# Recommend me a poker book **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 27, 2005, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-poker-book/310003 "2005-06-27T05:21:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-poker-book/310003/1 "2005-06-27T05:21:31Z")
I have an Amazon gift certificate. I want to use it on something I would read over and over, and, since I love poker, a good book on poker is what I want. So, what do you recommend? Brunson’s [Super System II](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1580421369/ref=pd_sr_ec_ir_b/102-1089585-4876941?v=glance&s=books&st=*)? Sklansky’s [Theory of Poker](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1880685000/qid=1119850036/sr=2-2/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_2/102-1089585-4876941)? (Please don’t recommend anything by Phil Hellmuth - I’d hate to put money in that a-hole’s pocket.) ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-poker-book/310003/2 "2005-06-27T06:06:45Z")
Aw come on, Phil’s not that bad. But you’re right not to bother with his books, not because he’s a punk but because he’s frankly a terrible writer. Are there variations that you’re more interested in than others? I’m assuming hold 'em because everyone says hold 'em; any interest in other games? Also, limit or NL? Super/System is rightly known as the Bible. The only problem with it is that it’s been around for so long that anyone who plays seriously has read it and knows if you’re playing by it. Which doesn’t mean it’s not worth a read. haven’t read S/S 2, but others who have indicate there’s a fair amount of rehashed material from S/S. Sklanskey’s book is rightly regarded as another must-read. I have to admit though that I’ve been trying to get through it for close to a year and haven’t made it yet. Not really sure why that is, because I’ve learned from it in my attempts to read it. My first hold 'em book was The Complete Book of Hold 'Em Poker, by Gary Carson. It does a very good job of covering the basics, including the mathematics of the game. Lee Jones’ low limit hold 'em book is another that comes highly recommended, although I haven’t read it yet. T.J. Cloutier’s book on NL and PL tourneys is widely regarded as the best tournament book. I haven’t read it but since he’s considered the best tournament player in the world I imagine it has some good things to say. If magazine subscriptions are available through Amazon, you might consider subscribing to Card Player. Tons of good information in every issue, both on strategy and general news of the poker world. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-poker-book/310003/3 "2005-06-27T11:58:06Z")
The best low-limit hold’em book out there right now is _Small Stakes Hold’em_ by Ed Miller and David Sklansky. I think it’s better than the Lee Jones book, in that it’s a little more robust. As for tournament-style no-limit, you can’t go wrong with _Harrington on Hold’em_ by Dan Harrington. Volume One is all about the early to middle tournament stages; Vol. Two (just released and on its way to me from Amazon) covers the endgame. _Theory of Poker_ is a must-read, but it shouldn’t be your first book on poker. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-poker-book/310003/4 "2005-06-27T12:08:14Z")
If you’re interested in tournaments, I second _Harrington on Hold’em_. It’s excellent. If you want a book on limit hold’em, _Hold’em Poker for Advanced Players_ by Sklansky and Malmuth is considered the Bible. Much of it isn’t relevant to common small stakes games, however, so you may want to with _Small Stakes Hold’em_. I haven’t read it, but I’m sure it’s very good. The literature on Pot Limit and No Limit cash games is pretty sparce. One excellent book, though, is Reuben & Ciaffone’s _Pot Limit & No Limit Poker_. Lots of good, generally applicable theory for big bet games, as well as good specific advice for no limit hold’em and other games. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-poker-book/310003/5 "2005-06-27T13:24:26Z")
I’ve found _Flop: The Art of Winning Low-Limit Hold 'Em_ by Burke to be pretty useful in low-limit games (I think the Rule of 8 he describes for pot odds has only really been calculated for 2-4 limit.) Still, though, it’s a fairly quick read. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-poker-book/310003/6 "2005-06-27T13:25:48Z")
If you told me that there was ONE SINGLE poker book I could read, it would be “Theory of Poker”. Once you KNOW that book, all the rest are just refreshers, variations, and specifications. The things he says in TOP apply to every pot you will ever play in. It’s not a “how to play” book but more of a “what’s is poker all about” book, starting from the most basic notion, “poker is about a battle for the antes” and moving up through game-theory optimal bluffing percentages. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2005, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-poker-book/310003/7 "2005-07-03T04:47:19Z")
OK, here’s what I’m leaning toward. Bear in mind that I mostly play low-stakes no limit hold’em online (Pokerstars - I just like they way it feels). I very seldom play tournaments. [Small Stakes Hold 'em: Winning Big With Expert Play](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1880685329/qid=1120364455/sr=2-3/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_3/104-9313946-4595108), 2004, by Ed Miller, David Sklansky, Mason Malmuth, $16.47 [Flop: The Art of Winning at Low-Limit Hold 'Em](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0975927000/qid=1120364779/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-9313946-4595108?v=glance&s=books), 2004, by Richard G. Burke, $16.96 [Hold 'Em Poker](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1880685086/qid=1120364580/sr=5-3/ref=cm_lm_asin/104-9313946-4595108?v=glance), 1997, by David Sklansky, $13.57. [The Complete Book of Hold 'Em Poker: A Comprehensive Guide to Playing and Winning](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0818406054/qid=1120364580/sr=5-2/ref=cm_lm_asin/104-9313946-4595108?v=glance), 2001, by Gary Carson, $10.17 [Harrington on Hold 'em: Expert Strategy for No Limit Tournaments](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1880685337/ref=pd_sim_b_3/104-9313946-4595108?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance) (Vol. 1),2004, by Dan Harrington and Bill Robertie, $19.77 I have a $30 gift certificate to blow, and wouldn’t want to go too much over that. So, what 2 or 3 or 4 books should I get? ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2005, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-poker-book/310003/8 "2005-07-03T06:14:05Z")
If you play no limit, get Harrington’s and [Reuben & Ciaffone](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0966100719/qid=1120371639/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_ur_1/104-4190332-2408726?v=glance&s=books&n=507846). Keep in mind, however, that Harrington’s book is on tournament poker, so _a lot_ of its advice is not applicable to cash games. And I can’t recommend Reuben & Ciaffone strongly enough; I notice you don’t have any books on no limit cash games on your list (even though that’s your main game), and theirs is one of the only good ones (and IMO the best). For limit hold’em, you can’t go wrong with Sklansky & Malmuth, whatever the book. Out of curiosity, what stakes do you play on PokerStars? I play on the $1/$2 NL tables and some tournaments under the same screen name there (though more often on PartyPoker). ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2005, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-poker-book/310003/9 "2005-07-03T15:03:58Z")
I don’t know if it’s worth buying that many. Several, in my experience, are worth just checking out from a library, catching any different points, and then turning back in. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2005, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-poker-book/310003/10 "2005-07-03T16:06:35Z")
_Small Stakes Hold’em_ is a fantastic book, but it’s all about limit poker, as are all the others on your list except Harrington, which is all about no-limit tournaments. AFAIK, the Griffin and Ciaffone is about the only game in town when it comes to good books on NL ring games. This is because limit ring games are much more common, and because NL books are much harder to write. > [@](#): > > For limit hold’em, you can’t go wrong with Sklansky & Malmuth, whatever the book. Can’t disagree with that, but if I were only going to buy one book from them on hold’em, it would be _Hold’em Poker for Advanced Players_. It covers the same topics in a more robust fashion; I don’t think it’s especially well-written, but the concepts are invaluable. _Hold’em Poker_ might be a better choice for a newbie, but there are much better books available at that level. ---
**Author:** ![Opus1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/858c86/32.png) [@Opus1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opus1)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2005, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-poker-book/310003/11 "2005-07-03T17:06:45Z")
If you play 1/2 tables, I heartily recommend Sklansky’s SSH. Just by reading this book several times and applying its concepts, I’ve made back 6 months worth of losses in 6 weeks, and then some. The book is better than the more advanced books, because it specifically deals with the idiots you’ll be up against at lower levels. So there’s a lot less on bluffing, semi-bluffing, and blind stealing, and a lot more on how to play against maniacs, calling stations, and players who’ll play any two cards ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2005, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-poker-book/310003/12 "2005-07-04T04:02:46Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > I don’t know if it’s worth buying that many. Several, in my experience, are worth just checking out from a library, catching any different points, and then turning back in. Well, my location is “The Prairie”, and even with interlibrary loan, there aren’t many titles to choose from. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-poker-book/310003/13 "2005-07-05T19:51:41Z")
> [@Oslo Ostragoth](#): > > OK, here’s what I’m leaning toward. Bear in mind that I mostly play low-stakes no limit hold’em online (Pokerstars - I just like they way it feels). I very seldom play tournaments. > > [Small Stakes Hold 'em: Winning Big With Expert Play](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1880685329/qid=1120364455/sr=2-3/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_3/104-9313946-4595108), 2004, by Ed Miller, David Sklansky, Mason Malmuth, $16.47 Another vote for Sklansky, Malmuth and Miller. Lots of concepts in there that still apply to small stakes, NL. Heh…I knew **Otto** would stick up for Phil! ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-poker-book/310003/14 "2005-07-10T04:00:07Z")
Dropped in to recommend a book I got from the library: [Poker: The Real Deal](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0689875908/qid=1120968716/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-9910233-6229441), by Phil Gordon and Jonathan Grotenstein. While not an exhaustive analysis of poker, it is a very good read. Along with the expected poker instruction are a lot of good anecdotes and illustrations of the points made. I wouldn’t spend the money to buy it, but definitely read it if you get the chance. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-poker-book/310003/15 "2005-07-10T06:14:39Z")
> [@Yeticus Rex](#): > > Heh…I knew **Otto** would stick up for Phil! Well, you know, home town hero and all… Anyone seen that new Ultimate Bet commercial with Phil and Annie Duke? It’s set in a Springer-style talk show, with Phil whining about Annie being lucky. Annie calls Phil “Mister Look-Into-Your-Soul.” Heh. ---
**Author:** ![Myself](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8491ac/32.png) [@Myself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myself)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-poker-book/310003/16 "2005-07-10T18:49:45Z")
As a dirty-virgin in poker, I thought I’d grab a book on it for my vacation, but the $15 I spent was a complete waste of paper and ink. :smack: The book is _Poker Wisdom of a Champion_ by Doyle Brunson. (formerly _According to Doyle_) It’s 47 anecdotal ‘chapters’ stretched to fit 198 pages. I found myself saying that even with my very limited experience at poker, I could have written this book. In fact, I just may do that since I have a rather sexy title: _No-Limit Playing with Myself_ Thanks to all for the suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2005, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-poker-book/310003/17 "2005-07-11T03:58:58Z")
On the other hand, [Doyle Brunson](http://www.doylesroom.com/store/) has a book on online poker due out any day. I just started reading Super System II (interlibrary loan), and I like his writing style. Yeah, I know, it could be a ghost, but he is smart man, after all. Sorry to hear that the other book was a disappointment to you. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2005, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-poker-book/310003/18 "2005-07-11T07:26:23Z")
> [@](#): > > I just started reading Super System II (interlibrary loan), and I like his writing style. Yeah, I know, it could be a ghost, but he is smart man, after all. I haven’t read it, but if you like his writing style then it almost has to be a ghost. I’ve read his section of the first Super System, and the grammar (let alone style) leaves something to be desired. Pretty good poker book, very \*important[/i] poker book, but a not a literary work of art. Then again, it has been . . . what? 25-30 years since the first one? Maybe he learned a few tricks in that time.