What Books have helped your game? (1 Viewer)

Here is a list I've put together so far. The used prices are for the Very Good condition books...there were cheaper options for the "Acceptable" condition but wasn't sure the quality and/or return policy if it was in bad condition. The list is not in any particular order, just a wish list for 2020 I suppose.

TitleAuthorNewUsed
The CourseEd Miller$50NA
Scoop!Greg Vail Doug Hull$50NA
Harrington on Cash Games V1Dan Harrington$23$17
Harrington on Cash Games V2Dan Harrington$28$17
Pot Limit OmahaJeff Hwang$15$6
Advanced PLO: Small BallJeff Hwang$35$28
Advanced PLO: LAG PlayJeff Hwang$35$15
Advanced PLO: Short HandedJeff Hwang$33$28
Professional PLORolf Slotboom$20$7
Professional PLO Short HandedRolf Slotboom$47$14
 
Just ordered used copies of Harrington's books and Jeff Hwang's first PLO book. Note, if you are an Amazon Prime member, Hwang's Pot Limit Omaha book is free on Kindle.
 
I like to read but I also like to practice. I just received Splitsuit's poker workbook
https://www.splitsuit.com/poker-preflop-math-workbook

I'm only on page 41 and so far the content is basic but looking at the TOC it is clear he is building a foundation for some good exercises in ranges, odds, etc.
Thought I would share as I think if you like the practice this is good value.

edit: I also have equilab and flopzilla and rarely use them. I like that this book gets me using these tools!
 
I finished Harrington's Cash Game V1 book this weekend, great read. I loved going through the problems, thought that helped drive home the message on each topic. I decided to mix it up and go with Hwang's book next before I moved onto HCG V2. I'm about 50 pages in and my head hurts...trying to figure out wraps, outs and more importantly nut outs. :eek: :tdown:

All good stuff though!
 
Bumping this thread rather than starting a new one.

I've finished "The Little Green Book" and looking for a good next step towards improving my game - which is 99.99% home games, NLHE, small stakes 0.25/.50 to max .50/1.00

I've seen so many suggestions out there, but perhaps some of the more experienced PCFers can help me narrow it down. For me, I find books with a clear, step-by-step layout, with lots of examples and practice questions great.

I wouldn't pretend to be anything other than a casual player at this point, with a fairly basic understanding of fundamentals. I never seem to lose too much, but on the flip side, I also never seem to win too much either. If I had to describe myself, I'd say more towards Tight-Aggressive, but I suspect my play is also fairly predictable, especially over time with the same group of players.

Hopefully all that helps with being able to make a few sensible recommendations! Thanks all.
 
Check out @detroitdad ’s new book for bad players. It’s called “Play Better”. It’s a single page book and essentially explains how to resolve all issues at the poker tables. No fancy terminology, statistics, or pictures. You can literally read the book in a couple seconds, and the rereading is a breeze. Check it out if you all have a moment.
 
Harrington on Cash, vol I & II.
If and when you can assimilate* all the knowledge contained therein, you 'll be "home games-proof", at least; probably casino-proof too, for the minimum stakes offered in most casinos.

*Assimilating means reading the books several times while playing at the same time
 
shorticus said:
Check out @detroitdad ’s new book for bad players. It’s called “Play Better”. It’s a single page book and essentially explains how to resolve all issues at the poker tables. No fancy terminology, statistics, or pictures. You can literally read the book in a couple seconds, and the rereading is a breeze. Check it out if you all have a moment.
Click to expand...

If I could only practice what I preach!
 
cpac54 said:
Bumping this thread rather than starting a new one.

I've finished "The Little Green Book" and looking for a good next step towards improving my game - which is 99.99% home games, NLHE, small stakes 0.25/.50 to max .50/1.00

I've seen so many suggestions out there, but perhaps some of the more experienced PCFers can help me narrow it down. For me, I find books with a clear, step-by-step layout, with lots of examples and practice questions great.

I wouldn't pretend to be anything other than a casual player at this point, with a fairly basic understanding of fundamentals. I never seem to lose too much, but on the flip side, I also never seem to win too much either. If I had to describe myself, I'd say more towards Tight-Aggressive, but I suspect my play is also fairly predictable, especially over time with the same group of players.

Hopefully all that helps with being able to make a few sensible recommendations! Thanks all.
Click to expand...

1. Fold more hands preflop. Yes, even more than that.

2. Don't limp, don't limp, DON'T LIMP!

3. Bet when you have it, check/call with appropriate odds when chasing a made hand.

4. Don't chase straight draws when a flush draw is present as well, which ties into the last point.

5. Always have a plan for the betting round you're in and how that flows into later streets. If you do decide to bet, what's your plan if you get raised, called, or check-raised?


Is it incredibly ABC, straightforward, and easily exploitable? Yes it is. Against the average mouthbreather who plays micro stakes live NLH though, it's essentially foolproof barring coolers and bad beats.
 
Here are a few I found instrumental in my early days. Really helped develop my game.

223BD055-508D-4229-A556-79E57EAFF089.jpeg
 
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Andrew Brokos’ Play Optimal Poker and his recently-released sequel are a smart overview of real-world applications of GTO.

He is not trying to get people to play GTO per se (it’s impossible to do so), but to understand game theory so that you can balance and adjust your decisions to better exploit opponents’ mistakes.

https://www.nitcast.com/
 
Taghkanic said:
Andrew Brokos’ Play Optimal Poker and his recently-released sequel are a smart overview of real-world applications of GTO.

He is not trying to get people to play GTO per se (it’s impossible to do so), but to understand game theory so that you can balance and adjust your decisions to better exploit opponents’ mistakes.

https://www.nitcast.com/
Click to expand...
Thanks for this recommendation! Bought the book and I am really enjoying it. Makes GTO principles very easy to understand and to use in realtime situation. Serious contender for GOAT book, think I like the way he explains it even more than my favorite book Modern Poker Theory.
 
If anyone is interested in no limt hold em, check out the Applications of No-Limit Hold'em by Matthew Janda. While written in 2013, it still can teach you a lot about the game.
 
Harrington says in his book about cash (vol.II) that if asked the stupid questions "What do you have?", "Do you want me to call?", Do you want a call, Joe?", what you do is to stare into space and recite the 23d Psalm :)
 
TikiKingKing said:
Thanks for this recommendation! Bought the book and I am really enjoying it. Makes GTO principles very easy to understand and to use in realtime situation. Serious contender for GOAT book, think I like the way he explains it even more than my favorite book Modern Poker Theory.
Click to expand...

Taghkanic said:
Andrew Brokos’ Play Optimal Poker and his recently-released sequel are a smart overview of real-world applications of GTO.

He is not trying to get people to play GTO per se (it’s impossible to do so), but to understand game theory so that you can balance and adjust your decisions to better exploit opponents’ mistakes.

https://www.nitcast.com/
Click to expand...

This is the best book I have read so far. Not an intro or beginner book but if you are looking to understanding GTO - really understand the why and the how - this is the best book by far IMHO. It has really impacted my OOP play in SRPs and improved my win rate there and in other spots.
 
TikiKingKing said:
Thanks for this recommendation! Bought the book and I am really enjoying it. Makes GTO principles very easy to understand and to use in realtime situation. Serious contender for GOAT book, think I like the way he explains it even more than my favorite book Modern Poker Theory.
Click to expand...

I have Modern Poker Theory and agree, Brokos starts from step one and baby steps us through the math whereas Acevedo leaves a lot of the explanations at a high level. The Acevedo book also targets tournament play with < 30BB and much of the strategy he presents in the second half of the book targets thsoe scenarios.

Brokos' book is like a class in GTO basics taking you step by step all the way to developing exploitative strategies based on opponents deviation from balanced play. I have his second book but havent started it yet.
 
grebe said:
I have recently read Easy Game regarding NLHE (specifically 6 handed, but I havent got to the part where it matters). The first section is really the only one that seems to come in to factor in the stakes where I play. It heavily concentrates on talking about values and equities in simple terms. I was given a pdf of it from 2 people here, and would happily pass it along if you like.

Also, Scoop! was a really cool book to read if you can get into some good BigO or O8 games.
Click to expand...
Hi @grebe. Do you mind sharing the PDF? I am also relatively new to poker and I want to improve my game
Thanks
Raul
 
  • JUST GREAT for a beginner player: "The Little Green Book" - Phil Gordon (I'm sure I'll follow up with the rest of the series)
  • "Zen and the Art of Poker" - Larry Phillips
  • These ones are on the heavy side "The Mental Game of Poker" - Jared Tendler
 
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General
Theory of Poker
Play Optimal Poker 1-2

Tournaments
Tournament Poker for Advanced Players
Harrington on Hold Em

Low stakes live NLH
The Course
Donkey Poker 1-3

Online NLH
Easy Game
The Grinder’s Manual

Mixed Games
Mixed Games by Ken Lo
Mastering Mixed Games
For newer variants, all of Kevin Haney’s articles on 2p2 and Cardplayer, many archived on countingouts.com
 

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