The cover of this book by Al Alvarez quotes the London Evening Standard, “…probably the best book on poker ever written.” I’ve read other places online making similar claims and although I haven’t read every book on poker written, this has been the best I’ve turned a page on.

Alvarez has a way with words that makes reading easy and fun. I almost read the entire book on the flight to Philadelphia and couldn’t even put it down when we landed. From what I knew before reading The Biggest Game in Town, it was about the 1981 World Series of Poker, but that is barely the case. Most of the book is composed of gambling stories explaining why the best players in the world play the game. It explains desires and motives of gamblers, giving a new insight into the poker world.

You learn things about Doyle Brunson, Jack Strauss, Stu Ungar, Amarillo Slim, and other poker players that you won’t find anywhere else. After reading this book and Positively Fifth Street, I have a whole new vision of the poker life. Read this book if you enjoy the game.

I give Alvarez’s work an A+.