excellent points. If anyone else has anything to add, please do.

[snowmannn 0]

I'd go to Barnes and Noble or Borders and something where you can sit and read through a bunch of them without buying and select which one(s) you think would improve your game the most. I also think the more you read the better you will get no matter what you are reading. I have several books, and have read other books from friends. It's pretty interesting to sit at our home game because everyone has read the same books. But each player still maintains his own style and chooses to use different theories.But read, re-read, take notes, ask questions, write in margins etc...

[FrankB 0]

"Theory of Poker" was by far the book which helped me the most as a player. The first time I read it, it was a little over my head. Only after I'd been playing for about a year did it make sense to me after I re-read it. It can be pretty complex at times, but it is filled with alot of information. A couple of other great reads for me were "Zen and the Art of Poker" and "The Tao of Poker" by Larry W. Phillips. They really helped me with keeping a level head and resisting going on tilt. Lastly, obviously Doyle Brunson's "Super System" is still considered the poker bible.I agree with the previous post about going to Borders or B&N to browse through books. I do it all the time and have sometimes read through entire books drinkin' coffee from the Starbucks most of them now house.Others to consider:"Playing like the Pro's" by Phil Hellmuth"Hold 'em for advanced Players" by David Skalnsky"Mike Caro's book of Tells" by Mike CaroSubscribe to Card Player...a year will cost you about as much a copy of Super System

[Raven 0]

If you are worried about missing something, his first book "Hold 'em Poker" is only 100 pages long.  How long could it take to read?  But, as you say, it is for beginners so you may not learn much.  I think he reviews most of that stuff in "Hold 'Em Poker For Advanced Players".Don't forget about "Low Limit Hold 'Em", it's for advanced players playing in low limit games.  It doesn't sound like that would interest you much, but it has a very good explanation of pot odds, implied odds and reverse implied odds.

Is Low Limit Hold'Em the one from Lee Jones?

[ddudley 0]

Is Low Limit Hold'Em the one from Lee Jones?

Sorry, I meant "Small Stakes Hold 'em" by Sklansky, Miller and Malmuth. I've never read the Lee Jones book but I've heard some bad things about it. I'm still going to read it just to know what other people are reading and how it affects their game but it's lower on my list.

[Metaphysician 0]

If you're not familiar with the math you need to start from the bottom and go up from there. Sklansky is mostly math.

[Raven 0]

well, from all the replies to this I think the best course of action would be to just got in order.I'm gonna read Hold'em Poker 1st followed by Hold'em for advanced players and then Theory of Poker. Since I should really get into limit games (cause let's be honest, that's where most of the money is) I'll read Small Stakes. I'm gonna get Tournament Hold'em as well but leave it for the end.I am curious about 1 other thing though...down the road, and I do mean way down the road cause actually reading, understanding and applying all the information in the books above will take quite a while, I am interested in getting in the psychological side of the game. I'm curious if anyone has read either "Caro's Book of Poker Tells" or "The Psychology of Poker". Caro's book is pretty popular but any info anyone could give me would be most appreciated. I would take your advice and go into Borders or B&N to check them out but as I live in Canada and neither of those chains actually operate here I have to resort to reviews which are few and far between. I ask here cause the people here know what what they're talking about and there are many great healthy arguments in some thread which are great to read.Again, thanks to everyone who replied, you've all been most helpful.

[mreevit 0]

poo

[jonnyz 0]

HeyIf you are in Canada you can go to Chapters they have a ton of poker books now but the best place to buy the books would be amazon.ca

[DiverDown4 0]

Hellmuths book is probably the best poker book for beginners. Its very simple, to the point and teaches you to play aggressively. I'm currently reading Internet Texas Holdem by Matt Hilger. Its actually a really fun book to read. There are over 200 actual internet hands that are displayed in the book with Q&A for all of them. Although its based on internet play, (and only limit holdem), its a great poker book in general. I also prefer limit holdem books in general, only because I believe that limit is where every new player shoud start. Many beginners shoot straight to no limit, and instead of worrying about pot odds, implied odds and where to bet, raise, fold, many are wasting their time perfecting their bluffs and all ins. Start with limit for a beginner and start with Hellmuths book, its a good start.

[onthebutton 0]

LLHE by Lee Jones teaches some very weak-passive play. I wouldn't recommend it.