The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King, Michael Craig
They played Heads Up Limit Hold'em with blinds of up to $100,000 / 200,000. The minimum raise on Turn and River was a dizzy $400,000. No, this is not a joke! And yes, this incredible poker story really happened!
Multi-millionaire Andy Beal (Andrew Beal) was this 'crazy guy' who played against the best poker professionals from Las Vegas - Todd & Doyle Brunson, Chau Giang, Jennifer Harman, Ted Forrest, David Grey, Howard ‘The Professor’ Lederer, Johnny Chan, Phil Ivey, Gus Hansen, etc. – for these horrendous stakes. Author Michael Craig goes through the whole story in minute detail and demonstrates that Andy Beal played with calculation against 'the Greatest Poker Players'. Beal developed computer programs (or rather had them developed) to investigate the mathematics of poker, which at that time were still not yet fully understood, and other imaginative inventions in the hope of beating the professionals. He played alone alternately against the previously mentioned professionals and he still had his chances! (We do not reveal more at this point...)
The actual duels, that is, concrete hands, etc., are not analyzed. This documentary poker book is a little gold mine of background information about the pros, Las Vegas and the big business of gambling. Those who really want to know how the professionals think will find some answers here.
Conclusion: This is an absolute must and at the same time top entertainment for every genuine poker fan. It is well suited for bedtime reading as it is easy to follow without having to absorb highly strategic concepts.
The book rejoices under the title of 'The Professor, the Banker and the Suicide King: Inside the Richest Poker Game of All Time’. A very good knowledge of English is required to enjoy reading this book.
