There's no 'specific' secret that puts them above others. There's nothing like > "always 4bet a check-raise on dry flop if player runs left hand through their hair".

Most poker books (the better ones) are setup in a way to help the reader to develop their own thinking process. Do this long enough & you might get good. Simple (but not easy).

There is no gratification in allways winning agains people who don't really know how to play the game . If you are a serious player you don't whant to just play against players who don't know how to play the game .... sure you may win some money but if there isn't any real competion this does not make you one of the best . Sharing your thoughts on poker and your theiories is what makes you better. The excange of ideas betbeen players , Theese are the things that make great players.

I don't think there is secrets.Probably some of the authors don't speak everything about certain situation of the game ,but there are plenty of books that deserve studying ,not just reading.

I agree the better books teach the basics to me,starting hands,position,odds,outs,ect.some stradagy but I think its basic knowlege to get you going,the advanced books can be just ones opinion when theres more ways then one to play a hand,and they the ones rote to make money more then to edgucate you,alot of math talk but when at the table,they play the game just like you,reads,value, ect.and just knowing when to play,dont overthink hands.

There certainly is a process to how best you can play your hand. The cards might suck but their are always spots to pick. positional play in a MTT is very important...something I'm only starting to learn. Good luck on the felts!

I personally will never and have never read a poker book of any kind,i play and learn, i watch others play and learn.watching tourneys on the tv, when whole cards are shown,gives you info you might want to use in the future, etc,i believe even the best poker players, are always learning.if you ever believe you know it all. you will never be the best you can be, as there is always different things you can learn from people you play, that might be worth using in future tourneys etc etc .good luck all you genuine scholars of poker.

ps i did watch videos on fulltilt,whilst Gus told you his thoughts and why he did what he did,and why he actually folded some pretty big hands at certain times when he won the aussie millions.
he layed down AK suited after is raise was re raised,he explained in detail,
he is with out doubt a great poker player.

One of the greatest aspects of poker, especially online poker, is the vast community of people willing to help others improve at the game. Anyone willing to put in the work has all the resources necessary to learn a game that is essentially "solved"

There are no "secrets" once you have learned the game. Those at the top know everything there is to know. All that is left is learning how to apply what you know to the game. Even when you know it all you don't always make the best decision possible. To err is human, and all humans make mistakes. And most players never really take the time to learn all that there is to learn. Many play for years and never really get better.

But people who write books do so to sell books. Ultimately that is the goal, so the book has to offer something and hopefully stand out among the others.

I just read "Every Hand Revealed" I think a lot of these guys are truely trying to pass the knowledge on. Maybe they are concerned about justifying their own style but I really think Hanson is trying to share his own experience. Others like Brunson, Baldwin and even Hellmuth Jr. are having their books published out of respect for the games they love and to promote it further. (putting a little oil in the lamp before they pass it if you will)
Personally, I think a person gets better themselves the more they are willing to teach thier peers.
After all, just think about how many donkeys with thick wallets are to "good" to read books in the first place. For somebody to say, "I don't share" is asking for Karma to show up unannounced to dinner.

I agree. The approach from most of the "good" books I read use fundamental examples. I figure, if I read it enough it will stick. Knowing what to do in a lot of situations in poker is EXTREAMLY different from acting that way... I think as a student of the game I get better from advice from those before me and being honest with myself and my play are very critical! The books help tremendously with keeping players from having to learn everything the hard way...K10o vs. AKs for example.

The thing is that even a book like Super System I/II sold only tens of thousands of copies, not millions (source: remember this from a High Stakes Poker episode where Doyle revealed this information).

I don't think any pro with millions in the bank would write a book with the hopes of making loads of cash and have his/her books next to J.K. Rowling. Given the complexity of many of these books, I just don't see why any author wouldn't spill the beans and open up completely.

Ultimately, if you've played high stakes for years and done so successfully, you know it's your head that sets you apart from other players. All of us don't get quantum mechanics only because we read Steven Hawking's books.

I think this is a good point. I have never really thought about it that way not that I even bothered to actually buy and read any of these books but youd think that as a pro if you read a book that another pro had written that you would know what kinda style they play and this might give you an advantage when you would play against them. I have no problem telling people things if Im not going to be playing with them on a regular basis though

I think the pros write these books for money. I mean everyone plays the style now that ppl were winning and playing 19 years ago. If I was a pro I'd for sure write a book.

They aren't going to divulge their entire play style, but I think they are fairly honest. They aren't going to be playing against the vast majority of people that read their books anyway, so I'm sure it's not much of an issue.

Which books have you read?
I think it is pretty hard to offer an opinion without having read alot of poker books.
I can only ask others who have to get my answers to this post. (so I asked, lol).
I got told, "tell them to read 'Winning Poker tournaments - One Hand At A Time'
or 'No-Limit Hold'em Theory And Practice' (Sklansky, Miller) and countless others and they will give you a different answer then saying something like poker pros aren't going to write it all down in the books. I have heard that there are books that sell for hundreds of dollars and that there are always newer and better ones coming out that even alot of the really good players (players who play for a living) are purchasing and reading. That would tell me something right there.

Dude,just play poker,and play,and play,and play some more.then read a little,then play some more.if your serious youll learn sumthin.its pretty simple really.take tournamenys,for example.its the first 5 minutes of play,you look down,wala,a-a.[and i have done it more than once]what is your move?ok,theres 8 more at table,your u-t-g,theres 2 allins in front of you.what u doin,willis?a rookie would allin auto,an amateur also,a noobie would beatem in the pot.so?you goin for it?two more behind you,they go allin too.boom,your aces got beat in 2 places.you out.foldem,play another hand.a-a is not the holy grail.if it was late in the turny,sure,you have to.

No doubt, only downloading books on poker, you will never become a professional poker player. Therefore, I recommend to combine reading books on poker and practice games. I am confident that good writers read books not only brought pleasure, but in the future will provide a tangible financial benefits.