Mike Matusow: Check-Raising the Devil

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Spend a night with Mike and the most beautiful hookers in Las Vegas. Spend a day at the final table with Mike at the World Series of Poker and see how he stares down and beats the best in the world. Spend six months with Mike at the Clarke County Correctional Center, and see how his poker skills enable him to match wits and survive against the most hardened criminals in Las Vegas.

I could not put this book down. Even if you are only a casual poker player you will love this book. I also recommend this book to anyone who wants to understands how the human mind reacts to extreme stress, mental illness, and drug abuse.Mike Matusow: Check-Raising the Devil

Randy Glover

Having recently read 'Check-Raising the Devil' I am amazed that this book was even released in its current form. Chock full of typos, grammatical errors, and spelling mistakes, I am in shock that Mike had people helping him write this autobiography. Apparently the focus was NOT on checking for mistakes because there are plenty of them. I focus on this fault immediately because its so front and center. With most books I read, I might see 1 error in an entire book, but this has 1 nearly every chapter. It's a glaring problem the screams second-rate to the reader.

If this wasn't enough of a problem, the writing is average at best, full of swears and weak content. I would give Mike more of a mulligan if it was just him writing the book as he would be first to admit he is a poker player first and foremost, but Mr. Matusow had help with this book and if more time had been spent on cleaning things up, the end product would be much better off.

OK having critiqued the look and feel of the book, the important question is how is the content overall? Well, the consensus is average yet again. Mike is pretty thorough in his autobiography and some parts are intriguing like how he started off, hand analysis and strategy, but other parts are either glossed over or bloated. Mike could practically rename this book 'My problems with ADHD & Drugs Are Bad For You' because that is 50/50 or 60/40 the content of this book. I realize that readers are going to want to hear about how Mike screwed up in life but it goes on a little too much. I know you have ADHD Mike and I don't need to be reminded 100 times, can I have some more poker memories?

Any time Mike did well in a tournament he says how great he was, any time he didn't succeed he skims quickly over these saying it was due to ADHD, drugs, or whatnot. I am sure he played great and lost or crappy and won but you don't get that feel from the book.

While promoting this book, Mike Matusow has told people you won't believe the content within and stories he has but this is a lot of fluff. His life is interesting but not THAT interesting. I am sure Doyle's tales of backbar poker and guns or Amarillo Slims' life or Chris Ferguson with his time at UCLA, poker upbringing and birth of Full Tilt Poker would be a better read. The problem with autobiographies written when people are still young is that most of the time there isn't enough interesting content to fill 250+ pages. Mike has a good story but not a great one here.

The final thing that hurts this book is there are ZERO pictures. These kind of books need pictures and I feel it always sells more copies seeing people as they lived the life they speak about. The don't need to be in color, but the absence of said images really hurts the final product.

If you are a Mike Matusow fan or are passionate about poker (I am in this category) and love poker books you will like this book but I can't understand anyone LOVING this book due to its glaring weaknesses.

***

Mike's story is so interesting and crazy. I could not stop reading! If you like reading about poker, fast living and brutal/honest confessions about drugs and depression, then you will love this book. A lot of rich young poker players who live in Las Vegas have so much more temptations and do fall prey to them. I'm so happy he found help and some peace in his life. Being rich is a blessing but could also be a curse as it was in Mike's life for a little while. I hope I can meet him some day and tell him how compelling his bio is and most importantly, what a terrific player he is. I know he's going to win many more bracelets.

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.

The book is great because it is actually three books. First, this is one of the best poker bios that I have read. Mike has been in the middle of the poker boom from the beginning and gives a great insite to what was happening during it. It is also an addicition/recovery story because of his drug abuse and recovery. And finally it is a book on dealing with a chronic mental illness. I could especially relate to Mike because I suffer from the same mental illness as he does. Only I was very lucky in that I am one of the few bipolars that I know that didn't self-medicate with drugs or alcahol. You should buy and read it...you get 3 books for the price of one.

As someone who has hung out with Mike's brother Scott, and has met and had dinner with Mike, I have had a glimpse of Mike away from the felt. I too suffer from bipolar and a previous drug history, and there were times when I couldn't get out of bed. I understand just where Mike is in his life.

Mike Matusow is all heart and wears it on his sleeve. That's why he is arguably the most liked and fascinating pro out there. He is rags to riches and his story shows the scars he has to prove it.

All in all, great reading and insight. A real look into the sex, drugs and lifestyle of the Las Vegas party scene. As a Vegas resident I can say firsthand that this town can be seductively brutal.

5 Stars.

I would bet Mike Matusow is telling the truth in his honest 'biography' as dictated to Amy Calistri and Tim Lavalli in Check-Raising the Devil. But the odds of becoming a world-class poker player while trying to overcome the pitfalls of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder AND bi-polar disease must be the same as making back-to-back straight flushes after reaching the final table of the WSOP. Mike is like a swimmer with artificial limbs winning Olympic Gold year after year. And that's why you should read his story - because Matusow isn't just a great poker player he is also an inspiration for anyone who isn't a favorite at what they want out of their lives.

The title of the book is silly because Mike's antics at the table aren't evil - as a devil's would be - he's just a mouth looking for an edge by repetitive shtick.

The first quarter of the book it's painfully obvious the words are being filtered through someone else's pen. Possibly the attempt Calistri and Lavalli made to write Mike's story from the first person was the wrong choice. But admitedly, they did set the bar high on what they hoped to accomplish: describing the high life, paying it's toll in jail, (both fast-paced writing), teaching poker via tournament tales and hand demos, and constantly intertwining how Matusow's diseases affected his performance levels at the table and ability to function in his personal life.

I do believe outside of an ego boost, Matusow would be happy to help (via his bio) someone else inflicted with either disease, or caught by the tail by drug usage. But this task was short-changed because the awareness of bi-polar disease is far short of being expert knowledge. A disservice to bi-polar sufferers who have not sought their own treatment is suggesting the usage of anti-depressants in the medication cocktail. You will find the warning in the Physician's Desk Reference (PDR) that anti-depresssants can actually worsen bi-polar disease by triggering mania. Plus studies on the affects of prolonged Ritalin usage for ADHD have warned of the dangers of delusions of grandeur. A big missing puzzle piece in Check-Raising the Devil is how Matusow thinks his disease may have helped him achieve his acute instinctual powers or heightened creativity at the tables.

Matusow has a cardplayer's misconception that results at the card table can vindicate a person's life. They can't. Little pieces of cardboard with spots on them can't be used to find justice, right a wrong, or determine self-worth. And passion for the game of poker shouldn't be an excuse for loss of dignity.

Not a standard poker bio, this one showcases Mike Matusow, zits and all. The stories in between the poker are what makes this one stand out above all the others in this genre. Mike's voice is dominant and he lays it all out, both good and bad about how he got to where he is. He comes across at least as powerfully in print as he does on the TV screen. Put aside the time for this one, you will be glad you did.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1RY88MUH5QS76 I'm a huge Mike Matusow fan and this book was extremely entertaining.

Love him or hate him, if you know who Mike Matusow is you'll want to read this one.

This book arrived in yesterday's mail. It is such a compelling story and so well written that I literally couldn't put it down until I finished it. Then I realized I'd read it so quickly I missed some of the deeper lessons to be learned. I'll have to read it again more slowly and contemplatively.

I tend to be a bit of a nitpicker, being easily annoyed by poor editing. Not with this book. The quality of editing is outstanding - I didn't spot a single typo or grammatical error. That doesn't mean there are none, just that the book has been edited as if it really matters.

The story is compelling and the writing is superb. The book is essentially an autobiography of a unique individual who happens to be among the world's best poker players as well as having significant emotional/neurological problems. Mike Matusow has been tried in ways most of us can't even imagine. And he appears in the end to have won his match with the Devil.

This book can be viewed in many ways, among which are Mike's struggle with his personal mental problems, Mike's drug use, and Mike's lesson in how law enforcement works. Though it isn't written as a "how to play poker" book I think there are also some poker lessons in how this outstanding player approaches the game, and most of us who enjoy the game can benefit directly from that.

100% true poker book from a true player.
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Mike went from the Highs in his life, to the Dark side of his life.
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Only Mike can pull his life back on track like he did and come out on top!
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If this book was $500.00 I would have spent the money for it.
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//thank you4 this book.
//maurice/motortrain

Nicknamed 'The Mouth' because of his seemingly constant chatter at the table, Mike Matusow is one of professional poker's most flamboyant characters. An accomplished and skilled player, Matusow is also famous (or perhaps infamous) for 'The Matusow Blow-Up'. This is the phenomena of Matusow's becoming emotionally out of control when doing badly in a Texas No-Limit Hold'em poker tournament. A very popular player among his professional colleagues, Mike has also had problems in his personal life that he has worked hard to overcome. That's why his autobiography, "Check-Raising The Devil" (written with the assistance of Amy Calistri and Tim Lavalli) is such a fascinating and informative read. Highly recommended for the legions of poker enthusiasts in general, and Matusow fans in particular, "Check-Raising The Devil" is a superbly written memoir.

You might "think" you know Mike Matusow....but I'm guessing you really don't! This insightful book into the Vegas world of "The Mouth" is a must read for poker fans. Couldn't put it down!!

If Mike didn't repeat himself over and over again, this book would be 3 pages.
The book in summery;
"I play poker, I did drugs, I did a few strippers, I did more drugs, I did time, I play poker."

Really easy read and gives you all the insight you could want into the difficulties Mike has gone through. He's made some awful decisions in life, sure, but who hasn't? I couldn't put the book down and will be rooting for Mike every step of the way at the poker table and away from it. Thanks for letting us into your life, Mikey

This book should be mandatory reading if you are under 40 or a poker player. Mike Matusow opens up his life like you would not believe - he tells it all!!!

In this autobiography he explains his roots, his start in poker and the devils that have their basis in his diagnosed mental illnesses.

It gives an personal perspective to the events we have all watched on TV - and tells the background to each of them.

I was out in Vegas when I started reading this book on a Friday night - I picked it up again the next morning and blew off going to a poker tournament at the Venetian to finish the book. It is almost impossible to put down once you start reading it.

There are a couple of proofing errors - on page 14 the 2008 WSOP is described as the 2009 WSOP, there is repeated info on pages 24 and 25 and poor grammer "played good" instead of "played well on page 34." Not bad for a first edition in this era of spell check proofing.

This book is, in my opinion, a book that simply must be read!

I got more than I expected - not only did I learn a lot about Mr. Matusow, his friends, and the poker world; but I also enjoyed the journey. Well-written, never dull, and hard to put down. I'm not sure it made me like him any less or more, but I think I understand him better. A must read for fans of the man himself and those who follow the professional poker playing scene.

I was very engaged in reading about Mike's life. The guy sure has experienced a lot. The book was well-written.

I think this book could be valuable to any young person that might be considering moving to Las Vegas, or any other gambling center, to become a professional poker player.

If nothing else, it gives valuable advice about life styles to avoid.

One of a Kind: The Rise and Fall of Stuey ',The Kid', Ungar, The World's Greatest Poker Player

As a poker fan, I was ready to read about the man behind the Mouth, Mike's nickname around the poker tables. But I found a real life story of a person struggling with bipolar disease. Mike is very honest in this book about his condition and the challenges it presents now and in the past. A lot of his behavior in the past makes sense in the context of understanding how the bipolar condition affects people. He tells us hand for hand how he played some of the big tournaments and win at the cash games. If you are a poker player, this is great stuff, but if you want to learn about ADHD and the bipolar condition, it's a must read.
Gloria Tiller, Kazoo Books

I loved this book - especially how easy it is to get sucked into drugs/alcohol when one is successful, and how it can totally screw up that very success that gave you the money in the first place. The authors are insightful, honest, and articulate. Kudos are deserved by all three!

he loved it. Easy Read. Took two days. Mikey is just plain funny in a tragic kind of way.

I watch a lot of TV poker tournaments and have always thought Mike Matusow was a very interesting person. This book doesn't disappoint! I eagerly read each page hoping he would conquer his demons. This chronology of his life both on the poker stage and in private life gives a glimpse into the pressures and hungers that are helping to achieve greatness and at the same time interfered with these goals. Mike is funny, tragic, and above all likeable and understandable. I wish for the best for him in poker and in life! His book is excellent!

the story amazed me.
How a man whit a brain dysfunction can becomme a top player
always thought you need to be 101% to accomplish what he did

Check-Raising The Devil, copyright 2009 by Mike Matusow, published by Cardoza Publishing, 269 pp, written by Matusow with help from Amy Calistri and Dr. Tim Lavalli.

This book is the story of Mike Matusow's poker adventures, beginning with his hopelessly losing sessions at video poker while working at his parent's furniture store and culminating with Matusow's triumphant return to the poker world after a 6-month stint in jail on a trumped up drug charge.

Even in those first few sessions, "The Mouth" could readily see the game had far more to do with playing the other players than in playing your cards. In his own words, Matusow was a "natural" and began winning big in cash games from the start.

Matusow's rise in poker began a full decade before ESPN would televise Chris Moneymaker's incredible run in the 2003 WSOP Main catapaulting poker onto the national stage and giving players like Phil Hellmuth, Jr., Johnny Chan, Amarillo Slim and Doyle "Texas Dolly" Brunson celebrity status. But even then Matusow knew his life would be devoted to playing poker.

The book includes tells of his hard-scrabble existence surviving on junk food and living alone in a trailer, the trials and challenges he faced on the way to stardom and how street drugs almost led to him sharing the fate of the late, great poker champion Stu Unger.

Poker players and poker fans will really enjoy sharing the roller-coaster life of this great player.

When I bought this book I knew little about Mike Matusow outside of the WSOP telecasts where he is portrayed as a mean, obnoxious bully at the poker tables who cries when he loses. After reading the book I have drastically changed my view of him. He comes across from the book as a gentle man who has battled a number of mental illnesses and has been able to control them enough and still be one of the top poker players in the world. I previously never realized how accomplished Mike has been in the poker world having won 3 WSOP bracelets as well as a WPT title. This book is a quick, easy read and was hard to put down. His run-in with the law and subsequent jail time opened my eyes to the unethical and corrupt reality of the law enforcement and legal system in some areas of the country (i.e., Clark County Las Vegas). I think after reading the book you too will have a greater appreciation of Matusow and what he has been able to accomplish in his life.

Mike Matusow's autobiography was gripping from the beginning until the end and even educational on many levels, not just on playing effective poker, but what to expect if you ever get arrested.

Easily the most interesting part of his biography related to his experience getting arrested for drug trafficking and the time he spent in jail after the judge gave him a "6 months straight" prison sentence.

This autobiography takes us inside the mind of Mike Matusow who shares how he became a great poker player after living a more or less deadbeat adolescence to his years working as a dealer to his discovery of his ability to play one of the hardest card games in the world to master.

He then takes the reader quite effectively thru his years of winning millions to his years of spending and losing millions at the whim of a drug habit combined with his bipolar mood swings.

He also takes us through some of his memorable poker stories. The most capitivating was his poker of champions victory and the rivalry he had with "the fossil" during the 2004 WSOP ME.

He's quite frank about his opinions and open about his life. He also uses wonderful poker metaphors and applies them to real life experiences. All and all, I enjoyed the read but had issues with him revealing information on a police officer citing exact names and what not. That's not a good thing to do given that police risk their lives undercover. Although Matusow explains why he named a police officer in question, and although he had a point, I still find that part of his openness overly self righteous. If the police officer gave Matusow consent to use his name, then I guess that was ok, but I don't believe he did get consent. Now a police officer, however crooked he may seem, is out on the streets trying to arrest people that could be legitimately evil people who have info on him and could lead to something deadly that isn't fair.

Still an enjoyable read.

Despite everything, this book makes us realize that the Mike Matusow we've loved to hate really does have a heart.

I won't spoil the plot, but the "devil" isn't who you think it is until you read the book. Matasow wears his heart on his sleeve, and I'll always respect him for that, and this fine book. One of the best Christmas presents I've ever got.

I liked this book. It's not a Poker book, but rather a story of a guy, an imperfect guy, who makes his living playing Poker. If you like the game its an interesting book about the day-to-day world of the Poker pro. If you like a human story about a guy trying to do the best he can you'll also find this an interesting read. It's not Teddy Kennedy's biography or any of the other great auto/biographies of all time; then again, Mike Matusow has never claimed to be more than Mike Matusow

I read the whole thing in 2 days, there are some extremely interesting stories inside. I have ADHD and have not read a book in 15 years. Definitely recommend this one. Great Job Mike! It's really too bad that those guys set you up like that.

This is a must read for any poker players! Even non-poker players would enjoy this book. You learn so much about Mike, and I have a greater respect for the guy after reading this amazing book!

Mike did a great job on this book. Mike tells it all? He lets you know what it is like to be a pro poker player. He has a lot of problems with drugs. Mike covers so much in this book. He will keep your interest high the whole book. He will make you cry when you see how hard he has it in jail. How can anyone so smart have so many problems and do so well and so bad at the same time. He talks about his learning problems but shows moves that are brilliant. Mike is my hero. If you only buy one poker book, get this one. Even if you have never played poker you need this book.

This was a highly entertaining book of a man who has had his ups and downs. Drugs and high stakes poker. What more does one have to say? I read it quickly, and I'm a slow reader.

Couldn't put it down. I have watched Mike on TV in various tournaments and seen his blow ups ( TV's edited versions ) and had heard of
his troubles but WOW, what a story. Great book, a must read for any Poker player.

This book started off a bit slow for me, I have to admit, but that is probably because I already knew a few things about Mike Matusow. There was a lot I didnt know about him and thats when it got good. Im not going to get into detail but it is a great story about a well known poker player who had to deal with a lot of misfortune in life but also a lot of luck at the poker tables (and skill, of course). Buy it!

To be honest, I wasn't a big fan of Mike. After reading his book, I am now. I found every single page very compelling and to me very truthful. There is no bragging just the facts. I now understand why he thinks he is so good, HE REALLY IS! He talks about his personal medical problems, his personal life, his poker life and his battle with the law. This is definitely worth the money and the time to read it.