Albert H. Morehead and othersPrice: About $15, roughly. Poker For Dummies, by Richard D. Harroch and othersPrice: About $15, roughly.
For the poker table
How to bet, bluff and play, from seven-card stud and high-low splits to Omaha and Texas Hold'em. Written for someone who has played a few friendly hands and wants to know why the good players win.
- Good for
- Texas Hold'em players · Learning to bet and bluff
- Skip it if
- You have not learned the rules yet: start with our Texas Hold'em guide.
Buy now ↗on Amazon
Our take
Richard Harroch and Lou Krieger cover the way into poker: how to bet, bluff and play, from seven-card stud and high-low splits to Omaha and Texas Hold'em. The aim is that you walk away from the table with winnings and not lint in your pockets.
It is a good book for someone who has played a few friendly hands and wants to understand why the good players win.
On Pips, our Texas Hold'em guide teaches the rules. This is where you go after the rules.
Keep reading
- Story
A short history of playing cards
How a pack of painted paper travelled from China through Egypt to Europe, lost its cups and swords, gained a joker, and ended up in almost every home.
- Buying guide
Choosing a deck
Plastic or paper, poker or bridge size, how many decks you need, and the deck we recommend for each of our games.
- Reference
The glossary
Every card game word, in plain English.
Quick answers
- Can I learn a game from a book?
Yes, but it is easier with a guide first. Start with a Pips guide, then use a book to go deeper or to find new games.
- Which book first?
Card Games For Dummies if you are new, the Penguin Book of Card Games for the widest choice, Hoyle's when you need an answer.
- Why these ten?
They are the books we would put in a friend's hands, each for a different reader. If we would not recommend it, it is not here.
Also consider
Back to the shelf →Albert H. Morehead and othersPrice: About $15, roughly. 
Barry RigalPrice: About $15, roughly. The gentle start
David ParlettPrice: About $15, roughly.