Poker Store
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:
-
Lee Jones: Winning
Low-Limit Hold'em
-
Doyle Brunson: Super
System -- A Course in Power Poker
-
David Sklansky: The
Theory of Poker
-
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.
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.
In our opinion, SS2 is just ok. There are other books that
you should add to your collection first, such as Harrington on Hold'em
if you would like to improve your tourney play.