8 Must Read Poker Books to Become a Better Poker Player

Poker is a game of strategy. You need to pick and hone valuable tips and lessons through practice and from books also written not only by poker professionals but also from expert players who describe the glitches they faced and how they overcame them. In this piece of information, I have shared the top 8 books that you must read to hone your poker skill to become a professional poker player.

8 Must Read Poker Books

1. Strategies for Beating Small Stakes Poker Tournaments

This book is the creation of former World Poker Tour (WPT) Player of the Year Jonathan Little. It is the ideal book for newbies starting out in small tournaments and looking for the edge to win and jump to the next level. It is quite a small book but has ample narratives of strategies in simple and easy-to-follow tips.

This two-time World Poker Tour winner knows what it takes to win big – you need to start little.  Through his innovative and advanced strategy, you may eventually master the skills required to grind and succeed at small stakes tournaments. By figuring out how to beat the opposition, you will be well prepared to handle serious challenges – and cash out even bigger amounts – which include bigger buy-in tournaments.

This is what you will find in the poker book Strategies for Beating Small Stakes Poker Tournaments:

• The best way to quit blaming bad fortune and find out the world’s best kept secrets to mastering poker
• Strategies which will instantly enhance your poker game
• Why the pros make the plays their way and how you can embrace their methodology.

If you learn how to think for yourself and adapt your plan based on specific opponents and situations, you are going to begin to turn your game around.  As the writer of 11 bestselling poker books, Jonathan Little will show you precisely how to learn these strategies and win far more money in the long run.

Should you prefer concise, actionable advice you can begin using immediately, then you will love Little’s game-changing poker blueprint.

2. The Habits of Winning Poker Players

This book too is a great place to start with. Author Ashton Cartwright is the author of this book who uses simple language to explain some of the more complex and confusing terminologies in poker. It is equipped with a handy glossary, useful for reference even after you are done with reading. It talks about the psychological habits of players, like when to bluff, understanding tells, aggression, and mental control tricks.

Poker is a dynamic game, and to be successful, you have to constantly be improving and refining your game, your playing style, and your habits. You need to understand poker math, bluffing, general poker strategy, the differences between texas holdem poker and PLO, poker tournament strategy, poker odds in cash games, and reading poker tells.

This poker book was written so that you can take the next step in your evolution as a player.

3. Every Hand Revealed

Gus Hansen, who is a Danish poker player and winner of three WPT open titles and a WSOP bracelet, is the author of this book. He talks in detail the calculated risks he took to reach success. It is not for beginners, but those looking to ante up their game and learn when to be more aggressive in their strategy, when to bluff, and how to read when other players are bluffing. This book is widely based on recorded notes of Hansen he kept while playing, so it is quite authentic and one of the most preferable reads for players looking to sharpen their poker skills.

This book will help you learn:

• An extensive, easy-to-follow analysis of the more than 300 hands he played during the Aussie Millions.
• The radical, yet coolly logical, methods behind Gus’s “madness” that have helped him to win consistently.
• Each and every bluff, precise calculation, educated guess, and read of his opponents .
• How to call large bets with seemingly unplayable hands.
• When to raise out of position with garbage holdings.
• How the prize structure should influence your play.
• And much more!

4. Caro’s Book of Poker Tells

Mike Caro is the author who has also founded the University of Poker. The pioneer theorist has written over a dozen books about multiples aspects of poker. This one mostly talks about tells. Here in this book, Caro teaches you how to analyze a player’s hand given their activities and behaviors, from shrugs and sighs to shuffling their hand. It also have 170 related pictures to clearly illustrate the examples and some copies come with a DVD.

In the book, the author has tried to evaluate the psychological aspects of the game. Caro’s Book of Poker Tells has two sections:

1. Acting Tells – from actors
2. Natural Tells – from unaware players

The book deals with the players’ mannerisms, hence revealing the secrets of interpreting tells, basically the player’s physical reactions that reveal information about their cards.

According to the author, there are always two situations. One is where the player acts, whereas, second, when the player does not act and is unaware of giving out poker tells.

The first few pages of the book solely focus on the conditions where the players do not act. For example, the way a person arranges and re-buys his chips reflects the kind of player he is.

5. Phil Gordon’s Little Green Book

As the name suggests, this book is by Phil Gordon, who is a renowned poker figure who reached the WSOP final table several times in his career. He has collected all his personal notes on poker in this classic book that is best for novice and intermediate players. This book mostly encourages readers to develop their own style, strategy, and personality than imitating others.

This book is mostly for beginners and intermediate level players that are looking to fine tool their no limit hold’em (NLHE) skills. Most of the books for no limit deal with too much mathematics and probability that can turn off many beginner level players. Phil Gordon’s book is a good intro book for these people looking for tips and analysis that is not so convoluted in numbers. For the highest level of effectiveness, it is best to read this book as a complement to either Sklansky, Brunson, or Harrington?s books on no limit hold’em.

6. Essential Poker Math

The founder of MicroGrinder Poker School, Alton Hardin, is the author of this book explaining the numbers behind poker. It takes you into the ocean of probabilities and odds, looking at the calculation of pot equality and ratios. You do not have to be a numbers whizz to read and understand this book as Hardin has illustrated the book with easy-to-understand graphs so that you could easily understand the mathematical curves.

In this book, first you will be introduced to some fundamental overarching poker concepts that apply to poker mathematics. Then you will begin our journey into poker mathematics where you will learn about probabilities and odds, pot odds and implied odds, pot equity, and expected value. You will then learn how to quickly estimate your equity at the poker table using the Rule of 2 & 4. Moreover, you’ll learn the steps involved in determining if calling with a drawing hand is profitable or not. This book also covers how to size your bets with the best hand and teach you how often bluffs and hero calls need to work to be profitable. Lastly, you will get to know how to perform EV calculations and better understand card combinations.

7. The Mental Game of Poker

This is a book written by Jared Tendler in which he talks about the inner reflection of your own skills, strengths, and weaknesses. If you are aware of yourself you can do well in your games. This is the goal of this book. The author talks about the techniques that allow the players to challenge the mistakes they make and improve their game.

This is no traditional poker book. You’re not going to learn amazing poker strategies, hidden poker tells, or what makes the greatest poker minds tick. You will learn about the other game being played by millions at and away from the felt: the mental game of poker. This is a self-help book designed to assist you in becoming the best poker player you have the potential to be.

8. Poker Essays

This is authored by Mason Malmuth who has penned over 20 books and 600 articles on poker. Poke essays is an assortment of essays discussing multiple aspects of the game which is a gateway to Malmuth’s world. It not only talks about the strategy, but also the future of the game and other thoughts from one of the best poke writers.

This book contains many of the author’s current ideas on poker and related subjects. Topics covered include General Concepts, Technical Ideas, Structure, Strategic Ideas, Image, Tournament Notes, In the Cardrooms, and Poker Quizzes. In addition, advice is offered on jackpot games, handling pressure, why you lose, fluctuations, bankroll requirements, differences between stud and hold’em, too many bad players, limit versus no-limit, thinking fast, weak tight opponents, the best hold’em seat, playing short handed, playing loose or tight, appropriate image, being an alternate in tournaments, taking advantage of tight play in tournaments, behaving professionally, the future of poker, and much more.

The book is designed to make the reader do a great deal of thinking about the game. In fact, very few readers will agree with everything the text offers, but the information provided should help most people become better players.

Synopsis

I am sure, all the above books on poker written by renowned poker professionals will help you draw closer to your dream of becoming a better poker player. All the best!