Best Books to Read for Real Money Poker Players
If you want to improve your poker game, you can do one of two things, you can play poker or you can learn more about poker. I’m sure you are already playing plenty of poker, so your best bet to take your game to the next level is to learn everything you can about the game. There is plenty of great, free information available online, but it is tough to beat a good book related to poker.
Here are the best books to read if you want to improve your real money poker game:
1. The Book of Bluffs. This was written in 2005 by Matt Lessinger and is a reasonable 256 pages. This book is all about, you guessed it, bluffing. Bluffing works in two ways, the first is obvious, you can bully someone out of a pot and keep all of the chips for yourself. The second is, when you play aggressively when you have both good hands and okay hands, no one your table will know the strength of your hand when you make aggressive bets. There are 49 examples of bluffs in the game, almost all of them are described for Texas Hold Em. Famous bluffs are also reviewed and there are interviews from several top poker players. It has everything you could ask for, you can buy it cheap for around 10 dollars, you have specific examples, it is informative yet no dry. This is a great book, but make sure you are not too bluff happy after reading, bluffing can work out well in moderation, but you want to bet aggressively when the odds are in your favor for the most part. I’ll give this book eight stars out of ten, a solid read, worth both ten dollars and three or four hours.
2. The Theory of Poker. This was written in 1994 by David Sklansky and is about 300 pages. This book is completely different than The book of bluffs, but I am still a big fan. It might not be as reader friendly, but the information you will absorb will make you a much better poker player instantly after reading. You will look at the game of poker differently after reading this book, I have found that I pick up the book and re read certain sections every couple of months. This book has had a big impact on my game for the better. This book not only covers Hold Em, but also 5 card stud, 7 card stud, Razz and many other games. The book hits on many complicated poker subjects: Implied Odds, poker psychology, heads up poker play… Anything you ever wanted to know about the game, you will learn about in this book. You should be able to find The Theory of Poker online or in book stores for under twenty dollars. You will be a better poker player after reading this book, a better Hold Em player, a better 5 card stud player… This is one of the best twenty dollar investments you can make if you are a serious poker player. This book is a 9 out of 10 in my mind, a must read.
3. Phil Gordon’s Little Green Book: This was written in 2005 by guess who… Phil Gordon. It is 320 pages long. If you are an avid follower of poker you already know who Phil Gordon is. He is a very accomplished poker player, having played the game at high stakes for decades, he also commentates for many TV poker tournaments. Gordon has poured all of his experiences and knowledge of the game of poker into this book. If you are a complete beginner, this book is not for you, if you consider yourself an intermediate or an advanced player, this book will be worthwhile from both an entertainment and informative standpoint. This book is best for average players who have been struggling to take their game to the next level. It is hard to say anything negative about the book, it is written by one of the most influential players in the game and it has helped millions take their poker game to the next level. You will become a better poker player by reading this book and absorbing everything that you can. This gets 9 stars out of 10 for me and it is another book that you really should read if you want to become an advanced poker player.
4. Advanced Limit Holdem Strategy: Written in 2007 by Barry Tanenbaum. It is 308 pages and is a great read for advanced players. As the title suggests, this book is not for beginning limit holdem players. The examples and vocabulary used in this book will go over the head of any player who has not been around Holdem for years. If you want to become a better limit Holdem player, this is the book for you. There is no fluff in this book, which is both good and bad. It means that all 308 pages will offer influential information, but it also means that 308 pages will seem like 500 pages when you read it. This is not an easy read and it is not that enjoyable to read to be honest, but it is laser targeted for a select few poker players. Other books touch on certain topics for 20-30 pages and then move on, this book devotes 300 pages to one single topic. If you are completely dedicated to becoming a better Limit Holdem player read this book and thank me later. I’ll give this 7 stars out of 10.
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