Male voices have long dominated poker literature. The strategies are sound, the math is solid, yet women often find themselves reading between the lines, translating lessons through an unspoken filter.
Be Your Own Poker GODDESS by Julie R. Dargis changes that. It’s a clear, grounded resource that merges strategy with presence, and it belongs in the hands of every woman who plays this game.
When I opened the review copy and spotted my name, I was honored. The book is a tribute to the quiet network of women who are transforming the poker landscape from within.
Why This Poker Book Matters
Julie doesn’t offer pink-washed poker. She provides the real thing, clearly laid out with depth and detail. The opening chapters cover foundational strategies that beginners need and seasoned players often overlook.
Blinds, position, preflop ranges, pot odds, and the stack-to-pot ratio are explained with precision, without drowning the reader in solver speak.
For me, the stack-to-pot ratio is a deeper look at implied odds. It helps you plan the hand from the very start rather than waking up on the river wondering how you ended up in a bloated pot with a weak pair.
It’s the kind of fundamentals that hold up at every level of the game.
If you’re just starting out, this is a road map. If you’ve been grinding for years, it’s a refresher that sharpens your edge.
The Web of Women at the Poker Table
My connection to this book began when Julie reached out through Ashira Lavine, one of my clients. Ashira cashed in this year’s WSOP event with the largest number of entrants and recommended me as a resource.
When Julie asked if I had a suggestion for a recreational player to feature, I immediately thought of Katlyn Slone. Katlyn started with a $27 satellite and went on to cash in the WSOP Main Event. Her story is featured in the book, and it represents exactly what makes poker powerful for women — accessible pathways, community, and grit.
Julie didn’t just collect pro perspectives. She wove together the voices of pros, emerging players, and mindset leaders to create a chorus that reflects the real diversity of women at the tables.
Ritual, Energy, and the Inner Game
In Chapter 7, Julie explores the role of ritual at the table. My contribution to that section boils down to a simple truth: “As the chips move around the table, energy moves with them.”
For me, poker has always been as much about the inner game as the outer one. Rituals, presence, and emotional agility are what sustain performance through long days and high-pressure decisions. Julie honors that aspect of the game in a way few poker books do. She treats it as integral, not ornamental.
Why It Belongs on Every Poker Playing Woman’s Shelf
This book isn’t a curiosity. It’s a companion.
Whether you’re playing your first hand or chasing bracelets, Be Your Own Poker GODDESS offers a strategic and emotional toolkit that meets you where you are. The fundamentals are strong. The emotional intelligence is baked in. And the stories reflect a game that’s evolving.
The more women claim their space on the felt, the more we need resources like this to back that seat with strategy, presence, and power.
Final Thoughts
Julie R. Dargis has created something valuable. This book sharpens your game without losing sight of the human being holding the cards. Poker tests us in ways few arenas can. It’s time for more resources to reflect that reality through a woman’s lens.
Oh, I almost overlooked sharing what fascinated me most about the author: Julie is a 66-year-old professor who has been playing for only three years!
While researching and publishing her first poker-related book, Be Your Own POKER Guru, she explored the topic of emotional regulation. Then, she decided to expand into personal and spiritual development for women poker players and formed her own publishing company, Final Table Publishing.
Her books are available on Amazon in both print and Kindle formats.
