Beginner Book Recommendation

I want to buy a poker book for my girlfriend. She has an understanding of the mechanics of the game, but no more than the vaguest idea of strategy and theory.

I already own a few books, but I'd prefer to actually buy her something rather than lending and I don't think Harrington/Sklansky are appropriate.

Having read the helpful thread in the Golden Archive, I'm tempted to get her "Getting Started in Hold'em" by Ed Miller. However, the games she's been exposed to (and will continue to be exposed to) are both No Limit and Tournaments, and I'm concerned that GSIH is more about limit and cash.

Is this right? Does anyone have any alternative recommendations?

Get her Phil Gordon's first book "Poker: The Real Deal". It covers the history, the lingo, and no-limit hold 'em. Good beginner book, imo. You might be able to get it cheaply in the bargain bins, too.

^^^ - you can get all 3 of gordon's little (Black, Green & Blue) books in a box set so that she can read them as she progresses.

Are Gordon's books really just for beginners or is it good for advanced players as well?

t1riel said:

Are Gordon's books really just for beginners or is it good for advanced players as well?

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I read the black one and I think it is very beginner-oriented. I haven't read the other 2 yet, though.

The black book is really beginner orientated, teaching them about the language and what the flop is and such Poker 101,

The green book starts to get into strategies, odds, and such. Poker 102 if you will, you know the game and now it is time to really start working on your game kind of a thing.

The blue book is a collection of ring and tournament hands live and online and he describes the hands how they happened what he did and why. The hands in the book do not always work out to his favor. It teaches you to think beyond the odds and your cards to really think about the hands as they are developing. Speaking of which I should probably reread this one.

to answer your question I think anyone could benefit from reading them (green and blue), the green book is more of a intermediate level book, the blue book I guess you could call advanced.

Why dont u try the "poker for beginners" Hardcover that mite be helpful.

Playing Like The Pros

I would reccomend "Playing Like the Pros" by Hellmuth. I know he is not the most loved pro but the book is an easy read. It would not be intimidating and he breaks down the play for different levels. So as her game progresses she can reread it and get more from it. He also breaks down different player personalities and strategies to play against those personalities.

Also I think it is good to know how to play more than one game. This book gives stratigy for NLH, PLH, LH, PLO, PLOHL.

Phil Gordon books are pretty good, very easy to read andnot expencive.Gives good trucs for beginners and also for advanced player. You can read it 300 times and you will still learn something. You can also find a lot of book on internet or just part of to.

Shuffle Up and Deal by Mike Sexton is an outstanding book.

t1riel said:

Are Gordon's books really just for beginners or is it good for advanced players as well?

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I don't know that they'll contain many revelations for advanced players, but I certainly found them an interesting read.

Put me down as another vote for Gordon's Little Green Book - it's very easy to read and should result in major but easy-to-implement improvements in the game of a beginner.

See here for my recommendations.

aliengenius: I have already read your recommendations.

As someone who has read GSIH, is it very limit and cash focused or will it work well as a general NL tournament primer?

I would say get here Dan Harrington on Holdem vol 1. Its a good book and goes into detail and gives good advice on how to play big hands and junk hands. I have read all three of is books and it has helped my game alot. Of course when she is ready she needs to read the bible Super Systems 1 & 2

Sklanksy limit holdem book is good. Or you can start out with poker for dummies, which really does exist. Scott Fischman's book has some good sng strategies. Then you no doubt know about Harrington's books and Caro's poker tells. Also Sklanksy no limit theory bood with Ed Miller.

i think the if any player is only going to read one book it should be supersystem, none of the chapters are hard to understand I read it before I had even played.

gn2056 said:

i think the if any player is only going to read one book it should be supersystem, none of the chapters are hard to understand I read it before I had even played.

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Aaaaaaahhhhhhhh...

I'd have real issue recommending Super System (I or II) as a first poker book.

At risk of repeating a bunch of other posts I've made on here before, you really need to keep the following in mind when you're reading Super System:

- It is not a low-stakes text. If you're jumping straight into a $100-$200 game then maybe it's a little more applicable. But for us mere mortals, the advice won't ring as true. In the NLHE section, Doyle advocates putting pressure on your opponents constantly with bets and raises. He's talking about "Y'know, you could buy a car with the money in this pot" kind of pressure, not "Y'know, you could buy a pack of cigarettes and a bus fare home with this pot" pressure.

- It was written at a time when (it seems) the predominant style of play was weak-tight, and it certainly assumes you're not going to have much competition for the title of most aggressive player at the table. The game, NLHE particularly, has come a long way since then and your average table doesn't much resemble the ones Doyle talks about.

To nitpick, the book also uses some outdated terminology (from memory, one example is his use of the word "turn", which could be a little bit confusing in today's context - I believe he was using it to describe the flop) and if you're only getting it for the NLHE section, you're paying for a book that you're going to ignore 75% of.

Absolutely it's an interesting read, and there's a lot you can still get out of it. But there's a dozen books I'd recommend a player (especially a beginner) read first.

bungle said:

aliengenius: I have already read your recommendations.

As someone who has read GSIH, is it very limit and cash focused or will it work well as a general NL tournament primer?

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GSIH tries to cover all aspects of the game (ring/tournament, limit/NL), so don't worry that you will be wasting your time/money. Reading the limit chapters that start the book isn't going to hurt. It gives an excellent base of knowledge, with concepts like "equity", that while perhaps more immediately applicable to limit are going to build a solid foundation for understanding the game as a whole.

To echo numerous suggestions, already made, Phil Gordon's Little books are excellent. The Green book is a fine primer for strategy, beginning math, and a rounded overview of game theory and mindset.

I could never recommend either Super System volume to any but serious devotees of poker lore and history. While I enjoyed them immensely,I am the definite minority, as NLHE is not my #1 game of choice.