Poker Books

[dmorris68]

^^^ agreed on Sklansky and Malmuth as I pointed out above. However disagree with you on HoH being "mathy." Not at all. I will say that it's geared primarily towards slow, live NLHE MTTs and so shouldn't be wholly applied to all NLHE games, but much of it does apply and the information there is sound and easy to digest compared to most Sklansky/Malmuth books.

I'd say Gordon's books and Snyder's TPTF1 are probably good for beginners that want to play tourneys, especially the latter for fast online tourneys. For cash games, Harrington on Cash (although I haven't read all of it yet) is probably a bit easier to digest than PNLHE/SSNLHE although those are probably the best cash game books on the shelf. I can't speak to Stud or any of the non-Hold'em games as I don't play them anymore and don't have any books on them (other than general card game rule books like Hoyles).

It's important to consider that there are two different audiences for those players who are just starting to improve their game. First is the raw beginner, who knows very little about poker at all and is just experiencing it for the first time. These people need a gentle hand-holding through the rules and very basic strategy of play. Then you have the still-immature (skill-wise) player who knows the basics of the game, and wants to step up to actually applying some basic math, pot odds, short-game strategies, etc. These are still beginners in my mind, they're just a bit higher level beginner. These are the target audience for most of the books I listed above, mainly all but the dryest of Sklanksy/Malmuth/Chen/et al publications. Mosman's SnG book I think is quite suitable to this level of player.

 

[PokerProBetZip]

I haven't read SuperSystem 1 or 2, or much poker literature at all for that matter, however Phil Hellmuth's "Play Poker Like the Pros" was relatively helpful. Its the only poker book I've read through all the way and it gives a substantial amount of information and advice. Hes the most winningist of the pros - couldn't hurt to read it right?

 

[dmorris68]

^^^ Actually that's probably one of the poker books to be avoided. Phil's books are generally pretty bad.

 

[Russ gervasi]

I Agree. Both the Phil Gordon books on the other hand are great, especially if your just starting your poker library. If your looking for something more advanced, "The Theory of Poker" is def one of the best books out there and my personal favorite.

 

[bRiMaTiOn]

I like and have,

Super System 2 - great for triple draw and stud hi lo
Phil Gordon's little green book -great for NLE
Every hand Revealed - Tournament psychology for loose-aggressive
The Theory of Poker - The basics- Have to be able to understand it
Harrinton on Cash Vol.1 - cash Hold em. Solid but not perfect
Small Stakes Hold em by Sklansky - odds, overcards, calculations, tricks and tips. Pretty robust actually.
Full Tilt poker strategy Guide - It's all different view points. Very FUN to read but they all contradict each other actually. Fun!

I also have Hold em for Advanced Players but I don't recommend it.


full tilt poker Strategy Guide

 

[lazedout]

Hey all.

Im new to the forum, and have a similar question as the OP but didnt want to dedicate a whole new thread to it, so I hope nobody minds me posting the question in here. If you do, just let me know.

I am not new to poker, but im not an advanced player either. Ive been playing on Full Tilt on and off for a little bit, and have played cash games at the Casino a little as well. I play strictly NLH tournaments and SNG's (cash too, but I want to focus on tourny's more.) I want to read in order to elevate my game, and hopefully become a winning player. After doing some research I have come up with this list of books, and I want to know which if these you would recommend MOST as I would prefer not to buy them all. (note: I have not read any poker books before)

1) Phil Gordons little blue book

2) Phil Gordons little green book

3) NLH Theory and Practice

4) Theory of Poker

5) Texas Hold'em Odds and Probabilities:6) Tournament Poker for Advanced Players

7) Kill Everyone

8) Sit n Go Strategy: Advanced Strategies for No-Limit Hold 'em Poker Tournaments and Sit-N-Go's.

I know this is a lot of books. Are some of these overlapping in content, which ones would you greatly recommend?

Thanks a lot in advance.

 

[lazedout]

Edit to add one more.

Sit'n Go Strategy: Expert Advice for Beating One Table Poker Tournaments: (it would obviously be one or the other between this and #8)

 

[ollie627]

phil gordons little green book is a good place to start out its a great read and a good place to start.

 

[jakattack]

ive only read 1 poker book... leatherass's one

Might invest in Phil's book 100% sounds the one

 

[dmorris68]

You know, this thread made me realize that the very first poker book(s) I bought was the boxed set of Phil Gordon's books (Green, Blue, & Black), back in 2007. I read about the first third of the Green book and never went further with them. I've bought a ton of books since then and have read almost all of them, so maybe I'm beyond Gordon's books now, but it bugs me that people still talk about them but I never read them.

Any of you fellow bookworms think there's anything I can get out of them? Keeping in mind that I've read a significant majority of the mainstream poker books since then.

 

[usetheion13]

I just started reading the supersystem. I don't think its that bad because I am going to get into the live stuff soon. I am only 18 s I want to gain as much education as possible before I start going to the live casino games. I like the way its written but a lot of the games that are included I don't play much at all. I was wondering about supersytem 2 as well. I'm. Starting to get the impression that this book won't be the most beneficial piece of literature I could read for online poker.

 

[aikindoma]

I am reading Harrington right now...

...got this recommended and let you know how it was...!

 

[Poker Orifice]

I just started reading the supersystem. I don't think its that bad because I am going to get into the live stuff soon. I am only 18 s I want to gain as much education as possible before I start going to the live casino games. I like the way its written but a lot of the games that are included I don't play much at all. I was wondering about supersytem 2 as well. I'm. Starting to get the impression that this book won't be the most beneficial piece of literature I could read for online poker.

Honestly, at least it's a book on poker & you are reading it. But more honestly, of the well over 50 poker books I've read, Doyle's books wouldn't make it on the Top20 (not by a longshot0.

 

[Poker Orifice]

You know, this thread made me realize that the very first poker book(s) I bought was the boxed set of Phil Gordon's books (Green, Blue, & Black), back in 2007. I read about the first third of the Green book and never went further with them. I've bought a ton of books since then and have read almost all of them, so maybe I'm beyond Gordon's books now, but it bugs me that people still talk about them but I never read them.

Any of you fellow bookworms think there's anything I can get out of them? Keeping in mind that I've read a significant majority of the mainstream poker books since then.

I don't think you'll read anything 'new' in them per se... BUT they're still a good read (I've read a ton of books & yet every 6-9mos. or so, I'll pick up Gordon's books again & fire through them for a bit.
He's got a decent writing style to him - concise, interesting, well-written. If you have them I'd read them for sure. I don't think you'll regret it or see it as a waste of time at all. (I've also found that they've helped me when trying to help out others... even bought a few extra copies of the LittleGreenBook & gave them out to friends for presents).

 

[baghead]

no one mentioned Joe Navarro read em and reap i found this book great for tells but then i play a fair bit live as well as on-line also he has a new book out called let there be range but this seems a bit expensive at $950 anyone know where i can get it for free lol.

 

[LarkMarlow]

^ The book "Let There Be Range" is actually by Cole South and Tri Nguyen and is available only online. All the reviews pretty much say the same thing--a great book if you can afford it. The retail price is actually $1850 and I haven't seen it lower anywhere.

 

[nathan12420]

I personally like the little blue book and the little green book by phil gordan. He really lays it out nice and talks you through the way that professionals think about each hand. He really explains that you always do the most logical thing for each situation. It will make you think the way that he does when he plays which will help your game alot. He may not be the best player in the world, but he definately ranks in the top ten. You don't have to aquire his style or anything like that, but it is always good to rationalize every situation while you play so you can gain the maximum amount of chips. These books are definately great tools to any poker player.

 

[nathan12420]

I have only cashed in a few freerolls over the period i have been playing. People don't care about the rolls like they do real money and will call you down with crap. The night before last I was playing one on full tilt and was playing well and had ten thousand chips I was playing against a guy I just doubled up against and he had 9000 or so left. It folded around to me in the small blind with q3 suited so I tried to get a little tricky with him and called trying to display that I had an ace. He raised preflop to like 6 Xs the BB. I went ahead and called bc he was tilting like crazy. The flop came up with K- 3 -2. I checked and he raised the size of the pot. I thought, why would he do that and rationalized that I was ahead and shoved. He called with a 3-4 and the next card out was a four. I was mad, but maybe I shouldn't have been playing the hand at all. Just couldn't believe that all the time I had the best hand and he thought I was bluffing I guess or was just still mad about me felting him for the last thirty minutes. I still feel like I made the overall right decisions, but sometimes that doesn't matter and that is why we love the game. The point is, it is very difficult to start a roll on rolls alone, but I have to do it bc I love the game and don't want to gamble. But if i start a roll, it isn't mine in the first place, so I can do it without feeling like i've done anything wrong.

 

[edgie212]

My personal favorite books:

1. Ed Miller's Small Stakes No Limit Hold Em
2. Tri Nguyen's Transitioning to PLO
3. All 3 Harrington Tournament Books
4. Sklansky's No Limit Hold Em Theory and Practice
5 Kill Everyone

I have heard great things about One Hand At A Time, but I havent been able to find it.

 

[dmorris68]

I have heard great things about One Hand At A Time, but I havent been able to find it.

Amazon has it, that's where I got both volumes.

Amazon.com: Winning Poker Tournaments One Hand at a Time Volume I (9780974150277): Eric 'Rizen'…

Amazon.com: Winning Poker Tournaments One Hand at a Time Volume II (9780984143443): Eric 'Rizen' Lynch, Jon 'PearlJammer' Turner, Jon 'Apestyles' Van Fleet: Books

 

[dmorris68]

Sorry but this is no spam!

Umm, yes it is. If you think this isn't spam then you don't know the meaning of the term. Your first post on this forum is hawking a shady looking site selling a "pokerstars Secret System." Your second post is arguing that the first post isn't spam. :laugh:

The fact that your "Secret System" includes free copies of 4 books (only for the next 10 investors!), which together sell for far more (even discounted at Amazon) than the cost of your "Secret System" alone, leads me to believe these are probably pirated e-books. If they're even included at all. You'll probably say "Sorry, but you were investor #11."

I stand by my assertion that this is spam, and I would hope the forum mods would be along shortly to take note of it and act accordingly.

 

[NoWuckingFurries]

I stand by my assertion that this is spam, and I would hope the forum mods would be along shortly to take note of it and act accordingly.

Clicking on the triangular thingy in the top right corner of the spam post (which I have done) gives the mods a heads-up of where to look in their constant hammer-wielding vigil

 

[doitagainchip]

you asked me to write about hands

sorry i didnt mean to post on this thread. i was writing about some spots i was in and thought id put it in general veiwing but while im here. and i was reading this anyway. what books do you know of that are (the godfather) of micro stakes limits? hopefully you can lead me to the treasure also iv just started reading my first book. like first ever! lol and its the supersystem. if there is any better way to get better at poker than for my first book to be a poker book please dont think im spamming. iv been playing poker for about 3 years. so id like to expand my knowlage to play a better game

 

[dmorris68]

Clicking on the triangular thingy in the top right corner of the spam post (which I have done) gives the mods a heads-up of where to look in their constant hammer-wielding vigil

Good point, but I'm at work and all non-port 80 resources are blocked by our firewall, meaning virtually all the forum graphics. So I see ugly text in place of things like the reply buttons, or nothing at all in the case of the reporting buttons.

Which begs the question of why all forum graphics are linked to port 81 in the first place, but that's a question for another thread I guess. Or a PM to Nick.

Besides, Debi is pretty much on top of things, I'm sure she'll stumble upon this sooner or later.

 

[NoWuckingFurries]

sorry i didnt mean to post on this thread. i was writing about some spots i was in and thought id put it in general veiwing but while im here. and i was reading this anyway. what books do you know of that are (the godfather) of micro stakes limits? hopefully you can lead me to the treasure also iv just started reading my first book. like first ever! lol and its the supersystem. if there is any better way to get better at poker than for my first book to be a poker book please dont think im spamming. iv been playing poker for about 3 years. so id like to expand my knowlage to play a better game

If you edit your post and then click on Go Advanced you can delete the post, providing you do it within a certain number of minutes (30?) of posting.

Yes I reported the spam anyway, but the mods here are awesome in their efficiency, I agree.