Can Poker Books Really Improve Your Game?

A quick search on amazon for poker reveals countless authors, each offering their own spin on the new craze that is online poker.  Claiming to teach us 'power poker', 'the mathematics of poker', and 'the theories of poker' sit alongside the hyperbolic guides claiming to make us '$30,000 a month from online poker'; selling for less than $10!  Now that's return on investment!  Or is it?

The truth is, one can learn all the theories and mathematics they like, but they may still fare very badly at the tables.  Why?  Because the easy access to poker and low buy-in events attract a lot, and I mean a lot, of idiots!  Now you may think; what is easier than taking an idiot's money in a game of skill?  Well, this is where the idiot gets even.  Setting sophisticated traps is almost pointless at the lower levels because people bet silly and get lucky!

The real good advice is to learn your fellow players' styles.  Unfortunately this is also very difficult due to the sheer number of people playing at any one time.  You are unlikely to play against the same player twice.  The advice here is to use the notes function that many poker rooms offer.  Make notes that are clear to understand and that will be useful in the future.  But remember players develop, so work with caution and be prepared to discard your notes early on.

Conclusion

Look around for free poker books if you can.  Many of them give the same advice, and you can save your pennies.  Take what you can from them, but play with caution.  Because of the idiot factor, you can play statistically fantastic poker and still get beat.

Maybe save your money.  There is little that many of these books will teach you