The 10 Best Poker Books for 2024
By
Jerry Smith
Staff Writer Updated: 08/18/2022
Jerry’s greatest advantage is his extensive experience on the casino floor. His time as a casino manager taught him everything about what makes a player tick. Besides being a skilled poker player, he has deep knowledge of all live table games and gambling regulations in the US.
The Best Poker Books
Poker books are among the most interesting readings for fans of casino games. From intriguing stories, through tested strategies by professional players, they hide many tempting secrets. In this article, we’ll present some of the most popular titles.
Discover the best poker books and fun facts about some of their authors. As many specialists say, this is a game of skill, and luck has nothing to do with a successful play. So, if it’s a skill, it can be learned!
What are the Best Books on Poker?
Nowadays, readers can find various books on poker in bookstores or online. They can browse hundreds of fiction and non-fiction editions in order to satisfy their hunger for emotions or learn some useful tips. Our article is all about presenting some selected titles.
| Master Micro Stakes Poker (Alton Hardin) | Best Book for Newbies |
|---|---|
| How to Study Poker Vol.1 & Vol.2 (Sky Matsuhashi) | Complete Guide on Poker |
| Playing the Player (Ed Miller) | Great Strategies |
| Mental Game of Poker (Jared Tendler) | How Emotions Ruke |
| Play Optimal Poker (Andrew Brokos) | Tips for Optimal Results |
| The Theory of Poker (David Sklansky) | The Theory Well-Explained |
| The Poker Book (Hank Cashman) | Great Poker Story |
| Every Hand Revealed (Gus Hansen) | Learn How to See through Cards |
| Exploitative Play in Live Poker (Alexander Fitzgerald) | Top Guidelines in Live Poker |
| Poker Workbook: Math & Preflop (James Sweeney). | Great Math Lessons for Poker Players |
If you are just curious about the subject, we have prepared some for new beginners, as well as the online poker best books for advanced players. You can get acquainted with the latest trends in audio editions and learn how to increase your winning chances.
- ♣️ Poker Books for Beginners
- 🎧 Audio Books for Quick Learning
- ♠️ Poker Books for Intermediate and Advanced Players
- 🏆 Poker Books About Tournaments
- ♟️ Strategies to Win Poker Cash Games
The Best Poker Books for Beginners
If you spend a few minutes browsing, you’ll notice that most of the online poker books are actually for beginners. That, of course, is not surprising as everybody needs to start from somewhere. The good news is that help is nearby. There is a really good portion of free poker books that could be of great use.
The best poker books are often written by professional players, which share their experience and reveal some simple truths. A good example is “The Theory of Poker,” where the pro David Sklansky describes the math fundamentals of its gaming strategy. Although this book can be a little hard for newbies, it enjoys high demand.
The best books to learn poker are not simple as the theory is complicated in its essence. Authors just keep the writing style down and explain the details better. That’s the reason why many new poker books are published in several pieces. If you wish to test a theory, visit some of the best online casinos in the US and play low stakes.
You can always go back and check in the beginner poker books where you went wrong. As with anything else in life where skills are required, the experience comes with time and the inevitable mistakes.
Audio Books for Quick Learning
Many books on poker are available in audio formats, too. That allows people to learn important lessons while traveling to work or just resting their eyes. The poker audio books are not free most of the time, but they are not expensive either. Platforms like Audible and Google Audiobooks offer a tremendous variety.
Some of the best poker books for beginners are actually recommended listening. They could be quite detailed and not all people have the needed time. On the other hand, many casino fans love to read or listen to stories about famous players or scripts from real life. Some of the highest-rated poker online books are “Molly’s Game” and “The Confidence Game.”
“The Pursuit of Poker Success” by Lance Bradley is another great suggestion we’ve found at PokerStars, one of the best slots sites in the US. The audio book tells the mesmerizing stories of 50 of the world’s top poker players.
The fact that so many of the best books on online poker are available in audio formats just proves our point about the game’s huge popularity. Some people believe that the emotional side always prevails and math plays no significant role. Well, the professionals know that the truth is somewhere in the middle!
Poker Books for Intermediate and Advanced Players
If you can’t tell the difference between the books about poker for beginners and advanced players, then you most likely still fall into the first category. Those who have mastered their emotions are looking for some advice from professional players or scientists in order to proceed further on their way to perfection.
Dan Harrington is among the most respected authors in this genre. He has some of the best poker books of all time, like “Harrington on Hold’em.” This book has three chapters – “Strategic Play”, “The Endgame,” and “The Workbook.” All of them are recommended for starters or readers with minor experience. The “Harrington on Cash Games,” however, is another case.
Dan Harrington has described some of the best long-term strategies in playing Texas Hold’Em and other cash poker games. The skill to bluff must be part of your arsenal as well, but sooner or later, the pros will get over this ability, and only the secrets you have sown through the strategy will remain.
Another huge best-seller is “Excelling at No-Limit Hold’em” by Jonathan Little. The no-limit variant suggests that this is among the best poker books for intermediate players. Here, you can find effective strategies to try for free in virtual casinos.
“Modern Poker Theory” by Michael Acevedo and “Essential Poker Math” by Alton Hardin are also on our list of the best poker books to read. They are more theoretical and use a mathematical approach. The combination of pure logic, emotion knowledge, and math skills could deliver the victory. We’ll introduce more of the online poker books best of strategy in a while!
The Top Poker Books About Tournaments
The poker online books about how to play in tournaments are also quite popular. Some of the long-term strategies work only in competition mode when the last man on the table wins. This could require changes in tactics, and it’s very well-explained in Dan Harrington’s “Harrington on Hold ’em: Expert Strategy for No Limit Tournaments.”
Other all-time best tournament poker books are “Sit ‘n Go Strategy: Expert Advice for Beating One-Table Poker Tournaments” and “Winning Poker Tournaments One Hand at a Time” by Collin Moshman, Eric Lynch, and a group of co-authors. You can try them on the top online casino sites for real money in the US, which often organize virtual tournaments.
Keep in mind that the advice in the best poker books for online tournaments may not work in the real world. Even via streaming, it’s very difficult to sense the emotions of other players, leaving the game on skills only. However, these days, online tourneys are the way to earn a seat at a table in big tournaments like WSOP. So, these poker cash game books can actually be valuable reading!
The Best Online Poker Strategy Books
Things might get simpler if we abstract away from fictional stories and concentrate solely on the best online poker strategy books. “The Course” by Ed Miller can really prepare you for your first poker opponents. Doyle Brunson’s “Super System: A Course in Power Poker” is another top suggestion.
The best poker books for cash games usually include tactics and methods for card counting and knowing in detail all possible combinations. Of course, some are simply useless in certain game versions, like Omaha or Seven-Card Stud. However, if you are going to participate in a Sit ‘n Go tournament, you must read Collin Moshman’s “Sit ‘n Go Strategy.” It’s one of the highest-rated poker strategy books ever!
On the other hand, the best poker books for online play may not make you a millionaire but could help you win some decent cash. Most virtual operators welcome such players, as they collect an entry fee or a rake if it’s legal. All that money comes guaranteed. If you prefer video poker, check out the best online casino bonus offers in the US.
