This inspiring real-life story of an amateur player putting his whole $50,000 bankroll on the line and finally getting a shot to chase his lifelong dream of winning a championship at the World Series of Poker, plays out over the brutal Las Vegas realities of fate, luck, and the fickle turn of a card.

What’s it really like to live the life of a poker professional? Marvin Karlins, aspiring World Series of Poker champion, is determined to find out, at least for the summer of 2017 when he lives the dream, sweats the nightmares and goes for broke at the WSOP. Written in brutal candidness and self-deprecating humor, Karlins’ odyssey inspires both dread and awe as he puts his $50,000 bankroll on the line to fulfill a lifelong dream of winning a bracelet. Along the way, he dispenses valuable advice for winning at poker—and in life. How does he fare? He gives it his all on a chip and a prayer. Phil Hellmuth, Jr., 14-time WSOP winner says, “An entertaining ride deep into the World Series of Poker...this book is clever cover-to-cover!”