Title: The Badass Girl's Guide to Poker Author: Toby Leah Bochan Publisher: Adams Media Publish Date: 2005 Pages: 210 Genres:: How-To Guide, Non-Fiction Reviewer: Layla Tichtchenko

Rating:

Toby Bochan’s Badass Girl’s Guide to Poker is filled with clever anecdotes. Her witty repertoire and familiar, casual language gives you the sense that she’s speaking directly to you—not at you. Her familiarity with the game and unique woman’s perspective is both intricate and simple. She breaks down not only the different types of poker games, but the variations of each of those games as well. There is a feminine flair and an upbeat quality to Badass as the author takes us from “antes” to “under to gun” in her own glossary.

Although she has a penchant for clear explanations, some of the aspects of this game just seem a little complex on paper. She goes into the ways in which the bets are broken up in a game of Texas Hold’em. She presents the game in a new light. She illustrates it to be a sophisticated, valuable, and entertaining way to spend one’s time and not something for a degenerate gambler. She’s been playing since she was a child with her family and learned it growing up. She offers suggestions for song lists, snacks, and entertainment for you to make your own poker night should you decide to organize one.

She has one chapter for all the computer geeks as well. She gives an informative glance at the world of online poker with suggestions for online sites such as PartyPoker.com. Playing poker online was legal at the time Badass was published as the author points out. Bochan makes the comparison in the book of the language of poker being like the subtle differences between British English and American English. I found her plays on words both witty and humorous. I have yet to read something else out there about poker that is written with such heart and humor, sass and style. It’s a subtle and clever blending of class with a little sprinkle of crass. She offers you some important questions to ask when dealing with any online poker website, such as how they keep track of your personal information. After all, you want to be the one to use your money to win more money. The online poker games are a virtual world where you even have a little animated person or avatar to represent you and play at a virtual table.

I did find a couple of flaws in her logic. In an early chapter, Bochan advises that whether you win or lose you do it gracefully. But in a later chapter she talks about different personas you can assume such as dumb blonde or girl next door. And then she suggests that you “gloat over wins” and “fume over losses”. I was also a little confused at the beginning as she began to explain the terminology and basics of play; she left out a very important explanation: suit. Although common knowledge to most, there may be those who may think that every game is a dress-up occasion.

Besides her clear-cut poker advice, she also throws in a few dating tips. After all, if a woman is going to be playing with the Big Boys, there are good odds that she may start dating the Big Boys. Her advice is very practical and straightforward. She attributes her knowledge and experience with poker to aiding her in her relationships with others (mostly romantic).

Although it begins with very brief descriptions of poker and its various games, the latter part of the book offers more in-depth explanations. But don’t let that intimidate you. Toby Bochan never loses her clever witticisms or casual tone. She imbues Badass with a feminine flair from cover to cover. I would recommend this book to anyone a little unfamiliar with cards, the people who play, or just someone looking for an entertaining read. I am sure that even a man’s man would find this book a worthy read.