Hunting Fish: A Cross-Country Search for America's Worst Poker Players

by Jay Greenspan

If you want to prove you're a good poker player, you don't have to battle against the best. Nobody really cares if you ever bluffed Phil Ivey or got Daniel Negreanu to make a bad call. You're at the table for the money, not stories of conquest. A disciplined player, one who's playing for the right reasons, would rather sit with the worst, those he's sure to outplay. He's looking for donkeys and donors. He's hunting fish.
In Hunting Fish author Jay Greenspan sets out on a cross-country drive---from Connecticut to Los Angeles---looking for players he can outclass. In casinos, underground clubs, and home games throughout the country, Jay shared tables with the most inept gamblers America has to offer. In South Carolina he wiped out some racial-epithet-spewing good ole boys; in Houston he fleeced the country club set; and in Vegas he happily pounded drunken tourists.
Hunting Fish is, however, not merely the story of a hustler's travels. In addition to fleecing suckers, Jay was convinced he could beat the very best and make it as a full-time pro. This trip gave him the opportunity to build his bankroll to the point where he could test his mettle in high-stakes games when he reached Los Angeles. Although to play in the high-limit rooms at Commerce Casino he needed a steady nerve---and a fatter bankroll. In his three months on the road, he needed to pad his roll with an additional twenty thousand dollars. That's a lot of fish to hunt.

Genres: Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Nerdmaestro · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an interesting story but the writing itself was tedious. The author came to poker from a technology writing background and that comes through in this book. He does a good job of explaining the things that happened but it never really feels like an adventure or that you are travelling with an author. A good travel story should. His organization is also off. Each chapter is about a different location he stops to play poker at, but he also peppers in several anecdotal stories. These side commentaries rarely have any transition before they begin so each chapter rambled along. Ultimately I wanted a good story about a player travelling across the country searching for easy games to pad his bankroll and move to higher stakes. What I got was a rambling list of casinos the author played in while having that adventure.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid read about the author's cross-country journey and stint as a full-time professional poker player. It's interesting to hear about the various games around the country, from the underground to the big L.A. card rooms. It's comical at times, but also occasionally informative to read how the author thought through particular hands, game selection, and bankroll management. He doesn't shy away from sharing his mistakes and shortcomings either.

I'd recommend it for the avid poker player needing a break from studying the latest Harrington or Malmuth/Sklansky treatise.

[Ty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a tiny little book, but it is actually one of the better books on poker that I have read.
The author tells a fun tale of his cross country trip playing poker, while also exploring many unique situations and hands. I may have learned more about the game from this book than any other that I have read, and I have read a lot. On top of the poker lessons, the writing is entertaining and keeps you engaged.

[Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about going across country by the author playing poker trying to make enough money to play in a high stakes ($10-$20 No Limit Texas Hold-em) game in LA. The title comes from the name given casual players that are easy targets for those that play the game seriously. They are fish for the hooking, and of course draining the fish of all his or hers money.



A good read for anyone interested in the game of poker and what that lifestyle might be like.

[Concepcion · Rating 4 out of 5]

if you want to get a taste as to why i'm ADDICTED to hold' em (that's poker folks), read this book. it's the reason why i purposely alloted one week's vacation in vegas just to live like a pro player. one thing's for sure, i can't live with the swings!!!

[Curtis Seven · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've just started reading it but it's a useful memoir of one guys three month campaign to become a professional poker player and make it to the highest stakes poker games played at the Commerce in LA.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author tells a really interesting story about his cross-country trip picking up poker savvy and juicing his bankroll for a tilt at a LA high stakes game. His hand descriptions and thought processes are very easy to follow (even for an admitted fish like myself!) and are quite fascinating.

[Richard Hodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easily accesible. Funny stories, and educational

[Barry Mann · Rating 2 out of 5]

too much talk, not enough poker!

[Srikanth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool book on poker... nothing more, nothing less.