Books on Poker Tournaments

Every single decision you make at the poker table is in some way related to odds and probabilities. Whether you are deciding to bet, call, fold, raise, or even bluff, odds and probabilities are an integral part of the decision-making process.

– How often does each starting hand win against a specific hand or random hand?
– What are the odds of your opponent holding a pocket pair when he raises?
– What is the probability that an over-card will flop when you hold JJ?
– How do you determine if drawing is profitable or not?

This book covers all forms of the game, including limit, no-limit, and tournament situations. It does more than just show you how to calculate the odds – more importantly, the focus is on how to apply odds to make better decisions. Hilger’s approach shows that you do not need to be a math wiz to be successful in poker. Simple concepts and strategies that anyone can learn will have you matching wits with the top players in no time. Some of the topics include: raising draws for value, backdoor draws, facing all-in decisions before the flop, protecting your hand, the impact of stack sizes, and much more. In addition, the most comprehensive collection of Texas Hold’em charts and statistics ever put in print is provided as reference.

The Powerful Profits series expands with Royer’s guide, offering insider tips on earning big from tournament poker. Royer, a seasoned tournament player with unmatched expertise in game analysis and theory, instructs both average and novice players on mastering the most played tournament poker games. Unlike other manuals that concentrate solely on game theory, Royer’s dual perspective as a theorist and experienced player provides this book with advantages that other guides lack.

Every decision at the final poker table can significantly impact your earnings. This workbook is designed to enhance your tournament poker skills, enabling you to maximize your gains at each final table, regardless of your chip status. Unlike conventional poker books, this workbook is a practical tool that aims to enhance your range building, ICM, and line creation skills in tournaments. It includes 40 exercises that will help you assign better ranges on every street and for various hands. Please note, there’s no direct answer key as hand reading and range building are linear. However, each exercise will enhance your technical skills and help you identify weaknesses in your and your opponent’s strategies. This workbook provides a study plan for the coming months, keeping you focused on the right aspects, asking the right questions, and making better decisions.

The world’s top poker players share their expert advice on mastering various poker styles such as tournaments, cash games, no-limit, limit and pot-limit hold’em, Omaha (high-low and PLO), 7-card stud (razz, high-low), and triple draw in the book Superstars of Poker. The book features strategies and secrets from poker legends like Doyle Brunson, known as the greatest poker player and the Godfather of Poker, and Phil Helmuth, who holds the record for the most WSOP championships. Other contributors include Daniel Negreanu, a 6-time bracelet winner and author, Lyle Berman, founder of the World Poker Tour, Bobby Baldwin, Johnny Chan, Mike Caro, Jennifer Harman, Todd Brunson, and Crandell Addington.

Drawing from the knowledge-rich Lessons from the Pro Poker Tour, Lessons from the Felt instructs readers on the application of advanced strategies and tactics in various no-limit hold’em tournaments. David Apostolico, with his extensive experience on the circuit, uses real-world examples to emphasize the importance of making the right decisions in diverse settings. From local games to high-stakes tournaments, Lessons From the Felt offers the necessary expertise and analysis for players to enhance their skills, increase their chances of winning, and heighten their enjoyment of the game.

Texas Hold’em, a popular game on TV and major tournaments, has become the gold standard of poker. Players are now favoring a specific version – No Limit Hold’em, which allows unlimited betting, creating larger pots and more excitement. While the dynamics are similar to low-limit games, the strategy differs significantly. This book focuses on teaching the basics of Texas Hold’em, with an emphasis on no-limit strategy for cash games, online games, and no-limit tournaments.

Kill Phil revolutionized tournament poker, the world’s richest sport, popularized by TV, the Internet, and the World Series of Poker. It introduced a strategy enabling novices to compete against top professionals in no-limit hold ’em, a game previously dominated by a few skilled players. The strategy remains effective against the world’s best players, but tournament play is evolving. Kill Phil remains the best method for entering the profitable poker-tournament arena. Read Kill Phil to master a simple yet powerful system, learn advanced strategies, and adjust your play for online tournaments, Sit-n-Gos, and single-table satellites.

This in-depth analysis of heads-up championship play against top players reveals winning strategies for this competitive poker format. Over 600 hands are analyzed as tournament players showcase their skills across twelve matches, offering insights into their decision-making process and card play. The book combines practical theory with tailored strategies for heads-up tournaments, equipping readers with the tools to navigate this challenging landscape. From developing game plans for different opponents to making crucial adjustments mid-match, the authors share their knowledge on playing effectively against both professionals and amateurs. The guide examines successful bluffs, identifies flawed tactics, and presents a clear path for adapting strategies based on chip counts and match dynamics, making it the ultimate resource for mastering heads-up poker.

The Raiser’s Edge  explores a variety of strategies employed by the world’s top players. It covers techniques such as 3- and 4-betting, floating and squeezing, smooth-calling and min-raising, thin value betting, and the development of the metagame. The book also looks into equilibrium strategies that focus on starting hands and heads-up play, taking into account even the ages and nationalities of opponents. Additionally, it includes a comprehensive bonus chapter on reading tells by body-language expert Steve Van Aperen.

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.

Discover the secrets to dominating small stakes poker tournaments in this comprehensive guide by professional poker player Jonathan Little. Learn how to identify and exploit the three primary player types you will encounter, and adjust your strategy to crush passive and aggressive opponents playing too many or too few hands. By keenly observing your opponents and diligently taking notes on their tendencies and mistakes, you can develop specific exploitative tactics to maximize your edge. Increase your aggression in intelligent spots, make well-timed bluffs, and value bet relentlessly against calling stations. Avoid mindlessly adhering to a fixed hand range, and instead adapt to play the most profitable counter-strategy against each opponent. Master these approaches, as well as other key ideas like hand ranges, implied odds, and betting sizing, and you will quickly move up from the small stakes to higher levels where serious money awaits.

Play Poker Like the Pros is a comprehensive guide on how to play and win at modern poker games such as Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Seven-Card Stud, and Razz. Even if you’re a novice who has never handled a deck of cards, Hellmuth’s book will guide you through the rules and setup of each game, followed by basic and advanced strategies. He instructs on when to play certain hands, bluff, raise, or fold, and offers techniques for reading opponents and maintaining composure under stress. The book also includes special sections on conquering online poker games and a behind-the-scenes look at tournament play. Hellmuth’s strategies are designed to help you triumph over any type of player, from the unpredictable Jackal and the overzealous Elephant, to the conservative Mouse and the skilled Lion.

This book is essential reading for novice and intermediate players. It teaches readers to adopt the mindset of a successful poker player, use effective strategies, assess games for profitability, and leverage psychology and body language for an added advantage. The book is filled with tips and strategies that uncover the most lucrative secrets of hold’em, 7 stud, and tournament poker. Caro instructs on how to level the playing field with stronger players, exploit weak players, out-bluff a bluffer, win large pots, and much more. Doyle Brunson, a two-time world champion, has praised Caro’s work, stating that his research and seminars have completely transformed the game of poker.

Snyder’s book adapts his innovative fast tournament strategies to high-stakes games, teaching players new concepts and secrets about tournament dynamics. It instructs on adjusting strategies for different tournament structures and opponents, the difference between tournament and cash games, and why observing winners isn’t enough to understand their tactics. The book also covers satellite strategy, sit’n’go strategy, and methods for estimating win rates and edges. It explains why skilled players often fail in tournaments, the benefits of unconventional play, and how to build and utilize a large stack.

Sit ‘n go poker tournaments are single-table events with nine or ten players, typically paying the top three. They differ from standard no-limit poker tournaments, requiring a unique strategy for success. Those who master this approach often find these events highly lucrative. This text, penned by sit ‘n go specialist Collin Moshman, is a strategy guide solely dedicated to these tournaments.

This captivating tribute to 30 years of World Series of Poker victors showcases the most captivating moments from each tournament, along with an insider’s view of the tactics used to secure poker’s most prestigious title. Discover how the winners and their final competitors played their cards and executed their victorious strategies, and apply these remarkable insights to enhance your own poker skills! From 1970, when the winner received a silver cup, to today, where the victor takes home over $2 million, The Championship Table records every player who reached the championship table. It reveals the final hand’s pocket and board cards, and the thrilling outcomes: their prize money! The book features photos of iconic poker stars, and detailed interviews with many champions. A must-read for all poker enthusiasts!

Daniel Negreanu, a poker superstar, offers 50 straightforward and easily digestible hold’em strategy tips that will instantly enhance your performance in both cash games and tournaments. His clever insights not only make for an engaging read but also provide invaluable winning advice. The book, written in a conversational and easy-to-understand style, covers a wide range of topics from the top 10 beginner blunders to handling bullies and leveraging your table image.

Poker Satellite Strategy, a book by professional poker player Dara O’Kearney, provides a comprehensive guide to winning satellite tournaments, a less-explored path to significant winnings for small stakes players. The book offers a step-by-step approach to every stage of a satellite tournament, eliminating the stress and uncertainty often associated with them. Readers will learn how to adjust their play, when to fold, call or shove, and how to adapt to different players and situations. O’Kearney, an Irish professional poker player, is known as a satellite specialist, with over $1 million in winnings from satellite tournaments alone. His book is endorsed by Daiva Byrne, a professional poker player and advocate for women in poker, who believes it will revolutionize how satellites are played.

Sun-Tzu’s The Art of War, a book on warfare, has inspired leaders and warriors for over two millennia. Today, it’s wisdom is applied in business and sports to outsmart competitors. David Apostolico, an author and poker enthusiast, uncovers the book’s relevance to poker, especially tournaments. He highlights key principles that can help you play like a strategic general, exploiting opponents’ weaknesses, concealing your strengths, and knowing when to strike. Winning poker tournaments demands more than basic strategy; it requires a balance of chip accumulation and survival. Apostolico guides you on how to refine these skills and apply Sun-Tzu’s philosophy to your game. This book is a crucial guide for both novice and experienced players aiming to improve their game. David Apostolico, a regular participant in poker tournaments, has won both online and in Atlantic City. His upcoming book is Machiavellian Poker Strategy.

The essays section includes chapters that explore various concepts such as strategic planning, game selection, bankroll management, expert poker levels, mid-round tactics, opponent perception, protected pot, saving the final bet, extra outs, tournament play, and more. The razz section offers insights into how professionals play this poker variant. It not only outlines the game’s rules and structure but also provides guidance on playing the first three cards and subsequent streets. Additionally, it features a chapter on razz problems, complete with questions and answers to hone your skills.

Tournament poker differs significantly from regular ring game poker. Despite seeming similar, the strategic nuances are often overlooked by seasoned cash game players. Some individuals excel in tournament poker due to their advanced grasp of strategic adjustments and their timely application. It’s not surprising that these players consistently reach final tables. This book uncovers tournament strategies mastered by only a few. It presumes you’re already a competent poker player but need to understand tournament-specific strategies and their application. Topics include: bankruptcy effects, the Gap Concept, chip value fluctuations, adjusting to increasing stakes, all-in strategy, final table tactics, deal-making, the “System,” targeting weaker opponents, unusual aces and kings plays, blind moves, and more. The updated edition adds over 100 pages, focusing mainly on today’s most popular tournament poker variant: no-limit hold ’em.

Johnny Chan, widely acknowledged as the world’s top poker player, has been dominating high-stakes tournaments and cash games globally for two decades. He’s a regular on television networks like NBC, ESPN, and Fox Sports Net. He even portrayed himself in the film “Rounders” alongside Matt Damon. Having climbed his way to the pinnacle of the poker world from the smallest games, Johnny is ideally suited to guide you to victory. His book, Play Poker Like Johnny Chan, is a valuable resource for both novice and intermediate players aiming for expert level. It provides clear, easy-to-understand instructions for all popular casino poker games.

Ever pondered the thought process of a poker champion when a massive bet threatens his tournament survival? Jonathan Little, a two-time World Poker Tour Champion with over $6,000,000 in career winnings, shares his strategic insights. He not only reveals how he won $22,678 in the 2014 World Series of Poker Main Event but also explains the rationale behind each critical move in 54 specific hands. This book, structured as a quiz, challenges you to reassess your standard poker strategy and modify it significantly based on your opponents’ habits. By scrutinizing your choices, you can enhance your poker skills and boost your table earnings. The book also provides details on how to access Jonathan’s Tournament Cheat Sheet.