2008 Woodie Awards
Poker Star and Successful Author Lou Krieger Publishes The Poker Player's Bible
Dom Delgardo
Issue date: 4/13/05 Section: Arts & Entertainment
- Page 1 of 1
| |
|
While the book's general focus is toward those players with little or no poker knowledge, there is always something the expert can learn. "I hope they'd [experienced players] get something out of it," said Krieger. The topics range from simple betting positions to more advanced ideas such as pot odds and calculating percentages for a winning hand.
For those familiar with the world of poker, the legend Doyle Brunson's Super-System is a familiar book. Known as the "textbook of poker," it was a big influence for Krieger while he wrote this book. Unlike many poker books released with many players dividing up the chapters of the book, Lou is the only voice in The Poker Player's Bible, a system that allows him to give volumes of his own advice rather than being limited to one or two chapters.
This book is not Krieger's first work on the subject. His writing endeavors began in 1999 when he wrote both Hold'em Excellence: From Beginner to Winner and More Hold'em Excellence: A Winner for Life. He then teamed up with the Dummies series for editions on both poker and gambling. His last two works before the poker bible were on Internet Poker and the slightly less mainstream game, "Omaha."
Lou was introduced to poker when he was a kid growing up in Brooklyn while he sat with his father at the weekly game held in their kitchen. Since then, poker has seriously blossomed into a mainstream attraction. "It's particularly popular with college kids." Before this "boom," as Krieger put it, poker was thought of as horse-racing is today-- a sport filled with rich, old, white men. But with the fame of such players as Phil Ivey, Mike Mizrachi, and other young guns, the poker world has been blessed with a "resurgence, giving the game new life."
With this sudden jump into the limelight, poker has also gotten some negative opinions. ESPN's new original series "Tilt," for example, depicts the grimy side of poker. With Michael Madsen, star of Pulp Fiction and the Kill Bill series, as the lead role, "Tilt" doesn't have one honest character. It shows players committing murder and ripping of tournaments. Many feel this show puts a very negative light on the game. Krieger, on the other hand, said, "I don't see it being as harmful as others do." He went on to say, "it's so over the top. The average viewer realizes it's just television."
On the other hand, Krieger believes that ESPN and other TV networks have been major contributors to the growing popularity of Poker. Between ESPN's routine airing of the World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tour, and other networks picking up Celebrity Poker and other tournament shows, it's hard to go a full day without seeing one hand of poker on television.
While these shows promote the game, they definitely should not be used as a poker tutorials. Krieger explained this when he said, "Those who learn from The World Poker Tour are learning wrong." So many variables factor into professional poker playing that are different from cash games played at casino tables. Lou said that "straights and flushes don't exist in short handed games, and if they do it's because you're backing into them." TV tournaments should definitely be used educationally only to some extent; strategies should not be learned simply by watching hands on ESPN because many hands are edited out of the program. It's shocking how many hands most players actually fold.
Lou also has a stronghold on online poker-- another avenue where a lot of young people go to sharpen up their skills. Royal Vegas Poker is a company that was started around last year. The company asked Lou to be the face of their annual College Poker Championship, which is underway now. "I like the concept of it," said Krieger. "I believe that the lessons of poker are the lessons of life." In it's first year, the CPC held 10,000 seats, and this year it doubled to roughly 20,000 people.
From risk-analysis to figuring out cost-benefit ratios and investments, there are so many valuable skills that can be obtained from studying poker. According to Krieger, many brokerage firms use hold'em as a training tool for their new traders.
The surge of internet poker has also served as a path for young players to get into the big tournaments such as the WSOP. Because of their experience in online games and their aggressive style of play, young players are getting a bad reputation from veterans of the game. Krieger believes that younger players are no different than middle-aged players and many that are older than that. "Some are extremely respectful, some pretty respectful, and then there are some with boorish behavior. I think it's a bad rap young people get in any endeavor."
Either way, the style of play in poker is definitely evolving, and while many are complaining about its aggressive nature, Krieger embraces it. "Poker, like art, music, literature, and poetry, changes throughout time. The older players will have to adjust." Krieger is very passionate about the game of poker, and it can be seen in his round-the-clock work ethic.
Lou has also just finished up shooting a new reality show entitled "Vegas Virgins," where he is both a commentator and tutor for the cast members. He was also recently named one of the most influential gaming writers of the past century by Casino Journal Magazine, and he has been serving as the Dean of Poker School Online. He has also written over 300 articles for the bi-monthly magazine, Card Player. The magazine has been around for 14 years and is distributed in card rooms, casinos, and by subscription. Lou said he deals mainly with poker strategies but has a great deal of latitude for his topics.
Be sure to check out the next issue this coming week. Lou's book, The Poker Player's Bible is on sale in bookstores now. Log on to collegepokerchampionship.com to register for the College Poker Championship.