“Poker Wars” uncovers the Texas roots of the World Series of Poker

Every book has a story behind it — Bookmarked goes beyond the page with today’s must-reads. This month, 360West sat down with Philip Guitar, co-author of Poker Wars.

Poker Wars: Murder, Mayhem, and the Bloody History that Led to the World Series of Poker

By Philip Guitar and Jim Martyka

At first glance, “Poker Wars: Murder, Mayhem, and the Bloody History that Led to the World Series of Poker” looks like a book written for enthusiasts of its titular game.

An evening with co-author Philip Guitar quickly reveals otherwise.

Equal parts Texas history, true crime and biography, “Poker Wars” follows the game’s unlikely evolution from smoky gambling rooms and organized crime to the creation of one of the world’s most recognizable sporting events. Guitar argues that the World Series of Poker didn’t simply emerge in Las Vegas; it was shaped by generations of Texas players, gambling pioneers and larger-than-life personalities whose stories are every bit as compelling as the tournament itself.

There’s no better place to discuss that history than Champions Social Club.

Built around competition, camaraderie and conversation, the Dallas venue invites members to gather over everything from poker and chess to mahjong. Housed in the former Three Forks restaurant, the reimagined club celebrates games not merely as entertainment, but as a way of bringing people together.

Over dinner, Guitar shares stories about his grandparents, Las Vegas, Texas history and the mentors who shaped both his writing and his understanding of poker.

360West: Before we talk about the book, tell us a little about yourself. Were you always a writer?

Philip Guitar: I’ve loved writing my whole life. As soon as I learned to read, I wanted to write. My grandmother was an avid reader, and I spent so much time with my grandparents growing up in Abilene. When I was probably five or six years old, she told me, “You should be a writer.” That always stayed with me, even though writing wasn’t my first career.

360West: Poker entered your life through those same grandparents.

Guitar: It really did. My grandfather taught me to play when I was about six or seven. We were just a family sitting around the table playing cards together. Later, I became fascinated not only with playing, but with the strategy, psychology and history behind the game. That’s what eventually led me to write this book.

360West: You eventually moved to Las Vegas with only three days’ worth of clothes. That’s quite a leap.

Guitar: It wasn’t the plan at all. I went for another business opportunity that didn’t work out, but something about Las Vegas just felt right. I called my mom and asked her to ship the rest of my clothes because I knew I wanted to stay. That’s when I started playing poker every day and wondering if I could make a living doing it. Later, I met a professional player through Alcoholics Anonymous who became my mentor and completely changed the way I approached the game.

360West: One thing that stood out to me was how often you described yourself as “teachable.”

Guitar: I wanted to learn. My mentor had been successful, and I trusted him. Looking back, maybe it really is true that when the student is ready, the teacher appears. I strive to remain teachable to this day.

360West: Most people probably assume this is a book about poker. It feels much bigger than that.

Guitar: That’s exactly what surprised me while researching it. I love poker, but I also love history and true crime. The more I dug into the history, the more I realized the World Series of Poker only exists because of this incredible sequence of events involving Texas gamblers, organized crime, politics and personalities. All these seemingly unrelated stories eventually converged to create what we know today.

360West: So the World Series of Poker is really a Texas story?

Guitar: Absolutely. If certain people hadn’t left Texas, if political races had gone differently or if a handful of key events hadn’t unfolded exactly the way they did, the World Series of Poker would probably look completely different today. That’s what fascinated me most — the realization that history could have gone in an entirely different direction.

360West: For someone who’s never watched a poker tournament, why should they read Poker Wars?

Guitar: Because it’s really about people. It’s about ambition, psychology, risk, history and the personalities who shaped an entire industry. Poker is simply the thread that ties those stories together.

Closing the Book

By the end of our meal, I hadn’t learned much about poker strategy or tournament rules, but that didn’t matter. “Poker Wars” requires no knowledge of the game — only an interest in Texas history.

Like the best historical narratives, Guitar and co-author Jim Martyka take a familiar subject and uncover the remarkable stories beneath its surface. Long before poker became a billion-dollar industry broadcast around the world, it was shaped by risk-takers, gamblers and dangerous criminal factions. Whether you’re drawn to true crime, Texas history or unforgettable characters, “Poker Wars” keeps you turning the page until the final hand.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR