The best books every poker player needs to read

Jared Tendler Author Of The Mental Game of Poker: Proven Strategies for Improving Tilt Control, Confidence, Motivation, Coping with Variance, and More
By Jared Tendler

Who am I?

I’m a leading expert in how your mental game impacts performance. For over a decade I’ve coached hundreds of poker players, including some of the best players in the world. My clients include numerous bracelet winners at the World Series of Poker, and winners of other major titles. I have a passion for helping players become great, and many of them have climbed the ranks to become among of the best in the world. Whatever you aspire to in poker, whether it’s making some money off your friends or competing in the WSOP, be sure to pick up the books I’ve recommended—they can make a big difference! 

I wrote...

Book cover of The Mental Game of Poker: Proven Strategies for Improving Tilt Control, Confidence, Motivation, Coping with Variance, and More

What is my book about?

The mental game may be more important in poker than in any other form of competition. It's one of the only games in the world where you can play perfectly and lose-again and again. Hundreds of poker players have turned to mental game coach Jared Tendler's revolutionary approach to help them play their best, no matter how badly they're running. In this book you'll find simple, step-by-step instructions and proven techniques to permanently fix problems such as tilt, handling variance, emotional control, confidence, fear, and motivation. With the games getting tougher, now is the time to take these problems head on.

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The books I picked & why

Essential Poker Math, Expanded Edition: Fundamental No Limit Hold'em Mathematics You Need To Know

By Alton Hardin,

Book cover of Essential Poker Math, Expanded Edition: Fundamental No Limit Hold'em Mathematics You Need To Know

Why this book?

This book is one of the best-selling poker books of the modern era despite the author not being a household name. It is a brilliant and dense primer on poker math with the amateur in mind. Other poker math books have arguably been written with a more expert tone, but this one is ideal for a beginner.

Essential Poker Math, Expanded Edition: Fundamental No Limit Hold'em Mathematics You Need To Know

By Alton Hardin,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Essential Poker Math, Expanded Edition as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Expanded, Updated & Greatly Improved

New Expanded Edition Includes:

More Than 150 Pages of New Material with Greatly Expanded Content and 4 New Chapters Over 75 Carefully Devised Practice and Example Poker Hands That Are Analyzed in Great Detail Free Enrollment into My 10-Hour Essential Poker Math eLearning Online Video Training Course Poker Math Is Easy to LearnPoker math is a vitally important aspect of No Limit Hold’em poker. But, it's often overlooked or simply not used because many poker players fear it is too difficult to learn. I'm here to tell you it’s not. In fact, fundamental poker math…

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Reading Poker Tells

By Zachary Elwood,

Book cover of Reading Poker Tells

Why this book?

Amateur players think tells are the biggest part of poker when in fact they are the most exaggerated aspect of poker strategy and the least important part of the modern game. Tells are, however, still a genuine part of the game and this is a fantastic introduction to them. Amateur players would still be better off working on the fundamentals first but this is an excellent addition to the bookshelf of a more seasoned player.

Reading Poker Tells

By Zachary Elwood,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Reading Poker Tells as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Reading Poker Tells has been called the best book on poker tells by many players, both amateur and professional. The book catalogues many of the most common poker-related behavioral patterns and gives psychological explanations for why these patterns exist. More importantly, the book gives a mental framework for analyzing and remembering poker tells. It also contains tips for deceiving and manipulating opponents, and methods for staying unreadable.

The author's blog and ebook are available at ReadingPokerTells.com.

REVIEWS

"Reading Poker Tells is one of the most helpful poker books I've ever read."                    
            - Andrew Brokos, pro player, author of Thinking Poker…

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Modern Poker Theory: Building an Unbeatable Strategy Based on GTO Principles

By Michael Acevendo,

Book cover of Modern Poker Theory: Building an Unbeatable Strategy Based on GTO Principles

Why this book?

This is perhaps the best poker book of the last ten years and the first great book of the GTO era. If you are a player who has been intimidated by solvers this is the best primer on what they have taught us in recent years. By no means an easy book to read, but a must for any serious player's bookshelf.

Modern Poker Theory: Building an Unbeatable Strategy Based on GTO Principles

By Michael Acevendo,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Modern Poker Theory as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Modern Poker Theory is a comprehensive, rigorous guide to the most important aspects of No-Limit Hold'em. It is based around an in-depth examination of what is meant by game theory optimal play (GTO) and how it can be applied at the table. Understanding GTO is fundamental to being able to make accurate poker decisions and being able to exploit players who don't.

Modern Poker Theory uses modern poker tools to develop a systematic approach to the analysis of GTO. It organizes the ideas and concepts in an intuitive manner that is totally focused to practical applications.

Next time you are…

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The Endgame

By Dan Harrington, Bill Robertie,

Book cover of The Endgame

Why this book?

To some, the Harrington series might be outdated but there is still a lot of gold to be gleaned from these pages. Some people think Super System is the classic book of the poker genre, but I would argue this title has influenced more modern online players than any single book available today. There are more up-to-date books to choose from today, but it is still worth a read even now.

The Endgame

By Dan Harrington, Bill Robertie,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Endgame as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Poker has taken America by storm. But it's not just any form of poker that has people across the country so excited it's no-limit hold 'em the main event game. And now, thanks to televised tournaments, tens of thousands of new players are eager to claim their share of poker glory.

In the first volume of this series, Harrington on Hold 'em: Volume I: Strategic Play, Dan Harrington explained how to play in the early phases of tournaments, when most players at the table had plenty of chips, and the blinds and antes were small. This book, Harrington on Hold…

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Poker Satellite Strategy: How to qualify for the main events of live and online high stakes poker tournaments

By Dara O’Kearney, Barry Carter,

Book cover of Poker Satellite Strategy: How to qualify for the main events of live and online high stakes poker tournaments

Why this book?

There are few books that can definitively say they have solved a poker format, but Poker Satellite Strategy really is the only book that ever needed to be written on satellite tournaments. If you want to qualify for a large buy-in tournament for a small amount, this is the book for you. It is also perhaps the best book to cover the tournament concept of ICM (Independent Chip Model) which every MTT grinder needs to understand.

Poker Satellite Strategy: How to qualify for the main events of live and online high stakes poker tournaments

By Dara O’Kearney, Barry Carter,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Poker Satellite Strategy as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

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. This book takes the stress and uncertainty out of satellites.

You will learn:

Adjustments you need to make from regular poker tournament strategy What hands to shove, call and…

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5 book lists we think you will like!

The best poker books every serious poker play should read
The best poker books for beginner and struggling poker players
The best books about high-stakes poker for people who hate math
The best books for those contemplating gambling as a profession
The best books on economics and game theory

Interested in poker, game theory, and the United Kingdom?

8,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about poker, game theory, and the United Kingdom.

Poker Explore 26 books about poker
Game Theory Explore 31 books about game theory
The United Kingdom Explore 511 books about the United Kingdom

And, 3 books we think you will enjoy!

We think you will like The Grinder's Manual, Dynamic Full Ring Poker, and No-Limit Hold 'em For Advanced Players if you like this list.

Book cover of The Grinder's Manual: A Complete Course in Online No Limit Holdem 6-Max Cash Games Book cover of Dynamic Full Ring Poker: Beyond The Basics Book cover of No-Limit Hold 'em For Advanced Players