Tag: The Pros

Review: The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King

Nick Momrik4 Comments

The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King: Inside the Richest Poker Game of All TimeInside the Richest Poker Game of All Time

I’ve had this book sitting on my shelf since Christmas, when I received it as a gift. A few weeks ago I finally got around to reading it and finished it last week. It ranks right up near the top with some of the other poker related books I’ve read.

Before starting on the book I knew the general idea of what the book was about, but I really had no idea the events discussed in the book happened so recently. The “Richest Poker Game” was just before and around the time of Chris Moneymaker’s famous World Series of Poker win.

For those not familiar with everything, “The Professor” in the title refers to poker pro Howard Lederer, “The Banker” refers to Andy Beal, and “The Suicide King” is the King of Hearts because of his sword stabbing his own head. The “Richest Poker Game” was a limit hold’em heads-up match between Andy Beal and a group of poker professionals. The game was played at limits up to $100,000/$200,000, so swings of millions of dollars were not unusual.

Michael Craig did a great job telling the story by piecing together information from many different sources about the game. It’s really an insightful read into the high stakes poker world. I’d easily give it an A.

Jeff Madsen Who?

Nick Momrik1 Comment

Jeff Madsen is a 21-year-old poker player from Los Angeles, CA and he’s dominating the 2006 World Series of Poker (WSOP). This year is obviously his first WSOP and he’s already won 2 bracelets and finished 3rd in another event. Early this morning he made yet another final table and will go for gold bracelet #3. Currently he’s 2nd in the WSOP Player of the Year standings to Phil Hellmuth (20 points behind), but that will change after today’s event is over.

The kid’s results are quite impressive.

07/05/2006 Omaha High-Low 8/OB – 3rd place ($97,552.00)

07/16/2006 No-Limit Hold’em – 1st place ($660,948.00)

07/22/2006 No-Limit Hold’em Short Handed 6/Table – 1st place ($643,381.00)

07/26/2006 Seven Card Stud High-Low 8/OB – 3rd place ($65,971.00)

The interesting thing is that Madsen isn’t dominating any single type of poker. He’s made the final table in 4 completely different games of poker. That’s skill.

2005 WSOP on ESPN

Aside Nick Momrik1 Comment

I finished watching the the broadcasts of the Main Event of the 2005 World Series of Poker a couple of weeks ago. I was only 3 months late, but that’s the beauty of having a DVR. I enjoyed the coverage more than the last two years and I’ll even admit that I enjoyed watching Mike […]

Lederer and Duke Deal with NBC?

Nick Momrik2 Comments

Do Howard Lederer and his sister Annie Duke have a deal with NBC? On this season of Las Vegas they’ve both appeared in different episodes. Annie made a short appearance about two months ago and Howard played a much bigger role in an episode last night. I find it odd there have been two poker pros on the show this year and they just happen to be brother and sister. Or maybe I’m just looking to start a conspiracy theory…

Poker Podcasts

Nick Momrik3 Comments

On my rides to and from work each day I’ve been listening to poker podcasts. Listening to poker discussions keep my mind off the traffic. In the mornings the poker talk gets my mind thinking and after work it helps to relax me after a long day.

My favorite poker podcast without a doubt is Card Club on Lord Admiral Radio. Cincinnati Sean, Brent Stacks, and everyone else who contribute to the show to an excellent job. Congrats on your 1 year anniversary guys!

Another poker podcast I started listening to is Rounders. It’s actually a poker radio show that they turn into a podcast. The radio station is Team 1040 AM out of Vancouver, Canada. My favorite part of the show has been the interviews with some of the top names from the poker world.

What do you know…my two favorite poker podcasts are both from Canada…eh! As a lifetime Michiganer I’m glad to finally find something good to come from our friends across the lake. 😉

Another popular poker podcast is Poker Diagram by Henry and Zog. It comes all the way from London. Each week they play some kind of online poker and discuss their play and other things poker. I listened to a couple of episodes and it was put together well.

I’m sure there are many other podcasts out there related to poker. Do you have some I didn’t mention? Leave a comment because I’d love to check them out.

Review: Poker Face

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Poker Face : A Girlhood Among GamblersKaty Lederer writes about growing up as the younger sister to Howard Lederer and Annie Duke. Poker Face is her true story among the gamblers. The writing is fresh and the content kept me reading.

If you’d like a unique behind the scenes story about some poker pros I suggest you read this book. You’ll find out things about Howard and Annie that you won’t anywhere else. You’ll also see that the life of a poker pro isn’t always flashy like it’s made out to be on TV.

I enjoyed the book because it was different and it was entertaining. I give it a B.