Anyone else obsessed with poker literature? Currently reading Harrington on Hold'em!

ulisesmero said:

The interesting thing is that Harrington doesn't just focus on “what cards to play”, but on ranks, position, bet size, stacks, pot odds and decisions depending on the stage of tournament .

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Maria_Louise said:

I share your passion. In a slightly different way though. I purchased 32 audiobooks on Audible. I fancy listening. Plus the audiobooks are significantly cheaper.

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lolpeura said:

What books would people recommend for a first read? Where to start so to speak, if id like to read a book.

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Sahbi1403 said:

Hey everyone,My passion for poker has grown so much lately that I’ve started studying the game seriously. I’ve been searching for deep strategy references, and right now, I am reading Harrington on Hold'em by Dan Harrington and Bill Robertie. It is widely considered one of the most famous global references for tournament poker strategy.I’m curious to knowo you share this same passion for studying the game?Have you read any books on poker strategy?Have you read this specific book?Would love to hear your thoughts and recommendations!

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1. Harrington on Hold'em — your starting point (you're already on it, good)
2. Applications of No-Limit Hold'em (Matthew Janda) — the bridge from old-school to modern theory
3. Modern Poker Theory (Michael Acevedo) — the current standard for GTO
4. The Mental Game of Poker (Jared Tendler) — because tilt and mindset are half the battle

futuroxx said:

Hey Sahbi1403, welcome to the grind!

Harrington on Hold'em is a true classic from the old school — it's the book that taught a whole generation how to think about tournament poker. Dan Harrington won the WSOP Main Event in 1995 and made two more final tables, so the guy knows what he's talking about. If you're just starting your serious study, it's honestly a great choice. It gives you a solid foundation: M-zone theory, push/fold math, stack management, and how to read the table dynamics of a tournament.

That said, keep in mind it was written in the mid-2000s, when the game was much softer and more passive. The fundamentals still hold, but the way the game is played today has evolved a lot. The old-school approach was "tight is right" and waiting for premium hands. Modern poker is way more aggressive — 3-betting light, defending wide ranges, exploiting GTO concepts, and playing a much more balanced game.

So my advice: use Harrington as your foundation, not your final answer. It's like learning the rules of chess before you study openings — essential, but you need to go deeper.

Today we have way more complete tools than back in the day. Solver software (like PioSOLVER or GTO Wizard) lets you study exact ranges and equilibrium spots. And there are full poker schools now — here in Brazil we have RegLife, which is extremely complete, covering everything from fundamentals to advanced GTO and mental game. It's a great complement to the classic books.

If you want my reading order for a serious player:

1. Harrington on Hold'em — your starting point (you're already on it, good)
2. Applications of No-Limit Hold'em (Matthew Janda) — the bridge from old-school to modern theory
3. Modern Poker Theory (Michael Acevedo) — the current standard for GTO
4. The Mental Game of Poker (Jared Tendler) — because tilt and mindset are half the battle

And honestly, the biggest jump in your game won't come from books alone — it'll come from studying your own hands, using a solver, and reviewing with a community or coach. Books give you the map; the work gives you the results.

Keep grinding, man. The passion you have right now is exactly how every serious player started.

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NINA17 said:

For me, the hardest part of learning poker is mastering emotional control. It is easy to understand the math, but dealing with bad beats is a completely different story. I am currently reading articles on poker psychology to improve.

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ExMoroccan said:

Classic read! Fundamentals in it are super solid, though game's gotten way more aggressive since it came out. Definitely check out Michael Acevedo's Modern Poker Theory next if you want the modern GTO meta.

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Poker Orifice said:

HOH is ancient. Maybe useful for a novice beginner player.
fwiw I've read all of Harrinton's books (he wrote cash game book too) but this was over 15yrs. ago now. They were good 20yrs. ago but I certainly wouldn't recommend them today.
And for OP I wouldn't recommend Acevedo's book either... there's far better stuff to be focusing on if you're feeling that Harrington is the holy grail.
I'll take a bit of time this week and give you a few suggestions. (Galfond's site isn't a suggestion either... unless we're talking about his 'free' stuff otherwise it would not be suitable for you at all)

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