What is the book about?
Although I address other topics, the primary subject of this book is how to make money playing poker. This is not a cookbook hand-chart book.

What is the title?
The title is Ace on the River and the subtitle is An Advanced Poker Guide

How much does it cost?
It costs only $25 to increase distribution and also because I want to put a green $25 chip on the back cover denoting the price. This book will be much more substantial than books that cost more. Ace on the River will contain more than 200 full-color photographs. The first printing is 100,000 copies, in order to keep the per copy production price lower and because we think the book will sell well.

Where can I buy it?
It will be available at all online booksellers and at bookstores where poker books are sold. It can also be ordered at Amazon.com.

What audience does this book appeal to?
I think the book will help any player move up one level from where he is. Although this book contains material for high-stakes poker players, it is readable by a mainstream audience. The most complimentary reviews have been by non-players who enjoy a glimpse at a world they can hardly imagine.

Will some of the proceeds go to charity?
No. I would consider this emotional blackmail. If you want to give money to charity, do it. I often have offers to endorse websites or other products with some money going to charity. I never tell anyone to gamble in order to help charitable causes.

What advice do you normally give to someone starting on a poker career?
Normally, I advise people to put their energy into something more productive. I explain that I have played cards since I was a young child. I am a mathematician. I am well versed in psychology. I am very easy going, yet very competitive. In short, I believe I have the essential qualities to be a good poker player. But even with that, it has not always been easy.

Were you the founder of a software company?
Not really. I had my own (one-person) software company when I was in my teens and twenties, but I didn’t make much money from it. In 1985, I was one of the initial employees at a start-up company that became known as Symantec.

But you made lots of money at Symantec which enabled you to finance your poker career, right?
My salary at Symantec was far less than I could have made playing poker at that time. But my years at Symantec were very fulfilling since I was able to do something productive. Also, during my time as a programmer it was easier for me to help my children become more computer literate.

Can you help finance my poker career so I can make money and give some to charity?
I give money to help young children, not poker players. If someone comes to me for help, I assume he is a losing player. Maybe it's the TV and participating stars, I don't know, but around here, poker seems to have captured a whole new generation in a big way. Junior high and high school kids are having big games routinely and it's far more widespread than I ever remember. Beyond TV, the popularity of the game has led to a lot of other forms of media attention, and now your book, which has all this potential for mass-market appeal that just wasn't there even five years ago.

Maybe it's the TV and participating stars, I don't know, but around here, poker seems to have captured a whole new generation in a big way. Junior high and high school kids are having big games routinely and it's far more widespread than I ever remember. Beyond TV, the popularity of the game has led to a lot of other forms of media attention, and now your book, which has all this potential for mass-market appeal that just wasn't there even five years ago. Any thoughts, any qualms, about how this came to be?
Televised poker is similar to reality TV, but poker players are really competing for a million dollars and are not acting. When people watch professional sports they may project themselves as being able to “play with the pros,” but they know it is a fantasy. Viewers of poker can think along with the players and really feel that if they had the opportunity, they might be one of the players at the final table. Many of the viewers actually play poker with family or friends at least a few times a year.

I am uncomfortable when teenagers ask me for poker advice, even though I played a lot of poker when I was in my teens. I have told my teenage son Nathaniel and my teenage nephew Michael that I will not teach them to play poker until they have completed their educations and have accomplished something productive.

You imply that most poker instructional material is written by players who are not able to make a lot of money playing poker. Why would you divulge your secrets if you are such a successful player?
I was flattered that Doyle Brunson asked me to write a chapter for his book. That chapter became my book. Since I worked so hard on the project, I decided to publish it.

I was doing OK until I read your book. Now I have gone on a losing streak. Is it possible that your philosophies don’t apply to my situation?
It is possible, but you are talking about short term results. I would not expect the material in my book to hurt your game, no matter where you play. Another factor: prior to reading my book, you may have played extremely long sessions when you were losing which resulted in some big losses but a better win/loss record, since occasionally you would get even.

Are you expecting to turn the readers of your book into professional poker players?
I hope most readers will realize that it is not so easy to become a professional poker player or will decide that they don’t have the correct psychological makeup to become one.

I see the top players sitting around playing each other. There seems to be no edge for any player. Are you guys just killing time until a live-one sits down?
I can’t speak for everyone, but I have done well against the other top players. Outsiders often claim to know the relative skill level of players in the big games but they are usually mistaken.

There are, though, times that the game would not be worth playing in without the prospect of the game getting better. Also, the biggest game in any poker room is occasionally easier than the second biggest game. The wealthiest non-professionals may want to play for the highest stakes available. Sometimes, players who normally play for smaller stakes take a shot either as a parlay or more frequently because they lost money in a smaller game and they are steaming.

Who has won the most money in the biggest games?
As I mentioned in my analysis of them, Doyle Brunson and Chip Reese are the Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus of poker. They have played in the biggest games in Las Vegas for thirty years. I have played in the biggest games available for the last decade and have probably won the most money. Poker is played for bigger stakes now, and just like on the PGA, the younger players have an opportunity to eclipse the money records of the older pros. Phil Ivey, the most talented young player around, will probably eventually pass us all in terms of career money winnings.

Does that mean that you have won more money than anyone in the history of poker?
You would have to ask Chip Reese, Doyle Brunson or the IRS about that and I’m not sure if any of them could give you an accurate answer. I wouldn’t be surprised to find that a big land deal was decided by a poker game or maybe a kingdom traded hands at the turn of a card. The winner could declare himself to be the biggest winner in poker history.

What is your favorite form of poker?
When we play in the biggest games we usually play a mix of games, eight hands at a time, before moving on to the next game. I like to have as many games in the mix as possible since I am comfortable with all of the games, but some of my opponents are not. The games that make up part of the mix are:

No-limit and pot-limit with $100,000 cap:
(The cap is the maximum amount any player can lose on each hand)

No-limit Deuce-to-Seven single draw
No-limit Hold’em
Pot-limit Omaha
No-Limit Ace-to-Five single draw

$4000-$8000 limit games:

Omaha Eight-or-Better
Seven-Stud High
Seven-Stud Eight-or-Better
Deuce-to-Seven Triple Draw
Limit Hold’em

and occasionally Razz