Annie Duke is in buoyant mood. Out on the balcony of her home in the Hollywood hills, she has just negotiated a successful deal and is excited at the idea of divulging strategy advice and opinion.

Whereas a lot of pros might shudder at the thought of giving away their secrets, Duke seems to revel in her status as one of poker’s foremost tutors. ‘The issue I have when most people teach is that they say, “You’re supposed to raise,” without explaining why. My approach to poker is a little different.’ She claims that all will be explained in her new book, set to come out in early 2009.