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The best investment you can make in improving your poker play, other than experience,  is to read books on poker strategy.  While there is no single book that covers all strategic aspects of Hold'em, there are many that provide winning strategies for specific aspects of the game.

If you are not willing to make the investment in at least a couple of these books, it is strongly recommended that you visit your local library and see if they have them there.  However, most poker players will tell you that these books continue to add value on the second, third and even fourth reads through.  As your time at the tables grows, so does your ability to draw upon your experience to relate to the material covered in many of these books.

Each section lists the books that players consider to be the most comprehensive on their respective topics.  (All purchases are handled by Amazon.com, resulting in safe, secure, and reliable transactions.  To purchase, just click on the items listed below, add them to your Amazon.com shopping cart and check out when you are finished making your selections.)

From the sections below, HoldemNation.com recommends the following books be purchased first, and in this order:

1. Lee Jones:  Winning Low-Limit Hold'em

2. Doyle Brunson:  Super System -- A Course in Power Poker

3. David Sklansky:  The Theory of Poker

4. Alan Schoonmaker:  The Psychology of Poker

Winning Low Limit Hold'em does a fantastic job explaining poker odds and the realities of playing what some players term "No Fold'em Hold'em".  Since your initial play will most likely be in low-limit hold'em games, a good low-limit book is a must-have and Lee Jones has written one of the best.

Super System is the seminal book on poker.  It has strategy sections on various forms of poker, and is probably the most widely read poker strategy book in the world.  Since much of your competition will have read this book, it will help you to know the strategies that they are trying to use.

The Theory of Poker is considered a difficult read by some players.  However, the concepts contained in this book are extremely important for players to understand.  In general, anything written by Sklansky is worth getting.

The Psychology of Poker adds depth to your opponents by helping you identify certain categories of players.  In a nutshell, many players follow a specific style of play, with each style having an optimal counter-strategy that you can employ.

The other books in each section are all very good on their respective topics.  If you decide you would like to improve your game in any one of the areas mentioned (Limit, No-Limit/Pot-Limit, or Tournament Play) we highly recommend that you begin with the books suggested below.

***NEW***

The sequel to Doyle Brunson's Super System:  A Course In Power Poker is on the shelves!  Super System II, pushes the envelope further, expanding on the original with new games, new strategies, and new experts. This is a brand new book-not an update. The who's who all-star studded lineup for SSII includes Chip Reese, who Doyle recognizes as one of the top three players in the world, if not the best; Johnny Chan, two-time WSOP champion and tied with Doyle for the most world series bracelets with 9, Doyle Brunson himself, two-time WSOP champion and the greatest poker player of all time, Lyle Berman, founder of the World Poker Tour, the world's best Omaha player, and owner of three WSOP gold bracelets; Bobby Baldwin, former WSOP champion and CEO of the Bellagio; Mike Caro, the greatest poker theorist and best-selling author; Jennifer Harmon, the best woman player in the history of poker and one of the top 10 overall; Todd Brunson, winner of more than 20 tournaments and the future successor to Doyle's throne; as well as Danny Niegro, and Barry Greenstein,. Super System II covers the essential strategies and advanced play on the most popular games played today-No limit Hold 'em, Limit Hold 'em, 7 Card Stud, 7 Card Stud 8 or Better, 7 Card Stud High-Low Split, No Limit Omaha, Omaha 8 or Better, Limit Lowball Draw, High Draw Poker, Chinese Poker, Triple Draw Lowball-as well as important sections on professional poker play and poker psychology.  Add it to your collection today.