Poker Nation: A High-Stakes, Low-Life Adventure Into The Heart Of A Gambling Country (2003) - Plot & Excerpts
Andy Bellin seems to accomplish two things in his book, Poker Nation. While it is presented as entertaining poker memoir, it's also a lesson on how to be a better player. As I was reading and laughing at his stories and characters, I noticed he would slip in situations that asked the reader to consider strategy. It's the same strategy you might find in a Sklansky book, but Bellin gives you a better feel for actually being at the table and trying to make the decision. For example. . .He talks about Rich who had a good job and a good wife, but lost everything, because he couldn't fold a hand. He had to play everything to the river. Who hasn't been tempted to play anything to end a losing streak? That's the genius of his book. It was an interesting story and a cautionary tale about foolish play.Between anecdotes he slips in the advice that it's tough to get back to even after you've lost half your money. Life is really just one big poker game. Forget whether this one session is successful. It's better to leave a game that isn't working and make your money in a future game that suits your style of play. He also advises that having a cap on winnings is foolish for the same reasons. Why can't you win a ton in one session?Bellin talks about check raising and pot odds and position and all the things that the instructional books talk about, but he offers these things in the format of situations he has encountered. Also he shares many great stories of famous and not famous players and how different people come to play poker for fun or for a living. The book is not only quick and fun to read, but it offers some great advice between the lines.
This is probably the third time I've read this book all the way through, and probably the fourth or fifth time I've read certain chapters. This book has a little bit of everything and I'd highly recommend it for any poker player who wants to take the game even semi-seriously. If you play poker and you have any desire to win, even just a little at the weekly game with all your buddies playing for nickels, dimes and quarters, you must read this book. If you have a friend or family member who plays poker and takes it even somewhat seriously and you want to know a little something about what makes them tick, then this book will interest you greatly.Bellin flawlessly weaves explanation and instruction with stories both from his life and others, both at the table and away from it. When I first read this book it was for tips on how to become a better poker player and Bellin taught me the fundamentals in a way that both helped me and stuck with me. But I've re-read this book for the stories. Some are short anecdotes to illustrate a point he is making about how to play, others are just to pull back the curtain and take you deep into the poker world. Both triumphant and tragic, the book can also serve as a cautionary tale to those considering taking poker very seriously. If you are thinking about becoming a professional poker player, read this book first and then make your decision.
What do You think about Poker Nation: A High-Stakes, Low-Life Adventure Into The Heart Of A Gambling Country (2003)?
Pretty enjoyable overview of how and why people become "professional" poker players. Some of the charts and probabilities are worth scanning over (I guess I'm not going to be a pro player), but Bellin's writing is generally solid enough to make me care about his cards and what his opponents were doing.If anything, this book came out a little too early--before the rise of WSOP and Celebrity Poker Showdown on cable. There's passing mention to Annie Duke (in a section on women playing poker), who wound up becoming enough of a celebrity to annoy Donald Trump.
—Brad
This is a book that is heavy on memoir and light on strategy, tactics, and how to. In that sense it is different from most of the other poker books which claim to help you get rich (90%+ market share I'd guess).You need to appreciated the subtext of the book to understand for instance the effect of the ban on online poker in social terms. Though not his point his narrative details why Poker ought to be regulated differently to keep it above board.My other observation is that his "Poker Nation" is probably like 99.5% in New York City at underground semi-legal, semi-illegal clubs. A step above home games run by mobsters and such.It's also might be taken as the northern version of the way Amarillo Slim and Doyle Brunson used to go from town to town playing in back rooms and carrying guns. Of course this didn't happen in the 60s but in the 90s.
—Curtis Butturff
I'm really familiar with poker and recognized the names of the pro players in the book. A lot of it felt like reviewing poker basics and the statistics glazed my eyes over, but I enjoyed the personal stories and experiences the most. I think this would be a great book for a beginner player or someone who doesn't know much about the game. Personal preference would have been heavier on the personal experiences rather than the poker lessons. Overall, this was a good book for someone interested in reading about a poker player.
—Jennifer
