Ace on the River by Barry Greenstein is a unique poker book, one that is both educational and entertaining. You won’t get advanced math concepts like in The Theory of Poker and it’s pretty sparse on actual strategy and advice on how to play particular hands, but Ace on the River does offer up some valuable tips and suggestions to improve your poker game and results, especially if you’re able to read between the linesa bit as far as some of the more subtle poker strategy and lessons.

Barry Greenstein is a bit of an oddity in the world of poker pros, sharing a background in math and computer science with Chris "Jesus" Ferguson but also taking a different tack than nearly every other successful tournament player on the planet; Greenstein donates a portion of his tournament winnings to charity each time he cashes. With 3 WSOP bracelets to his name and over $7 million in lifetime tournament winnings, his charitable nature has resulted in substantial donations to Children, Incorporated and other charities.

Ace on the River deals with the general life of the professional poker player, detailing Greenstein’s own career as well as broader topics such as "How to Behave in Poker Society," Psychology of Gambling," "Holding on to Money," and "Hazards of Sportsbetting". Greenstein has definitely lived the life, so all of the lessons and stories that he shares ring very authentic and true and very much deal with practical concerns, both at the poker table and away from it. He also tackles abstract concepts such as chaos and superstition but in a useful fashion, always linking them back to behavior at the poker table and the lessons to be learned from them.

While Ace on the River might at first read simply seem to be an enjoyable read but one devoid of poker strategy, important poker lessons are lurking just beneath the surface. Barry Greenstein doesn’t always explicitly hammer you over the head with the lesson to be learned, but much of the book deals with the psychology that drives poker players and gamblers. In the end, understanding that common psychology and motivating factors can be just as valuable (and profitable) to you in the long run as knowing what odds you need to chase your open-ended straight draw.

Ace on the River by Barry Greenstein is a great addition to any poker player’s library, and it’s a quick, enjoyable read but it also drives home some of the important aspects of poker in general and the people that play it.