Are Poker Books Worth The Read

Poker players learn how to play through different ways.  Some learn early in life by watching the friendly Saturday night game at their home.   Some play a number of hours and days on free Internet sites for play money.  Players that are use to learning a subject by reading about it are likely to buy books on poker.

The quantity of books on poker has grown like mushrooms after a warm night of rain.  Doyle Brunson's book started the fad of big time players writing books on the subject.  Brunson's book was a bible of how to play and made many bad players better than average.  Barry Greenstein's book has thoughtful ideas on how to play in a logical manner that many would consider tight play of a hand.

Many players could not write a book about playing as they are a little crazy in their play and that would be hard to emulate.

A relatively new and inexperienced player would be wise to read any book on starting hand values with their ranking among hands.  This is a good place to start and will keep the new player out of trouble by overplaying low odds catches on flops.  A chapter on table position may also be worth reading.   Of course many of the solid new players have devoured as many books as they can get their hands on.  The answer to the question is it depends on how you learn the best, by reading or by practice or both.  Playing many hands on the Net is a great way to learn by experience and noticing how you play when you win and when you lose.  Be hard on yourself and recognize the miracle draw versus the well thought out win.  After you have played for a while, reread some good books.  The lessons or points in the books will make more sense now that you can relate to what is being read.

Playing and reading are a deadly way to gain expertise in the game of poker.  One without the other lengthens the time necessary to really become a solid player.  A player can do it without reading any books, but the learning curve will be much longer and steeper.  The money spent on two or three good poker books will come back many times over if the player puts the ideas in them into play.

TagsBarry Greenstein, book, buy book, Doyle Brunson, poker books, poker players, reading

See also

• Heads Up Update and a Mish Mash
  The NBC Heads Up Championship has eliminated more than half the field.  Some of the big name players have been turned out and some are still alive and playing.  The Miracle player Blandino Gines was eliminated the first day by Barry Greenstein and now Barry has joined him on the sidelines.  Others are still in [...]
• High Stakes Poker Starts Again Sunday Night
  Daniel Negreanu will again be one of the players seen on High Stakes Poker along with some other players who are all ways willing to be in the mix for high stakes.  Doyle Brunson will be there as well as Sam Farha during this season of play.  This is the fifth season of the popular [...]