How to Win the World Series of Poker (or Not): An All-American Tale [Mass Market Paperback]

Pat Walsh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 30, 2006

How to Win the World Series of Poker (or Not) chronicles the author’s journey to play in poker’s big leagues: the World Series of Poker. Pat Walsh begins by playing online poker for pennies at his kitchen table, continues his expedition with stops at church basements, a mansion, the back room of a bar, an Indian casino, and finally the hallowed poker rooms of Las Vegas (known among hobos and preachers as the Devil’s Porch Light).

On the road to triumph (or ruin), Pat lives out a dream he shares with millions of other players and fans—all the while trying to juggle his family life, his work, and his beloved gambling. How to Win the World Series of Poker (or Not) is a book about poker, but it is also a book about those all-American ideas of using a little bit of skill, a fair bit of guile, and an enormous amount of luck to grab the big win that will change your life. Or not.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Real poker players will cringe at this slim—literally and figuratively—account of one man's run at the World Series of Poker's (WSOP) main event: the No-Limit Hold'em tournament held annually in Las Vegas (buy-in: $10,000). The author, formerly senior editor at independent publisher MacAdam/ Cage, acknowledges that he's not one of the game's luminaries, but his play, at least to the extent described here, is laughably bad. And the book is not much better. The conceit is that he'll write a funny story chronicling his preparation for and participation in the tournament (and use his advance to pay his $10,000 entry fee), but the tone is more sarcastic than genuinely humorous. Even worse, there isn't much drama; the outcome of his quest—losing in a field of more than 5,600—is inevitable. The account of the tournament occupies just 16 pages; the rest is preamble. While Walsh does capture the essence of the WSOP dream—that an amateur can beat the pros—he never distills any of his experience into wisdom that's helpful in poker or in life. (June)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

PAT WALSH was until recently senior editor of the independent publisher MacAdam/Cage and was previously a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle. He is the author of 78 Reasons Why Your Book May Never Be Published and 14 Reasons Why It Just Might (Penguin).

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Plume (May 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452287367
• ISBN-13: 978-0452287365
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,329,859 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Walsh Reigns, June 25, 2006

By 

Phillip Jennings "PEJ" (Kirkland, WA United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: How to Win the World Series of Poker (or Not): An All-American Tale (Mass Market Paperback)

Pat Walsh is one of the funniest writers in America. You don't have to be a poker player or wannabe to enjoy this great book on America's newest love affair--poker. The dialogue with his wife, convincing her they should invest $10k in the buy-in, is worth the price of this book alone.

5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars For Humor, May 1, 2009

By 

Polly Darcey (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Win the World Series of Poker (or Not): An All-American Tale (Mass Market Paperback)

I think the other four reviewers before me have stated it all. Book is very realistic. And very, very, very funny (in a good way). I got some really big laughs. The guy who wrote it should be a comedian.

5.0 out of 5 stars All In !!!, April 13, 2009

By 

Swubird (Orange County, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Win the World Series of Poker (or Not): An All-American Tale (Mass Market Paperback)

I decided to post a review of How to Win the World Series of Poker, by Pat Walsh, because I think it's a great little book to read if you're interested in playing Texas Holdem'. This book won't waste your time. It's interesting, it's informative and it's well written. I rarely read an entire book in one sitting, but I couldn't put this one down - every page kept me wanting more. I was on the couch. I was at the kitchen table. I was in the bathroom. My wife threatened to hide the thing from me, but I finished it. I sure hope he writes a sequel!

Mr. Walsh decided he wanted to win the World Series of Poker, and I have to hand it to him, he literally put his money where is mouth is. He went from playing penny-ante poker at his kitchen table with family and friends, to entering the high-stakes world series of no-limit Texas Holdem' in Las Vegas, Nevada. That's a $10,000 buy-in, folks, so the man deserves a little respect. Throughout his fantasy journey he kept meticulous notes, and his book details his upward spiraling learning curve, as well as his setbacks and frustrations. That's right, he gives equal writing to his failures. But the man didn't quit. That's the thing. He wanted to be a winner. He read poker books. He memorized the odds. He played online, and experimented with computer simulation programs. He learned to watch people - to know their quirks - to recognize their revealing tells. For months and months only one thought drove his life - Holdem'.

It really doesn't matter if you're retired, or a youngster. If you want to play Texas Holdem', read this upbeat and absorbing book. It's honest, and it'll tell you what you need to know by someone who was actually there and who actually did what you want to do. So what'a ya say pilgrim: check, call, or pass?