Decide to Play Great Poker: A Strategy Guide to No-Limit Texas Hold ' Em

Ask the great poker players how they'd play a hand and the answer is always, "It depends." That answer can be infuriating. But guess what? It really does depend. The key to becoming a great poker player is in knowing exactly what it depends on. At last there's a book that gives you that answer.

Poker is a game of so many variables: table position, flop texture, the number of players in a hand, the personalities of your opponents, and so much more. Decide to Play Great Poker teaches you how to identify and analyze those variables, interchange them within basic game-situation templates, and become knowledgeable, comfortable, and confident in any poker situation. Instead of just dictating a bunch of rules that work only some of the time, this book teaches you to become a great poker thinker and strategist, so that you can expertly navigate any poker challenge that you encounter.

Most players think that the goal of poker is to make money. They're wrong! The goal of poker is to make good decisions. Money is simply the way you measure how well you're meeting that objective. So if you're ready to start making world-class decisions at the poker table--and to reap the substantial rewards that those decisions will yield--all you have to do is decide: Decide to Play Great Poker now.

You'll never be vexed by "it depends" again.

Annie Duke earned a double major in English and psychology at Columbia University and an MA in Cognitive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. She was also a National Science Foundation Fellow from 1988 to 1991.

Since 1994, she has dominated poker, quickly establishing herself as one of the world's best players. In her very first tournament at the World Series of Poker, she placed 13th.

In 2004, she won her first WSOP bracelet (in the $2,000-buy-in Omaha Hi/Lo Split). That same year, she knocked out nine poker legends to win the no-limit Texas hold 'em invitation-only WSOP Tournament of Champions.

In 2010, Annie won the prestigious NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship, beating 64 of the world's top players on her way to a $500,000 first prize.

Annie parlayed her skills into an industry-leading career that encompasses tournament play, advising gaming companies, authoring instructional books and videos, and as a proponent of players' rights. A longtime industry advocate, Annie has testified in front of the U.S. House of Representatives' Judiciary Committee on online poker legislation and the U.S. House of Representatives' Financial Services Committee; she continues to be a leading voice for online gaming.

Annie has also become a prominent television personality, and is recognized worldwide for her runner-up finish on Donald Trump's "Celebrity Apprentice." Today, she is League Commissioner of Federated Sports + Gaming. She's also an instructor at the World Series of Poker Academy.

John Vorhaus has written more than two million words on poker, including the Killer Poker book series and the poker novel Under the Gun. He has also penned the "sunshine noir" mystery novels The California Roll and The Albuquerque Turkey, as well as dozens of television and film scripts. He travels the world teaching and training writers--26 countries on four continents at last count.

"As a poker player," says John, "I'm a pretty good writer."