Have poker books helped you?

[HPG ADMIN]

When I first started I read quite a few poker books. They helped me quickly understand theories on low-limit poker and helped create a foundation for my tight-aggressive play. Later, when I had a few months of experience, I developed my ability to read hands and add some intangible skills. So, for me, books helped me trnmendously by making me a profitable player from Day 1.

But for some people, books are just too mechanical and offer no competitive advantage over other players because everyone has access to these books.

My questions is: Have you read books and have they helped you?

[CAPPARELLA]

I just found this pretty good book at the library that helps with the mental side of poker, it's called The Zen of Poker, Zen and poker aren't very similar but there are some really good pointers in there for keeping your cool and knowing how to react to certain situations. I'd give it 3 Aces out of 4....

i reccomend Doyle Brunson's Supersystem

I have read a lot of poker books but the book that help me develope my own style of play is The Theory of Poker by Sklansky. I recommend reading this. Then start to play with your own style start out making a different change each week and see what works best for you and increase that area. Good luck and enjoy.

Shark Slayer

I have found poker books to be essential. Sklansky's books are great for getting a fundamental understanding of the game. He has books on just about every game plus his "Theory of Poker." They are not well written but very informative. I would also highly recommend my latest purchase "Tournament Poker and The Art of War" which is a unique and interesting (yet very practical) look at playing no limit hold 'em tournaments.

Sklansky's "theory of Poker" and Doyle Brunsens "super/system" should be any serious poker players bibles...

[standtall]

I've bought over a dozen, and I will probably buy 6 more. I'm loving two books now...Mike Sexton's 'Shuffle Up and Deal'...and 'Tournament Poker and the Art of War'...I think they help develop a solid no limit tournament strategy. I loved 'Harrington on Holdem'...and I can't wait for the second part


standtall

If you're don't read any books before you start playing serious poker, and continue reading and re-reading them while you're engaged in the serious pursuit of the game...you should just invest in a box of envelopes.

They're useful for mailing your money in. May I suggest my address?

And as for what books to read, I'd strongly recommend Brunson's SuperSystem (cover to cover, many times over), anything else by David Sklansky (who contributes the 7 Stud Hi/Lo portion of SuperSystem), and a great little book you've never heard of called "77 Ways to Get the Ddge at Casino Poker", by Fred Renzy. The Renzy book gives practical advice regarding certain specific, important things you will encounter every day playing the game. And his approach isn't an entire "here's how to play" kinda thing. It's more like "when this happens, do this". It's dynamite.

Lastly, check out the "Killer Poker" series of books by John Vorhaus. He's got a lot of good, practical advice for doing all those little things you KNOW you should do, but you just don't. Unfortunately, it's mixed in with a bunch of kinda trite crap that is essentially meaningless...but if you can wade through the useless stuff, he's got a lot of little gems you won't find anywhere else.

I've been playing poker for a while, I play in tournaments everyweek and have done pretty well (usually finish in top 3 out of 100 players). When I started playing I developed my own style and some of my plays were not typical of a pro poker player, but I did very well. Then I figured I should read some books and learn to play the game from a pro's point of view. That was the biggest mistake I ever made, my style is to slow play most of the time and the books tell you to bet in certain situations, (you know be more aggressive), when I started following the information I got from the book I got destroid, since then I have gone back to my style of play and am playing at a high level again. The infromation you get from books may help some people but it won't help everyone. My advice is find a style that works for you and stick with it.

[dbdbarry]

I think poker books are good for beginners to learn the game and the theories of play. But I agree you need your own style. You've got to learn to develop your "feel" for the game. You can't do this if you play mechanically with a book guiding you.

I have posted before and books have helped me to at least break even and at times win and most importantly, walk away a winner. First book I read was T.J 's book and then a book on Low Limit Hold'em , that helped me to understand some differences between Limit and No Limit. I learned from Super System that I am going to take a shot at the pot if I raised before the flop. It has earned me more little pots than before. As for as books helping me the most, I bought Killer Poker and have found it to be a great little gem of a book that deals more with you being a poker player than how to play hands and such. I needed that. It is worth buying. Still, I think any book is worth at least one or two gems. Just don't determine your style based upon a book. You will become advanced by trying different things towards different players. Books can't teach you how to play your style. I don't think they are meant to teach you the Psychology of reading people. You have to learn that and then apply. Good luck.

[BlackHawk]

HARRINGTON ON HOLD EM IS THE GREATEST POKER BOOK EVER WRITTEN!!!!! I like to describe it as the only real book on poker. Every other book tells you what to do when you have pocket kings or when you flop a straight. But seriously, how many times does that happen in a tournament?? Harrington takes real situations and shows you how to win with the cards you really get like J7o or K10. It has helped my game tremendously and introduced advanced concepts like controlling pot odds and showed a couple neat little plays like the sandwich play he did at the final table in the 2004 WSOP when he raised like 1.3 million with 62o. I cannot wait till the 2nd edition comes out!