A few years ago you would have been hard pushed to find a decent selection of poker literature in your local bookshop.
But today we are spoiled for choice as pros and enthusiasts have shared the wisdom they’ve gleaned at the felt.
Here is a selection of recommended reads:
1. Doyle Brunson’s Super System 2 by Doyle Brunson
If you purchase just one book on poker, Doyle Brunson’s classic should be your first choice. He wrote the first version in 1978 – Doyle Brunson’s Super System: A Course in Power Poker! – and then updated it in 2004 – Doyle Brunson’s Super System 2.
Brunson is affectionately known as Texas Dolly on the circuit and is a ten-time World Series of Poker bracelet holder. He’s considered to the Godfather of Poker.
In his book, Brunson focuses on how to play certain types of player and how to categorise and play your hands accordingly.
He also tells the story of his life, charting his rise to the top of the poker-playing world. Brunson is a great storyteller and recounts the highs and lows of his life on and off the table with ease.
One of the best things about the book is the range of games it covers. There is an extensive section by Brunson on No Limit Hold’em while two other top players have written sections on Triple Draw and Pot Limit Omaha.
2. Hold’em Poker by David Sklansky
American David Sklansky is one of the most authoritative authors in poker and has written 13 books on gambling theory and poker. Hold’em Poker is a good place to start for those getting into the game.
Sklansky is best known for his 'Hand Groups' which are based on strength and betting value. Every hand you get dealt from pocket aces to 7-2 off-suit fits into his grid, and he has a solid strategy of how to proceed with each hand.
The way he writes makes you think about each hand carefully rather than being spoon fed every fact. This is a book that needs re-reading a number of times to really get the most out of it.
3. Caro’s Book of Poker Tells by Mike Caro
Once you have a hold on the mechanics of the game and want to try your luck in a live game, a quick read of this book will be invaluable.
It covers the psychology of poker, so you can work out what your opponent might be holding by studying their gestures, banter and body language. Although it was first published over 20 years ago, it still is very relevant in today’s game.
Caro shares his observations at the table in a well structured format that every beginner will be able to identify with. He teaches the reader to be aware of not only what happens within the pots they play but to observe what is happening around the table at all other times.
He advises players on everything from how their opponents handle their chips, their posture, what they are wearing to how often they glance at their chips.
Caro is an advocate of the ‘weak is strong’ theory and claims that this tell can prove the most profitable. But, beware, the problem nowadays is that everyone else around the table will most likely have read it too!
4. The Biggest Game in Town by Al Alvarez
This book has reached almost cult status in poker circles. Alvarez covers the early years of the World Series of Poker when the main event barely drew a field of 100 (in 2006 it peaked at 8,773) and paints a vivid portrait of the poker scene before the boom and online card rooms.
The book is collection of stories where Alvarez interviews those who have made their mark in poker history like Jack Binion, Doyle Brunson, Jack Straus and Stu Ungar.
He really gets inside the minds of these high rollers and finds out what makes them tick. Many of his anecdotes have gone on to become poker folklore.
It is an intoxicating read and his descriptions of how they lived and breathed gambling are very engaging.
Anthony Holden has written two books that are worth a read: Big Deal: A Year as a Professional Poker Player and Bigger Deal: A Year Inside the Poker Boom.
The first one charts his life during 1988-89 when he spent a year playing poker around the world in an attempt to make a living with a $20,000 bankroll.
It starts and finishes at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas but passes through London, Morocco, and a host of other places including playing on board cruise ships. Holden weaves his story around the history of the game, specific hands, and highs and lows of being a travelling poker pro.
His second offering is written 15 years on and takes place at the height of the poker boom at the 2006 World Series of Poker.
It follows a similar style to his first and charts the rise and influence of online poker to the massive popularity of the game. He meets and plays against the personalities that have become the faces of the multi-billion dollar business that we know today.
Anthony is still a respected face of the game and is President of the International Federation of Poker as well as the UK Poker Federation.
Hopefully you'll find these books useful. And if you haven't started playing online yet, now is probably the time to take the plunge. Remember you can compare the best poker sites using our Find a poker room tool.
Good luck! We hope you have a lot of fun and maybe make some money too!
