My Poker Library

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wreckoning

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Hey alien, I am looking to pick up a few more books, could you recommend some to me since you've probably read more poker books than anyone on this forum lol?

This is what I currently have-
Theory of Poker - Sklansky
Hold'em for Advanced Players - Sklansky & Malmouth
Real Poker II: The Play of hands - Roy Cooke
Little Green Book - Phil Gordon
Mike Caro's book of tells
Super/System 2 - Brunson
Harrington on Hold'em 2
Harrington on Hold'em 3
Ace on the River by Barry Greenstein
Killer Poker No Limit - John Varhaus
Killer Poker - John Varhaus
Ken Warren Teaches Texas Hold’em

I'd like a few more books: one or two focusing on no-limit cash games, but nothing fluffy or basic that is going to overlap what I already have. I enjoyed Hold'em for Advanced Players but unfortunately a lot of it is very specific to limit games which I don't play often. I really enjoy the play-of-hands stuff like in Roy Cooke's book and in Little Green Book and wouldn't mind something similar to this. I would also like a really good autobiography from a top pro, whatever you recommend. :D I also wouldn't mind an online hold'em book but only if there is something really good- I leafed through Brunson's and Varhaus' and they both seemed horribly fluffy. Thanks.
 
Schatzdog

Schatzdog

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Where is NL Theory and Practice by Sklansky/Melmuth?

Also, The Professor, The Banker and The Suicide King is an interesting read. Not going to teach you anything about how to play but a nice insight into how gamblers live and think.
 
aliengenius

aliengenius

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Hey alien, I am looking to pick up a few more books, could you recommend some to me since you've probably read more poker books than anyone on this forum lol?

This is what I currently have-
Theory of Poker - Sklansky
Hold'em for Advanced Players - Sklansky & Malmouth
Real Poker II: The Play of Hands - Roy Cooke
Little Green Book - Phil Gordon
Mike Caro's book of Tells
Super/System 2 - Brunson
Harrington on Hold'em 2
Harrington on Hold'em 3
Ace on the River by Barry Greenstein
Killer Poker No Limit - John Varhaus
Killer Poker - John Varhaus
Ken Warren Teaches Texas Hold’em

I'd like a few more books: one or two focusing on no-limit cash games, but nothing fluffy or basic that is going to overlap what I already have. I enjoyed Hold'em for Advanced Players but unfortunately a lot of it is very specific to limit games which I don't play often. I really enjoy the play-of-hands stuff like in Roy Cooke's book and in Little Green Book and wouldn't mind something similar to this. I would also like a really good autobiography from a top pro, whatever you recommend. :D I also wouldn't mind an online hold'em book but only if there is something really good- I leafed through Brunson's and Varhaus' and they both seemed horribly fluffy. Thanks.

NL cash game books:

If you like the play of hands (even though The Play of Hands was re limit) type stuff you might look at Gordon's Little BLUE Book, a similar concept, but NL.

And obviously Sklansky's NL book (Theroy and Practice) wont be fluff.

Esfandiari's book "In the Money" is subtitled "Strategies for Winning Texas Holdem Cash Games"-- it's not as theoretical or mathematical as Sklansky (what is?), but it doesn't quite fall into the "fluff" category either, so you might want to check it out (knowing that it will be a bit more "basic" than most of your library).

Not strictly NL cash game, but King Yao's "Weighing the odds" has sufficient gravitas to hang with your current gang of books.

Internet books I general consider to all be fairly "basic" and if you are already an experienced online player they probably are not going to add too much to your game. That being said, Hilger's book is probably the best of the bunch.

Biography:

There are so many good ones. If you are not set on "biography" per se I would recommend McManus' "Positively Fifth Street", a very good read-- it's about McManus doing a story on the murder of Ted Binion and playing in the wsop ME at the same time.

In a similar "real person plays ME" storyline, but with a humorous slant, both Richard Sparks' books and the Pat Walsh book are both pretty funny.

"Professor Banker and Suicide King" about the pros battle with Texas banking billionaire Andy Beal was also interesting.

A book I found super interesting and recommend to everyone is "Fortunes Formula" by Poundstone. It's not about poker per se, but a look at concepts like the Kelly Criterion, statistical arbitrage, and gambling/stock market similarities. Like I said, super interesting.

Straight biography, I liked "One of Kind" (by Dalla) about Stu Ungar. Annie Duke and Moneymaker were both decent too.

Other "fun" reading: Konik's "Telling Lies and Getting Paid", "Man with the $100K Breasts", and his sports betting book "The Smart Money" were all good.
 
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wreckoning

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I'm awful online. I play mostly at casinos, do okay there but you get me online and everyone is so much tighter and aggressive it seems. Some more practice I guess. Funny thing is that at the casino I'm always happy to see an Internet player show up. They get ripped apart by all the players more accustomed to live games.

Ok I will get the Sklansky NL book. I will check out Weighing the Odds and get the Esfandiari book too- I was looking for an excuse to get that chip tricks dvd haha! Positively Fifth Street sounds funny, haven't heard of that one.

What do you think of Malmuth's Poker Essays books? Is there any particular one I should get or would they be overlapping my other Malmuth/Sklansky stuff?
 
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bw07507

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Wow, that is quite a collection of books. I have still not read any poker books even though I have been meaning to do so for quite some time now. Mostly I cant decide which one to get because I play all types of holdem. I used to play almost all SnG tournaments, but lately I jump all over the place. Somedays I play SnGs, other times I will play all cash or even MTTs here and there. I have been winning quite a bit lately, no matter what I am playing. Any suggestions as to a book that kind of covers everything, cash, sng, and mtt and is focused on online play??
 
aliengenius

aliengenius

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I'm awful online. I play mostly at casinos, do okay there but you get me online and everyone is so much tighter and aggressive it seems. Some more practice I guess. Funny thing is that at the casino I'm always happy to see an Internet player show up. They get ripped apart by all the players more accustomed to live games.

Ok I will get the Sklansky NL book. I will check out Weighing the Odds and get the Esfandiari book too- I was looking for an excuse to get that chip tricks dvd haha! Positively Fifth Street sounds funny, haven't heard of that one.

What do you think of Malmuth's Poker Essays books? Is there any particular one I should get or would they be overlapping my other Malmuth/Sklansky stuff?

All three poker essay books are excellent. As usual with Sklansky and Malmuth (S&M!) they are geared toward LIMIT poker in their specific examples; but the concepts and theory are still valid, and the essays get you thinking about the game.

p.s. Positively Fifth Street is one of the NOT funny ones (unless you find murder funny?), but is an excellent read (McManus is a professional writer turned poker player).
 
Devilpoker78

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Wowow all in genius, thats a really HUGE collection compared to my pitiful one. I havent really started reading poker books in earnest but I plan to start soon and Im sure itll improve my play further. Anyway how are you doing on the tables? GL with it, hope to catch you around in FT soon.
 
BabyShoes

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I'm amazed the mods have not yet made a sticky of this list..! :deal:
 
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wreckoning

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Hey alien did you see that Dan Harrington is making a series on no-limit cash games?! Volumes 1 & 2 are coming out Dec 2007. I'm so excited!

Also I ordered (for now) One of a Kind, NL Theory and Practice by Sklansky, Moneymaker, In the Money by Esfandiari, Annie Duke, Telling Lies and Getting Paid. I realized I already own Little Blue Book heh. Thanks for the recommendations.
 
BabyShoes

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Hey aliengenius -



Thanks to your guidance, this is my list of books ( and 2 dvds) en route right now...


Can't wait!


BTW I priced your collection and it will cost me U$D 7000 plus to get them over to South Africa, so here's what I could afford:





"Middle Limit Holdem Poker"
Bob Ciaffone; Paperback; $16.50


"Harrington on Hold 'em Expert Strategy for No Limit Tournaments, Vol. 2: Endgame"
Dan Harrington; Paperback; $19.77


"Harrington on Hold 'em Expert Strategy for No Limit Tournaments, Vol. 1: Strategic Play"
Dan Harrington; Paperback; $19.77


"Harrington on Hold 'em: Expert Strategies for No Limit Tournaments, Vol. III--The Workbook (Harrington on Hold'em)"
Dan Harrington; Paperback; $19.77


"Phil Gordon's Little Green Book: Lessons and Teachings in No Limit Texas Hold'em"
Phil Gordon; Hardcover; $14.28


"Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King, The : Inside the Richest Poker Game of All Time"
Michael Craig; Hardcover; $7.99


"Phil Gordon's Little Blue Book: More Lessons and Hand Analysis in No Limit Texas Hold'em"
Phil Gordon; Hardcover; $14.28


"Small Stakes Hold 'em: Winning Big With Expert Play"
Ed Miller; Paperback; $10.94


"Masters of Poker Presents: Annie Duke's Conquering Online Poker"
Annie Duke; DVD; $5.79


"Internet Texas Hold'em: Winning Strategies from an Internet Pro"
Matthew Hilger; Paperback; $9.98


"Phil Hellmuth Presents Read 'Em and Reap: A Career FBI Agent's Guide to Decoding Poker Tells"
Joe Navarro; Paperback; $5.65


"Getting Started in Hold 'em"
Ed Miller; Paperback; $7.23


"Hold 'Em Poker"
David Sklansky; Paperback; $3.58


"Positively Fifth Street: Murderers, Cheetahs, and Binion's World Series of Poker"
James McManus; Paperback; $5.00


"No-Limit Texas Hold'em: The New Player's Guide to Winning Poker's Biggest Game (The New Players Series)"
Tom McEvoy; Paperback; $8.95


"Masters of Poker: Phil Hellmuth's Million Dollar Poker System"
Phil Hellmuth; DVD; $3.10


"Pot-Limit & No-Limit Poker"
Stewart Reuben; Paperback; $7.88


"Weighing the Odds in Hold'em Poker"
King Yao; Paperback; $9.17
 
aliengenius

aliengenius

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Hey aliengenius -



Thanks to your guidance, this is my list of books ( and 2 dvds) en route right now...


Can't wait!


BTW I priced your collection and it will cost me U$D 7000 plus to get them over to South Africa, so here's what I could afford:





"Middle Limit Holdem Poker"
Bob Ciaffone; Paperback; $16.50


"Harrington on Hold 'em Expert Strategy for No Limit Tournaments, Vol. 2: Endgame"
Dan Harrington; Paperback; $19.77


"Harrington on Hold 'em Expert Strategy for No Limit Tournaments, Vol. 1: Strategic Play"
Dan Harrington; Paperback; $19.77


"Harrington on Hold 'em: Expert Strategies for No Limit Tournaments, Vol. III--The Workbook (Harrington on Hold'em)"
Dan Harrington; Paperback; $19.77


"Phil Gordon's Little Green Book: Lessons and Teachings in No Limit Texas Hold'em"
Phil Gordon; Hardcover; $14.28


"Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King, The : Inside the Richest Poker Game of All Time"
Michael Craig; Hardcover; $7.99


"Phil Gordon's Little Blue Book: More Lessons and Hand Analysis in No Limit Texas Hold'em"
Phil Gordon; Hardcover; $14.28


"Small Stakes Hold 'em: Winning Big With Expert Play"
Ed Miller; Paperback; $10.94


"Masters of Poker Presents: Annie Duke's Conquering Online Poker"
Annie Duke; DVD; $5.79


"Internet Texas Hold'em: Winning Strategies from an Internet Pro"
Matthew Hilger; Paperback; $9.98


"Phil Hellmuth Presents Read 'Em and Reap: A Career FBI Agent's Guide to Decoding Poker Tells"
Joe Navarro; Paperback; $5.65


"Getting Started in Hold 'em"
Ed Miller; Paperback; $7.23


"Hold 'Em Poker"
David Sklansky; Paperback; $3.58


"Positively Fifth Street: Murderers, Cheetahs, and Binion's World Series of Poker"
James McManus; Paperback; $5.00


"No-Limit Texas Hold'em: The New Player's Guide to Winning Poker's Biggest Game (The New Players Series)"
Tom McEvoy; Paperback; $8.95


"Masters of Poker: Phil Hellmuth's Million Dollar Poker System"
Phil Hellmuth; DVD; $3.10


"Pot-Limit & No-Limit Poker"
Stewart Reuben; Paperback; $7.88


"Weighing the Odds in Hold'em Poker"
King Yao; Paperback; $9.17

Nice list!
 
skoldpadda

skoldpadda

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fortunately you only spent 3 bucks on the Hellmuth DVD -- I've heard it's not so hot. The rest of your list is very good (except for last 2 which I'm not familiar with).
 
BabyShoes

BabyShoes

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I've hedged my bets...

I own a gift shop that deals in poker items int. al. so if the DVD is below standard, it can go into my 'Sale' section! :D

The last two books were both recommendations, but South Africa is so starved of poker literature right now that just about anything will be devoured greedily.

Shipping is a bummer, though; adds 105% to the total...
 
ratmantoo

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I've hedged my bets...

Shipping is a bummer, though; adds 105% to the total...


Couldn't agree more. Well heres my book list

Harrington on Holdem 1,2,3
Phil Gordons Little Green Book
Poker Math made easy
David Slansky's Theory of poker
Poker for Dummies - won this one at a home game:D

Couple of ebooks too (which I haven't read yet)
Poker Brain - poker strategy
Poker Brain - Texas Holdem Winning Strategy
Texas Holdem Best Starting Hands
Know your Texas Holdem Odds
Effective Short Term Opponent Exploitation in Simplified Poker


Many thanks to AG on the recommendations posted else where (I saved them to my desk top and am trying to find them locally.(see below)

1. Getting Started in Holdem by Ed Miller
2. Little Green Book, by Gordon (Third)
3. Texas Holdem Odds and Probabilities by Hilger
4. Killer Poker by Vorhaus
5. Little Blue Book, by Gordon
6. Killer Poker No Limit by Vorhaus
7. Killer Poker by the Numbers by Guerrera
8. Why you lose at poker, by Fox and Harper
9. Internet Texas Holdem by Hilger
9. Internet Poker by Krieger and Watterson
9. Killer poker online by Vorhaus
10. Killer Poker Online II by Vorhaus
11. Little Black Book, by Gordon (aka "The Real Deal" republished)
12. Killer Poker Holdem Handbook by Vorhaus

DO NOT MAKE THE FOLLOWING THE FIRST BOOK(S) YOU READ:

a. Theory of Poker (or ANY Sklanksy/Malmuth for that matter) (Second !)
b. Harrington on Holdem 1-3 (sorry I read these first :p)
c. Weighing the Odds in Holdem Poker by King Yao
d. Super System I or II



Oh hell!!! one out of twelve...thats not good
 
Boltneck

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That is an awesome book collection, I'm VERY envious!

It is my desire and intention to learn more about poker and to become a better player, which is why I came to CC a few weeks ago. However, some good books would be a very good route to build my knowledge so recommendations would be very welcome.

My interest (and therefore the books that would most benefit me) are limit ring games, currently low stakes (50c / $1). I have never played live (and have no desire to do so) so a bias towards on-line would be good. I would consider myself to be "advanced beginner" or "junior intermediate" (if that makes any sense) but would welcome recommendations from beginner level literature (just in case I'm not as good as I think) intermediate (which is where I think I probably am now) through to advanced (where I want to be).

Thanks in advance.

Boltneck
 
aliengenius

aliengenius

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That is an awesome book collection, I'm VERY envious!

It is my desire and intention to learn more about poker and to become a better player, which is why I came to CC a few weeks ago. However, some good books would be a very good route to build my knowledge so recommendations would be very welcome.

My interest (and therefore the books that would most benefit me) are limit ring games, currently low stakes (50c / $1). I have never played live (and have no desire to do so) so a bias towards on-line would be good. I would consider myself to be "advanced beginner" or "junior intermediate" (if that makes any sense) but would welcome recommendations from beginner level literature (just in case I'm not as good as I think) intermediate (which is where I think I probably am now) through to advanced (where I want to be).

Thanks in advance.

Boltneck

Thanks. Here is my updated list (yes, even more books!).

As far a limit books go, "Small Stakes Hold'em" by Ed Miller is an advanced book on low limit games (if that makes any sense). It's very very good, but if you want to start out a little less "heavy" he introduces most of the concepts in "Getting Started in Hold'em". Ciaffone's books are good too, lots of hand analysis and quizzes.
 
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Grafstein

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i've got negraunus top 50 tips, which i really enjoyed and brunsons Super System, which i also really enjoyed
 
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hyperactive1

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I'm amazed on how much material you guys have... My eyes would blow after reading 1/10 of it LOL... I'm winning approx. 7 out of 10 sit'n'goes I play (3rd mostly but hey... still fine!) without any special method or rocket science knowledge...
 
davejs1671@yahoo.com

davejs1671@yahoo.com

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I wanted to let anyone that is interested in learning more about NL cash games that I have both of the New Harrington on Holdem Cash Game 1 and 2 books and they are both excellent books.
 
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danno2you2

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Hey is there any way that you could send me a short version or cliff notes would actually be better
 
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