A good buddy of mine just started getting serious about poker and has been looking for ways to maximize his skills. The other day he asked me to recommend a few good books about poker strategy and I thought I’d share a few of my favorites with you as well.

I play mostly Texas Hold’em so, for me, Lee Jones’ Winning Low-Limit Hold’em is a veritable bible. Jones’ book is the most popular reference on the game of low limit Hold’em and gives players a solid foundation in the tools and techniques that can help you win. Winning Low-Limit Hold’em starts out with an introduction to the fundamentals of the game, and to poker odds. Following chapters go on to explain how to play in each round of the game. Finally, Jones covers everything from bluffing to tournament play to rakes and more.

If you’ve already mastered all the techniques in Jones’ book or enjoy playing for higher limits than I recommend Hold’em Poker for Advanced Players by David Sklansky. Sklansky is one of the foremost writers in the poker industry and his book is considered one of the best about Hold’em strategy.

Also from David Sklansky, The Theory of Poker is a must read. This book covers everything from bluffing to slow playing, the value of deception, how position affects your play and other theories about the game of poker. Start out with these three books and you’ll be well on your way to massive improvement in your poker play.