which poker books to start with?

What would you say are some good books to start with???? I know the hand chart not to even read or look at it

I'm currently reading "Play poker Like the Pros" by Phil Hellmuth. I'm getting some good stuff out of it, I will have to let you know when I get finnished. I also hear that Dan Harringtons books are pretty good, but a little dated. I've heard that "Super System" is a must read too.

If you could only read one poker book, what would it be?

The hogwarts holdem owl level study guide got great reviews.

Hey, *I* was going to make that joke!

In all seriousness, what book to read depends on what you play. Limit, no-limit, cash games, SnGs, MTTs..?

I really couldnt disagree with this anymore. Harrington's books are about the same age as Helmuth's books. And I didnt get much from the two books I read that Phil wrote. Harrington's books are not a good choice for a first book reader. Also, Supersystem is a book that you dont want to read first. You have to be careful with the first few books you read. Jumping to the advanced theory books can get you going a little crazy if you dont have the rudimentary stuff down first.

A good first book... thats tough. Hold Em for dummies isnt a terrible choice to get the basics going.

Anything by David Sklansky. He has a wide range of books for beginners intermediate and advance players

Do yourself a favour and put down that book right now!!! Hellmuth's books are terrible and everytime I hear him say New York Times bestseller I want to vomit. You would be wayyyyy better off reading Harrington than Super System or Hellmuth's garbage.

Personally I think the book I say is a must read, especially for NL cash game players, is No Limit Theory and Practice by Ed Miller. Great book goes over important concepts and is geared solely towards No Limit which I'm assuming your playing. Theory of Poker by David Sklansky is also good for overally poker theory and how to think about the game but It is a much more general book.

It would be Limit, no-limit, cash games, SnGs..
I don't do to bad in limit.


nice joke

Thanks Rileyl, i will get that one.

I liked ace on the river alot.
Harrington on holdem was another of my favorites.
But super system is the one most talked about.

There's a small book by Ed Miller, called "Getting Started in Hold 'em" which contains a little of everything hold 'em, while simultaneously being more informative than SuperSystem, better for your game than Hellmuth's book(s) and overall gets you thinking like a real poker player instead of just trying to mimic the game of one.

It's great that you learn to raise 9-9 preflop. It's even better if you understand why. The only author who actually does an even OK job explaining it is Ed Miller.

... and the above notion that Harrington's books aren't for beginners is not something I agree with. Harrington's books are definitely for beginners, at least the tournament ones.

Thanks F.P, I will get them and read them.....
Thanks a bunch.
Your bud Steven

Im just saying I dont think Harrington's book is the first book you should read. Harrington's book is going to assume you know all the basics and a first time reader may not.

Any book is a good book to start with, read, read,read. But my first poker book was super system, easy for the beginner to follow along too.

She teaches there and helped write the book.

Pay special attention to the chapter "BD on BB's - a Theif's Guide"

Hands down, the best book to start with is the "Bible," Super System. It is a great book and teaches you a gear that all players should have in their repertoire. After SS, I would suggest any of Harrington's book detailing M Theory.

As the forums only wiccan i should make that joke.

Oh..making that assumption may cause 7 fold problems

I paid homage to bbbs on that one.

don't read supersystem by the way

Harringtons books are a MUST read... even if not right now then definitely once you get familiar with playing basic poker.

Forget Super System, this book was written 30+ years ago and is totally out of date. No offence to the Texas Dolly but even he does not play poker that way very much now.

For SnGs there is no other book to read than Colin Moshman's Sit and Go Strategy book. This is the bible.

I am currently ordering Zen and the art of Poker. It was recommended me by Bill Seymour, long time Vegas tournament pro as the only poker book he ever read and is also a must read.

I would like to get Greenstein's Ace on the River but I believe this is an advanced book for things such as bank roll management etc and not much to do with playing and strategy at all... but I could be corrected here by someone who has read it.

Finally for live poker I STRONGLY recommend Joe Navarro's book read Em and Reap. I can't count the number of times I've folded or put players on a hand thanks to their body language. This book is leagues ahead of anything by Caro, but that is not to dismiss Caro, it just seems his stuff is very well known these days and probably doesn't need you to buy a book.

yeah zen and the art of poker is pretty key once you figure out the basics

cool thanks... now i got 2 weeks for a MTT read up and add on to my game

I don't have read any Poker books, probably will begin to start thought, let's see if I can found anything interesting

Try the books by Dan Harrington, they should help

Are the Harrington books out of print? I wanted to bug my family for them for Christmas, but Amazon only had the second and third book available.

To be honest I never checked 2+2 but I try to keep gift requests simple.

If you are an online player, the best poker book I can suggest is no book at all. The best tutor is the game itself. Watch how people play their hands. Some do it well, while most do it very badly. I suggest watching tournaments when they get down to the last 50 or so. There you will find the best players, and often, the same players. Watching them has taught me more than any book ever has.

If you've taken your own advice and not read any book, then the last sentence is obviously true. And what lessons exactly do you get from watching shortstacked late tournament play without access to the hole cards?

Harrington on holdem,super system,ace on the river.
them are my favorites.

at google books there are some books u can read without paying something
it helped me a little bit