Poker is fun, exciting and appears deceptively simple; so many players just jump in, play, and promptly lose their bankroll. If you are new to poker or even an experienced player, we feel that reading and learning from these poker books can give you an edge in your quest for big poker profits.

Here are our five essential poker books in no particular order:

1. Poker for Dummies - Richard D. Harroch, Lou Krieger

Poker for Dummies covers the basics: Rules, strategies such as slow playing, pot odds and bluffing.

The book is aimed at novice players and is a great place to start.

Even if you're a poker pro, you can still learn something new.

There are also great anecdotes from professional players such as Stu Unger and T.J. Cloutier.

2. Theory of Poker: A Professional Poker Player Teaches You How to Think Like One - David Sklansky

This book may not be the easiest to read but it's packed with useful information.

Everything is covered, with great insight into the art of bluffing, slow playing, position play, the free card the art of deception and much more.

A true poker book classic.

3. The Psychology of Poker - Alan Schoonmaker

As the title suggests, this book focuses on the psychological aspects of poker rather than providing technical strategy.

Rather than looking at how to play your cards, the focus is on how to play your opponents.

All of Schoonmaker's research was conducted by studying live games, and his advice reflects this.

If you play primarily online, some of the information in this book won't be useful. However, as a player's winning psychology is the one thing that separates the truly great poker players from the rest, then this is one of the best books on the subject.

4. Play Poker Like the Pros - Phil Hellmuth

Phil Hellmuth, Jr., a seven-time World Champion of Poker, presents his tournament-tested strategies to beat all types of player, including:

The Jackal, (crazy and unpredictable)

The Elephant, (plays too many hands)

The Mouse, (plays very conservatively)

The Lion, (skilled and tough to beat)

'Play Poker Like the Pros', begins by laying out the rules and set-up of each game. It then moves on to easy-to-follow basic and advanced strategies.

Hellmuth teaches exactly which hands to play, when to bluff, when to raise, and when to fold.

5. Read 'em and Weep: A Bedside Poker Companion - John Stravinsky

A great book all players will enjoy.

This book contains insights from some of the great poker players such as David Mamet, Anthony Holden, Jesse May, and John Updike.

In total, there are 39 authors. It reads easily and will get you excited about playing poker.

Entertaining, informative, and a great read, allowing you share the knowledge of some of the true poker greats.

Poker Books - Applying What You have Read

To be a successful poker player requires knowledge, the correct psychology, and the will to win.

You can however, only learn so much from books; it is experience that will make you a great player.

Reading about when to fold or raise with a big pot on the table is easy, but becomes much more difficult when you're in the situation!

It is the combination of knowledge plus experience that will make you a great player.