Bigger Deal

Bigger Deal is a sequel to Anthony Holden's Big Deal published in 1990. I remember that first book. 17 years later, Holden has written a similar book, but this time he is recreating his journey within the poker boom.

Bigger Deal is a sequel to Anthony Holden's Big Deal published in 1990. I remember that first book. 17 years later, Holden has written a similar book, but this time he is recreating his journey within the poker boom.

Anthony Holden is a highly acclaimed writer; his literary to date includes biographies of Shakespeare and the Prince of Wales. He's best know in the poker world for writing "Big Deal" which was a riveting account of his year spent as a "professional" poker player in the late 1980's. He also appeared in a series of the pioneering poker show, Late Night Poker. So what' changed in the poker world since Big Deal and Bigger Deal?

Well, much of the appeal of Big Deal, aside from the quality of the writing is that poker was much less accepted back then. It gave you the sense that poker players were the true pioneers of freedom, living outside of society. The book fills you with a sense of romanticism of bygone days, where everyone in the poker world knew each other and knew each other's business. In contrast, Bigger Deal presents poker in its modern day format, compete with internet qualifiers, TV coverage and weekly tournaments that make people millionaires. Like the original book Tony goes through a year on the poker circuit, however this time he does still keep up with his work for The Observer newspaper.

What you take from this book is a highly entertaining account on the state of the poker world today, which like the original is just as likely to to be enjoyed by non-poker players too. The best advice I can give is to read or re-read "Big Deal" before reading this book, this way you'll truly appreciate how things have changed in the game we know and love.