Best Poker Books

Last Updated: 7 June 2021

The Best Poker Strategy Books

We have summarized the best poker books into several categories including Texas Hold'em books, tournament strategy books, poker workbooks, and free poker books. Simply click the name of each poker book in the lists below to read the full description. If you are interested in learning more about a particular poker strategy book, simply click the red "Read More" button, or if you wish to order a book, click the green "Order Now" button.

Poker books are a great way to refine your poker strategy away from the table. Compare the best poker books available online by price and content with this comprehensive list, which includes poker workbooks and even free poker books. Click to Tweet

If you do decide to order any of these excellent poker books, we would love to hear your feedback so that we can further adjust our listings based on additional points of view. You may also want to check out our recommended online poker courses, best poker software, or best poker training sites.

Best Texas Holdem Books

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  • #1: Optimizing Ace King$34.99 +

    optimzing ace king poker book

    While Ace-King is one of the most profitable starting hands you can be dealt, most players struggle to maximize their earnings. This is a problem when you consider you will be dealt this premium hand almost as many times (16 combinations) as AA, KK, and QQ combined (18 combinations).

    Other than open-raising AK, the correct play gets confusing. Should you 3bet against an early position raiser? Does AKs play differently than AKo? Should you 4bet it, or just call and see a flop? Post-flop things get even more challenging. Should you go for 3 streets of value with top pair? Should you give that check-raise action on AJ6? Should you barrel your gutshots?

    This book answers those questions and more! Optimizing Ace King breaks down +EV plays, exploitative counters, and solver-confirmed insights. Each chapter adds an extra building block to your entire strategy.

    In the modern era of NLHE, understanding and playing AK well requires skill and nuance. Optimizing Ace King will change your outlook and certainly help advance your poker knowledge giving you an edge to beat the competition.

    Bruce M.

    Start optimizing AK as a singular piece within your entire range and strategy.

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    2. Basic Version$34.99Order Now
    3. Royal Version$99Order Now
  • #2: Poker by the Book, Volumes I & II$9.99 to $14.99 +

    poker by the book

    Poker by the Book Volume I provides you with all of the essential elements you need to build a solid foundation in No-Limit Texas Holdem. It was written in a very straightforward and logical fashion, allowing you to build your poker knowledge systematically. It is a culmination of over 9 years of teaching people how to play and win at the game of poker and is one of the best poker books on the market today!

    Poker by the Book Volume II introduces some more advanced post-flop betting strategies to help increase your poker winnings even more!

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    2. Continuation betting
    3. Playing trips
    4. Playing hands out of position
    5. Taking notes, and
    6. HUD set-ups for online play
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    2. Poker by the Book, Volume I$9.99
    3. Poker by the Book, Volume II$9.99
    4. Poker by the Book, Volumes I & II$19.98   $14.99
  • #3: Unfolding Poker$20 +

    unfolding poker book

    Even though poker is a vastly complex game, it is not surprising that the same questions come up over and over again. This book takes the most frequently-asked poker questions and gives actionable answers that you can begin using in your next session

    Concepts covered include playing overpairs, deviating bet sizes, what to do when your continuation bets stop working, and more. Get answers to the poker questions you have (and even ones you haven't yet thought to ask)!

    This excellent poker book from James "SplitSuit" Sweeney includes:

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    2. 19 Actionable Answers: each answer is in-depth, but without using too much jargon or confusing concepts
    3. Extra Study Material: most chapters include links to related and expanded free content
    4. 2.5 Hour Audiobook: the complete audiobook is perfect for quick study sessions in the car

    I currently play live $1/$2 and $2/$5 and found topics in the book that aid me in making better decisions. Information in the book is clear and concise. I like that the book provides links if one wants to go into further detail on a topic. Definitely a worthwhile investment if you wish to improve your game.

    Bruce M.

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    2. E-Book$20Order Now
    3. E-Book & Audiobook$40Order Now

    Get advanced answers to poker's most frequently asked questions!

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Best Poker Tournament Strategy Books

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  • #1: Tournament Final Tables Workbook$69.99 to $399.99 +

    tournament poker workbook

    You have been playing well for hours and finally end up at the final table - and with big money up top it's time to focus. All of your off-table work is going to pay off in a big way as you apply pressure in all of the right spots.

    This is the workbook you do between sessions to ensure you get the most from every final table you make. Exercises are divided into 3 sections:

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    2. Your Range Exercises - The average poker player has never fully-explored their own ranges. By dissecting your ranges in a variety of spots you will be able to spot your leaks and issues with ease. Find situations where you fold too often, barrel too rarely, and miss +EV opportunities. Understanding your ranges will set you up to win!
    3. Their Range Exercises - The bulk of this workbook guides you through understanding and exploring your opponent's range. With guiding questions, expanded builds for common scenarios, and a layout that helps you navigate the technical aspects of hand reading - you will feel like a coach is working alongside you through each exercise.
    4. Range-vs-Range Exercises - These are the toughest exercises in the book! Each exercise will guide you through exploring range advantage in both single-raised and 3bet pots. Develop a feel for who benefits most from various board textures and future cards, and use that info to optimize your own ranges.

    The more I do this book, the more comfortable I feel at [the] tables or online, strictly because I feel as though my 'vision' is getting better.

    Tim, Poker Player

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    2. Full-Color E-Book$69.99Order Now
    3. E-Book + Software$129.99Order Now
    4. The Titan Edition$399.99Order Now
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Poker Workbooks

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  • #1: Hand-Reading Poker Workbook$69.99 to $299.99 +

    Their Ranges

    Your Ranges

    Hand Reading Poker Workbook

    Range vs Range

    The best No Limit Hold'em players can consistently put opponents on the correct ranges of hands. Very few players can do this naturally, and instead practice using workbooks just like this one. 

    This workbook has just one goal - to help you become a better poker hand reader. This poker workbook provides a variety of exercises that outline a step-by-step process for assigning better ranges, and is intended for serious students who know they need to study, but they aren't sure how to study hand reading on a deeper level.

    This well-structured poker workbook is divided into 3 sections:

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    2. Your ranges - understand and find shortcomings in your own ranges. Are you bluffing too often, or not enough? Learn to objectively understand your own ranges on each street.
    3. Their ranges - learn to visualize your opponent's ranges and frequencies using guiding questions you can start using in your next poker session
    4. Range vs range - when you play against stronger players, you also need to know what you represent. Learn to identify situations in which you have the range advantage, and how to use this to take pots away from your opponent!
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    2. Full-Color E-Book$69.99Order Now
    3. E-Book + Flopzilla$99.99Order Now
    4. Hand-Reading Masterclass$299.99Order Now

    Learn the process that all good hand readers already use!

  • #2: Polished Poker Workbook$13.99 +

    polished poker free poker book

    One of the biggest challenges with poker books is ensuring that you have correctly absorbed all of the knowledge they contain. Just because you have read a book does not mean you have fully understood it. The Polished Poker Workbook solves that problem by providing you with over 50 multiple choice poker questions to test your knowledge of the concepts covered in the free to download Polished Poker book.

    The Polished Poker Workbook also includes answers at the back, complete with a detailed explanation to further reinforce the concepts learned. There is also a scoring system, allowing you to verify your knowledge of the source material. This 100-page poker workbook is divided into chapters to ensure concepts are reinforced in a logical and system way:

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    2. Hand reading exercises
    3. Understanding combinations and fold equity
    4. Learning to play from the blinds
    5. 3-Bet calling ranges (including versus short stacks)
    6. 4-bet bluffing
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    2. Polished Poker, Volume IFREE Download 
    3. Polished Poker Workbook$13.99Order Now
  • #3: 6-Max Online Poker Workbook$69.99 to $399.99 +

    Their Ranges

    6-Max Poker Workbook

    Your Ranges

    The best 6-max hold'em players are able to consistently put opponents on correct ranges. Professional poker players aren't wizards or lucky guessers; they use a process that this workbook guides you through.

    Poker games are getting tougher, especially online. It is no longer about simply stealing more often, defending your blinds a bit better, or double barreling more bluffs. Poker has matured, and as it continues to mature your win rate will rely on your ability to assess accurate hand ranges and exploit range advantages using the most +EV plays.

    This workbook is for 6-max players to improve their skills between sessions. It contains 40 exercises hand-picked to help you dissect commonly occurring situations. Explore ranges more powerfully than ever before. Built specifically for online players; you will explore barreling, restealing, squeezing, thin value bets, and big bluffs using HUD stats and a step-by-step process. The 6-Max Online Cash Games Workbook is organized into 3 sections to give you a well-rounded hand reading experience where you will study:

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    2. Your Range Exercises - Understand and find shortcomings in your own ranges. Are you bluffing too often, or not enough? Learn to objectively understand your own ranges on each street.
    3. Their Range Exercises - Learn to visualize your opponent's ranges and frequencies using guiding questions you can start using in your next poker session.
    4. Range-vs-Range Exercises - When you play against stronger players, you also need to know what you represent. Learn to identify situations in which you have the range advantage, and how to use this to take pots away from your opponent!
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    2. Full-Color E-Book$69.99Order Now
    3. E-Book + Flopzilla$99.99Order Now
    4. 6-Max Power Pack$399.99Order Now

    Improve your hand reading skills in a few weeks without spending hundreds per hour on coaching!

  • #4: Math & Pre-Flop Poker Workbook$39 to $99 +

    math and preflop poker workbook

    The optimal way to improve is to practice technical skills the right way between poker sessions. Use this poker workbook to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Reinforce key concepts and formulas and internalize them through focused exercises.

    By simply completing a few pages of the Math & Preflop Poker Workbook each day, you will train your brain to quickly and correctly calculate pot odds, implied odds, ranges, break-even percentages, and even EV! By combining these skills with pre-flop specific plays like isolating, 3-betting, squeezing, 4-betting, and going all-in, you will see significant improvement in your results.

    This workbook has been super useful for making the math more accessible...

    Leo W.

    This fantastic poker workbook includes:

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    2. Over 1,500 questions - improve your technical skills by practicing numerous calculations
    3. Structured study - progress through topics in a logical order at your own pace
    4. Full answer key - learn to trust your calculations and be confident in your decisions
    5. Universal concepts - learn skills applicable to live or online poker, cash games and tournaments
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    2. Full-Color E-book$39Order Now
    3. Workbook + Premium Software$99Order Now

    Practice working through common preflop situations that can make or break your winrate. 

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Free Online Poker Books

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  • #1: How to Crush the Zynga Poker GamesTexas Hold'em +

    free zynga poker book

    This free poker book is ideal for newer players looking to learn the fundamentals. This simple poker guide takes you through the basics of the game, providing tips specifically for Zynga Poker (and other play money poker games) and low stakes home games! It is also useful for beginner online poker players looking to beat micro stakes cash games.

    Some of the topics covered in this 29-page FREE poker book include:

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    2. The importance of your position (relative to your opponents)
    3. Adjustments for pots that are unopened versus pots that are raised pre-flop
    4. How to play after the flop (board texture, continuation bets, and stack size considerations)
    5. Betting strategy (including optimal bet sizing)
    6. A list of common poker mistakes, and how to avoid them

    If you're a new poker player, the How to Crush The Zynga Poker Games free poker book is an ideal place to start your learning journey!

  • #2: Polished PokerTexas Hold'em +

    polished poker free poker book

    Polished Poker isn't some cheap leaflet; it's a whopping 174 pages! It was written by John Anhalt, a poker professional with over 10+ years experience, and creator of Leak Buster and Ace Poker Drills.

    Even though Polished Poker is free to download, it still covers a wide variety of topics that will help you improve as a player, including:

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    2. Aggression, psychological control, self-awareness, and avoiding tilt
    3. Bankroll management
    4. Combinations, probability, equity, expected value, and fold equity
    5. Understanding poker HUD acronyms and how to profit from these player statistics
    6. 3-betting, 4-bet bluffing, and understanding ranges

    You will simply not find a more comprehensive free poker book than Polished Poker!

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Free Poker Training

Follow this simple process to get the first module of the Road to Sucess poker training course for FREE, and start crushing online and live poker tournaments today!

  1. Register an account through TopPokerValue.com with any of the following poker sites:
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    2. Skrill
  1. Email us the name of the site you joined along with your username, country and date of registration to . We will then send you a special code that will give you access to the entire first module of the Road to Sucess poker training.
  1. Watch free poker training videos and use what you learn to turn your initial deposit into a nice poker bankroll!