How to Win the World Series of Poker (or Not): An All-American Tale

How to Win the World Series of Poker (or Not) chronicles the author’s journey to play in poker’s big leagues: the World Series of Poker. Pat Walsh begins by playing online poker for pennies at his kitchen table, continues his expedition with stops at church basements, a mansion, the back room of a bar, an Indian casino, and finally the hallowed poker rooms of Las Vegas (known among hobos and preachers as the Devil’s Porch Light).

On the road to triumph (or ruin), Pat lives out a dream he shares with millions of other players and fans—all the while trying to juggle his family life, his work, and his beloved gambling. How to Win the World Series of Poker (or Not) is a book about poker, but it is also a book about those all-American ideas of using a little bit of skill, a fair bit of guile, and an enormous amount of luck to grab the big win that will change your life. Or not.