poker books for the serious player: by fcp members

[skoal_dip 0]

I know many posters on this forum are always willing to buy a book they feel will improve their game. I just thought it would be useful if we could have every book on the same page. The books can be for any form of poker, and meant for novices, intermediate, or advanced players. The only criteria be that they are for players that are serious in improving their game. I'll start with two books that I own:Caro's Book of Poker Tells T.J. Cloutier and Tom McEvoy's Championship No-Limit and Pot-Limit Hold'em.BTW, don't name every book in one post.

[knght311 0]

Play Poker like the Pro's....Phil Hellmuth...apparently I am an Eagle!worst.book.ever.

[Ron_Mexico 4,219]

I don't understand, so I'll just name all the books that I have.Harrington on Hold Em Vol I and IISmall Stakes Hold EmAce on the River- GreensteingPreordered Little Green Book by Phil GordonProfessor Banker Suicide KingOne of a Kind, Stu UngarMidnight in the Garden of Good and EvilMost Grisham BooksSome Scott TurowArthur Hailey- The Detective very good bookThe List- cant remember the auther. I reccomend it Dick Schaap Autobiography. another great book.Start with these

[richgambler 0]

*Theory of Poker*SSHE*SS2*Any Sklansky bookI could go on and on and on....... :wall:

[PFunk 0]

How is Greenstein's book?...It is next on my list.Sounds like it would be solid because its written by a cash game specialist, something im more interested in than tournament play....

[jlgosse 0]

Although the intent of this thread is all good, it's a terrible idea.You can find out which books are great through google, or just by reading many.System/System 1/2 by the way.

[BeanGW 0]

How about: This Thread Sux Balls written by OP.A book list is worthless without some info about why a book is good / not good.For example:SSHE by Sklansky, Miller, and Malmuth:Excellent book for Small Stakes Limit games. Discusses subject such as counting outs, protecting your hand, betting for value, when to go for overcalls, how to play various strength hands by street, and includes hand quiz at the end for practice. An excellent resource for novice players with minor experience.

[PhilHellmuth 0]

cloutier's book blows a$$. "ah lahk to check and fode everythin cept the nuts and then make a big fat juicy bet when ah hit top pair so that ahm easier to read than dr. suess."and yes i know he's a great player, if he played the way he wrote in that book he'd be broke.get harrington instead.

[Ron_Mexico 4,219]

How is Greenstein's book?...It is next on my list.Sounds like it would be solid because its written by a cash game specialist, something im more interested in than tournament play....

Had it for two months and haven't cracked it. I go in cycles with my reading. I read three books in two weeks then none the next two months. From what I hear, it isn't a how to book as much as its a life of a gambler book. It's well done though. Pics and whatnot.

[PhilHellmuth 0]

How is Greenstein's book?...It is next on my list.Sounds like it would be solid because its written by a cash game specialist, something im more interested in than tournament play....

if you're looking for a typical poker strategy book, save your money. its a lot of fluff - eg personality traits of a good player - and a very small section on strategy. interesting read tho. best player in the world, if you were building the prototypical poker player from scratch it would be barry.

[skoal_dip 0]

How about: This Thread Sux Balls written by OP.A book list is worthless without some info about why a book is good / not good.For example:SSHE by Sklansky, Miller, and Malmuth:Excellent book for Small Stakes Limit games. Discusses subject such as counting outs, protecting your hand, betting for value, when to go for overcalls, how to play various strength hands by street, and includes hand quiz at the end for practice. An excellent resource for novice players with minor experience.

All this thread is meant to be is a list of suggestions... If somebody see's abook they've never heard of, respects the opinion the poster, they can do more research on the book and see if it's worth buying. But like you said, any information somebody wants to give on the book would be appreciated.

[skoal_dip 0]

cloutier's book blows a$$. "ah lahk to check and fode everythin cept the nuts and then make a big fat juicy bet when ah hit top pair so that ahm easier to read than dr. suess."and yes i know he's a great player, if he played the way he wrote in that book he'd be broke.get harrington instead.

I agree with you. The way he teaches to play, you'd have to be playing in a tournament with very, very deep stacks compared to the blinds. And even then, there are almost no situations he wants to get involved in. The book does have some decent points about playing on the bubble and is not useless, but it really doens't apply for someone who plays online tournaments.

[flyingmoose 0]

How is Greenstein's book?...It is next on my list.Sounds like it would be solid because its written by a cash game specialist, something im more interested in than tournament play....

if you're looking for a typical poker strategy book, save your money. its a lot of fluff - eg personality traits of a good player - and a very small section on strategy. interesting read tho. best player in the world, if you were building the prototypical poker player from scratch it would be barry.

I loved Greenstein's book. He doesn't talk about starting hands or pot equity or anything like that, but his book is supposed to be for advanced players. I think every successful player's main problem is with consistency and personal management. Know yourself, when you're not playing your best and when to walk away. These are things that Barry stresses that you just won't find in any other book.Oh, and some of the tournament hands Barry goes through in his book are REALLY f-ing hard. Great stuff to think about.

[greatwhite 0]

Ken Warren Teaches Texas Hold'em. (sw) The Theory of Poker is the best poker book ever written. Some people have a cross over their heads to help them feel secure before going to sleep, others keep a gun close by, I have this book behind me.

[dead money 1]

I really like Professional Poker by Mark Blade.Its a must for players who are going to get serious about playing for a living or for a secondary income.

[Dustin_Stanley 0]

cloutier's book blows a$$. "ah lahk to check and fode everythin cept the nuts and then make a big fat juicy bet when ah hit top pair so that ahm easier to read than dr. suess."and yes i know he's a great player, if he played the way he wrote in that book he'd be broke.get harrington instead.

I agree with you. The way he teaches to play, you'd have to be playing in a tournament with very, very deep stacks compared to the blinds. And even then, there are almost no situations he wants to get involved in. The book does have some decent points about playing on the bubble and is not useless, but it really doens't apply for someone who plays online tournaments.

now you 2 guys just proved my point about what today's poker players are all about...i think T.J's book is great it has helped my game TONS...i mean if you can disagree with the way he plays ACE JACK...or ACE QUEEN...then you guys are crazy...i think T.J's book is great for any poker player looking to make there game THAT much better i recomend it....

[skoal_dip 0]

cloutier's book blows a$$.  "ah lahk to check and fode everythin cept the nuts and then make a big fat juicy bet when ah hit top pair so that ahm easier to read than dr. suess."and yes i know he's a great player, if he played the way he wrote in that book he'd be broke.get harrington instead.

I agree with you. The way he teaches to play, you'd have to be playing in a tournament with very, very deep stacks compared to the blinds. And even then, there are almost no situations he wants to get involved in. The book does have some decent points about playing on the bubble and is not useless, but it really doens't apply for someone who plays online tournaments.

now you 2 guys just proved my point about what today's poker players are all about...i think T.J's book is great it has helped my game TONS...i mean if you can disagree with the way he plays ACE JACK...or ACE QUEEN...then you guys are crazy...i think T.J's book is great for any poker player looking to make there game THAT much better i recomend it....

Like I said, the book isn't terrible, and there are some useful things in it. But if you play the way he tells you to, you'll never win a tounrnament, especially online.

[FrankB 0]

I recently read Dan Harrington's books and found them very helpful in improving my game. It goes a little bit deeper into the game then most other books. The "elements of a hand" in the first chapter is a great example. It will be an easier read if have already read Sklansky's "Theory of Poker" and "Tournament Poker for Advanced Players" as he makes several refrences to the Gap Concept and also calculating Pot odds and Implied Odds. It is the best written of all the books I've read.