Poker Gift Guide
By: PokerSavvy Staff

The holiday season is upon us, and we're all practicing our expressions of joyous surprise ("Oh, it's a lovely sweater!") and preparing for interruptions in our normal poker schedules.

If you have a fellow card player on your gift list, take a look at the following items. They're sure to put a smile on a poker player's face.

Cost: $0-$20

DEALER BUTTON: These give a home game an official feel. This is a low-cost gift a home-game host will really appreciate. (Pokerchips.com, $6.00.)

KEM CARDS: Kems are plastic, washable, and have a great feel. They make a home game seem that much more professional. (Available from Pokerchips.com for $21 for a 2-deck set; Pokerproducts offer a 2-deck set of generic plastic cards for $12, but we can't speak for the quality of these decks.)

ODDS CARD: This is free. Great for in-laws.

Cost: $20-$50

BOOKS: An educated player is a profitable player. This list includes some of the most influential texts in the poker world.

• Super/System: Written by the great Doyle Brunson, Super/System is widely considered to be one of the best poker books ever written. However, it is now decades old and parts are outdated. A revision is said to be in the works. (Amazon, $29.95.)

• The Theory of Poker: PokerSavvy's review breaks it down. (Amazon, $21.)

• Middle Limit Holdem Poker: Just a fantastic book. Highly, highly recommended. (Amazon, $17.50)

• Holdem Poker for Advanced Players: Yes, one of PokerSavvy's writers trashed this book. But half the staff swears by it, as do thousands of profitable players the world over. (Amazon, $20.96.)

• Pot-Limit and No-Limit Holdem: If your poker-playing pal wants to sit at the big-bet tables, this is a great gift -- a fun and edifying read. (Amazon, $25.)

• Caro's Book of Poker Tells: The Book of Poker Tells is the only book of its kind. Filled with photographs and descriptions, it shows what your opponents' body language indicates about their hands. (Amazon, $25.00.)

CUBANS: Not for everyone, but a couple of premium cigars will go over big with some players (HabandoDirect.com, Payless-Cigars.com.)

A CASE OF RED BULL: May not taste too good, but many swear by it. (cvcoffee.com, $44.55.)

$50-$100

SHADES: Maybe some Bolles or Ray-Bans. Just make sure they're mirrored or dark enough that the eyes are obscured.

SUBSCRIPTION TO CARD PLAYER MAGAZINE: Some of the best players in the world are Card Player columnists. At $109, it's not cheap. But it will be enjoyed. (Card Player, $109.)

$100: Not especially personal, but cash is always appreciated. (Those with generous grandparents can verify this.) Transfer to a NeTeller account or just hand over a crisp c-note. No wrapping necessary.

More than $100

$200 cash: Same as above.

POKER TABLE: Nothing adds to an active home game like a felt-covered casino-style table. At my Friday home game we all contributed to a rake so we could buy one of these, and we couldn't be happier. (PokerProducts.com, $419.)

CHIPS: If you can, get a set of clay chips. They feel great in the hand and sound great when splashed into a pot. (Pokerchips.com and Pokerproducts.com have many varieties, prices vary.)

A CRUISE: If your honey has been really good, a Card Player Cruise would be a heck of a treat. ($500 and up.)

Other ideas? Post them in our forums.

Terms of Use | Copyright © 2003-2005 Palm Drive Media, Inc.