Aces and Kings

Description

Poker is hotter than ever. Here is the inside story of the colourful pros who live and breathe high-stakes betting 24 hours a day, whether in a televised tournament, buying into a private game of no-limit Texas Hold 'Em in the smoky room of a LA casino, or making spontaneous GBP30k bets on the front nine of the golf course. Poker pros are not like us! They have instincts, abilities - not to mention a taste and tolerance for risk - at which most of us can only marvel. The book profiles the game's fifteen most influential players, from the legends of the West Texas school - Puggy Pearson, World Series of Poker winner Doyle Brunson and Amarillo Slim - to the new crop, men such as Daniel Negreanu, who live in MTV-style 'cribs' and hold court with the likes of Leo DiCaprio. Though they came to poker in different ways, all were prodigies - discovering their talent and passion for gambling at a very young age. Based on first-hand interviews and unprecedented access to the players, they reveal their early days, career ups and downs and gambling style, plus the secrets of their winning moves.

Michael Kaplan is a writer in New York. He has written extensively about gambling for Sports Illustrated and Smart Money. He also writes a gambling column for Cigar Aficionado. Brad Reagan, also based in New York, has written about poker for the Wall Street Journal, Las Vegas Life and Men's Journal.

"'Aces and Kings will soon be considered among the classics of its genre. If you liked Big Deal or The Biggest Game in Town, you'll love Kaplan and Reagan's insights into the lives and minds of the world's greatest poker players.' Greg Rayner, 2004 World Series of Poker champion"