29 replies to this topic

[Bubba83]

I know I know, there are a lot of these type of threads going around, but I enjoy them immensely. The book that helped me the most was Zen and the Art of Poker, written by Larry W. Phillips.It talks about how to stay calm and even-keel in even the most difficult situations. It also encourages super-tight play and patience. I am not particularly fond of super-tight play, but the other lessons learned in this book were priceless. However, if you are looking for a book to teach you the concepts of the game, this certaintly isn't the one for you. This book is more about controlling ones emotions and how to stop yourself from going on tilt.

[Duff_Man]

I've only read one book so far and that is "Winning Low Limit Hold'Em" by Lee Jones. It's an easy read and it has a ton of useful information. Before reading this book I usually played $10 SNG's and $25 NL tables at Party. I sat down last night at a $ 1/2 table started off with $50 with the main goal of applying what I had read in this book. I left the table 4 hours later with $220.00. Granted that may not seem like all that much to some people here but to me it was huge. I'm re-reading Jones's book and after I get done with it I'll move on to another poker oriented book. I'm the type of person that when I become interested in a certain subject I read as many books on it as I can.

[tekn0wledg]

Definitely The Theory of Poker by David Sklansky. Awesome book and changed my play forever; for the better.

[wrto4556]

The theory of poker, hold'em for advanced players, tournament poker for advanced players, low limit hold'em...They all make me drool.

[JaysonWeber]

I think this question should be asked with regards to what lever you are at, and what can help at that level.Any new poker player picking up Theory of Poker will be lostFor new players I think something like Small Stakes Hold 'Em by Sklanksky, Miller and Malmuth is good to start with, and they should read it a few times, or atleast a few beginners books before they get any further down the road. But for experienced players, Theory of Poker is the best book. That is until Negreanu comes out with his NLHE Book right guys

[MnALLIn]

I love "Texas Hold Em" by Ken Warren. It was the first book I ever read about poker and I still go back and read parts of it today. TJ's book Champion no-limit and Pot limit is also great. Haven't read Supersytem yet, but hear great things about it.

[JaysonWeber]

MnALLIn said:

I love "Texas Hold Em" by Ken Warren. It was the first book I ever read about poker and I still go back and read parts of it today.  TJ's book Champion no-limit and Pot limit is also great. Haven't read Supersytem yet, but hear great things about it.

Ken Warren's was the first book I ever read as well. And I am actually reading TJ's book that you're talking about right now the book has a lot of good information in it, its not for the beginners though.

[Metaphysician]

For beginners I recommend "No-Limit Texas Hold'Em" by Brad Daugherty and Tom Mcevoy. I recommended it not because it tells you what to do(it does give beginners a "system"), but because it gives you situations to THINK about. A beginner should read this book and play poker and reread the book again, until they understand WHY the authors recommend playing a hand a certain way. I think Super/System most influenced my play as far as books go. It is very outdated(but that's fixed, since Super/Sytem 2 is here.) However, a lot of the concepts of no limit play still apply without much modification and adding a little common sense. I don't play much limit poker, so I'm not sure about how well it applies there.What I really recommend to everyone is reading Steve Badger's website playwinningpoker.com because he relentlessly attacks sloppy thinking about poker and poker players can't AFFORD to be sloppy thinkers about the game. Steve's site is a big reality check. Also, of course, this website, especially Daniel's Cardplayer articles.. and naturally Cardplayer.com articles.

[RPGs316]

For me, it's "Poker Wisdom of a Champion" by Doyle Brunson.Life stories followed by tips are the best way for me to learn about poker, and this book hits the head on the nail.

[Mashchit]

Sklanksy's 'Theory of Poker' was a great grounding. Mike Caro's 'Book of Tells' was useful, and the no limit section in Super System was a revelation. Roll on version 2! Many other books have helped as well since, as did the late Andy Glazer's Wednesday Nite Poker articles.

[cwsiggy]

So far - Lee Jones's WLLH and Small Stakes Hold'em by Sklansky, Mallmuth and Miller. That book will become the new bible for small stakes games.

[allinbluff35]

The first book that I read was Championship NL and PL by Cloutier and Tom mcevy(sp?), and Bad beats and lucky draws by Hellmuth, and waiting for play poker like the pro's. Might seem like a weird order but the public library isn't really known for their amazing customer service and all of them have been on hold for 2 months each and people wouldn't return them.

[Sundevils21]

Small Stakes Hold'em by Ed Miller.For tournaments- Tournament Poker for Advanced Players by Sklansky is the nizzuts :wink: . The chapter on the Gap Concept is worth the price of the book x's 10.-Travis

[WonderWoman]

I like all the Sklansky books especially 'The Theory of Poker.' Beginner Holdem games I recommend 'Winning Low Limit Holdem' by Lee Jones. Now don't start throwing your books at me for this next one but I actually like 'Play Poker Like the Pros' by Phil Hellmuth- straight forward and very informative.

[avsfan]

"The Complete book of Holdem" by Gary Carson :twisted: .... yes Gary makes mistakes and can be vague but inmho this is the knowledgeable players next level comprehension book....defintly not the book for new players and experienced players may not feel its worth there time (it is!).ps: gray carson's books are good too..lolbtw: i know my grammer suxs and i cant spell!

[smurdogg]

anyone wanna sell their book?

[jonnyz]

middle limit holdem has helped my play the most. If Theory of Poker or HFAP is a university lecture then middle limit holdem is the practical lab or tutorial that accompaines the lecture. If you play 10-20 or higher you need to read this book.Jon

[FrankB]

Started playing poker....learned the gameRead "Hold 'em poker" by SklanskyPlayed more poker...earlier read helped immenselyRead "Theory of Poker" I was totally lost....severely stabbed my gameSaw Rounders...shouted cool quotes at the table while my game died a slow death from previous stab wounds..."I got a run of cards like the ones you read about...I couldn't get a break!" Played lots of poker...started to get out of the funk...Created Poker log to track bankroll and keep notes...I got a pulse...Read "Super System" and "Zen and the Art of Poker"....Played lots more poker....Game released from poker hospital and recovering nicelyRe-read "Theory of Poker"...OHHHHHHH....that's what he meant by Mathematical Expectaion and effective odds....I thought calling to the river with a gut shot straight draw was a good thing...yeah...don't read this until you've played poker for awhile...it will make a lot more sense after a year or so...lolplayed more poker....no more gut shot draws unless I got at least 15-1 from the pot. (effective odds)Read "Positively 5th Street" by James McManus....won't help your game much but is a GREAT read...helped much in the way of motivation...Read Tournament Poker for advanced players....Played my first two tournaments....Won bothSubscribed to Card Player...Killing $10/20 games regularly....Playing more poker..... (Success to be con't)?Moral of this boring poker timeline? Books can help alot, but nothing beats experience....wanna get better?Play more poker....

[spacemonkey]

The book that improved my game the most was definitely Thursday Night Poker by Peter Steiner. I'd been playing a weekly game for about 6 or 7 weeks and after the first outing had gotten steadily worse results. I knew I didn't know much ("It's suited, it's good right?") so I got this as an introduction to winning poker. And it did that very well. It never claimed to be a guide to beating Chip Reese but instead taught me the fundamental concepts I needed to know to win consistently.