1. Holdem Poker for Advanced Players by David Sklansky and Mason Malmuth (hold’em)
The classic book about holds ’em strategy, written by two of the best-known poker players in the world. If you are only going to read one book on poker, this is probably it. It discusses game theory, mathematical analysis of the game, and role-based decision-making. It also focuses on the importance of betting as a skill in itself. In addition to being a great book about poker proper, it is an excellent primer for those who want to play low-stakes live tournaments.
2. Harrington on Hold ’em Volumes I&II by Dan Harrington (hold’em)
This is the book that Dan Harrington used to win three World Series of Poker bracelets. The stories are interesting, the analysis is extremely deep, and this book sets a new standard for expository writing on poker. It is very much geared toward those who want to play live no-limit hold ’em cash games.
3. Theory of Poker by David Sklansky (poker)
A collection of essays on a variety of topics related to poker strategy. Some chapters are mathematical, some discuss players and personalities, and other chapters talk about general topics such as folding hands or playing against a big stack. It is not an easy read but it rewards the reader.
4. Small Stakes Hold ’em by Ed Miller, Matthew Janda, and Sunny Mehta (hold’em)
This is the book from which I learned no-limit hold ’em. It covers a lot of different topics including the math behind the game, selecting a good starting hand range in different situations, bluffing and semi-bluffing, and playing against opponents of different styles.
5. Super System by Doyle Brunson (hold’em)
Although this book is a little old now, it is still the best book there is about playing limit Texas hold ’em in casinos. It covers topics including optimal strategy for several bet sizes and with differing numbers of players, heads-up strategy, multi-way play, bluffing and slowplaying, and much more.
6. Kill Everyone by Matthew Janda (no-limit hold’em)
This book is very entertaining but it also contains a lot of good advice for playing no-limit hold ’em live or online at small stakes. And although it is marketed as a book about small stakes play, I actually think it is better suited to players who are playing in the $1/$2 no-limit hold ’em games online.
7. The Theory of Poker by David Sklansky & Tom McEvoy (poker)
This book covers topics such as pot odds, implied odds, the showdown, and multi-way pots. These concepts are not easy to grasp for players new to poker but they are essential in order to play well so it is worth working through this book even if you have a lot of experience playing poker.
8. Harrington on Cash Games by Dan Harrington (hold’em)
Dan Harrington has written three excellent books on poker. This one is about playing no-limit hold ’em cash games in the casino. If you play poker online then this book will not be that useful to you but if you are an aspiring live poker player it might help get your game up to the next level.
9. No Limit Hold ’em: Theory and Practice by David Sklansky (hold’em)
This book is about playing no-limit hold ’em tournaments. If you are more of a cash game player then it might be useful to read this for some extra information on tournament strategy but it is not the best place to start if you are new to poker.
10. Professional No Limit Hold ’em by Ed Miller, Matthew Janda and Robert Baker (hold’em)
This is another very good book about playing no-limit hold ’em. It focuses on the math behind the game including expected value, pot equity, implied odds and hand reading ranges which makes it well suited to beginners who have some general knowledge about the game.
11. Super/System 2 by Doyle Brunson (hold’em)
This is an update of Doyle’s classic book on hold ’em theory and play. This time he adds a second volume with his thoughts on The Big Game, Seven Card Stud Hi Lo Split 8 or Better, No Limit Deuce to Seven Draw Lowball, Razz Poker, Pot Limit Omaha and Badugi. It includes many years of experience playing poker against some of the best players in the world which make it another essential read for aspiring live players who want to take their game up a notch.
12. Hold ‘Em Poker For Advanced Players by Mason Malmuth (hold’em)
While this book is not for complete beginners I still think it is a great read for players who want to improve their game. It covers topics such as how to play your opponents, stack sizes and effective stacks, playing against an aggressive opponent or one who plays very tightly, and bluffs.
13. Harrington on Modern Tournament Poker by Dan Harrington (hold’em)
This book focuses on no-limit hold ’em tournaments but also discusses other formats like sit & gos and heads up tournaments. It contains lots of advice from live tournament play which means some of the content might not be applicable if you are playing online poker all the time. But it still has plenty of useful info for cash game players too so give it a read even if you are mostly an online poker player.
14. Crushing the Poker Tournament by Jonathan Little (poker)
This book is about playing poker tournaments online or live. It covers all aspects of the game including starting hands, strategy for late stages and early stages of tournaments, effective stack sizes and much more. Read this if you are taking part in poker tournements or want to make serious money playing them online..
15. Harrington on Cash Games by Dan Harrington (cash games)
The aim of this book is to teach readers how to play no-limit hold ’em cash games against one opponent at a time, also known as heads-up.Again it includes advice from many years of live play against some very tough players which makes it an interesting read even though there much better books out there that cover the same topic.
16. Heart of Poker by Jack Strauss (poker)
This book covers lots of different topics including three bet pot structures, starting hand selection, implied odds and using draws in your game which makes it well worth reading even if you have read other books on these topics before..
17. The Theory of Poker by David Sklansky (poker)
This is a much more advanced book about poker that will be useful for experienced players who are looking to refine their game further. It covers things such as thinking hands in relation to pre-flop play post-flop betting and bluffing, implied odds, stealing blinds, raising at showdown when you know your opponent has a strong hand etc.. Check it out..
18. Think Like a Poker Player by Jeremy Jap (poker)
This book is the closest you will find to a complete book on tournament play, covering topics like how to construct your tournament strategy, starting hand selection and frequency of hands that are playable in tournament poker. It also includes some good content on MTTs which makes it worth reading even if you do not intend playing tournaments often or at all..
19. The Kelly System for Winning Poker by Stanford Wong (poker)
If you want to win money from your games without having to resort to cheating then this might be just what you need as it helps determine the size of the pots being played for based on the quality of your hand. Check it out..
20. Anthony Holden’s Big Book of Poker by Anthony Holden (poker)
For a poker book, this title is a bit different as it focuses more on the entertainment value of poker rather than how to hold or play your cards. It includes some interesting stories from various players including Doyle Brunson and Gus Hansen which makes it worth purchasing if you want something that does not take itself too seriously..
21. Pot Limit Omaha Poker for Advanced Players by Lee Jones (pot limit omaha)
This book covers topics such as equity, pot odds, implied odds, bluffing and playing against tight-aggressive opponents in pot limit Omaha games. Check it out even though there are many better books written about the topic..
22. Phil Gordon’s Little Green Book by Phil Gordon (poker)
This book covers the popular “LAG” style of play which you will often find yourself up against in poker rooms around the world. It includes some good material on how to select starting hands, when or when not to bluff and other topics related to LAG play..
23. Sklansky Talks Hold’em by David Sklansky (hold ’em)
This book is perfect for players who are looking for a more advanced guide that goes beyond just giving away preflop equity graphs or betting odds percentages. It has lots of useful advice including how much to bet based on position at the table, ranges vs ranges, blind stealing etc.. Read if you are serious about hold ’em..
24. Harrington on Hold’em Vol 1 & 2 by Dan Harrington (hold ’em)
These books cover some of the most important topics in poker including how to play premium starting hands, positional advantage and playing against other players. It does get very detailed so might be a bit too much for new readers but it will teach you a lot if you have been playing for a while..
25. The Poker Mindset by Ian Taylor and Matthew Hilger (poker)
In this book, two expert poker authors provide an insight into the mind of a winning player by going over their thought process throughout a hand. Check it out since it can help your game even though there are many better books written on the topic..
26. Hold’em Poker for Advanced Players by David Sklansky and Mason Malmuth (hold ’em)
The title might be a bit misleading as the book only covers topics related to starting hand selection, bet sizing and ranges vs ranges which give you an overview of how to play hands but not enough to start winning many big pots..
27. The Theory of Poker by David Sklansky (poker)
This is another top-notch poker book about odds, draws, implied odds, pot equity etc. If you are serious about improving your game then this should probably be one of the first books you read especially if you enjoy playing Omaha games..
28 Poker Essays Volume I by Mason Malmuth (philosophy)
This is a collection of short essays related to poker strategy and lifestyle topics such as playing vests, thinking about your game and how to play online. It takes some time to read but provides valuable information which you should learn if you want to improve your results at the tables..
29. Pot Odds & Poker by Stanford Wong (pot limit omaha)
The book explains pot odds in detail including when it makes sense to call or fold depending on whether someone calls your continuation bet or raise after the flop. Check it out since it contains good advice for players who like pot limit Omaha games.
30. Harrington on Hold’em Vol 3 by Dan Harrington (hold’em)
This is not the best book on hold ’em, but it still contains some useful information about how to play against players who are very loose and aggressive. There are many better books for this topic which you can find listed in order of preference here.
31. Harrington on Cash Games by Dan Harrington (hold’em)
In this book, Harrington goes over topics such as calling station types and their ranges, pot odds and implied odds etc. If you like playing cash games then check it out since there aren’t any other books with the same level of detail.. .
32. Modern Pot-Limit & No-Limit Poker by Matthew Janda with Barry Meadow (no limit texas hold’em)
This is one of the best books on the topic of no limit hold’em and covers all major topics related to playing and thinking about poker. It can help you win more money at the tables so read it if you want to significantly improve your results..
33. Beating Low-Limit Hold’em by Ed Miller (texas hold’em)
This book is considered one of the best guides for beginners who play low-stakes Texas hold ’em games since it covers how to adjust optimal strategies depending on each player’s betting speed, opening tendencies and other factors. However, there are many other better books which cover similar topics such as “Small Stakes Hold Em” or “Harrington on Cash Games”.
34. No Limit Hold’em Theory and Practice by David Sklansky (hold ’em)
This book explains how to construct ranges for different situations so you can win more money at the poker tables. It’s not an easy read but it is full of important advice which you should learn if you play no limit games..
35. The Mental Game of Poker by Jared Tendler with Barry Carter (poker)
This book is one of my personal favorites since it provides useful information about psychology in poker along with useful exercises which will help you improve your ability to handle stressful situations at the tables.. .
36. Tournament Poker by Lyle Berman, Roy Cooke, Ed Miller and Mason Malmuth (texas hold’em)
The authors talk about how to play in different tournament formats including shorthanded and multitable tournaments. It’s a useful book which can help you win more money in these games if you make the right adjustments to your strategies.. .
37. Poker Essays by Mason Malmuth (poker)
In this book, Malmuth talks about various interesting topics such as playing vests, thinking about your game and how to play online. If you enjoy reading poker strategy books then check it out since there aren’t many other books with similar content..
38. Expert No Limit Hold’em: Hand-By-Hand – Volume I & II by Matthew Janda (no limit texas hold ’em)
One of the best books on no limit hold’em from a mathematical perspective. Janda goes over optimal preflop and flop strategies while also providing advice on how to play post-flop scenarios. It is not a book for beginners, but if you want to improve your results then check it out.. .
39. Pot Odds Essay s by David Sklansky (poker)
In this book, Sklansky talks about topics such as pot odds and the rule of 4 and 2 in poker which you should learn before playing at the stakes listed in his books.. … ..
40. The Poker Mindset: Essential Attitudes for Poker Success by Ian Taylor & Matthew Hilger (poker)
This book was recommended by Ben Sulsky who is a high stakes pro player. It can help you recognize and correct common thinking errors so it’s worth a read if you want to improve your results at the poker tables.. .
41. Getting Started in Hold ’em by Lou Krieger (texas hold’em)
If you are a beginner who wants to learn how to play Texas hold’em, then this book should be one of top choices since it explains all major topics such as starting hand chart, betting and playing post-flop etc. The only downside is that it doesn’t go into detail about other formats such as PLO or NLHE but if you stick to cash games then you will benefit greatly from this book. .. ..
42. Tournament Indicator by Lars Bennetsen, Martin De Knijff & David Hammond (poker software)
This powerful poker tool can help you with many aspects of your game including tracking opponents’ stats at the tables, hand history analysis and generating HUD statistics. It has both a free and paid version so check it out if you are interested in becoming a better player.. .
43. Harrington on Hold’em Expert Strategy for No Limit Tournaments, Vol. 1-4 by Dan Harrington (texas hold ’em)
Harrington is one of the most successful tournament players ever who won five WSOP bracelets along with several other major titles. In this book he explains how to play in preflop tournaments if you want to improve your results in these games. It’s an advanced book so you must be familiar with basics such as starting hands chart and pot odds etc.. .
44. Little Green Book: Lessons and Teachings in No Limit Hold’em by Phil Gordon (texas hold’em)
Gordon is a popular TV personality who has written several books about poker, but this one is my favorite since it provides useful advice on how to play different types of hands from start to finish. Even though it doesn’t go into mathematical details about ranges and equities, it still contains plenty of helpful tips which will help you improve your results at the tables if you follow them… .. … ..
45. Harrington on Cash Games 2 Expert Strategy for No Limit Tournaments Vol. 1-4 by Dan Harrington (cash games)
Similar to the previous book, Harrington explains advanced strategies in cash games and how to play against tough players. If you find that his other books don’t contain enough information for you, then I recommend checking this one out since it talks about situations such as multiway pots which are common in no limit hold’em… .. ….
46. Hold ’em Poker For Advanced Players Vol. 1 & 2 by Mason Malmuth (texas hold’em)
This strategy series is a must have if you want to improve your results at low stakes cash games or tournaments.. .
47. Theory of Poker: A Professional Poker Player Teaches You How To Think Like One by David Sklansky (poker)
As the title suggests, this book talks about game theory and how playing your opponents instead of action is one of the most important skills in poker. If you want to improve other areas of your game such as situational judgement or developing reads then check out his other books.. . .. …. .. .
48. Modern Small Stakes by Ed Miller & Matthew Hilger (texas hold’em)
This book focuses on concepts such as hand reading which makes it a valuable resource if you want to learn post-flop play.. … ..
49. Harrington on Hold ’em Expert Strategy for No Limit Tournaments Vol. 1-4 by Dan Harrington (no limit hold’em cash games)
The best strategy book in the market for no limit hold’em cash games. It includes starting hand charts, preflop strategies, post flop play and other concepts which are important when playing with a deep stack… .. .
50. The Theory Of Poker by David Sklansky (poker)
This book explains different game theoretic aspects in poker in a very simple way.. . …… …. ………….
51. Hold Em Poker by Ray Zee (texas hold ’em)
Zee has won several titles in his career including two WSOP bracelets so this title is one of my favorite since it covers different topics such as psychology behind poker decisions, optimal strategy chart along with essential starting hands etc. If you feel that you need more information on preflop play then check out his other books which are just as good. .
52. Hold ’em Poker by Ed Miller (texas hold’em)
This is another book in the series of “theory of poker” and it also focuses on game theory aspects in poker in order to make you a better player.. … ……. .. … ………….
53. The Mathematics Of Poker by Bill Chen & Jerrod Ankenman (poker)
This guide covers advanced topics such as pot odds, probabilities, equities etc. If you are good at math then go ahead with this one, but if your math skills aren’t that great I would recommend using some easier guides first since it doesn’t contain any advice on how to play poker.. …. ..
54. Pot Odds by Collin Moshman (poker)
This is another book which deals with pot odds in no limit hold’em cash games and it contains some interesting content regarding the dynamics of multiway pots, but you can also skip this one if you are not into that sort of math since it doesn’t focus much on playing strategy.. ….