Poker Books – a Goldmine of Game Theory

One of the most crucial elements of improving your poker game is studying game theory. This can take many forms, such as talking with other players, reading through articles and online forums, and of course… poker books.

Why are books on poker so beneficial to the improving player?

Let’s take a look:

• You get to peek inside the mind of an experienced poker player. To me, this is an absolutely invaluable asset. Many times I will read something in a book, and it fundamentally changes the way I approach a certain situation, or at the very least gets me questioning the effectiveness of the way I do something today.
  
  
• You get to know what other players know, and more importantly how they view certain situations. There are several books on poker, but many of them share the same concepts. By reading the same poker books as other players, you gain a better understanding of your opponents, which is crucial to succeeding in this game.
  
  
• You build and strengthen your own understanding of poker fundamentals. Understanding conventional game theory will automatically put you ahead of anyone who doesn’t fully grasp it. All good players (even ones who don’t play conventionally) have a solid foundation of poker fundamentals.
  
  
• You force yourself to analyze your own play. Often times when you’re logging hundreds of hours of game play, you don’t take the time to reflect on your own strategy. Mixing some study time in with your hours at the table will help fine tune your game, and can help to lessen your losing streaks.

But there are a hundred books on poker! How do I find the top poker books?

There are several places online to find good poker book reviews. We have our favorite holdem poker books listed on our Best Poker Books section, but I would also recommend going someplace like Amazon and reading through the reviews there as well. Amazon gets a ton of traffic, so you’ll get many differing viewpoints on any particular book (a good thing).

Poker books are an indispensable tool for the improving player. However, keep in mind that no one book should be a blueprint for your game. To truly take your game to the next level, you should read and understand various books and styles, then build your own game from the knowledge gained. Don’t be afraid to question, reject, or modify the things you read. Thinking at that level will bring dramatic improvements to your game, and will always ensure you stay on the road to poker success.