Our Recommendations - If you are serious about being a successful poker player then you must be willing to go above and beyond the average player. One great way to do this is to read lots of books, magazines, and watch videos. I have enclosed a list of books that I have read that have helped me to improve my game. One thing to remember is that you will typically read about 3 or 4 bad books for every one good one that you read. I have broken the different books into specific categories to help you target which game you want to improve.

We don't sell books and we don't get any kickbacks for recommending selections, this is just our personal opinions about some references that we have read.

ALL AROUND GREAT POKER BOOKS

1. SuperSystem 2 by Doyle Brunson- A great poker book that covers all the major games such as No-Limit, Limit, Stud, and Omaha. The different sections are written by different players such as Jennifer Harmon, Daniel Negraneau, and Todd Brunson. But the real gem of the book is Doyle Brunson's take on how to play in No-Limit tournaments and what it takes to be a winner at them. This book really gives you insight to a great player's mind. You should definitely read each section more than once.

2. Ace on the River by Barry Greenstein- I must admit when I first started to read this book I thought it was going to be just another pro talking about all his numerous victories and ways that he plays certain hands.....I was wrong. It is written in an entirely different platform than any other book and it has a ton of pictures that give you that feeling of belonging in the poker world. Barry covers poker from all aspects which will give you an entirely different view on how and why you play the way you do. This is definitely two thumbs up.

3. Tournament Poker by Tom Mcevoy- Great book for anyone serious about being a big time tournament player. He does a good job of breaking down each of the big games of the World Series of Poker. His strategies are shared and practiced by some of the biggest names in tournament poker such as Johny Chan and Phil Helmuth. He does a great job of breaking down tournaments in stages which help you to set your internal clock in the big games.

BOOKS ABOUT TELLS

1. Caro's Book of Poker Tells by Mike Caro- Unless today is your first day as a poker player you have probably heard of or read this book. Mike Caro does an outstanding job of capturing specific behaviors of poker players. He mixes it up with behaviors that are specific to certain games such as NL, Limit, 5 Card Draw, Stud...etc. The pictures are a bit outdated but the material is as true today as the day it was written. If you were going to start off reading a book about tells this should be it.

2. Read'em and Reap by Joe Navarro and Phil Helmuth- Joe Navarro is a retired FBI Special Agent that uses his experience to show human behavior and how to use it in the poker world. He also has a very helpful section on how to conceal your tells and which areas of your body you need to control when at the poker table. Phil Helmuth does most of contributing on past situations where he has used tells to obtain victory. It helps tie Navarro's theory into real world poker play. One of the editors comments "The first time I read it I used several of the techniques and began winning instantly. I read it a second time and it was as though my game increased 100 fold." You should definitely check out this book and you will be amazed how non-observant you really are at a poker table.

LIMIT POKER

1. Hold'em Poker for Advanced Players by David Sklansky and Mason Malmuth - Editor comment-  WOW....Are you kidding me? I had no idea I was so bad at poker. If I could only have one book for my entire poker life this would be it. Reading this is just not fair for your opponent. If you are a person that likes to highlight important points in books don't even waste your time with a highlighter. You will go through six highlighter before you are half way through this book. Every section is truly that important. This is the end all, be all in poker but I will warn you some of the strategies are a bit advanced. You should read each section at least twice to make sure you comprehend what you have read. Once you have finished reading you will see an instant increase in your winnings.

2. Winning Texas Hold'em by Matt Maroon- Because this book is designed for players of all skill levels it might seem a bit remedial at first but it has some real advanced strategies that everyone can benefit from. If you are a player that needs help understanding poker math and determining if bets are profitable this may be the book for you. I really like the breakdown of how to play certain games and play against certain types of players.

VIDEOS 

1. Annie Duke Advanced Texas Hold'em Series- Very informative video that gives you a look at the importance of tells in poker. Annie doesn't waste your time explaining the difference between a straight and a flush. If you don't know that then don't waste your time with this video. This is for advanced players. Watch it several times and make it a reference for your future.

2. How to Make Money Playing Texas Hold em Poker by Joe Fortin- This video is a little different than some of the other videos I have seen. The information is in a very straightforward forum. Joe Fortin covers many of pokers important aspects. His specifics on what hands to player and how to play position are very helpful. Although this is a good video for players of all skill levels it is geared toward beginners.

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