Poker: Bets, Bluff, and Bad Beats

By Al Álvarez

Book Overview

A smoke-filled room. The clink of chips breaking the silence of furious concentration. The occasional muttering of "check," "raise," and "fold," as staggering amounts are wagered on a simple hand of five cards. In this fascinating book, acclaimed writer A. Alvarez narrates the history of poker-its most amazing stories, unforgettable players, and incredible hands. From the first great Las Vegas poker marathon, in which Nick the Greek played Johnny Moss for five months straight, to the more recent World Series of Poker, Alvarez captures a subculture rich with legend. His lively text is combined with a colorful array of poker-inspired art, advertisements, movie stills, and photos to create an entertaining ode to the pastime that is not so much a game of cards as a way of life.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0811827518
• ISBN13: 9780811827515
• Release Date: June 2001
• Publisher: Chronicle Books
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 1.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 1.0" x 1.0"
• Age Range: 13 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

Good book but missing something...

Alvarez is a great writer and the history of poker detailed in the book is very interesting; I enjoy any story from poker's hay-days. The only problem I had was with the missing text between pages 39-40 where he quotes Jennings Perry about tells. It would be great if someone could post the missing text.

Nifty addition to any poker enthusiast's library

Cool book to peruse on a rainy afternoon for those who fancy themselves as poker enthusiasts. While the book provides no insight or tips on game strategy - keep in mind that that's not what this book is for. Rather, it delves into other topics such as the history of the game, the colorful personalities, game lore and historical/memorable bad beats and monster calls. The other great highlight of this book are the numerous illustrations pulled from a few centuries worth of poker art found in advertising, book covers, etc.

pleasant surprise

Bought it for a friend...cheated...and read it before giving it. What at first appears to be a coffee table picture book is actually a well written, informative and lively account of various poker facts and stories. If you love poker you'll definitely enjoy this book