Are you in search of the best books to study poker?
Poker is a great psychological game. It is an easy-to-learn game of skills but the road to mastery is long and hard. There are so many concepts and techniques in poker other than basic fundamentals and strategies which a player needs to learn to survive in the competitive world of poker for a long time. To ensure maximum fun and maximum profits at real stake cash games and tournaments, a player must have the proper understanding of topics such as game selection, time management, bankroll management, table positions, etc. Also, it is important to recognize which psychological traits i.e. observation, emotions control, patience, and critical thinking are essential to achieving your objective. You can learn a lot about the game from the books written by great poker players turned authors about their experiences on the game table.
We have put together a list of some of the most influential books about poker strategies ever written. These books can not only help in shaping up your personality as a poker player but also in taking your gameplay up to the next level.
Harrington on Hold’em
Written by Dan Harrington, the book breaks down some of the best theories and strategies to be used when you play at different levels of a poker tournament (how to respond to re-raises, how to become unreadable, how to modify betting patterns as per the situation on the table, etc). It addresses the most common problem of poker players: making the same mistakes again and again involuntarily due to following a predictable playing pattern and not developing their own unique style of play.
Elements of Poker
Tommy Angelo talks about poker strategies in some of the most unique ways ever envisioned. The book is not about how to implement probability and mathematical concepts such as pot odds and hand ranges in the game. It’s about how to play with a cool and calm mind and take rational decisions without being affected by emotions. The focus of the book is primarily to tell readers how they can perform their best on the game tables consistently and make great profits.
Every Hand Revealed
The winner of 3 WPT open titles, professional poker player Gus Hansen total career earnings is more than $10 Million. In the book, Hansen recounts in detail the story of over 300 hands he was dealt in the Aussie Millions in 2007 where he outlasted 747 players to win the grand prize worth $1.2 Million. He revealed the mathematical and probability concepts he used in the game which helped him achieve victory over his rivals.
Super System
The legendary Doyle Brunson’s first book “Super System” was published in 1978. In the book, he shared his table experiences with the readers about everything they need to become a successful poker player. The book is also popular as “the holy grail of poker strategy” as not only the “Godfather of Poker”, but also some of the best poker players of their time such as David Sklansky , Mike Caro, Joey Hawthorne, late David “Chip” Reese, and Bobby Baldwin disclosed their secrets of success on the game tables in it.
Caro’s Book of Poker Tells
Reading “tells” is one of the most crucial factors for success in Poker. Mike Caro gives valuable insights in the book about how to observe and analyze opponents’ behavior through their body language, expressions, and movements in a live poker game to anticipate the strength of their in-hand cards and how to use this knowledge against them.
You can learn a lot from the experience of others by reading books. Some books help in understanding the basic principles of poker in a better way and some books talk about advanced tactics and strategies that can be used in a high stake poker tournament. We cannot compare one book with another as every book is targeted towards different players of different level of knowledge (Beginners, intermediate level players, or experts). So pick up a good book which suits your interest and skill-set as they will teach you lots of useful things and help you build a solid foundation for your game.