If you could only have one poker text.... which one and why....
Lets try an refine a few perameters...
1) Texas Holdem No-Limit
2) Suitable for any ability
3) How it helped your game
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Full Version: if you could only have one....
I just started it (about 1/4 through) - Dan Harrington's book.
Its called "Harrington on Holdem" - it focuses on NL Tournament play, but the advice is easily translatable to NL cash games.
Its essentially about how to play situations, he formats it with a few pages of theory and explains how to play, he then poses a series of model hands and walks through one or two methods of playing the hand (right and wrong) and you see how it develops.
I've learned more from the first two chapters than any other holdem book I've seen. That's a sign.
Its called "Harrington on Holdem" - it focuses on NL Tournament play, but the advice is easily translatable to NL cash games.
Its essentially about how to play situations, he formats it with a few pages of theory and explains how to play, he then poses a series of model hands and walks through one or two methods of playing the hand (right and wrong) and you see how it develops.
I've learned more from the first two chapters than any other holdem book I've seen. That's a sign.
Well I don't hav ethis book YET, but all the feedback that I have heard about this book just makes me all happy inside. These are more current games and up to date material on the changing world of poker that we are in today. If DN says that Harman's section on Limit HE is one of the BEST pieces of writing ever you know it has to be checked out, unless DN is doing it to ensure his royalties. 
"Lets try an refine a few perameters...
1) Texas Holdem No-Limit
2) Suitable for any ability
3) How it helped your game "
Well, personally, I think that's a 'loaded' question, in the sense, that suitable of any ability does not necessarily mean that it's going to give you the most benefit when it comes to content. For instance, if you just graduated with your Masters in Statistical Analysis, a good read for you starting out in poker might be Super System, The Theory of Poker, Tournament Poker by Sklansky, Inside the Poker Mind, even Middle Limit Hold 'em by Ciaffone is a great book; depending on where you're looking to start out.
However, if you're straight out of High School, and at the risk of being very general, you're mathematical, and you're opponent reading skills may not be as good, compared to someone who's studied psychology, etc.
Of course, I'm being very general in saying all of this, but, my point is that if I had to pick just one book that helped me the most, I'm not sure if I could. I can list what books helped improve leaks in my game, and which ones benefited in which way.
The first book, though, that I really read was Super System, and it definitely helped me grasp important poker and math concepts. After that, I would say some of my favorites are:
1)The Theory of Poker, Sklansky
2) Tournament Poker, and Tournament Poker for Advanced Players, by Sklansky
3) The Psychology of Poker
4) Mike Caro's Book of Tells
5) Middle Limit Hold 'em
1) Texas Holdem No-Limit
2) Suitable for any ability
3) How it helped your game "
Well, personally, I think that's a 'loaded' question, in the sense, that suitable of any ability does not necessarily mean that it's going to give you the most benefit when it comes to content. For instance, if you just graduated with your Masters in Statistical Analysis, a good read for you starting out in poker might be Super System, The Theory of Poker, Tournament Poker by Sklansky, Inside the Poker Mind, even Middle Limit Hold 'em by Ciaffone is a great book; depending on where you're looking to start out.
However, if you're straight out of High School, and at the risk of being very general, you're mathematical, and you're opponent reading skills may not be as good, compared to someone who's studied psychology, etc.
Of course, I'm being very general in saying all of this, but, my point is that if I had to pick just one book that helped me the most, I'm not sure if I could. I can list what books helped improve leaks in my game, and which ones benefited in which way.
The first book, though, that I really read was Super System, and it definitely helped me grasp important poker and math concepts. After that, I would say some of my favorites are:
1)The Theory of Poker, Sklansky
2) Tournament Poker, and Tournament Poker for Advanced Players, by Sklansky
3) The Psychology of Poker
4) Mike Caro's Book of Tells
5) Middle Limit Hold 'em
I'm going to have to agree with all the folks that say the Harrington book. It is super clear and concise and it is easy to follow the train of thought that Harrington follows through each example. To me it has been the book that I feel has pushed my game the most. I mean I try to take something from everything I read but this book has just crushed it in my opinion. I can't wait for volume two. -t
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