Top 5 Poker Books for Beginners and Pros: Best Strategy, GTO and Psychology

Books have been the main source of human knowledge since the invention of writing. They allow information to be recorded and passed down from generation to generation. Hundreds of books have been written about poker. Many of them hold little value. However, there are genuinely useful works as well. Let’s consider the top 5 poker books that will benefit both novice and experienced players.

Is there any point in reading poker books

“Poker books become outdated the moment they are published” is a popular opinion among players. They are partly right: online poker has changed the pace at which the industry evolves. 

The groundbreaking poker book was written by Doyle Brunson, holder of 10 World Series of Poker bracelets. “Super System” was published in 1978.

In the pre-internet era, innovative strategies were effective for years, and opponents were slow to adapt. In the modern reality, opponents find counter-strategies within months, if not weeks. Specific tactics quickly lose their relevance. Therefore, copying plays from a poker book is pointless. However, studying the concepts and thoughts of leading players is still beneficial.

The best poker books don’t teach you to check/raise on dry boards with an ace or 3-bet suited 64 on the button. They lay the foundation and introduce you to key aspects of the game. Take Phil Gordon’s “Little Green Book” as an example. On the first pages, the author reveals the fundamental ideas of poker. One section is titled “Study the players first, then look at the cards”. Choosing a strategy based on your opponent is a sensible approach in both 1925 and 2025. Making decisions with regard to the opponent is more profitable than following an average plan.

We will divide the top into 2 parts. The first will discuss the most useful poker books from a strategy perspective. The second will look at the best works on poker psychology.   

Top 5 Poker Books

A professional player must know poker mathematics. Roy Rounder’s book covers the topic better than others.

Easy Poker Math. Most authors of poker literature include a mathematics section. Many fall short in presentation. They explain simple concepts in a complex way, leaving confusion in the player’s mind. Rounder took a different approach and filled the manual with a vast number of examples. Over 36 pages, the reader will learn to instantly calculate outs, real and potential pot odds. Special mention of the rules for counting outs x2 and x4. With them, you can make a mathematically justified decision in seconds.

The Theory Optimal Play Guide. A balanced strategy has been a trend in online poker for the last decade. Matthew Janda’s work introduces players to key GTO ideas. In the guide, the author not only examines basic balance ideas but also teaches players to calculate frequencies themselves in specific situations. Modern poker players study GTO using solvers. Janda’s book helps “dig deeper”. The guide contains many formulas and calculations — it won’t be light reading about balanced strategy.

Harrington on Hold’em. Dan Harrington wrote 3 books about NL Hold'em. In the first, he introduces the reader to poker rules, maths, and starting hands. The second talks about strategy in the late stages of tournaments. In the third, Harrington offers exercises to consolidate knowledge. First, Dan gives a problem, then — a detailed solution with explanations. Many experts believe that every tournament player must read Harrington’s books.

Dan Harrington significantly contributed to the rise of top tournament players in the 2000s

Moorman’s Book of Poker. A conditional continuation of Dan Harrington's third book. Chris Moorman's book analyses hands from tournaments with an average buy-in of $50 in detail. Initially, the player whose session Moorman is analysing shares their thoughts on the hand. Then Chris gives a detailed analysis, points out mistakes, and offers recommendations for improvement. Moorman has won over $22,000,000 in online tournaments during his career, so his opinion and thought process are worth studying.

Kill Everyone. A book on tournament poker by Lee Nelson, Steve Heston, and Tyson Streib. While Harrington’s work lays the foundation of strategy, “Kill Everyone” offers advanced concepts. The authors provide detailed recommendations for play at different stages of a tournament. Special attention in the book is paid to the bubble. The authors’ thoughts are complemented by comments from Bertrand Grospellier — holder of two WSOP bracelets and career earnings of $15,400,000.

Top 5 Psychology Books

Many poker players show good results over the long term, but fail due to psychological issues. The best books on poker will help overcome tilt, develop the right approach to the game, and combat procrastination.

The Mental Game of Poker. Jared Tendler thoroughly analysed all psychological issues faced by players. In his first book, he classified types of tilt and offered practical advice on combating them. Thousands of poker players have rid themselves of anger or reduced its intensity thanks to “The Mental Game of Poker”. Tendler dedicated his second volume to reaching a new level of skill. Jared suggested ways to improve productivity and the quality of poker learning. 

Your Worst Poker Enemy. Alan Schoonmaker is a pioneer of poker psychology. He dedicated 3 books to the game: 1) The Psychology of Poker, 2) Your Best Poker Friend, 3) Your Worst Poker Enemy. In the first volume, Alan reveals the link between players’ actions and their temperament. In the second, Schoonmaker offers recommendations for adopting the right habits and psychological balance. “Your Worst Poker Enemy” delves into tilt and methods to combat it. 

Treat Your Poker Like a Business. Dusty Schmidt analyses the components of professionalism in poker. A reasonable daily schedule, bankroll management rules, discipline matters — a small part of the book’s topics. Dusty’s work is a ready-made manual for transitioning from amateur to professional. 

Although Dusty Schmidt specialised in cash games, most of his advice is applicable to tournament poker as well

Mental Edge. Leszek Badurowicz adapted psychological strategies from major sports to poker. The main idea of the book: “To reach the next level and surpass thousands of average players, you need to change your approach.” Badurowicz explores the basics of time management and effective poker learning. “Mental Edge” stands out among competitors with a huge number of exercises and practical advice. If a player not only reads the book but also completes the tasks, the results will soon follow.

Poker Therapy. Peter Clarke proposes revisiting decisions at the table. The main idea: “Do not overestimate opponents’ actions.” Often, a player’s brain sees deceit where none exists. Misinterpreting can lead to giving up a standard decision in favour of a strange line. As a result, the player loses money. Clarke recommends making changes to the chain “trigger — interpretation — reaction”. Small adjustments will bring huge benefits over time. Note the brain retraining technique in 4 steps. It will direct your thinking in the right direction.

A lot of information about psychology is offered by the FunFarm profile section. The mental care department helps work through student problems. Psychologists at FunFarm conduct both group and individual sessions. They are familiar with poker, so they easily understand player issues.

How else to study poker

Learning poker through books is a good option at the start of your career. They help you learn the rules of the game, introduce you to various types of poker and disciplines, and offer basic strategies. There are also other ways to learn. Among them are software work, coaching sessions, hand discussions with other players, watching instructional videos and streams. Let’s discuss each in detail.

Work with software. Many players have reached high limits through training with poker software. Regular analysis of hands in a calculator or solver eliminates most gross errors. A special trainer like ICMIZER will refine push/fold decisions. FreeBetRange helps compile ranges for each position and tournament stage. The topic is covered in the poker software guide. 

Coaching sessions. The fastest way to take your game to the next level is to train with a qualified specialist. A good coach will analyse a player’s database, find key mistakes, and fix them. Qualified mentors set hefty fees. Not every beginner is ready to invest hundreds or thousands of dollars in training. A more budget-friendly option is to join a school like FunFarm.

Hand discussions. Analysing hands with other poker players will be very beneficial. Joint reviews allow you to evaluate a hand from different perspectives and note key details. Communication with colleagues gradually turns into friendship. A supportive environment helps you grow in poker.

On the school’s YouTube channel, we alternate between in-depth analyses and short strategy videos

Watch videos. Content about poker can help study many aspects of the game. A great deal of material can be found on YouTube. Browsers with automatic translation make understanding video content easy. Don’t forget about the hundreds of instructional courses from professional coaches. Many are available for free. Interesting videos also appear on the FunFarm YouTube channel. They include analyses of victorious finals, thematic training sessions, and interviews with popular players. Subscribe to receive useful content first.

Poker streams. Leading industry professionals broadcast live on Twitch, Kick, and other platforms. During streams, poker players explain their decisions and answer questions in the chat. The best players do not only press buttons but also entertain the audience. Streaming has a therapeutic effect: When you see that a top poker player has lost to trash hands, you begin to take your own bad beats more lightly. There is also the FunFarm channel on Twitch. Subscribe to watch live sessions from the school’s top coaches.