Top 10 Poker Books You Have to Read

Players around the world have been captivated by Poker for centuries. It has something for everyone, whether you’re a rookie looking for some entertainment or a serious professional hoping to make a fortune. The game has seen an increasing variety and boost in pot size over the years. Where extreme prizes are concerned, strategy is of utmost importance. 

A complex and subtle web of probability, psychology, and risk management is what separates the newbies from the pros after all! Be it the simple five-card draw or the insanely complex Texas Hold’em, books on the sport have been around for decades and inspired many to try their luck.

Looking forward to gaining an edge over your competition? Let’s take a look at the top 10 books on Poker!

10. Master Micro Stakes Poker - Alton Hardin

Available on Amazon

Alton Hardin has been a well-known and well-respected name in the modern poker scene. Using his early years as a professor at California State University, Hardin founded Alton Teaches LLC and MicroGrinder Poker School which aim to impart knowledge of the sport to beginners and amateurs alike.

We all start small, and Master Micro Stakes Poker is just that! With over 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon, the book helps new or struggling players learn the ropes of the sport. The book puts special emphasis on the basics of Texas hold ’em and helps you develop an aggressive play style making it one of the best poker books for beginners. 

The book is definitely not just for beginners as the principles will carry forward to games with higher and higher stakes as you hone your skills.

9. Every Hand Revealed - Gus Hansen

Available on Amazon

Gus Hansen is another well-respected name in the poker community. Published in 2008, Every Hand Revealed would be his take on Poker strategies and play style. 

Hansen was at the peak of his career at this time with three world poker tours to his name, and his bold play style captivated many people.

Geared towards no-limit hold ’em tournaments, Every Hand Revealed is a must-read for people who want to develop their own strategies. Hansen takes players through his thought process and his unorthodox play style which earned him fame and fortune. 

The book would shatter many long-established poker strategies and help readers replicate Hansen’s strategies. As one of the best poker books ever written, Every Hand Revealed sits at a clean 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon.

8. Poker Essays - Mason Malmuth

Available on Amazon

Mason Malmuth has been an avid gambler and author for many years. Over the years he has written 19 books on poker, blackjack, and much more! 

His books are also often co-authored by big names like David Slansky and Lynne Loomis. His own company Two Plus Two Publishing has also been running an online forum for people who enjoy the thrill of gambling.

Poker Essays is an innovative yet straightforward book on the sport. Not only does it talk about poker strategy, but also suggests various additions that would go on to make poker more streamlined.

After decades of the book being released, Malmuth’s concerns were answered, and the sport evolved through many of the predictions that he had made. The book currently sits at a whopping 4 out of 5 stars on Amazon. 

7. Caro's Book of Poker Tells: The Psychology and Body Language of Poker - Mike Caro 

Available on Amazon

Mike Caro is a professional through and through when it comes to poker! With over forty years of experience in the sport, it is safe to assume he knows what he’s doing. 

As a professional poker player and author, Caro has had a long and illustrious career, and his books have helped many improve their gaming skills significantly.

Caro's Book of Poker Tells is a must-have in every player’s library. Mike Caro explains how to read your opponent's moves and the science behind their choices. He puts special emphasis on physical reactions and mannerisms that can be taken advantage of to give you an edge. 

The book held a special place in many aspiring players’ collections from the 90s and beyond. Today, it sits at a respectable 4.3 out of 5 stars on Amazon. 

6. Winning Poker Systems - Norman Zadeh 

Available on Amazon

Norman Zadeh had quite some success back in the 2019 WSOP. Known for his methodical play style and proficiency in both No-Limit Hold'em and Pot-Limit Omaha, Zadeh has been a recent but important figure in the poker scene. 

He wrote Winning Poker Systems back in 1973 and this is definitely an underrated gem, let us explain why!

At the time, there were almost no books on poker strategy. Zadeh’s book would be so influential that a plethora of books on Poker would start coming out left, right, and center. 
An old-school read, the book discusses popular poker games at the time like five-card draw and lowball. The book, although hard to find, is a must-read for fans of the sport who want to know its history.

5. Playing The Player: Moving Beyond ABC Poker To Dominate Your Opponents - Ed Miller 

Available on Amazon

Widely regarded as one of Poker’s top strategists, Ed Miller has left quite the mark on the sport. Although he is primarily a coach, he has and still continues to write books on poker which many players swear by. He focuses on improving the reader’s strategy and decision-making abilities with his books. 

The book’s title says it all, it is one of the best guides for amateurs who wish to take their skills to the next level. In the book, Miller not only teaches the audience how to read their opponents but also how to adjust their cards accordingly. 

He makes the book engaging and fun, and for people who have a bit of experience, this book will fit right in as it complements every play style rather than fixing one and optimizing it. The 4.4 out of 5-star rating on Amazon speaks for itself if you're interested.

4. Super System 2 - Doyle Brunson 

Available on Amazon

Doyle Brunson has had a long and illustrious career in poker for several decades. His contributions to modern poker strategy have been astronomical, to say the least. He has also been an avid writer and his book Super System 1 would go on to revolutionize the game going forwards. 

Coming to the sequel, Super System 2 builds on its predecessor in just the right ways. Where the first book focussed mostly on Hold ‘Em, the second book draws from Brunson’s years of experience and covers a wide range of poker variants that are popular today. 

Be it Texas Hold ‘Em, Seven-Card, or Lowball, Brunson’s book covers it all. 

Alongside that, it also brings in big names like Daniel Negreanu, Bobby Baldwin, and many more. No wonder it has 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon with people absolutely loving it.

3. Harrington on Hold ‘Em - Dan Harrington 

Available on Amazon

Dan Harrington is revered as one of the most competitive tournament players in poker history. Known for his tight and aggressive play style, his monumental wins and appearances in WSOP speak for themselves. 

He is also credited as the mastermind behind modern poker theory and his books have inspired many over the years.

Harrington on Hold ‘Em is one of the most comprehensive guides to Texas Hold’Em. It extensively covers pre-flop, post-flop, and endgame strategies in an easy-to-digest manner. 

Alongside Harrington, Bill Robertie would also lend his expertise as a professional chess player and game theorist. The subsequent Volume II and III books would also refine professional poker for the better. 

The book’s release in the late 2000s during poker’s heyday would also make it incredibly successful with over 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon.

2. Jonathan Little's Excelling at Tough No-Limit Hold'em Games - Jonathan Little 

Available on Amazon

Johnathan Little has done it all! He has been a professional poker player, an incredible coach, and a well-respected author in the poker sphere. Throughout all this, he has also developed a reputation for being humble and approachable. 

His analytical and data-driven approach to the game has been the stuff of legend for over a decade now

Excelling at Tough No-Limit Hold'em Games is a modern take on the older Hold ‘Em strategy. Little not only discusses Pre-flop and post-flop play but also hand reading, game theory, mannerisms, and developing a winning mindset. 

The book also features insights from other big names like Alex Carr and Matt Brown just to name a few. Today, the book sits on amazon with an incredible 4.8 out of 5 stars.

1. The Theory Of Poker: A Professional Poker Player Teaches You How To Think Like One - David Sklansky 

Available on Amazon

David Sklansky is considered to be a true pioneer of the poker world. His contributions to the sport in terms of strategy and theory have been next to none, and his authority is unquestionable. 

His analytical approach to poker mixed with his sheer mathematical genius has landed him as the most sought-after coach and consultant when it comes to professional poker. 

The Theory of Poker is just that, Sklansky’s decades' worth of experience summarised in a  neat 242 pages. 

The book touches on everything from the basics to the most advanced concepts throughout its 25 chapters. It takes every possible scenario into consideration and provides suggestions on what the player must do with Sklansky’s logic and reasoning behind it. The book is considered to be the definitive guide to the sport with every professional having either read it or heard of its significance. 

With over 4.5 stars out of 5 on Amazon, The Theory of Poker continues to be of significance even today. It deserves the number-one spot as it was the first to have a worldwide impact on the sport with professionals not just noticing but celebrating the book.

Those were our choices for the top 10 poker books. Learning to play poker like the pros can be a seemingly herculean task. However, the books mentioned above have helped countless people develop their poker mindset and strategy. 

Our selection of the top poker books covered everybody from beginners to professionals and everybody in between.

So what are you waiting for? Let’s get reading and develop a useful strategy that will help you dominate your opponents! Who knows? Maybe you will find your name in one of our articles if you decide to share your secrets on Poker.