poker books?/?
i have $80 dollars in barnes and noble gift cards.
im 16 years old. male.
i want to buy some books on poker. me and my friends play once or twice a week, just small $10 buy in tournaments with usually like 7-9 people. i also play online on Full Tilt, for micro stakes.
i have downloaded on my computer some books but they are a hassle to read. i know that super system*, super system 2*, theory of poker*, poker for the advanced player*, and phil gordons little green and blue books are all good, but i dont know what to get.
***** i have these books on my computer but when i try to read them i get distracted so i feel like i should buy them
i will be ordering my books from barnes and noble.com
also, i dont want to spend all of my money on poker books?
what else would you recommend for a 16 year old that doesnt exactly love to read.
oh i forgot. should i read super system 1 and 2 or does 2 cover both books?
is there any benefit of reading both?
wtf nobody ever answers
November 7th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
Yes, we do answer…
David Sklansky (Theory of Poker and the Advanced Player series) may be one of the most boring authors you’d ever want to read. It’s like reading textbooks. Great information but also good stuff to fall asleep by. Super System 1 and 2 are good books but pretty advanced. Again, pretty boring stuff. SS2 is not nearly as good as the original, but it covers more of the games that are played now. 5 card stud and draw are almost gone from regular poker play.
Here are a couple of good starter books that are also good reads:
For a good read and good information as well I recommend anything by Mike Caro. He’s a funny guy and writes in a very entertaining style. Easy reads that still have good information.
Another good author is Lou Kreiger. (Poker for Dummies, HoldEm Excellence.) Don’t be put off by a Dummies book, it has good information in it. Again, also very readable. HoldEm Excellence is told entirely as a narrative so it’s not just throwing stats and strategy at you. Also the Start Chart at the end of the book is the best starting hand reference you’ll ever find.
Finally try anything by TJ Cloutier and Tom McEvoy. Their books have a lot of anecdotes, the writing is relaxed and the information is first rate.
You have some great poker books in your library, they’re just a little ahead of where you are as a player. Try some of these authors but definitely hold on to what you’ve got until you’re ready for them.
November 8th, 2009 at 1:31 am
Personally I’d sell the gift cards on a site of your choosing and invest the money in a 1-3mth membership to a online training site.
The value you will get there will be learned quicker and be better then anything written in words.
You’ll get the basic stuff written down, videos explaining everything from bettering techs to game selection and everything in between,plus videos of pros while they playing and reviewing their own play explaining everything as they do it, as well as a spot to post your Hand historys for a pros review/tips.
November 8th, 2009 at 5:30 am
Buy Harrington on Hold `em which is the best books written on tournament poker. Do not read Super System or the Theory on poker if you are not a reader. Those books are very good no doubt, but if you want some books that can give you a real foundation in tournaments, Harrington on Hold `em 1 and 2 are very clear on a very complex subject.
November 11th, 2009 at 11:48 am
Super System will not be terribly useful to you for the games you are playing as it’s more geared toward cash games. You’re better off reading books about Sit and Go tournaments, which are much closer to the game you’re describing.
A good book for SNGs is Colin Moshman’s SNG Strategy Book, reviewed here:
November 13th, 2009 at 5:17 am
I agree with Piglet. Dan Harrington’s cash and tournament books are top of the line. They are simple and to the point, and coming from one of the top pros you can be sure that the info is on point. Books like Brunson’s Super System, for example, are not only twice as expensive, but contain tons of other information that you are probably not interested in right now–like info on 7 card stud and Omaha and other card games.
Don’t /just/ listen to what we have to say though. Plan on taking at least an hour out of your day to go to the bookstore, in person, and read a few chapters out of, say, Harrington on Cash Games. Then pick up another poker book and see if you find it any easier to understand. After that, go home and order it online if it’s cheaper.
Also, keep in mind that different authors teach different playing styles. Brunson is loose-aggressive whereas Harrington is tight-aggressive, so keep in mind what type of style you wish to read about.
And here’s a tip: be patient! You don’t need to spend that $80 all at once. A lot of poker books come in two volumes. You could, for example, purchase Harrington on Cash, Vol 1 and then, after you’ve learned everything you can, you could purchase Vol 2.
Good luck.