Deal Me In -- Poker Pro Annie DukeAn Exclusive Excerpt from Phil Hellmuth's New Book |
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In its pages are never-before-revealed details of the lives of some of the biggest names in poker. Phil Hellmuth’s new book profiles 20 of the biggest poker players in the world, giving the reader an intimate look at the game’s biggest celebrities.
Deal Me In, a collection of autobiographical accounts from many of poker’s elite, is now available to order online exclusively at www.pokerbrat.com. The book highlights the struggles, obstacles, and tragedies that 20 of the greatest poker pros have overcome in their journeys to the top.
CardPlayer.com is providing exclusive excerpts from the book each Sunday. This week’s passage focuses on one of the most well known female pros in the game, Annie Duke. She talks about how her brother encouraged her to pick up the game in this excerpt:
“What was perhaps a defining moment in my life occurred while I was in graduate school. My brother invited me to come visit him in Las Vegas, where he was playing in the World Series of Poker. I was 21 or 22 the first time he flew me out.
“When I arrived, he took me out to dinner at Hugo’s Wine Cellar in the Four Queens Casino. I remember being impressed by how fancy the place was. Of course, back then I saw Chili’s as upscale. I was living on a graduate student’s income — $13,000 a year. The few times I could afford eating out, it was at a place called Salad Alley, where a meal cost $3.00.
“So I thought it was really extravagant for my big brother to put me up at the Golden Nugget and take me to a fine restaurant. The trip was a great break from my studies. I spent a few hours at the blackjack tables, but most of the time I watched Howard play poker.
“The following year, he flew me out to Vegas again. We were sitting in Binion’s coffee house, discussing plans over dinner, when Howard asked, “Why not try playing some poker this trip instead of just watching it?”
“I told him I didn’t think I could play at that level, but he didn’t blink. “You’ve watched me play a lot. Don’t worry. You’ll do great.”
“He took a napkin off the table, wrote down a list of starting hands that I was allowed to play, and sent me off to try $1-$3 limit hold’em at the Fremont. The strategy kept me on a short lease. Basically, I was permitted to play A-J or better in unpaired hands and two sixes or better if I had a pair. I took the napkin and headed for the casino.
“I still had my misgivings, but I went anyway. I had grown up in a card-playing family — I was my dad’s bridge partner by the time I was 14 — so the idea of playing poker wasn’t that scary, but actually betting money on the game against opponents with more experience than I was unnerving. I didn’t want to lose. I was worried about the money, but more worried about disappointing my brother.”
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