The Making Of A Poker Player: How An Ivy League Math Geek Learned To Play Championship Poker

by Matt Matros

A strategy book drawn from Matt Matros' gripping journey into the poker world, from school playground games to casino card rooms and on to poker tournaments where he played against, and defeated, the greatest players in the business. Readers will discover how to hold their own against any player, accrue winning tips and tricks, absorb theory on reading tells, learn how to apply logic and probability, get the basics for playing online and take in the lingo for discussing every other aspect of modern poker strategy.

286 pages, Paperback

First published April 5, 2005

Reviews

[Yves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written in a sincere style laced with humour, Matt Matros takes the reader on his journey from a neophyte enamoured by poker to a top-ranked, world-class player. Practical lessons run like veins of gold through this very readable and re-readable book. Some parts have you laughing out loud, other make you think. You emerge from reading it a slightly better poker player because this book delivers something few other poker books think to communicate ... context. The continual analysis and out-loud thinking, insecurities, and foibles of the improving poker player are all here to revisit. Near the end that oh-so-rare admission that Matt had to take his entire poker game back into the 'shop' for a tune-up brings the reader into the real world.

After writing this book Matt actually goes on to greater glory as a player and I was hoping that a second book would head into my library, proposed title "The Forging of a Poker Player: How an Ivy League Math Geek stepped up in the World of Poker Competition". I would read such a book with great pleasure, especially the parts about preparing for the World Series of Poker where Matt has won three (!!!) WSOP bracelets.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can I not love the first book written by a good friend of mine? If you are just getting started at poker, or if you're a long time player contemplating the leap to professional status, this is a great read.

[Gregory]

This was a good book, b/c it was more of a story than theory, but theory is mixed in. The author is a mathametician, so he does get technical.