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The U.K.'s Top Players Tell Their Stories
Product
Swimming with the Devilfish - Under the Surface of Professional Poker by Des Wilson
Hits
- Excellent biographical chapter on Dave Ulliott and other great names in European poker
- Very well-written
- Great inspirational book for poker lovers everywhere
Misses
- Definitely not a teaching tool
- Requires some knowledge of the European poker scene for full enjoyment
Review
If you ask the average online poker player to name a few big poker pros, it's pretty safe to assume that most, if not all, will name an American. The huge coverage of the World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tour on television and in magazines has propelled a relatively small group of predominately American poker players to stardom seemingly overnight. Des Wilson's book Swimming with the Devilfish goes against this media tide by focusing on the European poker scene and its most illustrious stars rather than on the American giants of mainstream poker.
As the title hints, the book centers on one of the most charismatic and successful European poker players of all time, Dave "Devilfish" Ulliott. But before we go further, let me make it absolutely clear that this book is in no way instructional, nor does it attempt to teach or improve the reader's play in any way. What this book does do, however, is inspire.
In Swimming with the Devilfish Wilson weaves an excellent narrative that follows some of the greats of European Poker. A pleasant and intriguing read, the book features stars such as the Devilfish, Roy Brindley, John Duthie, and the well known members of the Hendon Mob, all of who recount the ups and downs of their careers and lives.
Wilson, a poker player himself and a virtual unknown to most of today's fast-paced, young online poker players, has written an inspirational and interesting book. Anyone wanting to be inspired by the lives and accomplishments of the most experienced European poker players alive will soon make a place on their bookshelf for Swimming in the Devilfish. However, players looking to immediately improve their game through studies will do well to look for another book.
The book consists of 14 chapters:
- The "Super Aggressive Poker Master"
- Starting Hand
- The Poker Player
- From Dave to Devilfish
- Devilfish - Superstar
- From Whence They Came
- Looking for Barrys ... a Journey to the Midlands
- Heads-up in Barcelona ... and the Battle of the Bad Beats
- Young Guns ... and the Hendon Mob
- Las Vegas - the World Series
- Paris ... London ... Barcelona
- Shoot-Out at the Vic
- Journeys End
- Endnote
The book totals 330 pages including a glossary, other reading, acknowledgements and an index.
Details:
- Paperback £10.99
Pan Macmillan
