📖 Overview
Super System: A Course in Power Poker stands as one of the most influential poker books ever published. Released in 1978 by poker legend Doyle Brunson, it revolutionized how players approach the game.
The book provides comprehensive strategy across multiple poker variants, with a focus on No-Limit Hold'em. Brunson draws from decades of experience playing high-stakes poker to outline fundamental concepts and advanced tactics.
Each section features contributions from professional players who were considered the top experts in their specific games. The instruction covers everything from basic hand selection to complex psychological warfare at the table.
The work represents a watershed moment in poker literature, marking the transition from poker as a game of instinct to one of systematic strategy and mathematical principles. Its impact on modern poker theory and aggressive playing style continues to resonate through subsequent generations of players.
👀 Reviews
Many readers note this 1978 book altered how they approach poker strategy, though its age means some concepts are outdated for modern games.
Readers appreciate:
- Clear explanations of poker mathematics and odds
- Detailed hand analysis and examples
- Psychology and tells sections
- Brunson's storytelling and personal experiences
Common criticisms:
- Strategy too aggressive for today's games
- Focus on limit hold'em rather than no-limit
- Dense writing style makes concepts hard to follow
- High price point for dated material
From review sites:
Amazon: 4.5/5 (300+ reviews)
"Changed how I think about position and selective aggression" - poker player review
"Math section alone worth the price" - 5-star review
Goodreads: 4.2/5 (2,000+ ratings)
"Great historical perspective but get modern books for current strategy" - 3-star review
"Tables and odds calculations still relevant decades later" - 4-star review
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Every Hand Revealed by Gus Hansen Hansen provides hand-by-hand analysis of his championship tournament victory, revealing the decision-making process behind each play.
Small Stakes Hold'em by Ed Miller, David Sklansky, and Mason Malmuth The book presents a systematic approach to limit hold'em strategy with focus on mathematical concepts and exploitation of common player tendencies.
Harrington on Hold'em by Dan Harrington The book breaks down tournament poker strategy with specific scenarios, mathematical concepts, and decision-making processes for different stages of tournament play.
Theory of Poker by David Sklansky The text presents fundamental poker concepts and strategic principles that apply across multiple poker variants and forms the basis for advanced poker thinking.
Every Hand Revealed by Gus Hansen Hansen provides hand-by-hand analysis of his championship tournament victory, revealing the decision-making process behind each play.
Small Stakes Hold'em by Ed Miller, David Sklansky, and Mason Malmuth The book presents a systematic approach to limit hold'em strategy with focus on mathematical concepts and exploitation of common player tendencies.
🤔 Interesting facts
🎲 When first published in 1978, "Super System" was sold for $100 ($400 in today's money), an unprecedented price for a poker book at the time.
🃏 Author Doyle Brunson won the World Series of Poker Main Event twice, back-to-back in 1976 and 1977, while writing this groundbreaking book.
♠️ Many professional poker players initially criticized Brunson for "giving away" valuable poker secrets, believing the book would hurt their edge against amateur players.
♦️ The book features contributions from other poker legends including Bobby Baldwin, Mike Caro, and Chip Reese, making it one of the first collaborative poker strategy guides.
♣️ Despite being over 40 years old, many concepts introduced in "Super System" - such as aggressive play and position-based strategy - remain fundamental to modern poker theory.