Whether it’s playing at a land-based casino or playing online poker, it’s one of the most popular casino games to play. It’s the one that everyone has heard of and has seen being played in countless films and TV shows.
One place you don’t think about seeing poker is in literature. But it will surprise you to know there are loads of books out there that are either about how to be a better poker player or based around the game. We’re going to be taking you through some of the best poker-based books so that you can get some great poker action through the joy of reading.
The Body Language of Poker
Mike Caro is one of the greatest poker strategists and has been for a very long time. The Body Language of Poker is just one in an array of writings he’s done about the science of poker. There are countless articles out there about the game that he’s written and that professional poker players swear by. Not only is he great at writing, but he’s also a great speaker who has done talks at poker seminars – another thing he’s set up and maintained over the years.
The book looks into detail about body language and why it’s so important within the game. He talks about the way that posturing, facial movements and voice inflections can tell you about what hand someone is holding. This book was given an update about 10 years after it was first written to go even deeper into the analysis.
The book is all about how important it is to watch and study your opponents in order to win the game. It is only properly relevant to the lower stake games, but it gives some great insights that can help any kind of poker player.
Hold’em Poker
The most popular form of poker games is Hold’em Poker which makes this book super important to read. It was the first of its kind and tells you everything you need to know about Hold’em poker.
This didn’t used to be the case though, the hold’em version of poker wasn’t the most popular for many years. It was only after this book was published that it became more widely known and appreciated, now the majority of online poker sites will have hold’em as their default listing and it’s where you’ll find the most players.
The World Series of Poker had just come into play so Sklansky made the correct prediction that hold’em would eventually become the most popular form of poker. This book was a very important step towards understanding how to play hold’em and more importantly, how to win at limit hold’em. Sklansky updated the book in 1997 to add on the double-blind structure and how that makes a difference to how you play.
Shut Up and Deal
Shut Up and Deal is a fiction novel about the booming casino industry in the 1990s. The protagonist is Mickey who is obsessed with poker and becoming a pro. He meets a whole host of outlandish characters all of whom teach him lessons in life and poker.
Mickey learns about the cold, harsh truths of trying to become a poker player and how difficult life really can get. He tries to navigate his way through the world and realise his dream whilst making you care about him along the way.
This book isn’t just for people who love poker, as the story will fascinate anyone who likes a good narrative.
The Theory of Poker
Another great book by David Sklansky is The Theory of Poker. It’s seen by many poker players as the game’s strategic dictionary. It covers all the basic strategies that you would need in order to play the game well.
This book is less about the entertainment aspect and more about the nitty-gritty of the theory – so don’t expect too much fun storytelling. You have to be looking to seriously improve your game if you’re reading this book, or it won’t be much fun at all. But if you’re looking to get serious with your game, start here.
The Biggest Game in Town
The Biggest Game in Town is officially one of the most sought-after cult classics. Al Alvarez is not only a great writer, but a great critic as well and in this book, he looks into the world of high-stakes Las Vegas poker. A fascinating world to anyone, and Alvarez makes it more intriguing than you could ever imagine.
He delves into the psyches of professional poker players as they go to the World Series of Poker championships – and it’s just as weird and wonderful as you might hope. You get a real eye-opening look at the people, the place and the game on a whirlwind tour – a real page turner.
What other poker-based books have we missed off the list?
