1. Read poker books and study the game. There are many levels of skill for poker; keep trying to improve and plug the leaks in your game.

2. Learn bankroll management. Play in the proper cash games and stick to tournaments that are less than 15% of your bankroll. You need big money for big games.

3. Document your play and keep notes of your results. With enough notes you can determine the situations that cost you money and correct them.

4. Learn to adapt to the table. Use player types and betting patterns to learn how your opponents play. Then adjust to counteract their play once you understand their style.

5. Learn to deal with tilt and negative results. Poker is a gambling game with a win/loss variance. You’re guaranteed to lose some times; it’s a part of the game. Learn to control your emotions when you’re losing.

Now that online poker players are being tracked and ranked, three of the top internet players have signed book deals with Dimat Enterprises. The books will be aimed at no-limit holdem, and are a step forward for the prominence of online players. The three players are Eric Lynch, Jon Turner and Jon Van Fleet. The three have combined for over $6M in tournament winnings over the last few years.

Eric Lynch goes by “Rizen” online and has had success in live events as well. He cashed seven times at the WSOP in the last two years. His biggest cash was his 26th-place finish in last year’s WSOP main event for $494,000.

Jon “Apestyles” Van Fleet has close to $2M in online cashes, which came from 70 wins and 350 final tables. Jon Turner is known online as “PearlJammer” and has been one of the top online money earners for years.

Super System – Doyle Brunson
The original poker guide is still one of the best sources of poker information, tips and tactics. Brunson was way ahead of the curve when he put this book together back in the 1970’s.

Harrington on Hold’em – Dan Harrington
Harrington released three books on Hold’em with tips and tactics that won him the 1995 World Series of Poker and allowed him to make the final table in back-to-back years in 2003 and 2004. Some of Harrington’s advice is for intermediate or advanced players so leave this one on the shelf until you’ve learned the game.

Caro’s Book of Poker Tells – Mike Caro
Important education provided by Mad Mike all about poker tells, whether leaking or recognizing.

The Theory of Poker – David Sklansky
The best of Sklansky’s extensive poker library. Read it twice.

Poker for Dummies
Strictly for beginners.

The Poker Player’s Bible – Lou Krieger
Another good beginner book. Krieger is an excellent teacher and outlines all the rules and intricate parts of poker you must know to play it right.

The Complete Book of Hold’em Poker – Gary Carson
The game, tips and tactics are analyzed sharply and succinctly. An advanced player may not find very much new information.

Killer Poker – John Vorhaus
Aggression dissected. How to fix your game, exploit others’ weaknesses and make money.

Phil Gordon’s Little Black Book – Phil Gordon
A solid foundation on the basics.

Play Poker Like the Pros – Phil Hellmuth
Hellmuth outlines some good basic strategies and also includes some advanced tactics on everything from bluffing, to raising, to folding, that should improve your game.