Poker Strategies for a Winning Edge in Business »

David Apostolico (West Chester, PA), the winner of numerous poker tournaments in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and the burgeoning online casino scene, is the author of Tournament Poker and the Art of War, Machiavellian Poker, Pocket Idiot's Guide to Poker Bets and Bluffs, and three other books on poker. In the business world, Apostolico has been an attorney for law firms in New York and Philadelphia, specializing in mergers and acquisitions, public offerings, debt and equity financings, and general corporate advice. He has also appeared on NBC's hit show The Apprentice.

Ever since poker proliferated along the Mississippi in the early 1800s, it has been the quintessential American game. Poker, if played correctly, embodies all of the qualities cherished in our free society including ingenuity, hard work, and perseverance. The ability to read and outwit your opponents, which is so essential to success at the poker table, is equally important in forging ahead in a capitalist society. Of course, luck is prevalent in all aspects of our lives, and anyone who has spent time in a poker room can attest to the large and random role that luck plays. How one deals with it can go a long way in determining success.

In this book, experienced poker player, tournament champion, attorney, and businessman David Apostolico takes core poker philosophies and applies them to various business situations. Readers learn how to develop a poker mindset to help them in all aspects of their business lives.

Apostolico, who has matched wits with the world's top professionals on the invitation only Professional Poker Tour and negotiated mergers and acquisitions on Wall Street, says there are no hard and fast rules to either poker or business success, yet the skills involved in both are extremely similar. Reading the opposition, adapting to changing circumstances, being innovative, and thinking like a winner are necessary to making a living on the felt or in the board room. Whether you are negotiating a deal, managing your finances, marketing products, running a business, or trying to climb the corporate ladder, a solid poker strategy can prove invaluable. Before you make a move in any of these areas, you should read this insightful book to learn how to play your handfor maximum strength.

Preface     7
Foreword     9
Acknowledgments     11
Drawing Cards: Why Use Poker Strategies?     13
The End Game: Investing for the Long Term     23
Avoiding Tilt: The Psychology of Poker and Investing     61
Table Leader: Negotiate from Power     81
Bluff or Fold: Effective Negotiating No Matter What Hand You Are Dealt     107
All-In: Climb the Corporate Ladder and Win     135
Top Pair: How Successful Poker Players and Businesspeople Think     163
Pocket Aces: Playing to Win     183
Glossary     203
A Poker Primer     211
Hand Rankings     215
About the Author     217