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Mike Matusow: Check-Raising the Devil
$24.95
Mike Matusow's life story is certainly compelling enough but it's too bad there were no good writers around to tell it. I seems like all his two co-authors managed to do was transcribe the interview tapes, throw in a little temporal organization (although even that time line flow is very weak in places, especially in the beginning of the book, leaving the reader wondering what events happened before other events), and add some punctuation. Whatever fee or royalty they are receiving for this work should be refunded to Mike.

And it is Mike's story, and it's definitely all about Mike. He introduces other characters, family, friends, enemies, lovers, colleagues, but he rarely attempts to see things from their point of view. He admits to making poor decisions, offering the sort of sheepish half-hearted explanations we're all too familiar with. But then he dwells on the events leading to his arrest and incarceration as though he didn't realize that the decision to purchase street drugs under highly peculiar circumstances was perhaps his stupidest decision of all. Mike will likely go to his grave thinking he didn't deserve to do time but I could not discern any evidence or extenuating circumstances in his book that would exonerate him. His entire lifestyle during his druggie period was one long crime joy ride, punctuated by crippling bouts of depression, that ended in the most predictable way. The fact that he only got 6 months jail time and was allowed to play poker and party all over the world after his conviction but before reporting to jail makes it clear that he paid a very light penalty compared to what might have been meted out.

As far as the poker is concerned, Mike's results speak for themselves. He is one of the greatest tournament players of his generation. The verdict is not so clear on his cash games results, at least those he played in the last twelve years, because Mike says he basically lost a small fortune on-line while wondering about whether the games there are on the square or not. The proof is in the pudding, and Mike admits it when he talks about the Absolute and Ultimate Bet cheating scandals, which were far-reaching, long-lasting, and for which the greedy culprits will never face prosecution or even be made to return the money they stole. A plea for federal legalization and regulation of on-line poker for US citizens is appropriate here.

Mike does quite a nice job of describing how he adjusts his tournament strategies to fit the situation he is faced with. He relies more on feel and people skills than analysis and math, and he's one of the best in the game at taking advantage of his strengths. He gives us insightful glimpses into how his mind works when he's playing well and when he's not playing well. That took courage to put down on paper for all to read and I admire him for it. On the other hand, he describes more times when he sucked out with the worst hand in crucial situations than he got sucked out on, so the cards seem to have broken even for him over the years, maybe even fallen his way more than his fair share. Based on the tournament hand anecdotes he chose to include in his book, any further whining from Mike about how unlucky he is is ridiculous.

I wasn't expecting a how-to book on poker, after all this is an autobiography, but a few brief explanations of the technical terms should have been included for the reader not familiar with the games Mike plays. Does everyone who reads the book know the difference between whole pot and split pot games? Between hold 'em and Omaha? Does everyone know what Chinese poker is? In fact, does everyone know how a poker tournament basically works, that you get paid according to how long you last with at least one chip in front of you as opposed to how many chips you have at any particular time (with the exception that if more than one player busts out on the same hand, the player with the most chips when the hand started finishes higher)? It's easy to assume that this is common knowledge, and it involves less expository writing, but I think you cost yourself readership when you make that assumption. Yes, there is a glossary but the definitions are terse.

Finally, I share the same concerns about Mike's description of how his bipolar disorder is being treated as CJ Hulbert. Mixing mood stabilizers and anti-seizure medicine like Depakote with anti-depressants like Lexapro is often a recipe for disaster, especially for a manic-depressive. Mike does make it clear, and this is vital information for bipolar sufferers, that it can take a long time and quite a bit of trial-and-error to get the right medicinal drugs in place, at the right dosages. He also makes it clear that he now is aware that he will be taking medicine to control his disease for the rest of his life, another crucial concept for bipolars, one that's often difficult to accept. There's no shame or weakness in this - if you have diabetes, you take insulin and no one thinks twice about it. Bottom line though: the book should include more documented medical research data about this debilitating, frustrating and potentially fatal disease.

I read the book from cover to cover and I'm glad I did. It's brash and boastful but it comes across as honest, like it came from the heart and not some petty motivation to make money. I play poker but I admit I often don't understand the ethics or integrity of professional poker players. Mike's moral compass seems like it's spinning out of control as he dances from party to party, from party drug to party drug, from hooker to hooker. He also starts sliding down a slippery slope when he tries to draw a very fine line between being a "savvy" poker pro and outright collusion. Mike has been good at making money and blowing money over the course of his celebrated career, so he does impart the valuable lesson that suddenly having more money than you're used to can be as dangerous and unhealthy as being hooked on any street drug.

VersaCheck Form #3000 Business Check Refills, Blue Prestige 500 Sheets
$36.99
I really enjoy the flexibility of printing checks locally and these provide the flexibility and professional look to accomplish that.

Ekonomik DD Wirebound Form Dd Check Register W/10 Left Distribution Columns, 8-3/4X10
$12.99
Great check register for those that want to keep track of expenses in separate categories. I am an accountant & give this to many new clients that are starting out & don't use a computer for their bookkeeping yet. It gives you much more room to write than a little wallet size check register & is small enough to keep in your desk or a file. Makes reconciling your bank account easy too.

VersaCheck Form #1000 Green Graduated Business Check Refills 500 Sheets
$36.99
Suitable product, but by the time you add the cost of their software, (necessary to print checks) your time to set it up, more time to run a print job of checks, and the excessive cost of their paper, you could purchase pre-printed checks from any of hundreds of companies that sell them for less. And all without the hassle of setting up and using the least user friendly and unnecessarily complex software I have used in many years. This paper ought to cost about 1/2 of the price it is being sold for. If I had not already invested in their dreadful software, I would not be using this. I regret having bought into this check printing system, and would not recommend it to others. Save your time and save your money. Find yourself a check printing company on the web, and avoid the aggravation of dealing with poorly designed software and overpriced supplies.