Books on Poker Mindset and Psychology

The Poker MBA uses poker as a metaphor to teach valuable business and life lessons. The book draws parallels between the strategies and skills used in poker and those required to succeed in the business world. It covers topics such as risk management, decision-making, negotiation, reading people, and managing emotions. The author shares insights and anecdotes from his own experiences as a professional poker player and entrepreneur, as well as interviews with successful business leaders and poker players. The book aims to help readers develop a winning mindset and apply poker strategies to their professional and personal lives.

Poker Nation is a captivating journey into the world of competitive poker, exploring the obsession, addiction, and the mathematics behind the game. The book takes readers from basement games to the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. It offers insights into card counting, reading player’s body language, and handling losses. Bellin’s vivid descriptions of the diverse players and behind-the-scenes action in illegal poker clubs keep readers engaged. The book also provides valuable tips on playing Texas Hold’em, the preferred game for high-stake players.

Total Poker explores the analysis, clever tactics, and inspired bluffing that are essential to the game, but ultimately, winning at poker is a “psychological decision” made by each player, as the author maintains. Luck evens out for everyone, rendering the concept of “good cards” or “bad cards” meaningless. This book, packed with stories about the application of poker to life in general, explores the game’s history, culture, techniques, strategies, rules, and probabilities.

In “Beyond Bluffs,” James A. McKenna, a poker columnist and psychotherapist, guides you to enhance your poker strategy by mastering the art of reading your opponents as well as you do your cards. By acquiring these advanced interpersonal skills, you will be adept at identifying when an opponent is bluffing and deciding on the most effective bluffs to counter with. Furthermore, you’ll gain the ability to anticipate the thought processes and reactions of various player types in any gaming scenario, all by playing your opponents with the same expertise as you play your hand.

This updated starter guide is ideal for beginners aiming to win at poker tournaments and cash games. It covers all popular poker games, online poker, 21 key poker concepts, 15 bluffing concepts, and using psychology and body language. Handy charts included.

Winning at poker requires mastering specific attitudes and habits, not just playing well. Dr. Schoonmaker, a poker expert, explains the key skills needed to win, including risk and information management, discipline, decision-making, focus, information control, emotional reaction control, and decisiveness. By learning these skills, you can play confidently and win more often. Dr. Schoonmaker, a Ph.D. holder in psychology from UC Berkeley, is a distinguished author and columnist with teaching and research experience at UCLA, Carnegie-Mellon, and Belgium’s Catholic University of Louvain. He resides in Las Vegas.

In “Your Worst Poker Enemy,” Schoonmaker reveals the aspects of poker that extend beyond the physical table, focusing on the psychological battle involved. “Your Best Poker Friend” elevates the discussion, moving past mere tricks and strategies. This book explores the depths of the player’s mind, emphasizing that the key ally in poker is, in fact, the player themselves. Written in a clear and engaging manner, it equips every player with the knowledge they need to achieve a royal flush.

Chip Reese, one of the greatest poker players of all time, once told Mike Sexton that his success was due to his superior psychological control over his play compared to his opponents. He explained that while his opponents might be as good as him when they’re at their best, they also have moments of weakness that he doesn’t. This book, Peak Poker Performance, will teach you how to emulate Reese’s mental strength. Dr. Patricia Cardner, in collaboration with Jonathan Little, provides specific strategies and guidelines that can improve your performance and mental state. These strategies, which have been proven to work with hundreds of poker players at various levels, can help you create an unbeatable mindset, handle downswings, eliminate procrastination, improve motivation, and master your emotions. This book is a follow-up to Cardner’s first book, Positive Poker, and uses the latest research to help you achieve better results in poker and in life.

Great poker players always say, “It depends.” This can be frustrating, but it’s true. The secret to poker mastery lies in understanding what it depends on. Now, there’s a book that provides this insight. Poker involves numerous factors: table position, flop texture, player count, opponent personalities, etc. ‘Decide to Play Great Poker’ helps you identify and analyse these factors, apply them to game situations, and gain confidence in any poker scenario. Instead of providing occasional rules, this book guides you to become a strategic poker thinker. Contrary to popular belief, poker’s goal isn’t to make money, but to make good decisions. Money is just a measure of how well you’re achieving this. Ready to make world-class decisions and reap their rewards? Choose to Play Great Poker now and never be puzzled by “it depends” again.

Treat Your Poker Like a Business offers insights and strategies for poker players to approach the game with an entrepreneurial mindset rather, than just a casual pastime. This guide covers aspects of poker including effective bankroll management, smart game selection maintaining mental and emotional control and planning for long term success. Drawing from his career as a professional player Schmidt generously shares his experiences and knowledge to help fellow players optimize their potential and profits. The book emphasizes the significance of discipline, work and adopting a business oriented approach in order to thrive amidst competition, within professional circles. It caters to both players who aspire to elevate their game to new heights while considering poker as a viable source of income.

The Education of a Poker Player (High Stakes Poker) by Herbert O. Yardley is a book about poker strategy, tactics, and the psychology of the game. It was first published in 1957 and has since become a classic in the world of poker literature. The book is divided into two parts: the first part focuses on Yardley’s own experiences and education in poker, while the second part provides detailed analysis and advice on various aspects of the game, such as reading opponents, bluffing, and calculating odds. Yardley, a former codebreaker and intelligence officer, applies his analytical skills to the game of poker, offering insights and tips that have proven valuable to both amateur and professional players.

An indispensable guide for those who fantasize about playing poker for a living, offering expert-level playing skills and odds that form the foundation of a pro’s abilities, as well as addressing career issues such as bankroll management, work hours, tournaments vs. cash games, travel, emotional control, taxes, getting staked, and online play. The book also answers important questions that few other poker books address, including whether one has what it takes to play professionally, whether to quit their day job or play part-time, how much money can be made, how much is needed to get started, and what the pros on TV know that others don’t. Professional Poker outlines each step in the transition to the professional level and provides skills and advice to help players always bring their “A” game. The book has received early praise from renowned poker authors and commentators, who describe it as the best poker career guide ever written, a must-read for anyone considering poker as a career, well-written, informative, accurate, and a sobering yet frank examination of playing poker professionally.

Imagine the advantage you’d gain if you could consistently play poker in the zone, making the right decisions, instinctively knowing when to bluff, and remaining unfazed by a losing hand. Many poker players occasionally experience this state of mind, but struggle to maintain it. The Mental Game of Poker 2, by respected poker mental game coach Jared Tendler, provides actionable steps to help players achieve this state consistently. Tendler simplifies the concept of the zone, bringing logic and order to it for the first time. His straightforward, tested approach can help you play at levels you never thought possible. The book offers strategies to improve decision making, increase focus and discipline, and eliminate mistakes. In today’s competitive poker environment, this book equips you with the tools to excel. It builds on the psychological strategies from Tendler’s first book, The Mental Game of Poker, which has helped thousands of players improve their game.

This book is the ultimate guide for anyone aiming to excel in these games, catering to both the average player and the professional. It is structured in a way that promotes growth and improvement in all players. The book imparts the mindset of a top player, a crucial element for victory. It covers a wide range of topics such as poker reasons, basic errors and strategies, technical and advanced plays, jackpot games, pot killing, psychology, game theory, high-draw mathematics. It also offers advice on avoiding bluffing mistakes, value betting in lowball, making losing bets profitable, playing patterns, going all in, acting contrary, “running bad,” raising with weak hands, maximizing value, playing short-handed, and image plays.

Discover the secrets of becoming an exceptional poker player by exploring the mindset of poker champion, Doyle Brunson. Engrossing tales and escapades from his initial career playing poker in roadhouses are woven with insights from the champion who has earned the most from poker in history. Understand the workings of a successful player, their game strategy, and gain honest, impactful guidance from the legend himself.

Beyond Tells is about understanding and mastering the psychological aspects of poker. Tells are the subtle cues and behaviors that players exhibit at the table, often unconsciously, that can reveal information about their hand or their intentions. The book aims to help players improve their poker game by teaching them how to read their opponents’ tells, control their own tells, and use this information to make better decisions at the table. It covers topics such as body language, betting patterns, and emotional control, and provides practical advice and strategies for incorporating these psychological elements into one’s poker game.

Poker, with its simple rules yet complex gameplay, has evolved far beyond a casual pastime for four friends around a table. With more than ten million players competing daily online, it has become a global phenomenon involving millions of dollars at stake. This reference book offers a comprehensive look at its history, legendary players, and the psychology behind the game. It covers everything from cheating, money, and casinos to rules, tournaments, movies, and championships. Additionally, it explores the impact of the Internet on poker and includes a dictionary of terms. The author, an expert teacher and consultant to professional players, provides detailed analysis and astute tips aimed at turning each reader into a winner. Whether you’re interested in the technical mastery required, the ability to anticipate and synthesize data, or just a dash of psychology and luck, this book has all you’ve ever wanted to know about the most practiced table sport in the world.

Elements of Poker is the distilled wisdom of a master, revealing a new world of profitability for both your bankroll and your life. Beyond statistics and the basic decisions of whether to raise, call, or fold, this book delves deeper into the nuances of the game. You know tilt costs you money, but do you know how to make it go away? You understand the importance of position, but do you really know how to profit from that knowledge?

This comprehensive and authoritative book stands as the ultimate guide to poker, offering an exhaustive exploration of the beloved American game. From detailed explanations of each variant’s rules to advanced strategies for mastering the odds, Albert Morehead, who has penned over 70 books on card game rules and strategies, has significantly demystified the path to victory, asserting that “Poker is a game of skill. If you aren’t beating the game, you’re being outplayed.” Success in poker hinges not on luck but on the right mindset, sound judgment, and honed skills—all of which can be learned.

In recent years, a wealth of new insights has emerged in the field of poker psychology. This aspect of poker, while less strategic, is crucial to overall success in the game, leading to the rise of mental coaching. Poker, a game rooted in probability, can mislead many players due to its counterintuitive nature and significant short-term luck factor. Therefore, psychological tools are believed to be necessary for effective play. However, a comprehensive understanding of poker, including strategic principles, counterintuitiveness, and the luck factor, can typically resolve all issues. In his book, Real Poker Psychology, Mason Malmuth, a professional player and author of numerous poker and gambling books, offers a unique perspective on the game’s psychological aspects. His approach differs from other works in the field, leading to unique conclusions. The book covers a wide range of topics, including Variance, Tilt, Craving Action, and more.

This book is about the mindset, strategies, and philosophies behind becoming a successful poker player. The author, a former professional poker player, shares his insights and experiences to help readers understand the game on a deeper level and improve their skills. The book covers topics such as understanding the psychology of poker, developing a strong mental game, mastering poker strategy, and learning from mistakes. It aims to provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of the game and the tools needed to become a winning poker player.

The Poker Mindset is about the mental and psychological aspects of poker. It aims to help poker players develop the right mindset and attitude to be successful in the game. The book covers topics such as emotional control, discipline, risk management, and understanding the long-term nature of poker. It provides insights, strategies, and techniques to help players improve their mental game, make better decisions, and ultimately become more profitable and successful poker players.

Johnny Chan, a regular victor against the world’s top players, demonstrates how to consistently earn money at limit hold’em, poker’s most favored game. Players are given a chance to understand the mindset of a champion as Johnny selects representative hands and explains his strategic thinking through betting and bluffing. No other book provides such comprehensive insight into the decision-making process of playing a hand, exploring different strategies that could have been employed, and the optimal approach to winning poker game after game.

Vorhaus teaches you how to play smart, fearless hold’em and turn every session into a winner. Through problem-solving exercises and drills, he shows you how to read other players’ tells, exploit their flaws, and close the holes in your game. Learn to attack new players before they get comfortable, use a “fakiac” image to appear like a maniac even when you’re not, and capitalize on the mistakes of others. Additionally, discover how to profit from loose raises, avoid loose calls, and effectively handle super-aggressive players.

Patricia Cardner, a psychology professor, licensed counselor, and avid poker player, conducted interviews with a specific group of professional poker players. These players all had two things in common: they had been successful for many years and had lifetime winnings exceeding $1,000,000. Patricia then analyzed the data from these interviews to identify the psychological skills, techniques, and strategies they employed.

The author emphasize that the new era of poker demands players to treat the game as a competitive endeavor and themselves as sportspeople, drawing parallels between poker players and professional athletes in terms of dedication, practice, analysis, and the use of psychology to gain a winning edge. The book, packed with research and feedback from top pros like Daniel Negreanu and Phil Hellmuth, guides readers on how to prepare their bodies and minds to achieve optimal results in tournaments and cash games. It emphasizes the importance of being in peak physical condition to sharpen every aspect of play, while poor diet and neglect of emotional life can undermine one’s game. “Peak Performance Poker” covers crucial aspects such as flow, proper nutrition, rest and recovery, sports psychology, and time management to help players balance poker with the rest of their lives. The authors assert that the modern poker table belongs to smart, fit, and healthy competitors, and this book aims to seat readers among the best of them.

Reading Poker Tells will teach you how professional poker players analyze the facial expressions, body posture, physical gestures, and verbal statements of opponents in a live poker game. More importantly, it provides a mental framework for thinking about and remembering poker tells by emphasizing how common situations can be similar or different, such as the significant difference between a Post-Bet situation and a Waiting-For-Action situation. The book also offers tips on general poker psychology, including methods for deceiving and manipulating opponents, and ways to stay “unreadable.” Many readers have found that the greatest value they got from this book was in being able to eliminate some common tells they were unknowingly displaying.

The Mental Game of Poker by Jared Tendler focuses on the psychological aspects of poker and how to improve one’s mental game to become a better poker player. The book covers various topics such as emotional control, focus, discipline, decision-making, and handling pressure. It provides strategies, techniques, and practical advice to help poker players overcome mental obstacles, develop a strong mindset, and ultimately improve their overall performance at the poker table. The book is designed for poker players of all skill levels, from beginners to professionals, who want to gain a mental edge over their opponents and achieve long-term success in the game.

This book explores the psychological pitfalls that can hinder your poker game. They discuss common mistakes like playing hands you should fold, letting emotions affect your game, and playing when you’re off your game. The book helps you identify and correct these mistakes, using your existing poker knowledge. It also covers topics like intuition vs logic, self-evaluation, unconscious and emotional factors, adapting to changes, and stress management.

The Poker Hero provides insights, strategies, and advice on how to succeed in the competitive world of poker. The author shares his experiences and knowledge gained from years of playing poker professionally, and offers tips on how to improve one’s game, make better decisions, and ultimately become a successful poker player. The book covers various aspects of poker, including understanding the game’s psychology, managing one’s bankroll, and developing a winning mindset. It also discusses the importance of discipline, patience, and continuous learning in order to thrive in the ever-evolving poker landscape.

Mastering all the skills of poker, such as hand selection, playing position, image projection, and hand reading, is essential to becoming a proficient player. However, even those who have honed these skills often struggle, barely winning at lower limits. Their performance typically worsens when they compete against superior players at higher limits. The key is not just acquiring these skills, but effectively integrating them. This book aims to demonstrate that success in poker requires strategic thinking and a systematic approach to the game.

In Tournament Poker And The Art Of War, David Apostolico effectively applied traditional strategic principles to enhance his readers’ poker abilities. He now presents a poker guide inspired by the teachings of Niccolo Machiavelli, whose enduring tactical masterpiece, The Prince, serves as the catalyst for Apostolico’s assured instruction. Readers are taught to embrace the mentality of a strong leader, playing with discipline and foresight to take advantage of their opponents’ weaknesses and capitalize on their errors.

Mastering all the skills of poker, including hand selection, playing position, image projection, and hand reading, is essential to becoming an expert. However, many players who have these skills still struggle, especially when playing against superior opponents. The key is not just having the skills, but effectively integrating them. This book will demonstrate that winning at poker requires strategic thinking and a systematic approach to the game.

Poker Isometrics And Poker Fitness explores the importance of physical well being for poker players aiming to boost their performance at the poker table. The book introduces “Poker Isometrics,” a combination of physical exercises meant to enhance focus, discipline and stamina. These exercises aim to help players stay calm and attentive during poker sessions reduce stress levels and improve decision making abilities. Additionally the book provides insights on maintaining a diet engaging in exercise routines and adopting sleep habits to support overall wellness and optimize performance, in the game of poker.

Poker requires mastering various skills and strategies like hand selection, bluffing, and reading hands. Success isn’t about natural instincts, but understanding psychological factors that influence your and your opponents’ gameplay. Dr. Schoonmaker’s text explores why players adopt certain tactics and suggests adjustments for improved results and enjoyment.