Outplaying the Boys: Poker Tips for Competitive Women

By Cat Hulbert

Book Overview

Whether it's in a casino, a private club, an online poker room--or even many friendly home games--when a woman sits down to play poker, she's usually facing men, and those men are going to typecast her as being too passive to be competitive. Guess what? She's got them right where she wants them Women have a tremendous natural advantage at the poker table. Now it's just a matter of learning how to exploit it. Written for female players who are in ever greater numbers catching poker-mania--60 million people a month are now playing poker and 30% are women--"Outplaying the Boys" is a street-smart guide to the green-felt jungle. By Cat Hulbert, whom Card Player magazine ranked as one of the top seven-card stud players in the world, its 125 annotated tips are filled with strategy, wisdom, and lessongiving anecdotes. How to project a winning image. How to choose the most profitable table--a talkative table will yield more than a quiet one--and the best seats (avoid the chair closest to the expert players). How to recognize and squelch your own tells. Who to bluff--the new player, the player who just made a comeback, the guy who comments on how tight you are. And who not to bluff--the short stack, the maniac who calls everything. Understanding your innate strengths and weaknesses--honing intuition, curbing your instinct to be too trusting, getting into opponents' heads. The book covers two key games--Texas Hold'em and Seven-Card Stud--and provides a glossary of terms, recommended books, and more.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 076113980X
• ISBN13: 9780761139805
• Release Date: October 2005
• Publisher: Workman Publishing
• Length: 342 Pages
• Weight: 1.12 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Must read for everyone, not just poker players

Cat Hulbert is not only a great poker player, she is also a great writer. Her timeless book is not so much about how to play poker, though important technical issues do get their fair share of ink, rather it concerns itself more with how to be a winning poker player. Cat's shrewd and witty lessons apply to many areas of life in and out of card playing, including business and leadership, because she covers topics like image, self confidence, and thinking things through without wallowing in emotions. I'm an experienced and successful amateur poker player, as well as an avid reader. I normally read very quickly but I chewed slowly on this fascinating smorgasbord of poker wisdom until I had thoroughly digested each appetizing morsel and lingered over the savory aftertaste. This is one entertaining and valuable book I would definitely add to my short list of "if you were marooned on a desert island forever" favorites! Eric Random, Founder Random Factory Independent Critical Thinking RandomVisits@yahoo.com

Favourite book, not many like it

Too bad there aren't more stars to give then "just" 5, because this book deserves every single one of them. I was captured from the first page, couldn't stop reading it, so now I'm about to re-read it. It's hard to count things that are great about this book, because there are so many of them but I might as well give it a try. First of all, Cat seems like an incredible woman with amazing life story and the best thing is that she presents it in a really wise and funny way. Each chapter made me wish she was a good friend of mine. In this book you'll find pretty much everything concerning poker and being a girl playing "boys game" - making yourself feel beautiful about yourself, having confidence when entering a cardroom, protecting your winnings (paying attention if anyone is following you) and a lot more. Anyway, I am thrilled with this book and can honestly recommend it, even guaranteeing you will love it!

Tips for non-poker players.

Even if you never, ever plan to play poker, you'll be entertained (and informed) by Ms. Hulbert's approach to Playing with the Boys. Her writing weaves wit and irreverence into a foundation of solid, genuine skill. She shares her gambling history in a way that transports any armchair reader into a never-to-be-personally-experienced world. As for me, I'd read her even if the subject were clipping coupons -- she's that clever.

Essential to any poker library

Cat is a world-renowned player who covers important aspects of the game not discussed in typical poker books. Learning to value your hands and play properly is just a starting point. The real game is a battle of wits, psychology and demeanor, if you wish to maximize your win rate. This book is very cleverly written with a series of entertaining stories and tips that will improve your game. She discusses tells, where to sit in relation to good and bad players, when to bluff (and when not to!), what kind of image you should project at the table, and a host of other things not covered in other books. This is not just a book for women, although much of it is geared towards preparing them to be winners. Very enjoyable and informative, with many insights into the life of a professional player.

Great for all players

Cat Hulbert reveals the inside world of poker rooms and shares her years of experience at the table in an entertaining style. Extremely valuable tips for both men and women--essential reading for anyone who wants to play a better game of poker.