On his way to a master's degree in astrophysics, Andy Bellin made the mistake of falling in love with poker. He has resurfaced from a life spent in high-rolling casinos and low-rent dives to tell his tale. He is a pretty good poker player. Over the ten years he has been playing semi-pro, millions of dollars have passed through his hands. He's the kind of guy who can walk away from the table $5000 dollars up, or who could drop $9000 on a single hand. His story is of a journey through the ups and downs of being a gambler where he catalogues the odd rites, the peculiar language and the traditions of the game. He describes the art of the bluff and the giveaway signs of body language and introduces us to the hustlers, dreamers, eccentrics and hucksters who comprise the poker nation.