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7 best poker books 2021 (top list), The Best Poker Books For New and Seasoned Players in Canada

The Best Poker Books For New and Seasoned Players in Canada

Read more about Sklansky’s “The theory of poker” / Coaches at PokercoachO.com

7 best poker books 2021 (top list)

What are the best poker books? There is a djungle of different poker books out there. But what poker books are really worth reading? We at PokercoachO.com have read all literature worth reading in this area. Here are our top choices for you who want to develop your game to a world class player.

1. Harrington on Hold ’em Volume 1: Strategic Play

This classic poker book that Dan Harrington, aka “Action Dan”, wrote in connection with the poker boom is a real masterpiece and a must to read for any player who wants to get better at tournament poker and sit and go’s.

In this book Harrington goes through the foundations of good Texas Holdem tournament poker, such as the importance of position, pot odds, selection of starting hands and much more.

The book is also very easy to understand with pictures that illustrate selected example hands for each section. Harrington’s first tournament book, together with the sequel, is one of the best poker books ever written.

Read more about Harrington on Holdem Volume 1

About the author Dan Harrington

Dan Harrington won the gold bracelet and world championship title at the “$ 10,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Championship” at the 1995 World Series of Poker. In addition, he was the only player to reach the final table both in 2003 (out of 839 starting) and in 2004 (out of 2,576 starting) – which many experts consider to be the greatest achievement in the WSOP’s history.

2. Harrington on Hold ’em Volume 2: The Endgame

Why make it difficult. Dan Harrington again. His sequel “The Endgame” is just as good as the first part and develops the concepts explained in the first book.

In the second book, Harrington guides how to play in the later events of a tournament, how to calculate the “M-value”, when to go all in and how to play “heads up” at the end.

More books from Harrington:

Harrington on modern tournament poker (updated version of the above books adapted for today’s aggressive tournament poker)

Harrington on Holdem v.3. the workbook (the sequel to the first two books described above)

3. Moorman’s “Book of Poker”

Chris Moorman, or Moorman1, which he is called on Pokerstars, is one of the world’s best online poker poker players. In this modern poker book, Moorman contributes with his expertise in a kind of coaching format where he gives his view of the hands of another poker player.

About Chris Moorman

Moorman is simply a genius and the book is highly recommended to read for anyone who wants to learn the most advanced poker concepts in today’s aggressive poker tournaments. Although we feel that a format in which Moorman describes his own hands would have been even more interesting. But as the poker player he is, he maybe felt that this was giving away too much information.

4. Doyle Brunsons “Super System”

The Poker Legdend Doyle Bruno’s timeless classics “Super System: A course in power poker!: ” from the 1970s is a must for anyone who wants to get familiar with poker history. Many concepts that are mentioned in this book are just as valuable today as when it was written almost 50 years ago. The book is a “must read” for all real poker fans.

Brunson has also published a revised version of her old classic in more modern version. It’s called “Super System 2”.

About Doyle Brunson

Doyle Brunson, author of the world’s best-known poker book, Super System, was written in the 1970s.

5. Mike Caros “Book of tells”

When we are still talking about classics, we cannot get away from mentioning Mike Caro’s “Book of tells”. For those who want to be able to pick up tells and information from live poker players this is a must. All possible tips and tricks are mention, like how to read your opponents who usually act “Strong when weak” and “Weak when strong”.

Read more about the classic Book of tells

David Sklansky “The theory of poker”

Even this poker pook into the category poker classics. This was actually the first poker book I read myself almost 15 years ago, and it describes the basics of poker theory for the most common versions of the game. This book is highly recommended to read as a first book combined with Dan Harrington’s tournament books. David Sklansky is by many ranked by as one of the world’s foremost poker theorists.

Read more about Sklansky’s “The theory of poker”

Other books from Sklansky

Hold’Em Poker for Advanced Players

7. Bill Chen’s “The mathematics of poker”

For those who really want to learn more about the mathematics in poker, we recommend Bill Chen’s “The Mathematics of poker”. Note that this book is more suited for advanced players and requires in-depth mathematical knowledge.

What do you think? What are the best poker books?

/ Coaches at PokercoachO.com

Do you want to learn more rules about Texas Holdem poker? Check this page at Wikipedia. The best poker sites can be found here.

The Best Poker Book Reviews and PDFs

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Poker Book Reviews

Absolute Gem: Telling Lies and Getting Paid [review]

Enthralling: Telling Lies and Getting Paid by Michael Konik review Telling Lies and Getting Paid by Michael Konik Non-fiction gambling stories and a novella about the WSOP Our rating: 93…

Essential: Winning Low Limit Hold’em by Lee Jones [review]

Essential: Winning Low Limit Hold’em by Lee Jones [review] Winning Low Limit Hold’em by Lee Jones Year of publication: 2005 Focuses on limit ring games under $3/6 stakes My rating: 9…

The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King [review]

The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King by Michael Craig The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King by Michael Craig Non-fiction account of largest documented poker game in…

Tom McEvoy’s No-Limit Texas Hold’em [book review]

Tom McEvoy and Brad Daugherty’s No-Limit Texas Hold’em Review No-Limit Texas Hold’em by Tom McEvoy and Brad Daugherty Focuses on no-limit hold’em tournaments Our rating: 7 (out of 10) Beginner and…

More Hold’em Excellence by Lou Krieger [book review]

More Hold’em Excellence by Lou Krieger Book Review More Hold’em Excellence by Lou Krieger Expanded topics on limit ring games Our rating: 6 (out of 10) Beginner and Intermediate Year…

Matthew Hilger’s Internet Texas Hold’em [book review]

Internet Texas Hold’em (Matthew Hilger) Internet Texas Hold’em by Matthew Hilger Dedicated to limit ring games and some online tells Our rating: 7 (out of 10) Beginner and Intermediate advice…

Worth it: The Illustrated Guide to Texas Hold’em [review]

Worth it: The Illustrated Guide to Texas Hold’em Review The Illustrated Guide to Texas Hold’em by Dennis Purdy Focuses on how to play low-limit hold’em ring games Our rating: 9 (out…

Player Thoughts on Hold’em Excellence by Lou Krieger

A Player’s Review of Hold’em Excellence by Lou Krieger Hold’em Excellence by Lou Krieger Focuses on how to play Hold’em and limit ring games Our rating: 8 (out of 10) Beginner…

Essential Manual: Harrington on Hold’em Volume 2 [review]

An Essential Manual: Harrington on Hold’em Volume 2 Review Harrington on Hold ’em Volume 2: Endgame by Dan Harrington Geared towards the conclusion of no-limit hold’em tournaments…

Quintessential: Harrington on Hold’em Volume 1 [review]

Quintessential: Harrington on Hold’em Volume 1 Review Harrington on Hold ’em Volume 1: Strategic Play by Dan Harrington Geared towards no-limit hold’em tournaments Beginner, Intermediate, and Expert advice Our…

Powerful Follow-up: Super System 2 by Doyle Brunson [review]

Super System 2 (Doyle Brunson) Super System 2 by Doyle Brunson All popular forms of casino poker explored Mostly suited for intermediate and advanced players Our rating: 89 (out of…

Brilliant: One of Kind by Nolan Dalla, Peter Alson [review]

One of a Kind by Nolan Dalla and Peter Alson One of a Kind by Nolan Dalla and Peter Alson Combination biography and autobiography about poker legend Stu Ungar Our…

My Verdict on Beat Texas Hold’em by Tom McEvoy [review]

My Final Verdict on Beat Texas Hold’em by Tom McEvoy Beat Texas Hold’em by Tom McEvoy and Shane Smith Focuses on no-limit and limit hold’em Simple and effective techniques for…

10 quality thoughts on Big Deal by Anthony Holden [review]

Big Deal by Anthony Holden Big Deal by Anthony Holden Non-fiction covering professional poker in the early 1990s Our rating: 92 (out of 100) Very well-written memoir of a writer-turned-pro…

Complete Ace on the River: An Advanced Poker Guide [review]

Ace on the River: An Advanced Poker Guide by Barry Greenstein Ace on the River: An Advanced Poker Guide by Barry Greenstein A guide to the world of professional poker and…

Here are some of the best poker books:

Poker Book Title	Author	Top Genre	My Score	Review Link
Super System 2	Doyle Brunson, Daniel Negreanu, et al.	Strategy	89	Read book review
One of a Kind: The Rise and Fall of Stuey "The Kid" Ungar	Nolan Dalla and Peter Alson	Biography	95	Read book review
Ace on the River: An Advanced Poker Guide	Barry Greenstein	Strategy, Theory, Pro Guide	96	Read book review
Big Deal: One Year as a Professional Poker Player	Anthony Holden	Non-fiction, Memoir	92	Read book review
Beat Texas Hold'em	Tom McEvoy	Texas Hold'em Strategy	79	Read book review
Harrington on Hold'em Volume 1: Strategic Play	Dan Harrington and Bill Robertie	Texas Hold'em Tournament Strategy	98	Read book review
Harrington on Hold'em Volume 2: The Endgame	Dan Harrington and Bill Robertie	Texas Hold'em Tournament Strategy	98	Read book review
Hold'em Excellence	Lou Krieger	Beginners Limit Hold'em Strategy	80	Read book review
The Illustrated Guide to Texas Hold'em	Dennis Purdy	Texas Hold'em Strategy	90	Read book review
Internet Texas Hold'em	Matthew Hilger	Online Limit Hold'em Strategy	70	Read book review
More Hold'em Excellence	Lou Krieger	Limit Hold'em Strategy	60	Read book review
No-Limit Texas Hold'em	Tom McEvoy and Brad Daugherty	Hold'em Tournament Strategy	70	Read book review
The Professor, The Banker, and The Suicide King	Michael Craig	Non-fiction	90	Read book review
Winning Low Limit Hold'em	Lee Jones	Limit Hold'em Strategy	90	Read book review
Telling Lies and Getting Paid	Michael Konik	Short non-fiction stories	93	Read book review

Poker Book FAQs

Are there any poker book PDFs available for free download?

Most quality poker books are not available for download free of charge as their authors have not made the available for free.

However, there are some books out there which can be obtained in a PDF format and, although most of them are not written by the big-name professionals, the advice contained in them is still valuable as it usually comes from the years of playing experience.

We at Beat The Fish have set aside some time to create one such a poker book which is available for download at no charge whatsoever.

Real practical actionable strategy

It doesn’t contain complex formulas and calculations like many other, heavier books, but rather a number of up-to-the-point steps a new players should take to start dominating the online games today.

While our eBook is by no means the Bible of poker, it will certainly get you started on the right foot and point you in the right direction if you want to develop your game further.

A number of tips and tricks contained inside should also help you turn some quick profit at the tables as long as you follow our lead and look for the games frequented by the fish.

But don’t take my word for it. Check out the book for yourself and see how you like it. It’s completely free.

What are the best poker books to read?

You will often hear people disagree when trying to answer this question. This is primarily because some believe that older poker books have no or very little value in today’s poker environment, while others are convinced that the wealth of knowledge offered to us by the old school pros is invaluable.

The truth is somewhere in between. I am convinced that those poker books that were good five or even ten years ago are still worth reading today, despite the game changing a lot. Books like Brunson’s Super System 1 & 2 or Harrington’s editions never go out of style.

If you are looking for some decent sit and go advice specifically, you should look into Collin Moshman’s “Sit ‘n Go Strategy.” While some dispute its value, having read the book myself, I can say that it really offered some great insights and helped my game a lot. For someone just learning the ropes, this will be an excellent resource, guaranteed.

Some of my favorite poker book selections

Those with some experience under their belt and looking to up the aggression should look into reading 2007 book “Kill Everyone” by Lee Nelson. This book will help you get a whole new perspective on the game and really shift your focus from just hanging around to putting yourself in the best possible position to win.

And then, there are the all-time classics like “The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King.” While not poker strategy books designed to improve your game, these do make up what one might call a poker lore and are guaranteed to make for an enjoyable read for every single poker fan out there.

Another all-time classic that can help you a lot when it comes to live poker is Mike Caro’s “Book of Poker Tells.” Caro offers some really good insights into behavior at the tables and gives a detail analysis of some of the most common poker tells you will encounter in every poker room on the planet.

Why should I read poker books?

Most beginner poker players are introduced to the game through poker books. With Texas Hold’em experiencing such a surge just now, more texts are available than ever to save newbies’ bankrolls before they dive into poker.

Despite many poker books regurgitating the same basic information there are a number of books that have been breakthroughs to beginners and pros alike.

I highly recommend that beginning poker players take the time to read through my poker rules and poker terms sections before starting out, and you should consider picking up one of the books I’ve reviewed here to jumpstart your game.

Of course, your poker training regimen should include my extensive poker strategy pieces as well.

While you should keep in mind that it isn’t smart poker to develop a rigid strategy based entirely on by-the-book methods, poker books can be great for beginners to start their understanding of key poker concepts and techniques.

Which poker book should I read first?

The best answer to this question is, as you would expect – it depends. Are you completely new to Texas Hold’em or have you played already but are now looking to add some structure to your game? Are you looking to start playing more tournaments or want to give cash games a chance for a change?

All these questions come in play when trying to pick what poker books you should give your attention to. For players completely new to the game, something like Purdy’s “Illustrated Guide to Texas Hold’em” is an excellent choice.

This book will provide you with all the fundamentals you need to start playing within a few hours. It may not teach you too much about the strategy behind the game, but that comes later anyway. For your very first steps, this book is a great read.

Harrington is a must-read for tournament books

If you do know the rules and have played some poker before but don’t have any theoretical knowledge about the game, I would suggest you to check out the Harrington on Hold’em series, especially if you are looking for a good resource for tournament play.

Those looking to expand their knowledge beyond just Texas Hold’em should definitely give Doyle Brunson’s “Super System 2” a read, as there are several other game types explained in there by some of the best players in any particular variation. The advice contained therein is invaluable.

Are there any poker books for beginners?

The most important thing for poker beginners is to correctly structure the information they receive from various sources.

Along these lines, picking up the best poker books can be somewhat challenging in a sense that you want to find the one that will give you a good advice but that will not overwhelm you with too many complex concepts at the same time.

Books like the “Illustrated Guide” mentioned above are a great read for beginners just looking to learn the ropes of the game. On the other hand, those approaching poker with more serious thoughts should definitely give Barry Greenstein’s “Ace on the River“ a read.

Although Barry’s book is more intended for experienced players, those beginners thinking about pursuing a career in poker will find a lot of good advice and thinking material inside. Greenstein’s style is entertaining and easy to follow, so you will not be lost even if you know nothing beyond the rules and fundamentals of Texas Hold’em.

Beginners should pick their poker books wisely, so to get the information they need but put together in a way they can understand

What are the best poker books to read for cash games?

As you’ve probably noticed if you’ve been through this book section, there aren’t that many poker books offering advice on cash games among the reviews. However, that’s not to say that there aren’t some good resources out there, we just haven’t had time to enlist them here just yet.

If you are looking for some good advice on low stakes live games, then you should definitely check out Jonathan Little’s “On Live No Limit Cash Games” mini-series, consisting of two parts: “The Theory” and “The Practice.”

While I haven’t read the books myself, the feedback from the community seems very positive and since I’ve seen some videos and articles by Little, I expect that the advice contained within is very useful.

There is also “Harrington on Cash Games“, Volumes 1 & 2, in which the acclaimed poker author explains the intricacies of cash games and how they differ from the tournament format. For anyone looking to improve their ring game skills, these books will be a great resource.

What are the best poker books to read for tournaments?

When it comes to tournament play, “Harrington on Holdem” – Volumes 1, 2, and 3, remain one of the best resources. With detailed explanations of important concepts and real-life poker problems, these books will help you take your tournament game to a whole new level.

Even if the game has changed in some important parts, the foundations of Texas Hold’em still remain the same and as long as that’s the case, Harrington’s books will remain useful.

Despite the changes in the game and myriad of poker books out there,

Volume 2, aptly subtitled “The Endgame,” focuses on final stages of a tournament, introducing concepts like “M” to help you determine the best move at any time considering your stack size.

The final stages of a tournament are perhaps the most important part of the entire game, as this is when the money is made or lost. Harrington does a great job explaining how to up your aggression without spewing your chips unnecessarily.

Apart from Harrington’s book, the one I mentioned before, “Kill Everyone,” will help you if you feel you are playing too tight and want to turn your game around.

Can poker books help intermediate players?

For intermediate and advanced players, poker books can help to add subtle moves and advanced techniques to your game that you may have overlooked. You also might find that during a really bad poker run, re-reading your favorite poker books can help you return to fundamentals and point out some possible leaks in your game.

Players who have been at it for a while often disregard the value of reconsidering some key concepts or simply lose sight of certain strategies they used to successfully use in the past but have since removed them from their arsenal for unknown reasons.

Returning to your old favorites

Likewise, with poker being such a complex game, it is nearly impossible for anyone to really know anything. Reading old poker books with new insight and experience can be a real eye-opener.

Some of the things that you’ve read when first starting probably didn’t make much sense to you and you’ve discarded them as irrelevant or not that important at least. Intermediate players have a lot of hands under their belts and will be able to understand what an author is talking about much better.

No one is beyond learning when it comes to poker, so regardless of how long you’ve been playing, reading a good book will often help you see things in a different light and motivate you to try and incorporate some new moves in your playing routine.

Since even the smallest edges are worth a lot in poker, slight tweaks and improvements can actually produce results far better than you had hoped for.

What other types of poker books are for sale?

Besides strategy poker books, if you’re also fan of the game in general (as I am) there are plenty of enjoyable reads about poker history, legendary players, tournament memoirs, and poker wisdom.

While many are strictly interested in how-to poker instructional texts, my extensive poker library contains plenty of non-fiction books that often capture the essence of the game and the emotions that run through our card-playing veins. I’ve reviewed many of them above. As I continue to populate this list, I urge you to take a load off and pick up a light poker read every now and then.

A lifelong poker player who moved online in 2004, Josh founded Beat The Fish in 2005 to help online poker players make more-informed decisions on where to play and how to win once they got there. He hopes to counter the rampant dishonesty in online gaming media with objective reviews and relevant features. Tech nostalgic. Fondly remembers the soup avatar at Doyle’s Room.

6 Best Poker Books for Beginners and Expert in 2020 Reviewed

As one of the biggest card games of all time, poker sure has lots of fans. As you probably already know, poker isn’t a simple game. It requires a lot of practice and math skills if you want to succeed. Although you can play online in low-stakes games and learn your way around it, you can also read the best poker books to learn more about it.

Picking one, however, is a very challenging task. There are more poker books out there – from simple beginner guides to books written by professionals, they are a great source of information on the card game.

Read a poker book and you should be able to improve your game. Well, it doesn’t exactly work like reading books in RPG video games, but still, poker books are a great guide on the biggest card game on them all.

How to Pick the Right Poker Book

With so many poker books to pick from, it’s vital to know what type you need. There are several factors you need to consider including your poker knowledge.

Reading an advanced strategy book won’t help beginners just like reading poker basics don’t help pros. Your level of poker knowledge is essential to find the ideal book.

The type of poker you plan to play also plays a part. The best poker books offer a lot of general info, but there are also specific books you can read. For example, you can find books on popular variants such as Hold’em or Omaha.

Depending on your level, you should also pick between basic poker books and advanced, strategy-type literature. If you’re new to the game, it makes sense to get a book that explains basic play. If you’re already at a pro-level, find a book with advanced strategies.

Without further ado, let’s see the best poker books you can read to get better at the game.

Jonathan Little’s Excelling at No-Limit Hold’em

There’s no question that Texas Hold’em is the most popular variant of poker online. Jonathan Little’s book is surely one of the best if you’re interested in this particular variant. It doesn’t focus on the opinion of one expert. Instead, it asks many pros to share their top Hold’em strategies.

As such, Excelling at No-Limit Hold’em is among the best poker books you can learn from. It may be priced a bit higher than similar works, but trust us, it pays to get it. With multiple winning strategies from top poker pros, it’s an excellent and valuable piece of Hold’em literature.

Harrington on Hold’em Expert Strategy Vols. I and II (Strategic Play & The Endgame)

Dan Harrington, widely known as Action Dan, has written two great poker books you must read if you want to master SNGs. The writer goes through the basics of Hold’em Tournaments and shares his opinion on the seating position, the odds, real value of hands, and more. It’s an expert’s view into the world of Hold’em tourneys that offers valuable advice.

The strategic play is in volume I – the endgame comes in volume II. A sequel to Harrington’s poker bestseller, in this book, the author shares his thoughts on how to play like a pro in tournaments and approach the heads up in the end.

Harrington is one of the best modern poker writers so it’s not a surprise why these two texts are often added to the list of best poker books you should read.

Jonathan Little: Strategies for Beating Small Stakes Poker

Still a novice player who has a lot of ground to cover? Jonathan Little’s Strategies for Beating Small Stakes Poker can help.

It is aimed at novice players and is a wonderful insight at valuable strategies you can use in small stakes tournaments. With this book, you’ll be able to make a difference the next time you take part in a tournament with small stakes.

The book shares more than a few high risk-high reward strategies. This might be too risky for some new players, but hey, if you want to make the jump, you’ll risk a hand sooner or later. Experts recommend being wary of these strategies.

Don’t use them consistently and don’t make the mistake of using them in high stakes tournaments. Apart from that, Jonathan Little’s text is one of the best poker books for novice players.

Alton Hardin: Essential Poker Math

$Alton Hardin: Essential Poker Math$

As a game that involves a lot of complicated math, it’s vital to know a thing or two about it. Alton Hardin has done a great job of covering poker math in digestible bits and pieces anyone can easily understand.

Plus, the author has done his best to provide information on practical poker math. If you play poker, you know that not every type of math is practical.

Thanks to the fact that it’s pretty easy to read, Alton Hardin’s Essential Poker Math is often placed among the best poker books you must read.

Chris Moorman’s Book of Poker

Written by Chris Moorman AKA ‘Moorman1’ himself, this book has been referred to as the Bible of poker.

The poker pro shares a unique insight into the game giving his view of the hands of another player at the table. Moorman is a genius so it’s no surprise that many consider Book of Poker among the best poker books of all time.

Read it to learn more about advanced strategies that could help you win in the most popular tournaments today. That’s what we all want, right?

David Sklansky: The Theory of Poker

One of the biggest poker players of all times, Sklansky’s book describes the basics of poker theory better than any other.

If you ask experts, they recommend this one in combination with Harrington’s two theoretical books. If you’re new to the game, these are the three best poker books you can read to go down the road of pros.

18 Best Poker Books for Winning More Games (2020)

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It’s easy to get better at poker if you’re only playing casually with your friends. However, if you want to win more cash games and tournaments, books will be crucial to your success. Sure, playing more hands than other people can also make you better, but books can help you learn the fundamentals of poker and win more games.

The best poker book for winning more games is Applications of No-Limit Hold ’em. The Secrets of Professional Tournament Poker, The Mental Game of Poker, and Ace on the River are also excellent titles for improving your strategies. All of these books can help you play better and win more poker games.

These are some poker books that you can read to help you win more games. This article will cover more of them in great detail to give you a glimpse of what you can expect with these books. Stick around to find the next title you should read to become a better poker player.

If you prefer videos than reading books, then go to our article Best poker training sites (many of them have a bunch of free high-quality videos).

#18 – Small Stakes Poker Tournaments

Small Stakes Poker Tournaments by Jonathan Little is a book published in 2015. This book covers the basics of everything that a poker player needs to do to minimize losses when playing small stakes tournaments. It will help you set the right foundation for mastering small stakes tournaments, allowing you to be more competitive as you get to the bigger league.

The Small Stakes Poker Tournaments book is still very relevant even today. It is really important to get the foundations down correctly and then focus on more advanced strategies.

In this book, Jonathan Little will provide you with the specific steps, strategies, and mindset that you need to have to start crushing small stakes tournaments. It’s a book that goes deep into the factors that can affect your profitability, whether you’re already winning games or you want to minimize your losses. You’ll also learn the small adjustments you need to take to turn your career around and start being more profitable.

If you’re only starting your career in tournaments and looking for ways to dominate small stakes games, this is the best book for you. It covers everything that you need to change your strategies, and change the results that you’re getting from tournaments overnight.

#17 – Playing the Player

Playing the Player: Moving Beyond ABC Poker to Dominate Your Opponents by Ed Miller is a book published in 2012. It talks about the fundamental insights in poker, and how professionals see it as a game of people, not of cards. Knowing what it really means can significantly impact how you play the game and potentially help you play better.

This book will go through some of the strategies that you can use to win more games, including taking advantage of nits and rocks to win pot after pot. It also talks about how you can gain the upper hand with tight players and use a player’s aggression to beat him. The best part about the book is that it teaches you how to spot your opponents’ weaknesses and build your strategy around it to attack and destroy them at any table.

Playing the Player is a book that can take you from being a good casual poker player to a competitive cash games winner. It gives you a walkthrough of what you can do to win more games and become a more successful poker player.

#16 – Elements of Poker

Elements of Poker by Тommy Angelo is a book published in 2007. Most of the poker books that you’ll read will go through pot odds, position, EVs, maths, and probabilities, except for this book. The Elements of Poker covers the facets of poker that many experts fail to tackle, such as bankroll, habits, and a winning poker player’s mindset.

Regardless of how you master the game, luck can still put you in tilt and cost you the bankroll you’ve worked so hard to build. Elements of Poker will help you see the game in a different direction and help you control the aspects of poker that can affect your profitability. Aside from this, it also shows you how you can approach the game from different angles to formulate a winning strategy.

Elements of Poker is a timeless classic that every poker player should read. Whether you’re only starting your career as a cash game player, or you want to excel in MTTs, this book will help you reach new heights. It can further your career by helping you have the right mindset to win more games and handle your losses.

#15 – Winning Poker Tournaments One Hand at a Time

Winning Poker Tournaments One Hand at a Time by Eric Lynch is a book published in 2016. Instead of going through the basics that poker players should learn, this book covers the techniques you can do to play each hand the best possible way.

The book’s selling proposition is that every hand that you’re dealt with is an opportunity to alter the course of the game, so you should focus on making the most out of it. This book tackles early stages, bubble play, and ICM poker considerations, all of which can help you formulate the best strategy on the go and play it well up to the very last hand in the heads-up.

If you’re a poker player who feels overwhelmed with everything that you have to think while playing, this book is a good read for you. It simplifies the game for you and will help you focus on the things that matter in every hand that you play.

#14 – Essential Poker Math, Expanded Edition

Essential Poker Math, Expanded Edition: Fundamental No-Limit Hold ’em Mathematics You Need to Know by Alton Hardin is a book published in 2016. This book goes through the basic strategies that the reader can use to become a winning player and build a solid foundation.

Essential Poker Math is a straightforward book that beginners can use to substitute courses that promise quick results in the game. Math is crucial to poker, and if you’re striving to be a winning player, you need to learn the fundamentals of the game. Going through this book will teach you essential Hold’em strategy concepts that you can use for micro-stakes games. These concepts include hand reading, implied odds, pot odds, expected value, and calculating poker outs.

The book focuses on teaching beginners, but even intermediate players can use it to improve their strategies and win more games. If you’re looking for a simple, easy-to-follow guide that can help you win more games, Essential Poker Math is the book that we highly recommend and should be on the top of your list!

#13 – Doyle Brunson’s Super System

Doyle Brunson’s Super System by Doyle Brunson is a book published in 2002. It’s already in its 3rd Edition and still holds the title of being the Poker Bible. It was a perfectly timed publication that reveals concepts and insights that many poker players have never heard before. To this day, Doyle Brunson’s Super System is a book that we can recommend to anyone who wants to win more games.

We consider Doyle Brunson as one of the best poker players ever, he made it on our list of best poker players for a reason, and learning from his insights, alone, is enough for many players to improve their games. However, it also includes lessons from some of the biggest names in poker, including Bobby Baldwin, Joey Hawthorne, and Chip Reese. Many professionals consider it the most influential poker book and something that every player should read to be competent in poker.

Doyle Brunson’s Super System won’t help you win more games. However, missing out on the lessons that you’ll learn from this book, and the influence that it has over the majority of players guarantees one thing—you’ll lose more games without reading it!

#12 – Poker Math That Matters

Poker Math That Matters: Simplifying the Secrets of No-Limit Hold ’em by Owen Gaines is a book published in 2008. Despite the title’s age, the topics that it discusses are directly at the core of playing poker, making it an evergreen book that anyone should read. It addresses the most common problems for No-Limit Hold’em players, identifying challenging spots based on the range they’re playing.

Poker Math That Matters is a book that will teach you the importance of incorporating math in your games and using it to win more. In fact, knowing the basics of odds and probabilities can have a massive impact on your games that you can immediately see the difference as you use it.

Overnight, this book can change how you play NLHE and make you more profitable, just by mastering the basics of poker math.

If you’re looking for a book that can help you change the way you play games instantly, Poker Math That Matters is the one that we recommend. The topics that Gaines discusses in this book won’t take years of practice, and you’ll definitely be on your way to cashing in more games than ever just by following the principles in this book!

#11 – Harrington on Hold ’em

Harrington on Hold’em: Expert Strategy for No Limit Tournaments by Dan Harrington is a book published in 2004. It’s one of the best books that you can read if you want to win more games. However, we didn’t rank it as high as it should because almost every poker player has already heard of Harrington’s concepts in this book.

Harrington on Hold’em is a series of books that every poker player should read. However, the most significant impact that it can create is with players who want to excel in tournaments.

It gives you insights into how you can protect your stack, adjust your play depending on the situation, and analyze difficult spots while in the game.

This book isn’t the best for beginners because it goes straight to the fundamentals that intermediate players should learn. However, if you already have a basic understanding, Harrington on Hold’em is a must-read for you! In fact, we couldn’t recommend it enough for those who are looking for ways to improve their strategies and be more profitable.

#10 – Kill Everyone

Kill Everyone: Advanced Strategies for No-Limit Hold ’em Poker Tournaments and Sit-n-Go’s by Lee Nelson is a book published in 2007. Despite a somewhat controversial approach in a rapidly-changing industry, Lee Nelson’s book remains a good read for almost every poker player, especially those who actively participate in tournaments.

The book goes through the techniques that you can use to play aggressively. It also shows you how you can master well-timed aggression against your opponents. Kill Everyone is a combination of real-time experience, poker math, and computational horsepower that can help you create new game concepts.

Whether you’re playing STT, MTT, SNG, or just casual non-money games, Kill Everyone will provide you with everything that you need to win more games.

Although some of the topics that Lee Nelson discussed in his book are already outdated, it will still provide you with a good foundation about the skills that you need to develop to become a better poker player. Kill Everyone will give you a new set of eyes that you can use to understand the game better.

#9 – Excelling At No-Limit Hold’em

Excelling at No-Limit Hold’em: Leading Poker Experts Discuss How to Study, Play, and Master NLHE by Jonathan Little is a book published in 2015. Instead of focusing on what a poker player can do to win more games, it discusses the things that experts do to study and crush NLHE games.

NLHE is one of the most popular game formats today because of its fast-paced and amplified betting rounds. In fact, when casual players talk about poker, most of them are referring to NLHE. Excelling at No-Limit Hold’em is an extensive guide for players of all skill levels. It brings together 17 of the most dominant NLHE players in the world to teach others how they can dominate the game.

If you’re playing casual games with your friends, and you want to win more games or be more profitable, this book is the best read for you. It will provide you with unique insights into the game and equip you with everything you need to win more No-Limit hold ’em games!

#8 – The Theory of Poker

The Theory of Poker: A Professional Poker Player Teaches You How To Think Like One by David Sklansky is a book published in 1999. It’s an old book that still holds a place in the poker industry with its evergreen topic of theories and concepts in almost every poker variation that we still have today.

The discussion on the book revolves around the introduction and use of the Fundamental Theorem of Poker. It’s what many professionals still use today, and it shows you how it can affect the games you play and its outcome.

It also goes through some of the poker basics, including deception, bluffing, semi-bluffing, slow-play, raising, position value, psychology, heads-up play, game theory, implied odds, and free card.

With everything that The Theory of Poker discusses, it’s one of the best books that every poker player should read. After two decades in publication, it remains an excellent guide that we can recommend to anyone who wants to win more poker games.

#7 – Hold’em Wisdom for All Players

Hold’em Wisdom for All Players by Daniel Negreanu is a book published in 2005 and revised in 2019. Instead of going through the fundamentals of the game, Negreanu provides you with play-by-play insights to help you play better and win more cash games and tournaments.

Daniel Negreanu is one of the most prominent poker players today. When he walks you through 50 Hold’em situations, then explains everything, you’ll almost instantly play better than most people. His unique insights in the game and straight-to-the-point tutorials make it an easy read for anyone.

This book also goes through the most common rookie mistakes that many people make when they’re at the table, leading to losing more games.

Hold’em Wisdom for All Players is unique because it’s similar to a short course that players can take to change their mindset about the game instantly. With everything that Negreanu talks about in this book, beginners and even seasoned pros should definitely have this book in their list of titles.

#6 – Reading Poker Tells

Reading Poker Tells by Zachary Elwood is a book published in 2012. It’s specifically for poker players who are having fun playing live games. This book discusses everything that a player can do to take advantage of his opponents’ most significant weaknesses—their tells.

Poker tells are the most significant factors that you can exploit when you’re playing live games. Whether you’re playing cash games, single-table tournaments, or multi-table tournaments, mastering the art of reading tells will be your best skill in dominating the table.

This book goes through the behavioral patterns that players go through, and how you can use them to manipulate other players and eventually lose their games.

If you want to start participating in live games, reading your opponent’s tells is the most crucial skill that you need to develop.

It will save you from potentially devastating hands and allow you to extract value from your opponents. This book will help you master it and use that skill to start winning more games.

#5 – Winning Low-Limit Hold’em

Winning Low-Limit Hold’em by Lee Jones is a book published in 2005. It’s one of the classics in poker, and we consider it the best book for beginners. This book is literally the one that we’d give to someone who doesn’t know what poker is but would like to learn the fundamentals and start winning games.

Winning Low-Limit Hold’em talks about the fundamentals of poker. It also explains why poker relies more on a player’s skill rather than luck.

Although most of the book’s topics are for beginners, many intermediate and professional players still use it as a refresher for the fundamentals that they might have missed in their games. It’s also an excellent stepping stone for players who want to start making money by playing online poker games.

Winning Low-Limit Hold’em is one of the very few titles that cover poker fundamentals, much like how a professional would explain the game to someone who doesn’t know how to play. If you want to understand the basics of playing poker and use your learnings to win more games, this book is one of the best titles for you!

#4 – Secrets of Professional Tournament Poker

Secrets of Professional Tournament Poker by Jonathan Little is a book published in 2011. It takes players a step ahead of the regular cash games that many people play. This book goes through the changes that a player needs to become a dominating force at poker tournaments.

Playing technically sound poker is one of the secrets in winning tournaments, but it’s not the only skill that you need to develop. In this book, Jonathan Little talks about poker’s various aspects, including adjusting to stack sizes and playing small, long games.

Most of the lessons that you’ll learn from this book will take you from a casual cash game player to a competent tournament player who can win more games.

It’s not the best poker book for beginners because some topics require a bit higher understanding of the game. However, if you already have the right foundation when playing poker, and you want to climb up to the big leagues, then this book is the best title that you can go through!

#3 – The Mental Game of Poker

The Mental Game of Poker: Proven Strategies for Improving Tilt Control, Confidence, Motivation, Coping with Variance, and More by Jared Tendler is a book published in 2011. It goes through the phase in which poker players lose games for months without making a profit and the steps that they can do to turn it around.

Jared Tendler is a poker mental coach who has helped professionals play well even after months of running bad.

It walks you through the step-by-step processes that you need to take to handle the most common obstacles for players, including tilt, lack of confidence and motivation, and how they can handle variance while playing. It’s one of the few poker books that apply to almost any skill level in any game format.

Poker is a game that requires mental integrity and resistance, and this book shows you the exact steps that many players go through to get it. If you want to start winning more games or handle bad runs and still play well, this is one of the books that you should read.

#2 – Ace on the River

Ace on the River: An Advanced Poker Guide by Barry Greenstein is a book published in 2005. It’s one of the poker classics that you have to read if you want to improve your game because it talks about the things that beginners and seasoned professionals can do to play better and win more games.

Aside from the play-by-play sections that we still consider as the best after 15 years, it also covers poker aspects that many enthusiasts haven’t heard. It was the first advanced guide to playing poker that even beginners will find interesting and easy to understand.

Aside from that, Greenstein also covers topics about the poker society, money management, and family matters—things that many poker books haven’t even touched.

Winning more games will take time, and you’ll only have the motivation to take on the challenges of being a professional player by knowing what awaits. If you’re looking for a good read that can paint a clear picture of everything that you can expect from being a professional player, Ace on the River should be on the top of your list.

#1 – Applications of No-Limit Hold ’em

Applications of No-Limit Hold’em by Mathew Janda is a book published in 2013. Normally, we wouldn’t have a book that talks about a particular game format, but given the popularity of Hold’em, and the valuable insights that a player can get from it, we gave this book the top spot.

Whether you’re playing casually or actively participating in cash games, this book will help you play better. It goes through the fundamentals of Hold ’em and will help you understand theoretical sound poker, making it easier to develop a balanced hand range.

Instead of focusing on practices that will take years, Applications of No-Limit Hold’em focuses on strategies that you can immediately use for your games.

With the instant results that this book promises, and after reading everything inside the book, it will be challenging to find something that can beat what it can do for your poker games. If you want to start winning more games immediately, this book is one that you should start reading right away!

Conclusion

There are thousands of books about poker, but not all can help you win more games. You can choose to go through each of these books or use our list as a guide when looking for the next good read.

The 10 Most Popular and Best-Selling Poker Books of All Time

The timeless classics in the library of poker books are still worth reading in 2019.

There are nearly 500 different poker books on the market today. Whatever you wish to learn, read, or know about the game, you will undoubtedly find several helpful poker books to pique your interest.

It might be difficult to know which poker books are worth reading and which are over-hyped. The following ten books, however, are always worth a read, no matter how far we get in the evolution of complex poker strategy.

The strategy advice in many of these books is outdated, but the information may be valuable as a general framework or theoretical perspective. Let’s now take a look at the ten most popular poker books based on sales, reviews, and recommendations by those in the poker world:

10. Applications of No-Limit Poker (2013) by Matt Janda

In order to become an exceptional poker player, you must know how to play every hand in your range well. By understanding theoretical poker, you can improve your game by designing balanced ranges and bet sizing to beat good players.

In this book, Janda explains confusing concepts such as donk-betting, check-raising preflop, balancing multiple bet-sizing ranges, and overbetting to improve your game. Once you understand these concepts you can incorporate them into your game — with results.

While many mathematical equations are used to explain the concepts, this book is still a solid, easy-to-read, and advanced book for anyone who is serious about improving his/her game.

9. No Limit Hold’Em for Advanced Players (2017) by Matt Janda

Janda does it again in this book, discussing sophisticated strategies for playing against tough opponents based on the use of modern, sophisticated software programs such as PioSOLVER and PokerSnowie.

Among the topics covered are raising first as the button; understanding high variance play; turn play; overbets; counter strategies; opening frequencies based on stack depth; equity; playing short on the button versus big blind situations; and linear, condensed, and polarized ranges.

Janda, again, uses complicated mathematical equations, but he does explain things that even beginner and intermediate players can understand.

8. The Mental Game of Poker: Proven Strategies for Improving Tilt Control, Confidence, Motivation, Coping with Variance, and More (2011) by Jared Tendler and Barry Carter

The mental and psychological aspects of poker may be more important than strategy and game theory, because poker is one of the only games where one can play perfectly yet still lose. This book provides simple, step-by-step instructions on how to effectively identify and fix such problems as tilt, emotional control, confidence, fear, motivation, and handling variance.

The authors also released a sequel in 2013 that discusses how to improve decision making, increase discipline and focus, and how to play consistently “in the zone.”

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7. Moorman’s Book of Poker: Improve your poker game with Moorman1, the most successful online poker tournament player in history (2014) by Chris Moorman and Byron Jacobs

This book has a unique approach in that Moorman analyzes 80 tournament hand histories played by co-author Jacobs. By adopting a more coaching style type of book, you can learn how to advance your own play. This book is geared more toward low- to mid-stakes players and provides more examples than actual poker game theory. Readers either love it or hate it, so you be the judge.

6. Texas Hold’em for Dummies (2006) by Mark Harlan

This fairly self-explanatory book introduces readers to the fundamental concepts and strategies of Hold’em. From rules to betting to odds to etiquette to lingo to pitfalls, this book has it all.

5. Phil Gordon’s Little Green Book: Lessons and Teachings in No Limit Texas Hold’em (2005) by Phil Gordon

After a career of taking notes on everything he has learned as a professional player and one of the most sought-after teachers of the game, Gordon has put his wealth of knowledge into Phil Gordon’s Little Green Book with introduction by Howard Lederer and Annie Duke. By adopting the role of both teacher and student, Gordon provides insightful tips, instructional tidbits, and illustrative stories on how to improve your own personal style of play.

4. Caro’s Book of Poker Tells: The Psychology and Body Language of Poker (2003) by Mike Caro

Caro’s Book of Poker Tells is one of the greatest ever written on poker and also one of the top sellers.

Much poker profit is a result of being able to read your opponents. Caro reveals his secrets of interpreting tells such as shrugs, eye contact, sighs, shaky hands, and other physical reactions that may show weakness or give away important information.

More than 170 photographs and actual real-world examples show the various tells; however, like many of the other books on this list, it is a bit outdated.

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3. Super System: A Course in Power Poker (1979) by Doyle Brunson

One of the first books ever written on poker strategy, this remains one of the best-selling poker books ever.

Written by the two-time WSOP world champion and member of the Hall of Fame, Doyle Brunson — along with Chip Reese, David Sklansky, Joey Hawthorne, Mike Caro, and Bobby Baldwin — Super System explains the basics of betting, calling, raising, and folding in hold’em, draw poker, seven-card stud high/low, and lowball games.

Written from data compiled from more than 10,000 hours of poker play by some of the world’s greatest players and theorists, this book is a must have for all serious poker players. While somewhat outdated, it does provide a solid foundation regarding the fundamental concepts of the game.

Brunson published Super System 2: A Course in Power Poker (2005) as well. This highly-anticipated book expands upon the original with more games and additional professional secrets from top pros like Daniel Negreanu, Jennifer Harman, and Todd Brunson. Together, these two books create a full library of the best poker strategies, professional concepts, and advice ever written.

2. Harrington on Hold’em: Expert Strategy for No Limit Tournaments, Volume I Strategic Play (2004) by Dan Harrington

In this excellent book, Harrington provides sophisticated and time-tested winning strategies that focus on making it to the final table.

By examining hand and player analysis, betting, varying style, responding to re-raises, calculating pot odds, reacting to bad beats, and playing to maximize one’s winnings, this book provides techniques that top players use today for tournament success.

Many basic poker strategy books can teach fundamental strategy. Harrington, instead, goes above and beyond by covering real game situations.

These include scenarios like starting with a strong hand behind an aggressive player with two raises behind. Psychology and math combine to teach the reader how to accurately read the situation, place people on certain hands, and make smart decisions. Incidentally, this book recently topped the list in terms of all-time sales.

1. The Theory of Poker: A Professional Poker Player Teaches You How to Think Like One (1987) by David Sklansky

This is considered the very best book ever written on poker. As such, it is an excellent introduction to game theory and developing sound poker play.

This book is, indeed, a bit outdated and somewhat dense. Nevertheless, it is chock full of useful information for many different poker games including stud, draw, razz, and lowball.

As such, this book focuses on poker theory first, by introducing readers to the fundamental theory of poker, the value of deception, raising, slow-play, bluffing and semi-bluffing, the value of position, heads-up play, implied odds, free cards, and poker psychology.

This book will not magically turn you into a winning poker player overnight. However, it will provide a solid foundation if you wish to become a true student of the game and cultivate a winning attitude. In fact, reading any Sklansky on poker book wouldn’t be a bad thing.

In fact, you can find several poker books online such as Sklansky’s The Theory of Poker pdf among others.

How many of these have you read? Is your favorite poker book on this most popular list? Or, do you know another one to add?

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