10 Best Christmas Gifts for Poker Players

With Christmas 2008 quickly approaching, it's about time to start your holiday shopping. Having experienced more than my fair share of crappy Christmas gifts in the past, I realize poker players can be a difficult lot to shop for. So to help those looking to surprise their favorite poker player this holiday season, I've drafted what I call Strat's X-mas wish list. These are all great gift ideas I guarantee will bring a smile to any poker player who is lucky enough to find one of these items under the tree come Christmas morning.

1. Books
   There are many good books on poker strategy, but the bible has to be Doyle Brunson's Super System. As a 10 time WSOP bracelet winner, Texas Dolly covers the strategy that has made him the famous player that he is. This book has been around for quite awhile but is a must read for any serous poker player. If the person your buying for loves tournaments, then there is no doubt he will treasure Harrington on Hold 'em. This two part series is the quintessential strategy for tournament play and sure to increase any readers bankroll.
   


2. Video/DVD
   Everyone enjoys relaxing with beer and pizza while watching their favorite movie. My suggestions for this holiday season are two classic poker movies, Rounders The Collector's Edition (1998), starring Matt Damon and Edward Norton and The Cincinnati Kid(1965), starring Steve McQueen and Edward G. Robinson. Both these movies are guaranteed hits sure to entertain any poker player.
   


3. Chip Sets
   If your player has been thinking about hosting poker night, then they will surely enjoy a Crown Wheatear Poker Chips Set. This set features 500 real clay 11.5 gram chips that give the sound and feel of those used in the casinos. The set includes a couple decks of cards, dealer's buttons, dice and an all aluminum reinforced case. You can't go wrong by leaving this under the Christmas tree.
   


4. Apparel
   There is no better way to show off an interest in poker than sporting a t-shirt or hat with a great poker design. The Poker Chaos Store has t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies and many other apparel items with excellent designs for both men and women players.
   


5. Poker Tracker
   If your poker player is the nerdy type, he will love this software. It allows you to download hand histories from online poker sites into a database so that you can analyze every aspect of your game play. It is a great tool for filling holes in your game. The experts, those that actually make a profit playing poker swear by it. Poker Tracker Website
   


6. Mouse Pad Pro
   This is a no limit hold'em cheat sheet that is printed on a mouse pad. The Mouse Pad Poker Pro gives you all the critical information you need to make good decisions, which is the key to playing winning poker. It tells you what starting hands to play, what positions to play them from and is adjustable for tight or loose play. It is like having a poker pro next to you while you play online.
   


7. Poker Table
   Another item needed for hosting a home game is a poker table. There are a wide range of table, from the inexpensive type that you unfold onto your kitchen or dining room table to the high class casino type with expensive chair sets. A google search will give you a large list of suppliers.
   


8. Computer Monitor
   Online poker players can increase their profit by playing several tables at once. Multi-tabling is much easier on the eyes when you have a high resolution monitor. I think most players would be happy with a LCD type with a resolution of 1600 x 1200 or higher. Here is a comparison page that shows some of the better high resolution monitors and prices.
   


9. Poker Calendar
   With 2010 fast approaching, a calendar with poker designs makes a great gift. The new 2010 Poker Chaos wall calendar features twelve of our most popular designs, a new one for each month. Printed on 100lb cover weight paper this 11x17 sized calendar provides a great way for your favorite poker player to keep track of their tournament schedule.
   


10. World Series of Poker Seat
    The ultimate poker gift, a $10,000 seat to next years World Series of Poker. Every poker player dreams of winning this event. Just participating is a great honor, getting to rub elbows and match wits with the best in game. The schedule for the 2010 series has not been released yet, but should be available soon. All the information on dates and locations as well as pre-registration forms will be available at this site.