Poker Wisdom of a Champion

by Doyle Brunson, Mike Caro (Introduction)

Learn what it takes to be a great poker player by climbing inside the mind of poker's most famous champion. Fascinating anecdotes and adventures from Doyle's early career playing poker in roadhouses are interspersed with lessons from the champion who has made more money at poker than anyone else in history. Learn what makes a great player tick, how he approaches the game, and receive candid, powerful advice from the legend himself. 208 pages

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports, Self Help

192 pages, Paperback

First published November 4, 2003

About the author

Doyle Brunson, nicknamed "Texas Dolly" is an American poker player, who won the World Series of Poker in 1976 and 1977.

Reviews

[Jason Koivu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vastly more digestible than the massive Doyle Brunson's Super System. This is not the best book for a beginner looking to learn how to play or when it's advisable to play certain hands. However, Brunson's a poker champ from the old school and not listening to his advice would be like turning a deaf ear to Ray Kroc before you set out to start a fast-food restaurant chain.

I personally like Doyle "Texas Dolly" Brunson because he's a big ol' Texan with the charm and cowboy hat to boot! His best playing days are behind him - he won the World Series of Poker twice in its early incarnation - but I still like to watch and root for him. I like the way he comports himself at the table. Pure class and respect for the other players. None of this sunglasses, hoodie, and jumping up from the table like a monkey BS.



“Poker is a game of people. That’s the most important lesson you should learn….people…and the strategy you use against them. More than any other game, Poker depends on your understanding your opponent.”

“Through it all, I’ve learned that, in life, a man’s not beaten even though he’s all-in. You can’t count him out until the fall of the last card.”

[Denise Spicer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eight chapters on such topics as poker for the wrong reasons, bad habits, strategies and tactics, advice away from the table, home poker. 198 pages of text. For poker aficionadas this book has great tips. For non-players it is still fun as it provides great anecdotes form author’s personal experiences and these are often quite humorous.

[Miguel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on the art of gambling and the short stories are a page turner. Quick read and thorough book.

[Erik Livingstone]

A good one to pick up and put down over the years.

[Paddy Reddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed Doyle's anecdotes about his early playing days to illustrate great points about the game.

[Artaud · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a good storyteller and a wise man

[Mike Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book read like a Texan sitting down over his cards and a couple of frosty beers telling you about his life on the road. A very intelligent and cagey Texan, who does what he does better than anyone before or since. I think that there have been poker players before and after Doyle who have beaten him, some that may know parts of the game better than him, but none TRULY exemplify the game more than him. This book is him. You almost have to read it with a drawl! But you see, from page 1, that this guy is no idiot. Brunson was scouted by the LAKERS for jebus sake! He is competitive, contemplative, humorous, and honest. You can't expect more of a poker player, a man or a texan! Thanks for writing this Doyle! I loved it!

[Kristen Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brunson is a multiple World Series Of Poker bracelet winner. He has a poker hand and a poker tournament named after him. In his book, he recounts the important lessons he's learned in all his years of playing poker. He remembers his years on the underground poker circuit and when a handshake meant something. He is not sentimental, more that he is frank about his experiences. He talks about when its a good idea not to play poker, and he tells stories about playing poker for the wrong reasons. More interesting than that, he teaches important techniques about how to be successful in Texas Hold'em. He tells stories about when he learned vital lessons about when to walk away.

[Joe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some neat stories from an old poker player, but not the greatest book in the world. The stories are pretty good but moderately predictable. There's a great story about a guy who sits at a table with a red book with the titles on it etched in gold: "How to Bluff and Win Every Time." Everybody sees the book, and the title, and everybody calls him all the time. And he's winning every hand.

So when he gets up from the table, he leaves the book, and when they open it, every page is blank except for the first one, and all it says is, "Don't."

Or maybe that story is in another book. Whatever.

[Nick Blasier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just read this in about 2 hours last night. Had low expectations, was pleasantly surprised - I expected Doyle to suck more at writing I guess. It was fine, and aptly titled. Maybe not going to learn any big secrets to strategy from this book or particular of tactics, but it has a lot of short little stories that get your head in the right place. Not sure how interesting it'd be to someone who doesn't play.

[Michael Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book I have ever read from Doyle Brunson and a gift from a good friend Eric. I would rec this to anyone who plays poker but especially anyone who wants to read the thicker SUPER series of Doyle's books.

It is full of hints and tips as well as great poker table stories from one of the game's greats!

[CV Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice little book of short anecdotes and advice from the poker master who's seen it all. Doyle's soft spoken and observant and that's the calm feeling you get while he relates these tales to you - each with a moral and each with a little bit you can take away and improve your own game. It's almost zen, the way he approaches the game.

[RedSycamore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a down to earth collection of entertaining (and informative) anecdotes. While it definitely focuses on poker philosophy rather than detailed instruction, Doyle's advice is valuable to any player who wants to be successful and happy at the poker table - no matter the stakes.

[Erik · Rating 2 out of 5]

Light reading.

[Rob Danielson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great 'in between' book. Light reading. Good on the bowl. If you like poker, I recommend it.

[Aaron York · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but very powerful - A lot of short stories and lessons on life and playing poker. Good read for anyone.. even if you aren't a card player.

[Mnawrocki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bunch of short stories probably from Doyle's magazine/newspaper columns. Light reading.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read(3 hours) lots of short chapter/stories with quick tips on poker along the way overall a good book

[ALFREDO BALLARINI]

To quickly understand the importance of game theory and money management in any high volatility activities