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Editorial Review Product Description
If you look around the table and you can't tell who the sucker is, it's you. On any given Friday night, hundreds of thousands of Americans--men and women alike -- pile into kitchens, garages, and backrooms to play their weekly poker game. From basement games in the suburbs to illegal gambling clubs in New York City to the high-stakes World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, Andy Bellin has anted up with some of the world's greatest players. In Poker Nation, he takes us on a raucous journey into the shut-up-and-deal world of professional poker.Even if you don't know the difference between a flop and a river card -- or you do know exactly what it means to have "the nuts" -- Bellin is your ace in the hole as you navigate this uniquely American terrain. Look over his shoulder as he learns to count cards, read a legendary player's body language, hang in there when the chips are down, and, yes, take his beatings like a man. Watch what goes on behind the scenes in illegal poker clubs found in every major city in the country. Meet the colorful personalities and skewed psyches of the players, the dreamers, hustlers, eccentrics, and hucksters who are all part of this strange subculture. Part memoir, part exposé, part how-to (or how-not-to), Poker Nation takes a frank and funny look at one of America's enduring obsessions. It's a sure bet.Amazon.com Review
Readers who enjoy poker will love Poker Nation, an energetic and obsessive account of America's favorite card game, told with intelligence and panache. Andy Bellin writes in the first person and from the gut, recounting stories about poker fanatics (himself among them) and dispensing advice on how to play the game: "You have to maximize profits through guile and savvy, eke out every last dollar that your competition is willing to lose to you--and, when you don't have the winning cards, flee as fast as possible." Aphorisms leap off the pages: "The worst hand in poker is the second-best one at the table" and "People say the mark of a con is in the details." Whether readers prefer the anecdotes about double-bluffing and illegal poker clubs or the tips on when to hold and when to fold (there's even a table showing the "Chances of Drawing Helpful Cards from a Deck of Forty-Seven Unknown Cards"), anybody interested in its subject matter will find Poker Nation engrossing. --John Miller ... Read moreCustomer Reviews (52) 
good read, but . . .
Ok, this book is a lot of fun to read, especially if you are a serious poker player,But can anyone explain this sentence to me from page 209? :"The petty crooks . . .are, in actuality, nothing more than the low-level criminals they turn out to be."Sorry to be pick out just one sentence, but this makes absolutely no sense at all.I would expect a professional writer, with an editor and proof readers to help him, to do avoid this sort of thing. Am I wrong?
fun & informative
This book reminds me of another good poker book, All In by Jonathan Grotenstein & Storms Reback.It a little bit of many different things.There's poker advice, poker history, biographies, poker stories, and humor.It's a great book for someone who wants to learn a thing or two about poker but doesn't just want to read strategy books like Super System.
great book
If you ever wondered if the world of poker is for you, read this book! most poker players will never set at the million dollar game(or table) - most poker players have to grind it out hour after hour - this book tells you all about that world!
A good read for traders aka gamblers
I dont play poker at all. I picked this book up with the intent of improving my stock, currency and commodities trading under the premise that professional poker players and traders are two of a kind. Despite my ignorance of poker, I find this book a real page turner covering not only poker skills and tactics, but its addictive and even devastating effect on life of many poker players. It's very interesting and informative. The author's writing skill is excellent. No matter whether you like poker or not, if you are interested in reading fascinating stories, you will be very satisfied.
p.s. As per whether it will help my trading, a little bit, I must say.
Great intro to the world of poker
"Poker Nation" is the perfect introductory book for those new to the game, especially if you've just started getting into the 2005 World Series of Poker coverage. It's more of a series of anecdotes, musings, and observations than it is an Xs and Os how-to guide, so you won't get overwhelmed by the technical aspects of the game. Bellin's personal style of writing conveys all the highs and lows that poker can entail, and does so in a humorous, self-deprecating manner. If you're like me and rarely read books from cover-to-cover, you might be surprised how much of an easy read this can be.
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