Poker’s Strangest Hands

The book explores into the world of poker, covering the game’s world championship event and the eccentric characters it attracts, while compiling some of the strangest things said about poker and arguing that the past year was the oddest in the game’s history. Through meticulous research of long-forgotten poker archives, Sharpe has uncovered fascinating stories, such as the first-ever poker cheat who made a spectacle of himself in 1829, a game that reportedly lasted 24 years, a U.S. President who gambled away White House crockery, and a member of the Royal family who found great amusement in poker. The book also explores the divide between those who believe poker to be the most skilled contest ever devised and those who attribute success in the game to pure luck, catering to both novice players who barely understand the terminology and seasoned poker connoisseurs alike.