What Books (In Order) For a Beginner?

#1 6th July 2010, 3:40 PM

So I just started playing online poker. Previously, I have always just played in small games with my friends. I have never studied hold'em or anything, I'm just the type of player that can usually bank on hitting the money with my friends (only one or two of them that really play poker extensively at all). I know enough about what's good starting hands, what's bad, etc, but no real poker strategy beyond that.

So I have been looking for what poker books to buy. I have visited 100 different websites, and everyone has their own opinions, which is understandable. Some say Super System is great, others that it's outdated and not primarily concerned with hold'em. Some say Theory of Poker is a must-read, while others say don't touch it as a beginner.

So I decided to post here to see if anyone could recommend a few books that I should read IN ORDER. Like, what book would you read first, followed by what, etc.

Any info would be appreciated! Basically, i'm just looking to find what books I should run out right now and work my way through. If you have the time, let me know why you picked the books you do.

#2 6th July 2010, 5:47 PM

There are tons of threads here on CardsChat that pretty much cover this exactly, just search around a bit and you'll find a lot of really good information about this topic that has already been covered.

Some questions for you that will need to be known before giving you book selections would be, are you playing tournament or ring games? I'm assuming tournament because that is how most new players are. If that's the case, you should probably work your way through Phil Gordon's Little Green Book, followed by Little Blue Book.

You can also find massive amount of valuable up-to-date information by searching around CardsChat. One bad thing about some of the books is that the strategies are outdated because the field is becoming more aggressive and knowledgable, so by reading the forums, you're going to see a day to day changing of the poker world.

#3 7th July 2010, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jparsenal87

So I just started playing online poker. Previously, I have always just played in small games with my friends. I have never studied hold'em or anything, I'm just the type of player that can usually bank on hitting the money with my friends (only one or two of them that really play poker extensively at all). I know enough about what's good starting hands, what's bad, etc, but no real poker strategy beyond that.

So I have been looking for what poker books to buy. I have visited 100 different websites, and everyone has their own opinions, which is understandable. Some say Super System is great, others that it's outdated and not primarily concerned with hold'em. Some say Theory of Poker is a must-read, while others say don't touch it as a beginner.

So I decided to post here to see if anyone could recommend a few books that I should read IN ORDER. Like, what book would you read first, followed by what, etc.

Any info would be appreciated! Basically, i'm just looking to find what books I should run out right now and work my way through. If you have the time, let me know why you picked the books you do.

I was recommended an ebook recently pokerbythebook.com. It was easy to read and had a lot of solid information for beginners. Other than that check out the threads that absolutehamm mentioned. Just wanted to throw this one in there because I doubt it was mentioned.

#4 7th July 2010, 3:27 AM

As has been pointed out, there's quite a few threads discussing this topic.

Quick answer though:

Phil Gordon's Little Green Book. Then Phil Gordon's Little Blue Book. Then you should probably decide which games are your favourites and study something specific to them.

#5 7th July 2010, 3:41 AM

Phil Gordon's "Little Green Book"

Harrington On Holdem - Vol.1 & Vol.2 "Tournament Play"

Collin Moshamann's SNG Strategy

_____________________________________-

When you're finished with these.... get back to me & I'll tell ya the next three I'd suggest after those ones.

#6 7th July 2010, 4:15 AM

Oz and PO posted some good advice imo.

I would start with Little Green and Little Blue book.
There pretty basic but the are really easy and quick to read and go into alot of key elements of poker aswell as thought process.

After that it pretty much depends on what game you are going to play.

MTTs.
Harington on Holdem Vol 1 and 2. Should provied u with a great base for your MTT game since it goes deep into key elements of MTT play.
Then I would read Winning poker Tournaments 1 hand at a time Vol 1 and 2 Its written by 3 proven big online winners and details there thought process through out hands they have played.

SNGs.
Only one book worth mentioning when talking about SNG and that is Collin Moshamann´s SNG Strategy.
When u finish that a decent follow up might be Moshmann´s Head Up No limit Holdem to sharpen your final stage play

Cash games:
Profesional No Limit Holdem Is great.
Ryan Fees 6max ebook (its free from his site, just google it)
Ed Millers Small stakes holdem

#7 7th July 2010, 5:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poker Orifice

Phil Gordon's "Little Green Book"

Harrington On Holdem - Vol.1 & Vol.2 "Tournament Play"

Collin Moshamann's SNG Strategy

_____________________________________-

When you're finished with these.... get back to me & I'll tell ya the next three I'd suggest after those ones.

depends really on what types of games interest you the most but these would be my chioces. little green book best 1st book ever!!!

#8 7th July 2010, 6:52 AM

Little green book because it is easy to read for a beginner but it most covers the tournament part and Collin Moshamann's SNG Strategy for Sng tournaments.

After that i think Small stakes strategy by Ed Miller if will play small stakes cash games. It is a little bit different from other books and a little hard to understand for a beginner if u do not have all the basics. But after u read the first 2 books it will become easy to read. As Ed Miller says there is a strategy for microstacks but it is as hard as that for the high stacks. I still read this book and there are parts that i have to read 10 times and focus a lot just to understand them. To apply them it is a little bit harder.

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