Harrington's work has been honored as the most significant poker book ever written.

A distinguished panel consisting of 56 esteemed professional poker players participated in a voting process to identify the books that have significantly shaped their understanding and approach to the game. The top choice was Dan Harrington's comprehensive guide, “Harrington on Hold’em, Expert Strategy for No Limit Hold’em Tournaments 1: Strategic Play.” poker books Discover the top poker literature organized by category:

When you dive into the thoughts of some of the globe's most fascinating and seasoned poker players, you'll undoubtedly find Dan Harrington reigning supreme in the Palace of Memories, offering invaluable strategies for succeeding in No-Limit Hold’em tournaments.

Listening to the voices of the players themselves

We invited 56 players to share their opinions on the poker books that have had the most significant influence throughout their careers. An impressive 13% indicated their preference for Dan Harrington's tournament guide, Harrington on Hold’em, Expert Strategy for No Limit Hold’em Tournaments 1: Strategic Play.

“The Harrington on Hold’em series is regarded as the definitive guide in poker literature,” remarked Andy Frankenberger, a two-time champion of the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

“The insights I gained from the Harrington on Hold’em series have been invaluable to my career,” asserted Dominik Nitsche, a three-time WSOP bracelet holder and ambassador for 888poker.

“At its peak, Harrington's tournament series represented the most groundbreaking work ever produced in poker literature,” stated Jason Wheeler, a WSOPC gold ring winner, “Aside from Harrington's work, I didn't delve into many books; much of my learning came through direct experience.”

Dutch Boyd, a three-time WSOP bracelet champion and author of Poker Tilt, reflected on the impact of the Harrington Series:

“This series introduced essential poker strategy concepts to the general public... the importance of adjusting your approach based on your chip count or the number of remaining players seems obvious now. Yet, many experienced tournament professionals understood these ideas even before Harrington's series came to be. However, this series articulated those intricate tournament concepts more clearly than anything prior.”

Jackie Glazier, a WSOP bracelet winner and ambassador for 888poker, expressed her admiration for the book:

“I probably read it three times in my first year of learning poker. It equipped me with the confidence to make crucial decisions at the table during my rookie year. While some information may feel slightly dated now, I still believe it serves as an excellent resource for newcomers.”

Brian Rast, who claimed victory in the inaugural Super High Roller Bowl, shared his thoughts on Harrington's contributions:

“This book marked a pivotal moment in the history of tournament poker. It introduced transformative concepts like M and included practical hand examples to illustrate its teachings. Overall, these books were extraordinary and reshaped the field at the time.”

For some, the Harrington book holds cherished memories. Jeff Kimber shares his experience:

“I asked him to sign my original copy before a WPT Bay101 Shooting Stars event, and later, during the tournament, I managed to knock him out to claim the $5,000 bounty.”

Acknowledging the contributions of Texas Dolly

Not only did Harrington's first installment in his trilogy receive the most number one votes, but it also garnered a total of 22 votes, tying for the highest overall amount alongside Doyle Brunson’s iconic 1978 book Super System: A Course in Power Poker.

“This was the second poker book I ever read, and I loved how it addressed not only strategy but also the overall lifestyle associated with the game,” recounted Adam \"Roothlus\" Levy.

“Super System was the first poker book I ever encountered,” mentioned WSOP bracelet holder Nick Petrangelo. “I was selling my old golf clubs to try playing low-stakes games while still in high school. I vividly remember a section on playing draws aggressively, especially with gut shots, and I made the classic error that many players do: misapplying the strategy."

“For a brief period, no matter the situation, I felt invincible and would go all-in with a gut shot. It cost me quite a few golf clubs, but that lesson from my poker book remains unforgettable, and it still holds true today. Whenever I learn something new now, I strive to fully comprehend each concept before trying to implement it in practice.”

“He explored a wide array of games and was a game changer during an era when limited literature existed,” stated Julian Thew, a past EPT Champion.

“Doyle Brunson is the most historically significant figure in poker,” remarked Marcel Luske, known as the Flying Dutchman. “He began playing when poker was illegal, contending with some of the game's most notorious figures during a time when violence was commonplace. And he still competes today against younger players using the latest technology.”

“He embodies the essence of a living legend. His presence speaks volumes at any poker table, commanding respect no matter the players. He is undeniably the leader, and there's no dispute over that among fellow players.”

We provided the judges with a list of 129 poker publications, out of which 86 received at least one vote. Due to ties in voting, we established a Top 59.

The Best of the Rest

Harrington on Hold'em, Expert Strategy for No-Limit Tournaments; Volume I: Strategic Play

Rank	Title	Author
1	The Mental Game of Poker: Effective Techniques for Enhancing Tilt Management, Building Confidence, Motivating Yourself, Coping with Variance, and More	Dan Harrington and Bill Robertie
2	Super/System: A Course in Power Poker	Doyle Brunson
3	Every Hand Revealed	Gus Hansen
4	The Mathematics of Poker	Bill Chen and Jerrod Ankenman
5	Let There Be Range!: Dominating SSNL/MSNL No-Limit Hold’em Games	Jared Tendler and Barry Carter
6	The Theory of Poker	David Sklansky
7	Cole 'Cts' South and Tri 'Slowhabit' Nguyen	Super/System: A Course in Power Poker II
8	Power Hold'em Strategy	Daniel Negreanu
9	Harrington on Hold'em, Expert Strategy for No-Limit Tournaments; Volume II: The Endgame	Doyle Brunson
10	Applications Of No-Limit Hold’em	Matthew Janda
11	Moorman's Book of Poker	Byron Jacobs
12	Kill Everyone: Advanced Strategies for No-Limit Hold’em Poker, Tournaments, and Sit-N-Gos	Dan Harrington and Bill Robertie
13	Expert Heads Up No Limit Hold'em, Volume 1	Lee Nelson and Others
14	Play Poker Like the Pros	Phil Hellmuth
15	Elements of Poker	Tommy Angelo
16	Ace on the River	Barry Greenstein
17	Harrington on Hold'em, Expert Strategy for No-Limit Tournaments; Volume III: The Workbook	Will Tipton
18	Hold’em Poker for Advanced Players	David Sklansky & Mason Malmuth
19	Caro's Book of Tells: Understanding Body Language and Psychology in Poker	Dan Harrington and Bill Robertie
20	Winning Poker Tournaments - One Hand at a Time	Mike Caro
21	Reading Poker Tells	Zachary Elwood
22	The Yoga of Poker	Andrew Lichtenberger
23	Jon Turner, Eric Lynch and Jon Van Fleet	No Limit Hold’em: Theory and Practice
24	Big Deal: One Year as a Professional Poker Player	David Sklansky and Ed Miller
25	Devilfish: The Life & Times of a Poker Legend	Anthony Holden
26	Excelling at No-Limit Hold'em	Jonathan Little
27	Zen and the Art of Poker	Larry W. Phillips
28	Raiser\"s Edge	Bertrand Grospellier
29	Shut Up and Deal	Jesse May
30	The Biggest Game in Town	Al Alvarez
31	One of a Kind: The Rise and Fall of Stuey 'the Kid' Ungar	Dave Ulliot
32	The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King: Inside the Richest Poker Game of All Time	Nolan Dalla
32	The Full Tilt Poker Strategy Guide	Michael Craig
33	Seven-Card Stud for Advanced Players	Michael Craig
34	Kill Phil	Blair Rodman and Lee Nelson
35	David Sklansky, Mason Malmuth, and Ray Zee.	The Mental Game Of Poker 2: Proven Strategies for Enhancing Poker Skills, Boosting Mental Resilience, and Consistently Playing in the Zone
36	Tournament Poker for Advanced Players: Expanded Edition	Jared Tendler and Barry Carter
37	DUCY? Exploits, Advice, and Ideas from a Renowned Strategist	David Sklansky
38	David Sklansky and Alan Schoonmaker	Championship No-Limit & Pot-Limit Hold’em
39	Lost Vegas: The Redneck Riviera, Existential Conversations with Strippers, and the World Series of Poker	Tom McEvoy and T.J. Cloutier
40	For Richer, For Poorer: A Player's Confessions	Paul McGuire
41	Harrington on Cash Games; A Winning Guide for No-Limit Hold’em Money Games: Volume I	Victoria Coren
42	Positively Fifth Street	James McManus
42	Verbal Poker Tells	Zachary Elwood
43	Winning in Tough Hold ’em Games; Concepts and Strategies for Short-Handed and High-Stakes Limit Hold ’em	Dan Harrington and Bill Robertie
43	Nick 'Stoxtrader' Grudzien and Geoff 'Zobags' Herzog	What Every BODY is Saying: An Ex-FBI Agent's Guide to Reading People Quickly
44	Winning Low Limit Hold’em	Lee Jones
44	Treat Your Poker Like a Business	Dusty Schmidt
45	The Tao of Poker	Larry W. Phillips
45	Small Stakes Hold 'em: Winning Big Through Expert Play	Joe Navarro
45	The Education of a Poker Player	Herbert O. Yardley
45	Ed Miller, David Sklansky, Mason Malmuth	Professional No-Limit Hold ’em: Volume I
46	Unmasking the Face: A Guide to Recognizing Emotions through Facial Expressions	Matt Flynn, Sunny Mehta, and Ed Miller
47	According to Doyle	Doyle Brunson
47	Mastering Pot-limit Omaha: The Modern Aggressive Approach	Paul Ekman
47	Herbert Okolowitz, Wladimir Taschner	Harrington on Cash Games; A Winning Guide for No-Limit Hold’em Money Games: Volume II
48	Strategies for Conquering Small Stakes Poker Tournaments	Dan Harrington and Bill Robertie
49	Easy Game: Making Sense of No Limit Hold'em 3rd Edition: Adaptations	Jonathan Little
49	High-Low-Split Poker, Seven-Card Stud, and Omaha Eight-or-Better for Advanced Players	Andrew Seidman
49	The Godfather of Poker	Doyle Brunson
50	Heads-Up No-Limit Hold ’Em	Collin Moshman
50	Pot-Limit & No-Limit Poker	Stewart Reuben & Bob Ciaffone
51	Amarillo Slim In A World Full Of Fat People: The Memoirs of the Greatest Gambler Who Ever Lived	Ray Zee
51	Dan Harrington, a member of the Poker Hall of Fame, tops the list with his book \"Harrington on Hold'em: Expert Strategy for No Limit Hold'em Tournaments 1: Strategic Play.\"	Thomas \"Amarillo Slim\" Preston
52	The Most Significant Poker Book Ever Written	Phil Gordon
53	Harrington On Hold'em Declared the Most Impactful Poker Book	Dan Harrington and Bill Robertie
54	A distinguished panel consisting of 56 elite professional poker players participated in a voting process to determine which titles have made the biggest impact in their poker journeys.	Lou Krieger
54	Poker Tilt	Dutch Boyd
55	Cowboys Full: The Story of Poker	James McManus
55	More Hold'em Wisdom for All Players	Daniel Negreanu
55	Read 'em and Reap	Joe Navarro
55	Way of the Poker Warrior	Paul Hoppe
55	Pass The Sugar	Joe Hachem
56	Ultimately, Dan Harrington's acclaimed work, \"Harrington on Hold'em: Expert Strategy for No Limit Hold'em Tournaments 1: Strategic Play,\" secured the top position.	Ed Miller
56	Hold'em Wisdom for All Players	Daniel Negreanu
56	Poker Tournament Formula	Arnold Snyder
56	How Good is Your Pot-Limit Omaha?	Stewart Reuben
57	Discover the finest poker literature categorized for your convenience:	Rolf Slotboom & Rob Hollink
57	If you explore the thoughts and experiences of the globe's most intriguing and seasoned poker figures, you'll find Dan Harrington sitting prominently in his Palace of Memories, offering invaluable insights on mastering No-Limit Hold'em tournaments.	Collin Moshman
57	"Let's Hear from the Players Themselves,\"	Matthew Hilger
58	Life's a Gamble	Mike Sexton
58	We conducted a survey among 56 players to identify the poker books that significantly shaped their careers. An impressive 13% voted for Dan Harrington's authoritative guide, Harrington on Hold'em: Expert Strategy for No Limit Hold'em Tournaments 1: Strategic Play.	Dusty Schmidt & Paul Hoppe
58	"Harrington on Hold'em is the ultimate guide in the poker literature,\" remarked Andy Frankenberger, a two-time World Series of Poker bracelet holder.	Jonathan Little
59	Poker For Dummies	Poker For Dummies Series
59	Check-Raising the Devil	"The insights I gained from the Harrington on Hold'em series were invaluable to my growth as a player,\" stated three-time WSOP champion and 888poker ambassador Dominik Nitsche.
59	Middle Limit Holdem Poker	Bob Ciaffone

"During its release, Harrington's tournament series brought forth groundbreaking ideas,\" expressed Jason Wheeler, a WSOPC gold ring recipient, "I didn't delve into many other writings apart from Harrington's; the rest came from real-world experiences.\"

Dutch Boyd, a three-time WSOP bracelet winner and author of Poker Tilt, shared his perspective on the Harrington Series:^th"The Harrington series introduced many essential strategic concepts to the general public. The critical understanding that one's approach should vary based on chip count or remaining players may seem basic now, but prior to Harrington's work, such ideas were less defined or understood.\"

Jackie Glazier, a WSOP bracelet winner and ambassador for 888poker, expressed her admiration for the book, stating:

"I found myself reading it repeatedly—probably three times within my first year of learning poker. It empowered me to make significant decisions at the table right from the start. Although some insights may feel dated now, it remains a fantastic resource for newcomers to the game.\"

Ace on the River by Barry Greenstein

Brian Rast, the inaugural champion of the Super High Roller Bowl, shared his thoughts on Harrington's book series:

About the Author See all Lee Davy Articles

Lee Davy

"This was the second book I encountered and I thoroughly enjoyed it for not just its strategy, but also its vivid portrayal of poker culture,\" shared Adam \"Roothlus\" Levy.

This book has been recognized as the most impactful poker publication in history.

Not only did Harrington's first installment in his trilogy receive the most number one votes, but it also garnered a total of 22 votes, tying for the highest overall amount alongside Doyle Brunson’s iconic 1978 book Super System: A Course in Power Poker.

The Best of the Rest