A long time ago, you could only learn about poker through books, magazine articles, or a coach. Although this has changed mainly due to the improvement in technology, books are still invaluable tools for beginners to learn how to play poker. In this article, I will recommend some of the best books that can help you improve your poker skills and take your game to the next level.
The best beginner poker books are those written by poker professionals and experts. only those who have mastered the game can pass on the right knowledge to new players. These books will give you a deep understanding of the game and teach you valuable strategies.
You are reading: Best poker books for beginners
Let’s be real. poker books are not held in the same regard as before. years ago, books were the only method to learn the game. now a quick google search will give you plenty of information on anything you want to learn about poker. but the truth is that poker books are more important than ever. yes, there is a lot of information on the net, including poker websites like this one. but books are important tools that will improve your game.
For one thing, the information in the books is so well organized that they are one of the best sources of organized information you will find in the world of poker. and you’ll be able to get inside the heads of some of the most successful poker players.
Are you in a hurry? Here is the list of the best books for beginners which I describe in more detail below:
choice of the best poker books
I embarked on the noble mission of selecting the most important poker books for beginners. your top beginners have access to the right information so your poker foundation is solid, very solid. Before I start listing the books and what I like about them, I think it’s important that I explain the criteria I used to compile my list of the best poker books.
First of all, you should know that the books on the list are not necessarily my personal favorites. what is my favorite book may not be the same for you. it comes down to personal preference and judgement. any book that you find very useful will surely be among your favorite books.
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of poker books, many of which you’ve never heard of. and the truth is that most of these books will be forgotten over time. the best poker books are those that enhance our knowledge and understanding of poker. and this is the kind of book I focused on. Some of the books on the list have had a significant impact on poker and have changed the way many poker players think. some books were so influential at the time they were written that the players who read them had an advantage over others. Not reading those books means you’re behind your peers.
I think you find most of the books on this list useful and agree with my choices. some of the books are popular, others less so. In addition, I made sure that the books on this list remain relevant and useful to the modern poker player, as many books have not aged very well.
if you’re looking for the best zynga poker strategy, these books will also teach you how to make billions of chips there.
the best poker books for beginners
Without wasting any time, let me dive into some of the best poker books for beginners.
1. master micro stakes poker by alton hardin
If you’re a new poker player or a struggling player, then you’d do well to check out this book. this book will be invaluable to those new to cash games. Beginner players are usually advised to start their poker journey with micro stakes. micro stakes are poker games that cost very little.
for example, a $0.01/$0.02 no limit cash hold’em game. These types of games allow new players to master the game without breaking the bank. you can find this book on amazon by clicking the link above.
now there are a few things you need to learn about microstaking to increase your chances of winning and ultimately improve your game. this is where this book comes into play. this book starts by exploring the reasons why people lose at poker.
The author, a very successful microstakes player, then discusses important topics such as position power, understanding fairness, reasons to bet, etc. after learning the basics, you’ll find juicy stuff like pre-flop strategies, essential poker math and post-flop strategies to dominate the microstakes.
The book has about 400 pages divided into 30 chapters. the number of positive reviews on this book is proof of the quality of the content it contains. the author runs a microgrinder poker school and you will receive a free bonus 17.5 hour micro stakes poker course when you buy the book.
I should also mention the very affordable price of this book, which is less than $20. and I have no doubt that you will find this book a bargain.
If you prefer video learning, I highly recommend you visit their poker training sites. you can get a monthly subscription for less than $10 and it is for good reason that I highly recommend it in the Best Poker Training Sites for Micro Stakes Players review blog article.
2. harrington on hold ’em no limit tournament expert strategy
This book is the definitive guide to poker tournaments for beginners.
The real draw of poker tournaments is the potential to win delicious prizes. But do you have what it takes to outplay and outplay hundreds and sometimes thousands of players as you make your way to the money? the answer is no for a poker beginner and that is why you should check out this book.
The author of this book, Dan Harrington, is the 1995 WSOP Main Event winner. he also made back-to-back main event final tables in 2003 and 2004. so he can be sure he’s getting advice from someone who really understands tournament poker. This book will teach you how to develop expert strategies that will help you consistently make deep runs in big field multi-table tournaments. he also learns about different playing styles and how to adjust his strategy to his opponents.
I like the fact that the strategies in this book are easy to follow and you will pick the most profitable spots in different situations in no time, and this will help you improve your game and take your tournament play to new heights. .
3. poker math and preflop workbook by james “splitsuit” sweeney
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This is a very recent poker book, as it was published in 2020. it is well known that some of the best poker books were written a long time ago. I decided to check out some of the latest poker books and found poker math & james “splitsuit” sweeney preflop workbook. and I must say I was impressed by what I saw,
There is a mathematical side to poker, one that you must understand if you truly want to master the game. This mathematical aspect of the game has always been a problem for beginners, especially those who are not good with numbers and math in general.
This book will help you learn the underlying mathematics of poker, the key formulas and how to put everything you’ve learned into practice. At the end of the day, you’ll find poker math easy and you’ll even be able to automatically estimate the math during sessions. You don’t need to have an IQ of 195 or higher to understand the math of poker.
Things like pot odds, implied odds, and combos are often foreign to beginning players. Well, not anymore after reading this book. I was also happy to see that this book received positive reviews. It seems that many poker players are beginning to see the value of this book. the writing is clear and precise. In addition, the step-by-step processes speed up reading and assimilation.
4. super/system 2: a course in power poker by doyle brunson (1978)
This wonderful poker book is written by doyle brunson and other great poker players. I’m talking about some of the greatest minds to ever play poker.
Let me give you a not so brief introduction about the authors of this book. brunson, who leads this book, is a two-time world series of poker champion and winner of nine wsop gold bracelets. Other contributors include Daniel Negreanu, multiple WSOP Gold Bracelet winner and 2004 Poker Player of the Year; lyle berman, three time wsop gold bracelet winner, founder of the world poker tour and super high stakes cash player; bobby baldwin, world champion of poker in 1978 and president of bellagio, etc. The authors of this book know their poker.
Although this book was written years ago, it has aged well. You’ll find some of the best concepts in this book, regardless of your current poker skill. the authors focus on how to win in tournaments, something that people new to the game need. Aside from the great strategies you will learn from this book, I really like the fact that Brunson included his real life poker exploits in the book. he made the book more interesting and makes things less abstract for the reader.
Rumor has it that some poker greats were angry with the authors at the time this book was written, as they revealed some well-kept secrets of the game in their book. At a whopping 600 pages, this book is one of the best poker books ever written. I also like the fact that this book has aged well as it is still relevant to modern poker. player.
5. every hand revealed by gus hansen
This book is a bit old since it was written 10 years ago. Now, this book is very different from the rest of this list, as it is more entertaining reading than educational. In this book, 2007 AU$ million winner, Gus Hansen, takes readers through every hand he played on the way to his victory. Gus is widely considered to be one of the best players to ever play the game and has won several mega-awards in his career.
some of the material in gus’s book is out of date, but many concepts are still relevant today. You can see the reasoning behind every hand Gus played in the tournament, over 300+ hands. I think this book would have been more fun if Gus had mentioned all the hands he folded before the flop.
After reading this book, you will discover that gus’s hands are incredibly loose. He also has no respect for a position at the table and he doesn’t lower the blinds either. Now, these are not qualities that a poker player, especially a new one, should adopt. but you will find this book interesting if you like poker. It’s like watching Gus on a reality show expecting him to crash or fail at some point, but the soldiers move forward instead. If you want to get an idea of what goes on inside the head of a Barking Loon, read this book.
6. essential poker math by alton hardin
This is another book to help new poker players get to grips with the math of poker. I have seen new poker players put off by the mathematical aspect of the game. Some have told me: ‘I hate math, I was never good at it’. how am I going to master the math aspect?’ but you see, no one was born with the knowledge of math.
Another thing about the math of poker is that it’s not rocket science. you will understand it with the proper explanation and guide. The author of this book used a very simple approach to explain concepts like pot odds, counting odds, fairness, etc. it’s about making sure you have a good foundation in poker math.
You will learn how to quickly estimate your capital in the table. Also, you’ll learn when to fold or call a drawing hand. A basic understanding of arithmetic (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) is what you need and this book will improve your math skills. and the mathematics of poker will stop being a problem for you.
I also like that this book doesn’t have number theory. it’s about teaching beginners how to use mathematical practice in the game of poker. no fancy or complicated stuff. Players intending to play online will also find this book very useful as they will have a solid mathematical background to help them make tough decisions in the limited time they have to act.
7. poker theory: david sklansky
This book is without a doubt the most influential analysis of what it takes to become a winning player. I’ll even go so far as to say that every new poker player should read this book. this book was written about 20 years ago and some of the poker material, like sample hands, is a bit dated. however, the concepts contained in this book remain to this day.
The main reason I recommend this book is that it opens your mind to the analytical and exploitation game. you learn to think like a poker pro. I even reread this book every two years and I must say that I still manage to learn something new after each rereading. no kidding.
sklansky’s book covers the fundamentals of different poker variations such as texas hold’em, five card draw and razz. In addition to that, you can also learn about bluffing, the value of positions, heads-up play, odds, etc.
The information in this book is timeless and anyone who aspires to be a true expert in the game should have this book in their library.
8. how to study poker volume 2 by sky matsuhashi
Let’s face it, studying isn’t easy, whether it’s poker, school work, or any other subject. The author of this book recognizes this and created a template that poker players can use to quickly study and improve their game. I like the subtitle of this book which reads “a proven playbook for increasing your poker skills through dedicated daily study” and that is what this book is all about.
You can have the best poker materials, but it will all be in vain if you don’t study. I think the hardest thing about studying is to start and take the first step. well that will be easier with this book as the author gives you a 28 day template that includes all the content you studied: hand reading techniques, poker equity calculations, reviews and database filters, etc. activated.
I think this book is underrated and deserves more credit as it has made it easy for many poker players to study.
9. caro’s book of poker counts by mike caro
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This list won’t be complete if I don’t add a book on poker history. poker is not just about having the best hands and master strategies. It’s also about playing with your opponents and you’ll need to know how to read their cues to do that. written by mike caro (you can check the book on amazon), a guy popularly known as the mad poker genius, this book teaches you how to correctly read your opponents body language >.
While this book is over 20 years old, the information it contains has aged well. take a look at the contents of this book and you will find the information divided into four sections, namely “those who don’t know”, “actors’ accounts”, “some general accounts” and “the sound “. of account.” I like that caro includes pictures in this book to help readers better understand. the photos could have been better but the book is very useful for beginners.
You can check out my article on the best poker cues books to truly master body cues in live games.
10. the ed miller course
I like this book for its refreshing and different approach to poker. Unlike most books that tell you to focus on your opponents and try to figure out their game, the course teaches you to focus on your game. here, you’ll learn to “control the controllable” and increase your chances of winning.
miller got his motivation from golf, where players are encouraged not to focus on other players or the scoreboard. instead, they are taught to focus on their game and play the course. Miller’s approach seems a bit strange and even contradicts the way most people play poker. however, there are valuable lessons to be learned from this book as it gives you a new perspective on poker.
Beginners should read this book as part of their poker education after becoming familiar with some of the conventional fundamentals. Seeing poker from Miller’s perspective will do wonders for your poker IQ and help improve your game.
Experienced gamers can also benefit from this book. If you think your game is getting stale and you can’t seem to win again, the Ed Miller course is what you need. has helped many players win again.
You can’t control what your opponents do in poker. you can’t control what people do in real life. focus on what you can do and see poker from a whole new perspective.
best free poker books
As you know, the best things are the ones you pay for. Many poker books are written by professionals and experts and it is only natural that they monetize their knowledge. in the long run, you’ll find that some books are total bargains.
It’s hard to find quality free poker books, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. I have searched every corner of the internet to bring you the best free poker books. you’re welcome by the way.
polished poker by john anhalt
This is the best free poker book I’ve ever seen. anhalt takes you through poker basics from terminology to explaining everything about the blinds. You will also learn about betting and bluffing. Another reason I support this book is because of the author. anhalt has been playing poker for over a decade and is the original creator of leak buster, ace poker drills and pokerzion.com. Furthermore, he has a very high win rate at multiple bet levels. and what’s more, he has done poker interviews on radio, television, has written three poker e-books, etc.
This book is essentially a gift.
blackrain79 – microstakes poker strategy
nathan “blackrain79” williams is a poker pro who has been playing for over a decade. he even has a website where he posts poker articles. he is very good at micro stakes as he has racked up big profits and revealed his winning strategies in his book.
In this book you will learn what poker hands to play, when to raise and bluff, poker math, etc. Seriously, you can’t ask for more from a poker book that you’re not paying a penny for.
free poker guide: smash zynga & games at home for rich
rich is the owner of the howtoplaypokerinfo website. his book on zynga and home games will teach you the fundamentals of the game. you will learn the power of position, how to call, raise, re-raise, etc. there are also a number of poker strategies in this book.
Beginners will find this book very useful as it is a good way to start their poker education. i like that rich ended his book by talking about common mistakes in poker. hopefully, you’ll learn from people’s experiences and take another step towards becoming the poker player you’ve always dreamed of.
poker theory vs. poker practice
You could buy all the books I’ve recommended, read and reread them as many times as you can understand and digest all the core concepts and theories in the books, however this doesn’t mean you’re going to crush your first game of poker and that’s totally fine.
Poker is a practical game and you need time to practice and implement everything you have learned. experience is very important in poker. books just can’t prepare you enough for some situations in this beautiful game that we all love and adore.
let’s say we have two poker players with similar experience. if one of them reads quality poker books, he will come back stronger to the tables due to the additional knowledge he gained.
You see, when the big poker books first appeared, several professionals were concerned that the skill of the average player would improve significantly and come to rival their own. but this never happened. you know why? reading books and having the right knowledge is not enough. it is important for players to practice, as proficiency can only be gained through experience.
practice has always been a problem for beginners. well not yet. The current crop of poker players should have no problem playing and practicing the game due to the invention of online poker.
You can participate in freerolls as they don’t cost any money, play without real money or organize a private game with your friends. the options are numerous.
Thanks to online poker, you can now play more hands in a month than the poker pros of yore played in the early years of their careers. You can also speed up your learning process by joining a training site. check out my article on the best poker training sites (many of the videos on the training websites are free and come from top coaches).
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