3 Absolutely Brilliant Books About Poker

If you want to improve your game, it’s very useful to have some great books about poker on your shelf.

Whether you love playing online at places like bet365 (bonus code here for new players) or you’re more into playing in person, it pays to learn about strategy.

Books about poker

Here are our recommendations to keep you occupied on your commute, on a rainy day or even just when you get sick of watching TV! And they make really great presents for poker players too.

1. Michael Craig’s The Professor, The Banker and The Suicide King

There are many debates about when exactly was the golden age of Las Vegas. But when you’re talking poker, it’s got to be the early 2000s. And this is exactly when The Professor, The Banker and The Suicide King is set.

Less a strategy book and more a cautionary tale, Michael Craig takes us to the nosebleed tables of the Bellagio. Billionaire Andrew Beal sets his sights on taking down the best players in the world. A group of professionals, called The Corporation, was his target.

Throughout the book, you get to see very familiar faces under pressure, including Howard Lederer, Doyle Brunson, Jennifer Harman, Gus Hansen and Phil Ivey. It’s not a strategy book, but it is a very entertaining read.

2. David Sklansky’s The Theory of Poker

Sure, you might have your poker terminology under control, but maybe it’s time to take it to the next level. Just because you know what people are talking about on the table, doesn’t mean you have a real depth of knowledge.

The Theory of Poker, first published in 1994, will help you really understand the game. This is the kind of book someone who’s serious about the game really needs. Even as books about poker go, it’s very comprehensive and really informative. Some even consider it a masterpiece. It’s not exactly light reading, but it is essential if you want to up your game.

3. Doyle Brunson’s Super/System

The original title of this book was How I Made Over $1,000,000 Playing Poker. Doyle Brunson certainly knows what will catch people’s attention.

Super/System, compiled by the Texas Dolly himself, is an absolute classic. Written in 1979 with guest chapters from big poker names in the 1970s and before, it talks about all different types of poker. But our favourite bit is when Brunson tells the world his secrets for playing Texas Hold’em. It really captures the mood of the time, when hold’em was on the rise.

An absolute cult classic, the world was crying out for a sequel. So with the poker boom of the early 2000s, Brunson did it again with Super/System 2. This updated version got the new poker masters’ take on the game, including the legendary Johnny Chan, Daniel Negreanu and many many more.

Both Super/System and Super/System 2 are fantastic books about poker, and each deserve your time. Many of the lessons and tips are still useful today, plus it’s so interesting to get a snapshot into how people thought about the game in days gone by.