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Poker Books
 
 
Play Optimal PokerPlay Optimal Poker:
Practical Game Theory for Every Poker Player

By Andrew Brokos


Play Optimal Poker shatters the myth that game theory is only for elite poker players. Renowned poker pro and coach Andrew Brokos takes you step-by-step through the fundamentals, explaining core game theory principles and how to apply them in real poker situations. Whether you play small stakes or high stakes, cash games or tournaments, Play Optimal Poker provides powerful new tools to help you navigate tricky situations, hold your own against the toughest competition, and exploit common mistakes. Once you understand the fundamentals of game theory, you’ll approach the poker table with the confidence to handle anything the game can throw at you

Andrew Brokos has been a professional poker player for more than fifteen years, with hundreds of thousands in cash game winnings, final tables in major online tournament series, and three Top 100 finishes in the World Series of Poker Main Event. As a coach and host of the popular Thinking Poker Podcast, Andrew is widely regarded for his ability to explain complex concepts in terms anyone can understand.

Paperback - 243 pages (2 Jun 2019)   £21.24
Kindle - 245 pages (2 Jun 2019)   £8.17  

PKO Poker StrategyPKO Poker Strategy:
How to adapt to Bounty and Progressive Knockout online poker tournaments

By Dara O'Kearney


In PKO Poker Strategy professional poker player Dara O’Kearney has done rigorous study using the latest solver technology to show you the biggest adjustments you need to beat these tournaments. This book fixes your biggest leaks and takes the uncertainty out of PKOs.

Dara O’Kearney is a professional poker player from Ireland, specialising in online tournaments and with a reputation as one of the great teachers of the game. He is the co-author of the best-selling Poker Satellite Strategy, the co-host of the award-winning Chip Race Poker Podcast and is sponsored by Unibet Poker.

This book uses the most up-to-date poker ICM solvers, however it has been written in a way to make the poker maths you need to do at the tables very simple. Every chapter starts from a poker GTO framework but then explains how you should deviate when the players or table dynamics change.

It covers major adjustment in PKO play, including a short hand way to decide on calling ranges, the poker game theory behind why you should never late register, post flop play, poker mindset issues unique to PKOs and much more. It has everything a texas hold'em player needs to crush knockout tournaments.

Paperback - 196 pages (23 Jun 2020)   £14.09
Kindle - 198 pages (22 Jun 2020)   £5.11  

Short Stack NinjaShort Stack Ninja:
Tournament Strategy From A Professional Poker Coach

By Chris 'Fox' Wallace


If you play tournament poker, this is a MUST read.

Chris Wallace provides an interesting and somewhat alternative view on how to maximise value in some of the spots you will inevitably find yourself in (sooner or later).

The book is short and sweet but packed with information and reflection points to study off the felt and integrate into your game. I found the 0-5bb section (which he names the "value hunting zone") especially enlightening, as he presents his approach that counters the traditional push-fold strategy and instead invites you to identify value by looking at the table and its dynamics.

The author goes through different stack sizes and what you should be looking to do. I was already a prettygood short stack player and knew GTO (Game theory optimal) shove ranges etc, but this was good for my thinking in terms of what i should be looking to do below 5bb, or 10-20, 20-30 BBs.

Paperback - 108 pages (5 Sep 2020)   £5.99
Kindle - 104 pages (5 Sep 2020)   £5.89  

The Biggest BluffThe Biggest Bluff
By Maria Konnikova


How I Learned to Pay Attention, Take Control and Master the Odds

Many poker books focus on getting the edge in games, and nothing deeper than that. You often get the impression poker players write to impress upon you their knowledge, as if all the money and time they’ve invested into the game still hasn’t gotten them over that hump of wanting recognition and approval.

This is a book where the author confronts exactly those desires, within herself. She uses poker in a holistic manner to take her on that journey, and the results are impressive. This is also one of the books in a new trend that sheds light on letting go of the need to control what you can’t, while also not completely giving up on building the skills to control what you can.

The book's very well-written; it has a great balance of storytelling and lessons on luck, on life and on everything in-between. As the book progresses, you can feel Maria's love for Poker and it's depths develop and you're brought along on that ride. The reflection on the relationship between life and Poker leave you with a lot to consider.

Hardcover - 368 pages (25 Jun 2020)   £13.60
Kindle - 369 pages (23 Jun 2020)   £9.99  

Mastering Small Stakes No-Limit Hold'emMastering Small Stakes No-Limit Hold'em
By Jonathan Little


Strategies to Consistently Beat Small Stakes Poker Tournaments and Cash Games

An excellent textbook to study on how to play in low limit games in multiway pots. Little does an excellent job in explaining different strategies according to the stack size and the opponent's style into account. This is something which a lot of amateurs make a mistake, they only look at their hole cards and forget to consider the stack sizes of the players.

If you are the typical amateur who looks at the hole cards, and say, "I got Aces, let me raise 10x BB because I got the goods", well, you are leaving a lot of money on the table. This book will teach you to consider the ranges of your opposition and take it into account before making a raise. Study this book and it will definitely improve your game.

While this book is long and detailed, it revolves around the central theme of range analysis, both developing our own ranges and understanding our opponent’s. In the realm of small stakes hold’em where most players have little understanding of their own ranges let alone their opponents, absorbing the concepts detailed in this book will give you a big edge.

Paperback - 480 pages (31 Aug 2017)   £21.24
Kindle - 482 pages (17 Jul 2017)   £13.06  

Poker Satellite StrategyPoker Satellite Strategy
By Dara O'Kearney and Barry Carter


The best way for small stakes poker players to earn life-changing amounts of money is to win a satellite into a bigger tournament. Yet there is surprisingly little poker theory written about how to win satellite tournaments, until now. In Poker Satellite Strategy professional poker player Dara O’Kearney gives you a framework for how to approach every stage of a satellite tournament, from the early levels right up to the bubble.

It doesn't matter which category your fall in to, Dara O'Kearney is here to tell you that you are almost definitely playing satellites incorrectly. If you're interested in learning the format at all then this book is a corner stone for optimal satellite play. This book is a fundamental for any poker player that has ever registered a satellite - stop making easy mistakes and start playing optimal.

The upsides of playing satellites are numerous. It's full of people like me, dreamers, beginners and they turn nits into gamblers, why? Well because it's a chance at a big win with little or no loss. People know the players are fishy and inexperienced. You are playing for seats not places. A seat is a seat whether you win first or second place. It's survival which is easier to do than conquering. It's watching your blinds watching your blinds watching your blinds! But a bit beyond the steps of the palace there are the further Tournament steps to events like the WSOP. Obviously these steps are walked by serious pros. Dara is a pro and an expert in satellites. His record is proof of the pudding. If he can't teach you anything then you're probably rich by now.

The book is simply laid out. It's cordial and often anecdotal. It lays out formula and order of decisions in a logical but comprehensible way. Anything you didn't think you were capable of understanding, you will.

Paperback - 222 pages (26 Feb 2019)   £18.37
Kindle - 224 pages (26 Feb 2019)   £7.63  

FossilMan's Winning Tournament StrategiesFossilMan's Winning Tournament Strategies
By Greg Raymer


FossilMan's Winning Tournament Strategies is the ultimate guide to practical tournament play. Greg "FossilMan" Raymer, winner of the WSOP Main Event in 2004, explains everything you need to know to become a successful tournament player.

Raymer has a great ability to explain difficult concepts in clear and simple language. ----- Raymer simplfies the learning process by breaking down the complex subject of tournament strategy into the key areas.

This an excellent tournament book that is practical, engaging, and insightful. The book has 42 short and digestible chapters which cover everything from GTO, ICM, preflop and postflop betting, emotional concerns, different types of tournaments and more. An overarching concept is paying attention to the math on many different levels to maximize one’s ability to go deep into tournaments.

He also has some great tricks.

One trick for example is where he discusses a cool trick to keep his mental game sharp when he has lost a big pot. In Chapter 32 (Emotional Concerns) he provides an example about a tournament where the average stack is 40K and he has 120K. After losing 60K in a single hand (no matter what the circumstances) instead of going on tilt, he realizes he still has 60K which is well above the average stack. Raymer says to himself: “How would I feel right now if I had started the last hand with 30K and doubled to 60K? I would feel awesome.”

Paperback - 248 pages (30 July 2019)   £24.99
Kindle - 272 pages (30 July 2019)   £15.71  

Felt Hopper VegasFelt Hopper: Vegas
By Tyler Nals


The author plans to play in the most popular poker rooms of Las Vegas during 4 days for the adventure and the objective of getting a profit.

We can read in short chapters all the poker rooms que visited, including downtown Las Vegas. He also includes anecdotes and interesting characters he met in Vegas. You are never bored and the pages go fast.

You don't need to know anything about poker to enjoy this book. If you do play poker, you will find out the best poker rooms for winning (and why).

Tyler’s twisted description of poker opponents is comical and thoughtful. Great adventure for the casual poker fan.

Recommend for poker players not already familiar with Vegas.


Paperback - 204 pages (23 July 2018)   £6.84    $8.99 

Peak Poker PerformancePeak Poker Performance
by Patricia Cardner, Jonathan Little


Mike Sexton once asked Chip Reese, "The guys you play against are tough. What separates you from them?" Chip replied, "You're right Mike. They are tough. In fact, when they play their 'A' game, I'm really no better than they are. The difference is that they also have a 'C' and 'D' game, whereas I don't. They become weak players when they steam and just about all of them do. My edge is that I don't steam." (Life's a Gamble, D&B 2016). If you've ever wondered if the psychological aspect of poker is important, that should provide the answer. One of the greatest players of all times is attributing his success to the fact that he has better psychological control over his play than his opponents.

You won't find any advice about how to play AK under the gun, or what the proper bet sizing is when you have 15 big bets left at the final table of a MTT. But you will find dozens of clearly written, expertly researched, and well organized ideas for how to have a stronger mental game at and away from the poker table.

There is wonderfully little psychobabble or jargon thrown about. This is just direct, clear, instruction about how to become a better player by thinking and working better toward that goal. There are also extensive bibliographies after each of the ten chapter showing you where you can go to learn more.


Paperback - 272 pages (7 Aug 2016)   £19.99    $29.15 

Lifes A GambleLife's a Gamble
by Mike Sexton


If you want to experience the evolution of poker from someone who has lived through it from the very beginning, then read this book. Mike takes you on an adventure that holds nothing back! He makes you feel as if you were there along side the most famous gambling legends in history. Poker, Golf , Sports betting, Gin Rummy.... You name it they bet on it!

Mike has seen it all, and his talent for story telling will keep you glued to every word. Even if you never played Poker or even gambled, you will find it hard to put down "Life's a Gamble" it's piece of "Americana" that tells the story of legendary gamblers that includes not just their triumphs, but all their flaws as well.

He (Mike) is a World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner, helped create PartyPoker in 2001 and was a key player in an event that changed the poker world forever – the launch of the World Poker Tour (WPT) in 2002. He has been a commentator on the WPT, along with Vince Van Patten, since its inception. In addition, Mike was recognized as poker's Top Ambassador at the Card Player Magazine Player of the Year Awards gala in 2006. That same year, he won WSOP Tournament of Champions, winning $1 million in prize money – half of which he donated to charity.


Hardback - 272 pages (1 Aug 2016)   £19.08    $17.11 

Jonathan Little's Excelling at No-Limit Hold'emJonathan Little's Excelling at No-Limit Hold'em
by Jonathan Little , Phil Hellmuth, Mike Sexton + more


Jonathan has brought together lots of different poker players, coming from all kinds of different backgrounds and writing in all kinds of different styles. So, we get condensed info by top professionals on a variety of topics, all in one book. Normally, one would have to buy about ten books to get the info and insights we get here - and pay at least ten times its price. Actually, my favourite chapter alone is worth at least ten times the price of the whole book - or maybe even a hundred times?! On a philosophical note: When people like Jonathan and other wonderful world class players generously share their experience and wisdom with people, the "price" is always way too low because what they give us is in fact absolutely invaluable, if taken in and used well.

To conclude: The special beauty of this book lies in its variety and the high quality contributors. There's guaranteed to be something for everyone in it that makes their minds spin and inspires them

This book is a fine collection of topics from top players across the poker circuit. It is a not a beginners book, and you must be a competent player to understand parts of the book.


Paperback - 512 pages (30 Jun. 2015)   £20.39    $28.28 

Moorman's Book of PokerMoorman's Book of Poker
by Chris Moorman (Author), Byron Jacobs (Author)


Chris, known as Moorman1 online, is the most accomplished online poker player of all-time, becoming the first player ever to achieve the $10 Million milestone in lifetime online tournament winnings on PocketFives. Moorman is also currently ranked the #1 online player in the world and all-time PocketFives Triple Crown leader with 19 wins. Moorman has also finished in the top 3 in tournaments over a staggering 566 times.

Many strong poker players have written books explaining their thought processes. However, players at the low- to mid-stakes who want to advance to the highest levels find the leap a daunting one. Chris, through years of hard work, has achieved this advance and now wants to help you do the same. Moorman’s Book of Poker has a unique approach. Chris analyzes 80 tournament hand histories played by co-author Byron Jacobs – a typical mid-stakes player. The adoption of a coaching format allows Chris to explain in clear detail exactly what is needed to progress to the next level of expertise.

This is an excellent book,we get a great insight into how Chris navigates trouble spots that we all find ourselves in at the table. There is something here for everyone with plenty of hand histories to work through. It's a must for any players poker library.


Paperback - 384 pages (10 Nov 2014)   £16.99    $24.22 

Expert Heads Up Volume 2
Expert Heads Up No Limit Hold'em: volume 2
by Will Tipton


Excellent follow up book. The material that is contained in the book is of first class quality. The situations that are discussed are analysed very thoroughly, using systematic approach of game trees, hand ranges and equity distributions. GTO play is estimated in these situations using simulations, and possible exploits are also discussed.

Volume 2 picks up where Volume 1 left off, this time concentrating on early street play. It develops tools for planning strategies to be executed over multiple streets and provides careful analysis of situations that arise when smart players' strategies interact..

If you are a heads-up NLHE player, or are looking to learn the increasingly popular format, then you finally have a series of books that you can turn to when doubts creep into your head!

Currently on Ebay for £10 with free postage!!
Paperback - 424 pages (31 May 2014)   

£13.59 Book
   $22.19 Book
 


Expert Heads Up Volume 1
Expert Heads Up No Limit Hold'em: volume 1
by Will Tipton


Excellent book. The material that is contained in the book is of first class quality. The situations that are discussed are analysed very thoroughly, using systematic approach of game trees, hand ranges and equity distributions. GTO play is estimated in these situations using simulations, and possible exploits are also discussed.

This book is more about tool building than reap low hanging fruits. It involves mathematics but nothing more than basic calculus is needed. It tells something that there is a lot of do-it-yourself exercises. The book is mostly based on game theoretical optimal (GTO) approach.

This is not another poker book (for dummies). But it cannot be, no simple rule set is enough to success in today's games. But it is well written and provides ideas and methods that will help you a long way to understand the game and reach expert level. It is a must have if you are seriously trying to improve your game. Easily the best book, out of too many!

Paperback - 336 pages (28 Dec 2012)   

£19.99 Book - £10.95 Kindle
   $25.48 Book - $17.95 Kindle
 


Positive Poker
Positive Poker
by Dr. Patricia Cardner, Jonathan Little


The full title of the book is, Positive Poker: A Modern Psychological Approach to Mastering Your Mental Game,

Poker at a high level is mostly about the mental game but there are few books guiding the promising player. Where as there are literally hundreds of poker primers on the market teaching people the basic strategies and maths of the game, but when it comes to the mental side of things your choice is extremely thin. So it is with pleasure that here we have something genuine and useful. More so if you already have a good grasp of the strategies of poker because it’s likely that it is your mindset and the mental aspects of your game that will be costing you moeny.

Positive Poker is one-stop-shop for all of the problems that will beset a poker player, and it’s the most all-encompassing mindset book available today. I especially like the running themes of how to counter mental problems that creep into your game the more experienced you become. Many a player has elevated themselves up the poker skill level only to find ways of losing that did not exist when they were novice players. So the section on Common Motivational Problems and their solutions is especially useful to the more experienced player, I for one have been through everything listed and have failed to cure them all.

I strongly recommend this book if you are serious about becomming good and if you are already good. With just a few years of playing behind you may look at the list of problems and think, 'not going to happen to me'. It happened to every great player in history and its going to happen to you!

Paperback - 272 pages (Oct 2013)   

£13.39 Book - £8.15 Kindle
   $21.43 Book - $13.33 Kindle
 


The Education of a Modern Poker Player
The Education of a Modern Poker Player
by John Billingham, Thomas Tiroch, Emanuel Cinca


The original book from which this derives its name, The Education Of A Poker Player, is a classic poker playing manual and also a marvellous autobiography. This book is in no way similar to that other than being partly autobiographical.

Education of a Modern Poker Player follows amateur poker player and fanatical mathematician, John Billingham, on his journey from weak micro-stakes player to profitable low-stakes poker player. Billingham picks up two helpers (better poker players) on the way, Cinca and Tiroch, who act as his guides. You will need to like to see mathematical descriptions of situations to be happy with this book but there are not so many that you can't skip them and still profit from the dialogue here within. And that is how the book is written, in dialogue form between the authors.

What is refreshing from the outset is Billingham is under no illusions as to the quality of his play, and in the book he is receptive to accepting criticism and making improvements. This is the most useful part of the book. The content is broken up into two main parts where we see Billingham journey from losing at $10 No Limit tables, to competence where he becomes a profitable low limit player, specializing in fast-fold poker games. The game has changed and so have several key ideas. Whilst not exactly new info this is concise and thought provoking

Paperback - 272 pages (28 Nov 2013)   

£13.39 Book - £8.15 Kindle
   $21.43 Book - $13.34 Kindle
 


Secrets of Professional Tournament Poker: v. 3Secrets of Professional Tournament Poker, Volume 3 : The Complete Workout
by Jonathan Little


His first two books, Secrets of Professional Tournament Poker Volumes 1 and 2, outlined how the modern professional plays the game and changed the face of the poker landscape. Now Jonathan has produced a third volume, allowing players to test their understanding of the tricks of tournament play.

This volume has a question and answer format and this allows the reader to examine each individual hand, consider the relevant factors and formulate their thinking about the best line to take. There is then discussion on the possible plays

This is something that will help serious tournament players but also players fairly new to the real world tournaments will get a fast-track into the mind of successful tournament players. Jonathan tells you everything that went into his decisions giving you the tools to make your own solid poker decisions in today's ever changing game. Little has an awesome point system that can be used after every hand and chapter to track your progress. Use it to check for understanding and to more accurately judge what level your own poker game is at. This isn't just a strategy book; this is a guidebook for how to think and act like a tournament professional. They are the new poker bible for every aspiring player who wants to play at a much higher level

The other volumes are below!

Paperback - 432 pages (27 Jun 2013)   £15.99    $25.69 

Secrets of Professional Tournament Poker: v. 2Secrets of Professional Tournament Poker: Volume 2
by Jonathan Little


We know Jonathan from volume 1 which was a great excercise in analysis and was an original approach to understanding tournament poker. This volume 2 moves on from the nuts and bolts of poker tournaments and teaches us why everything else associated with each hand is important.

The first couple of chapters of Volume 2 finishes off Little's tournament theory and then move on to what this book is really about which is how to live as a professional and all the day to day, even second by second, choices that you make that alter the way you play.

This is definitely a useful read for serious tournament players. It focuses with skill on how your life is being lived affects your ability at the poker table and raises solid pointers for you to concentrate on and improve. A very few people (if any) can live the fantasy poker pro life – huge amounts of money, drink, parties, sex, drugs, travel, fame and never having to work a real job again. A lot of those who do try to live that life eventually self implode and a lot go broke. Long term success comes from living right so read this!

Buy with the first book two spots below!

Paperback - 272 pages (Apr 2012)   £16.99    $18.45 

Harrington on Cash GamesHarrington on Cash Games: Volume II: How to Play No-Limit Hold 'em Cash Games: 2
by Dan Harrington


Firstly, make sure that if you buy this book you are either really good at Cash games or you have read and own the first book in the series, Harrington on Cash Games 1.

This book focuses primarily on good turn and river play, as if you are playing good pre and post flop play against what stacks you have, then most of the bets on 4th and 5th street will be for a large proportion of your stack, so this book will help that critical large amount of your stack stay intact!

A definate read, with loads of hand analysis and interesting discussions on key moments of the hand, you get a great insight into how Harrington plays the game, and you certainly go on a journey that will definately improve your play.

Buy with the first book!

Paperback - 374 pages (Mar 2008)   £16.96    $23.07 

Secrets of Professional Tournament Poker Vol. 1Secrets of Professional Tournament Poker: Vol. 1: Fundamentals and How to Handle Varying Stack Sizes
by Jonathan Little


Jonathan Little, a highly successful poker professional who has won over $4 million in tournament play in just four years, explains exactly how to succeed in this highly competitive field. Playing technically sound poker is crucial but this is far from the only skill necessary.

Jonothan provides a solid foundation with clearly written and easy to follow instructions for tournament play.

The materials provided are actually good and Jonathan Little is a very successfully player and is certainly one of the best teachers. This book is a blend of analitical and common sense. For people who want to be competitive in MTTs as they are currently played, I think that Little's book is essential.

If you are going to buy this book then you will probably also want to connect up with one of his videos as well.

Paperback - 266 pages (30 Apr 2011)   £11.07    $18.45  

Think Like a Poker Pro: How to Study, Plan and Play Like a Professional Think Like a Poker Pro: How to Study, Plan and Play Like a Professional
by Byron Jacobs


If you have ambitions to join the ranks of the consistently winning players, this book might help you plan your campaign.

There is a great deal more to being a successful player than simply knowing how to play a good game. Playing good poker is largely a technical skill which can be learned. Being a consistently successful player is much harder and necessitates acquiring expertise in many other areas.

Byron Jacobs has been a successful online poker player for seven years. In this book he identifies precisely how this can be achieved and shows how much of the battle actually needs to be conducted away from the table. If you already play a fair game of poker but want to become one of the very few players who consistently "play well", then you need this book.

The concepts discussed in this book are brought into clear focus on the accompanying 180 minute DVD of videos where the author can be seen explaining his decision-making process. This DVD addition makes the book great value and this the way forward for poker books.

Paperback - 301 pages (1 Feb 2011)   £18.69    $26.56 

 
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