Poker book question

For a person who has never picked up a poker book, what is the best book for me.
Im a less than average player by far......... I do have a few nice wins, but I have lost a total of probably $1500 online.
So with this information, what would you suggest be the firth thing I reaad? Fergasons BR managment strategy is not a book, I know that is what the first thing people are going to say, so soemthing else.

There are about three thousand threads here on poker books already, but my suggestion would be Phil Gordon's Little Green Book.

^ this.

The Little Green Book probably won't make you the world's greatest player, but it'll help you plug a ton of leaks and if you're down $1500, that's probably what you need to look at first.

Phil's books are good reads for sure and will give you a foundation to work from. They're also very well-written (ez reads, very little math & interesting). [Little Green Book & Little Blue Book]

If NLHE Tournament play is of interest to you, then the next book I'd read would for sure be 'Harrinton On Holdem Vol.1' (and then Vol.2 for sure!!).

My belief is.... if you study these books you will be ahead of the game (most MTT players online have read Harrington's books, usually early on in their online poker experience).

If you're playing cash-tables (as opposed to 'tourney-style') then you'd be wanting to pick up another book (HOH on Cash Games, Prof. No Limit...).

For SNG's, you really can't beat Collin Moshmann's SNG Strategy book.

GL on the tables!
(these aren't the only books I've read,.. just so you know I'm not basing my reply on a very limited resource - - I've read a few dozen poker books and continue to read more, lol... I'm hooked!)

The Harrington books 1 and 2 would be my first purchases if I were you. Go on amazon or ebay and get them used for cheap. I also read the the Gordon books which are also good.

I would read the Harrington books more then once if you get them.

Hey roids, firstly let me ask, are u a bodybuilder? or do you just not eat enough fibre sunshine? he he ok as for your post. It would of been great if you told us your game of choice and the structure you prefer to play. However, I reckon any 2 plus 2 book is gold as for specific example NL Holdem theory and Practice excellent for ringame knowledge and Phil Shaws secrets of st n gos is also good if you play Single table tourneys Gl mate study hard and the more u learn the more u can understand just how badly someone played the hand when they Donk you on the River hehe peace out

Little Green Book would be a good strating point.

Good Luck

phil gordon's little green book was the 1st poker book i ever read made me want to get serious about the game.
but these 2 are all you need IMO. 1 hand at a time is awesome. but you may have to read the other just to get all of it.

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Whatever books you read just remember not to change you game in huge steps. Take baby steps and change a little at a time. After I read a new book I cannot wait to try out the new info I just learned and I usually get killed.

Yup, these are always a favorite. I've read the first one and it has great information for you to improve your game. I highly suggest that you read this one.

Phil Gordon's was pretty good too.

zen and the art of poker - goes everywhere with me and i zm reading it over and over constantly

lol dantigua, guess its real good hehe Thanks all for your help

See here for my suggestions.

It's pretty horrible when people suggest 'Theory and Practice' as a first poker book...

I've started with Doyle's "Super System 1 & 2 after moved to Harrington. But still loosing money....lol.
Something is fishie here....

Doyle Brunson's Super System has been called the Poker Bible from top Pro's so i would start there. Gives you great 1st hand knowledge from one ot the top names that has been respected for years.

I have read a few .... my suggestions will be :

1. Phil Helmuth's "Play poker like the pros" for tourneys
2. Doyle's "SUPER SYSTEM" for cash games

If you're a math guy I recommand Theory of poker by David Sklansky.

good luck

I didn't find Super System very helpful, and you can be the best poker player in the world but it doesn't necessarily imply that you can write the best poker book in the world...

Yeah, but if you're a better poker player you probably have more knowledge than others. Obviously if you're a complete idiot when it comes to writing and teaching, you're book probably won't be very helpful... but most of the best players somewhat have an idea of what they're doing.

I would start with Phil Helmuth's Limit version of "Play Poker like a pro" and or Lee Jones "Winning Low Limit Hold Em".....I suggest you start with these 2 books to get the fundamentals and basics down before moving on towards NLH. Both are well written and easy to understand. Good luck in your poker endevors.

little blue and little green books by phil gordon were
immensely helpful to my game

green is more of an overview of the game with a
few examples of gordons winning hands.

but the blue book is a more in depth hand analysis book that
shows how he plays certain hands.
this book was very very very very helpful to show how to play difficult
hands such as AJ, JJ, 99, QQ with an K on the flop, etc.

Agreed!

Also, I really wouldn't recommend Theory & Practice OR "Wining Poker Tournaments - One Hand At A Time" for a first book to read. (you'd want to at least read harrington series prior to picking up One Hand At A Time).

Doyles books... wouldn't come anywhere close to my Top10 list.. not by a longshot. Helmuth's books... wouldn't even get on any list (I've read all of his... but only because the first one was on sale for super cheap and I dind't know better at the time... the others because I ran out of books to read and Phil's were easily accessible via the local library).

Gordon's books & Harrinton Series - - you won't go wrong with these!!!

Phil Gordon's "Little Green Book" is easy to understand, so that is the one I would recommend.

The Little Green Book - will help for sure

You really need to read, The theory of poker, this book is the base for all the rest of the books listed in earlier posts. If you read nothing else read the definitions at the end of the book. The math is not bad and the examples are great. Then buy Harrington,s third and work through the problems.

I too read Phil Gordon's Little Green Book. It's a nice easy read for a first book and something you can build on. Some books are really math heavy.
Daniel N.'s Power Holdem Strategy is a book I really enjoyed. I especially enjoyed Todd Brunson's chapter. I'm waiting for Todd's book.

It has been mentioned but harrington on holdem volumes are by far the best ones to go with IMO.
Harrington is one of the greatest players of the game,and his books are a really easy read.

Do you honestly believe that 'Theory of Poker' would be a good book for a suggested first read? What do you want to do.. .turn the person off of reading poker books for eternity? lol. I do agree that Theory of Poker should be part of a person's book selection,... but I don't think it would be suitable for OP's first read.

I'm surprised by how many here have read Phil Gordon's 'Little Green Book'... but not surprised that those who have read it would also recommend it as the book to read for your first one (and not necessarily because it is super basic or anything... I don't think.... but probably more so due to the ease of reading it (it's an enjoyable read) and because it'd provide OP with a great foundation from which to work from.... hmm.... sounds pretty much ideal for a first book).

Might not be necessary to purchase a book like 'Little Green Book'. It's a great book but probably not the type of book you're going to need to go back and read over 10times (like many other poker books... keeping them around and picking them up from time to time is always beneficial). I've read it a few times but mostly cuz I'm a HUGE POKER BOOK ADDICT!!!
Why not see if your local library has it on the shelves... OR perhaps they'd be able to do an inter-library book loan for you. Personally I've loaned at least a couple of dozen poker books from my local library, later purchasing some that I really liked and new I'd be wanting to keep around. At my local library I'm only able to get books that are copyright 2007 & prior.. but that covers many of them (Phil Gordon's, Harrington's, Sklansky, etc.).

So OP... tell us. What book have you decided to choose for your first read?