Annie Duke: How I Raised, Folded, Bluffed, Flirted, Cursed and Won Millions at the World Series of Poker

by Annie Duke

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Reviewer: Kaycee - In Praise of Annie Duke

If you thought Annie was just another pretty face at the poker table, you really, really really need to read her book; “How I Raised, Folded, Bluffed, Flirted, Cursed and Won Millions at the World Series of Poker”. Probably the first thing that came to my mind when I started reading this book was, “Wow, this woman can really write!” It’s not some silly ghost written autobiography where the famous person’s voice sounds so contrived and trite. This sounds like genuine Annie. (Not that I know her, but she’s pretty convincing) And this woman is no slouch. She did all the work required for her PhD in Psychology but didn’t finish the presenting of it. Instead, she had a panic attack, got married to a man she’d been friends with but never dated, and started playing poker in Montana to pay the rent. Now, she did have one big advantage in her favor, a brother, Howard Lederer, who was willing to back Annie on her poker journey. I wish that my brother could do the same for me!

This book is loaded with back story about how she grew up in the house of an English Professor (Dad) and card playing, drinking actress wanna be (mom), the stresses involved in such an upbringing, and how this homestead managed to produce not one, but two world class poker players. (Although I do think that Annie is a stitch better than her brother since she seems to knock him out on occasion)

This back story is interspersed with chapters that contain a blow by blow of her World Series of Poker 2004, Omaha High Low win. I found these chapters particularly interesting. She really allows you to feel what it would be like to be there. And she lets you in on the little things that the TV cameras leave out, like what happens during break times, who hangs out with whom and little insights into their play. She lets you know what it’s like to have kids, hang out with them, then toddle off to win a few hundred thousand dollars that afternoon.

The chapters on the championship, No Limit Holdem, Tournament of Champions, winner take all, one table tournament were also great. Again she paints a great picture of what it feels like to be sat down at a table of greats, all competing for a 2 million dollar purse, with nothing for second place! And she won! What an accomplishment! She had to beat her brother, Phil Helmuth and Ivy, a Brunson, to name a few. Once again great reading.

If you’re looking for a book laden with strategy and poker insights and instructions, this is not a book for you. She does pepper the chapters with a few little hints and tips as she’s writing about her experiences, but I wouldn’t buy it in hopes that it’s Annie’s answer to “Super System”, because you will be truly disappointed. However, if you’re a poker addict who likes to read, then this book weaves a great yarn, is a wonderful read, not insulting to the discerning reader, and very very difficult to put down. It’s one of those books that you keep reading because you can’t wait to see what happens, but then, you realize the end is nigh, so you start to read very very slow. I sure to hope Annie has more books in her because I would most certainly read them. And you should too.

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