The Best Poker Books to Take Your Game to the Next Level

Harrington on Hold’em Expert Strategy for No Limit Tournaments, Vol. 1: Strategic Play - by Dan Harrington and Bill Robertie

Dan Harrington has won two World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets, one WSOP title, and the 1995 WSOP Main Event. Harrington is a member of the Poker Hall of Fame and has won over $6 million in tournament cashes throughout his poker career.

Harrington on Hold’em, written in 2004, remains one of the most popular poker strategy books ever published. The first volume in a series of three books, Harrington begins by introducing the reader to the history of poker and terms commonly found in the game. He then explores hand analysis, starting hands, playing styles, and pot odds.

Whilst the first volume focuses on the early stages of poker tournaments, the second volume of Harrington on Hold’em guides readers how to play in the later stages. The third volume explores all phases of tournament play and provides players with poker strategies.

Essential Poker Math, Expanded Edition: Fundamental No-Limit Hold'em Mathematics You Need to Know– by Alton Hardin

Essential Poker Math by Alton Hardin, a poker coach, was written in 2015.

In his book, Hardin emphasises the importance of mathematics in poker and recognises that many players overlook this aspect because they find it too difficult to understand. Hardin breaks down the arithmetic of poker simply so that everybody, no matter their level, will be able to use it in their game and make better informed moves.

The Theory of Poker: A Professional Poker Player Teaches You How to Think Like One - by David Sklansky

David Sklansky is the winner of three WSOP bracelets and is renowned for approaching poker mathematically.

The Theory of Poker by David Sklansky, written in 1999, introduces readers to the fundamental theorem of poker and how to use it to your advantage when playing the game. It is another book regarded highly in the poker world, Sklansky revealing basic poker strategies and concepts that will help players elevate their game to the next level.

The Mental Game of Poker: Proven Strategies for Improving Tilt Control, Confidence, Motivation, Coping with Variance, and More - by Jared Tendler and Barry Carter

Jared Tendler is a mental game coach for the world's best professional poker players.

In The Mental Game of Poker, published in 2011, Tendler offers invaluable guidance on how to handle the pressure and losses in the poker world. When reading this book, players will learn that to take their game to the next level they need to focus on their tilt control, regain motivation and confidence, control emotions, and learn how to cope with variance and bad beats.

Phil Gordon's Little Green Book: Lessons and Teachings in No Limit Texas Hold'em - by Phil Gordon

Phil Gordon's Little Green Book by Phil Gordon, an American professional poker player, was written in 2005 and is another classic poker book.

Gordon teaches poker players how to develop their unique style of play, exploring the psychology, mathematics, and strategy of the game.

Winning Poker Tournaments One Hand at a Time, Volume 1 - by Eric 'Rizen' Lynch, Jon 'Pearljammer' Turner, and Jon 'Apestyles' Van Fleet

In 2006, Eric Lynch won the PokerStars $1 million guaranteed tournament. He went on to co-author Winning Poker Tournaments One Hand at a Time, alongside Jon Turner and Jon Van Fleet, in 2008.

The first volume in a series of three books, Lynch discusses tournament strategy and analyses different playing styles and individual hands. Using real-life examples, he reveals how the professionals in the sport make decisions and how readers can rise to the next level.

Complementing the first volume, which focused on the fundamentals of poker, the second volume in the series focuses on how to beat your opponents. The third volume examines 50 hands which are new from major online tournaments.

Kill Everyone: Advanced Strategies for No-Limit Hold 'Em Poker Tournaments and Sit-n-Go's - by Lee Nelsen, Tysen Streib, and Kim Lee

In 2009, Lee Nelson was inducted in the Australian Poker Hall of Fame and the Austral-Asia grand champion for 2000-2005.

Kill Everyone by Lee Nelson was written in 2007 with co-authors Tysen Streib and Kim Lee, focusing on the value of well-timed aggression. The book merges the mathematics of poker with lived experiences, offering strategies for dealing with common scenarios that occur when playing poker.

Doyle Brunson's Super System: A Course in Power Poker! - by Doyle Brunson

Doyle Brunson is a Poker Hall of Fame inductee, a two-time WSOP Main Event champion, and the first player to ever win $1 million through poker tournaments.

In 2002, Brunson wrote Doyle Brunson's Super System where he explores various winning strategies for poker. Brunson has collaborated with five experts in poker, Mike Caro, David Sklansky, Joey Hawthorne, Chip Reese, and Bobby Baldwin, to bring excellent advice on the fundamental concepts of the game.

Elements of Poker - by Tommy Angelo

Tommy Angelo is an American professional poker player who wrote Elements of Poker in 2007. In his book, Angelo guides readers how they can achieve long-term success with poker.

Unlike the majority of other poker books, Angelo deviates away from focusing on strategy as a way to improve your craft and instead highlights the mental aspect of the game. This book will teach you how to know when it is time to quit, and how to manage your money and emotions.