Q. do they help you improve your skills, significantly?
Answer
Good poker books are VERY helpful, but they have to be read, reread, and absorbed, between many playing sessions. You need experience, theory, and a lot of personal meditation to help you resolve how the ideas practically apply in the situations you regularly encounter at the table.
I've known some players with pretty good natural talent. They played a lot, didn't quite move up like they would like, but continued to rely on their native ability, without resorting to theory and books. They were wrong. Some players will protest that studying books just isn't for them, they're not good at it, they know enough from playing and observing. But it's a cop out. Okay, if you just play recreationally and VERY rarely, then don't take the game seriously. But if you're serious at all, then you just hobble yourself by not studying.
If you're a slow reader, or slow learner when it comes to theory and books, then do it anyway. If it takes you twice as long, and twice as much effort as it does another player, then the solution is simple: take longer and work harder, but do it! You can, and you will definitely benefit.
Main points:
-Don't blindly follow and accept theory. In fact there are a lot of very wrong ideas floating around the poker world, and many of them have made their way into books (but not so much in the best books). So read critically, but READ. You need to expose yourself to the ideas, and work them out.
-Some of the great players did learn the game over a period of decades without reading, and without much theory. But they are very rare exceptions, they are the pioneers who pretty much created the theories which many of us get from books, and they would have gotten a much better head start themselves, had they read the kind of sophisticated books which exist today.
-Alexander Alekhine became the World Chess Champion by studying harder than anyone. He rose to beat the world's premier natural talent, Jose Raoul Capablanca, who was phenominally great, but never read or studied. While some people seem born with it, most of us can learn. If that can happen in the Chess world, it can happen in Poker too. If you combine study with talent, you can be one of the best.
-There is a new generation of tens of thousands of VERY experienced players, and their deeper understanding of the game has changed the world of poker, and made it tougher. Still, many of them have big holes in their games that they're unaware of, and their confidence and arrogance makes them vulnerable. You can rise above them, but it will take work.
-You need to choose the right books. The above suggestion of Harrington's Hold'em series is right on the money. It's an excellent group of books, specifically for No-Limit Hold'em players. besides that series, I'd suggest:
Low Stakes Hold'em, Winning Big With Expert Play (by Miller, Sklansky, and Malmuth)
The Theory of Poker (by Sklansky), and pretty much every other Sklansky book you can get your hands on. Some are dense/tough to digest, and the collaborations with Malmuth are often poorly organized, but they're still phenominal.
Anything by Mike Caro.
Super System (by Doyle Brunson)... and the first book is much more valuable than Super System 2, unless you're specifically interested in triple draw lowball... However, SS2 reprints some valuable Mike Caro material, which adds to its value.
Good poker books are VERY helpful, but they have to be read, reread, and absorbed, between many playing sessions. You need experience, theory, and a lot of personal meditation to help you resolve how the ideas practically apply in the situations you regularly encounter at the table.
I've known some players with pretty good natural talent. They played a lot, didn't quite move up like they would like, but continued to rely on their native ability, without resorting to theory and books. They were wrong. Some players will protest that studying books just isn't for them, they're not good at it, they know enough from playing and observing. But it's a cop out. Okay, if you just play recreationally and VERY rarely, then don't take the game seriously. But if you're serious at all, then you just hobble yourself by not studying.
If you're a slow reader, or slow learner when it comes to theory and books, then do it anyway. If it takes you twice as long, and twice as much effort as it does another player, then the solution is simple: take longer and work harder, but do it! You can, and you will definitely benefit.
Main points:
-Don't blindly follow and accept theory. In fact there are a lot of very wrong ideas floating around the poker world, and many of them have made their way into books (but not so much in the best books). So read critically, but READ. You need to expose yourself to the ideas, and work them out.
-Some of the great players did learn the game over a period of decades without reading, and without much theory. But they are very rare exceptions, they are the pioneers who pretty much created the theories which many of us get from books, and they would have gotten a much better head start themselves, had they read the kind of sophisticated books which exist today.
-Alexander Alekhine became the World Chess Champion by studying harder than anyone. He rose to beat the world's premier natural talent, Jose Raoul Capablanca, who was phenominally great, but never read or studied. While some people seem born with it, most of us can learn. If that can happen in the Chess world, it can happen in Poker too. If you combine study with talent, you can be one of the best.
-There is a new generation of tens of thousands of VERY experienced players, and their deeper understanding of the game has changed the world of poker, and made it tougher. Still, many of them have big holes in their games that they're unaware of, and their confidence and arrogance makes them vulnerable. You can rise above them, but it will take work.
-You need to choose the right books. The above suggestion of Harrington's Hold'em series is right on the money. It's an excellent group of books, specifically for No-Limit Hold'em players. besides that series, I'd suggest:
Low Stakes Hold'em, Winning Big With Expert Play (by Miller, Sklansky, and Malmuth)
The Theory of Poker (by Sklansky), and pretty much every other Sklansky book you can get your hands on. Some are dense/tough to digest, and the collaborations with Malmuth are often poorly organized, but they're still phenominal.
Anything by Mike Caro.
Super System (by Doyle Brunson)... and the first book is much more valuable than Super System 2, unless you're specifically interested in triple draw lowball... However, SS2 reprints some valuable Mike Caro material, which adds to its value.
best online poker book?
Mike L
i have recently begun playing online poker and i am doing ok. but was wondering what the best book is for learning more on online poker, especially sit n go tournaments?
I have looked at reviews and forums and have narrowed it down to "Harrington on Hold 'em" or Phil Gordon's Little Green book". Which is best and easiest to read?
Any help would be appreciated
Answer
I have an extensive library of poker books and have read both of these. In terms of improving your game, Harrington on Hold'em is far superior. It gives a plethora of hands to play through, teaches you the correct way to think, and shows Harrington would analyze the situation to compare his thought process to your own.
However, just so you're aware, Harrington on Hold'em (you want Volume 1 if only purchasing one book) does not touch on sit and goes in much detail. He breifly mentions them, but the bulk of the tournament series is dedicated to play in large field tournaments.
With that said, the book will still help you improve your game and give you excellent information. Little green book is not with it's charm, but Harrington will give you more bang for your buck.
I have an extensive library of poker books and have read both of these. In terms of improving your game, Harrington on Hold'em is far superior. It gives a plethora of hands to play through, teaches you the correct way to think, and shows Harrington would analyze the situation to compare his thought process to your own.
However, just so you're aware, Harrington on Hold'em (you want Volume 1 if only purchasing one book) does not touch on sit and goes in much detail. He breifly mentions them, but the bulk of the tournament series is dedicated to play in large field tournaments.
With that said, the book will still help you improve your game and give you excellent information. Little green book is not with it's charm, but Harrington will give you more bang for your buck.
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