All In: The (Almost) Entirely True Story of the World Series of Poker » (Reprint)

Jonathan Grotenstein is a writer and professional poker player living in Los Angeles. He is the coauthor (with Phil Gordon) of Poker: The Real Deal.

Storms Reback is a writer and professional poker player living in Austin, Texas. A former sports reporter and columnist for Jackson Hole News, he recently completed his first novel.

All In is the story of the greatest tournament in the world—-the World Series of Poker—- from its humble beginnings in 1970 as a mere gathering of Texas road gamblers to its present status as a cultural phenomenon, attracting exhaustive national television coverage, legions of fans, and thousands of players.

Professional poker players themselves, authors Jonathan Grotenstein and Storms Reback take an entertaining look at this unique experience, recounting its history through the breathtaking and sometimes brutal hands played at the Horseshoe's tables. They introduce the colorful and seemingly fearless characters who have been lured by huge paydays—-and the chance to play against the best in the world; including the legends Doyle Brunson, Amarillo Slim, Stuey "The Kid" Ungar, and Chris Moneymaker.

All In is a no-limit look at the phenomenal transformation of poker from a vice hidden in shady back rooms into the hottest game on the planet.

"Jonathan Grotenstein and coauthor Storms Reback, have done a remarkable job of research in writing All In."

—-PokerMag.com

"If you've ever played a hand of Texas Hold'em, you won't want to miss this book."

—-Amarillo Slim Preston, 1972 World Series of Poker champion and author of Amarillo Slim in a World Full of Fat People

"Almost every poker aficionado will greatly enjoy this book."

—- Card Player magazine

"Reading this book is like having Johnny Moss, Doyle Brunson, Amarillo Slim, and every single one of the World Series of Poker champions over to the house for dinner, a beer, tall tales, and a fine game of No-Limit Texas Hold'em."

—-Phil Gordon, coauthor of Poker: The Real Deal and cohost of Celebrity Poker Showdown

Publishers Weekly

The authors, both professional poker players and writers, offer the definitive history of a tournament that has grown from humble beginnings in 1970, with a mere eight players, into a cultural phenomenon with over 2,500 entrants and millions of dollars in prize money. In the world of poker, there are as many side stories as there are players, and Grotenstein and Reback mine to good effect the lore surrounding old school legends like Doyle "Dolly" Brunson, as well as the new generation of players who have gained notoriety; there are stories of booms and busts, of preternatural abilities to "read" opponents, of breathtaking bluffs and sometimes tragic flaws. Much of the book is devoted to recounting the pivotal hands that decided the outcomes of the 30-odd years of tournament play as well as insightful analysis of those hands. The allure of tournament poker-no doubt built in part on the fantasy that anyone, like the amateur 2003 WSOP winner Chris Moneymaker, can beat the Michael Jordans of the poker world-will bring many readers "all in." Agents, Greg Dinkin and Frank Scatoni. (Nov.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.