Everyone should know how to play poker. Really they should! Intelligence at the poker table translates into intelligence in life. Really, it does!Most American's lean to play poker, using pennies, on the family kitchen table. Our stories start with lessons from wily Grandpa, Missy, Junior, and Mother, all sitting in on a family poker game. Many poker players venture out to casino poker rooms and play against professionals. Multiple skills are required to give a beginner a fair shot. We'll learn to count cards, to steal antes, even how to survive after you lose all of your money playing against 'poker experts.' Really, it can happen!In fun, we describe a variety of zany poker games. You'll learn how the world's greatest player wins in a tough game. What's it like playing Texas Hold'em as a 'Giant?' How to play Seven-Card stud against a 'Devil' or with an 'Angel.' And, finally you'll hear a tale about 'dealers choice poker,' a game that changed the world! Really, it did! While this book deals with poker in a light-hearted, fun way, the poker lessons are sound. They can change 'losers' into 'winners' at social poker.
Dr. Barton Gratt is an avid poker player and a serious student of the game. He has won numerous poker tournaments in Washington State, plus a major Texas Hold'em Poker Championship in Reno, Nevada. With growing confidence, Dr. Gratt began writing stories for Poker Digest Magazine, Card Player Magazine, and the periodical Northwest Fun and Games. Dr. Gratt has taught a course entitled, "Poker for Fun and Profit" at the University of Washington's Experimental College. Previously, Dr. Gratt has written a poker column for Card Player Magazine entitled, "Dear Acey."
Dr. Gratt was employed, on a part-time basis, as a Proposition Poker Player at the Tulalip Casino, in Marysville, Washington, as reported in his book, Paid To Play Poker. Being employed as a Proposition Poker Player allowed Dr. Gratt to collect live-action poker data. Paid to Play Poker was Dr. Gratt's second poker book, published in 2005, following by his first poker book, Poker Stories with Winning Lessons, published in 2002.
In addition, Barton M. Gratt, DDS, PhD, is Professor Emeritus from UCLA and a Board Certified Oral Maxillo-Facial Radiologist. As an undergraduate, he attended UC Berkeley, followed by the UCLA School of Dentistry ('71). He later obtained a PhD from the University of Bergen in Norway. He has published over 100 scientific articles in peer reviewed scientific journals. Dr. Gratt is also Past-President of the American Board of Oral Maxillo-Facial Radiology.
Upon retirement from UCLA, Dr. Gratt now works part-time teaching as an oral radiologist at the University of Washington, in the Department of Oral Medicine. In addition, Dr. Gratt maintains an active Oral Radiology consulting practice from his home in Redmond, Washington.
