There is probably enough information on this web site to learn the basic concepts of poker, how to play the game both in real life and online. However, no matter how detailed the web site or forum you can only read so much online. To really learn poker, like learning any new skill, you need to buy a book and read it. It's a tried and tested way of learning almost anything, and poker is no exception. Poker is not that difficult to learn, but like chess takes a life time to master. So begin here, we've selected a handful of good beginner books to get you started.

Play Poker Like The Pros
Phil Hellmuth Jr.

Phil Hellmuth Jr. is one of the all time poker greats, and a former world champion of poker. His new book has certainly sold a lot of copies and has been generally well received. As far as learning poker goes, Phil goes into a lot of detail in certain areas and will probably give a good starting point for players. Some say there are some important elements missing from the book, but you are never going to find a single book that teaches you everything about poker.

Illustrated Guide To Texas Hold'em: Making Winners Out Of Beginners and Advanced Players
Dennis Purdy

This book takes a completely different approach to almost all other poker tutorials.  Instead of pages of text and theory this book uses visuals, around 150 of them, to explain how to become a winning poker player.  The book presents various scenarios in a low limit Holdem setting, putting you right there at the table and asking you what you'd do next.  After deciding what the correct play is the book proceeds to tell you what the correct play really is and why.  As you progress the scenarios become increasingly complex but each guides the user through the correct thought processes, explaining exactly why a pro would and should make certain decisions under certain circumstances.  The book introduces some fairly advanced concepts including pot odds and implied odds in a very easy to understand format.  We highly recommend this book for not only teaching the fundamentals well and providing good insight into the game, but also in taking a very clear and easy to understand format that will improve players of all skill levels (unless you're already a pro!).

Illustrated Guide To NO LIMIT Texas Hold'em: Making Winners Out Of Beginners and Advanced Players
Dennis Purdy

Building on the success of the previous illustrated guide, Purdy introduces the concepts of the popular No Limit version of Texas Hold'em.  Again providing players with the key concepts vital to successful poker play presented in a very easy to read format with full illustrations on every page.

Poker For Dummies
Richard D. Harroch, Lou Krieger

Anyone who is familiar with the Dummies series of books will know that you don't have to be a dummy to read them. This book is packed with the basic information on poker like how to play, but then takes the reader to theories on how to win, strategy and other important information on poker.

Caro's Book Of Poker Tells
Mike Caro

A poker 'tell' is one of the ways that advanced players will eat beginners for breakfast! A tell is an involuntary action or clue to what you are doing in the game. If you place a big bet with shaking hands are you betraying a very weak hand you are trying to bluff with or a monster hand? This book will guide you through the maze of tells showing you what they are and how to avoid having other player 'read' your 'tells'. This book is a must for any serious poker player, and anyone who is serious about playing poker will have this in their collection.

Caro's Fundamental Secrets Of Winning Poker
Mike Caro

Mike Caro is known as the Mad Genius of poker and has certainly got quite a reputation as one of the foremost experts of poker theory. In this book Caro lays out strategy and advice valuable for the beginner poker player. Learn how to play the game and at the same time learn how to win. Learning to play poker can be costly because of the mistakes you're likely to make. This book will help you save your bankroll.

Internet Poker: How to Play and Beat Online Poker Games
Lou Krieger, Kathleen Keller Watterson

Internet Poker is, as you might expect, all about playing poker online and gives you an insight into common mistakes that online players make. This book will certainly give beginners the edge over a lot of online player. Internet poker comes with an interactive CD ROM to guide you through some important lessons.

Small Stakes Hold 'em: Winning Big With Expert Play
David Sklansky et al

Famous poker author David Sklansky shares some winning formulas for low limit games, giving specific examples of how to win big at low limit games.  The book includes quizzes to test your knowledge and show you how to apply what you have learned.  There are some pretty advanced topics taught too including: implied odds, pot equity, speculative hands, position, the importance of being suited, hand categories, counting outs, evaluating the flop, large pots versus small pots, protecting your hand, betting for value on the river, and playing overcards.