Toby Bochan is on a mission to convert seemingly naive, non-poker-playing women into competitive "chicks with chips."
A poker player since age seven, Bochan came to the Penn Bookstore to promote her first book, The Badass Girl's Guide to Poker,and to play a game of Texas hold 'em poker with the attendees.
Though the five attendees differed in gender, age and skill level, Bochan managed to unite them in several rounds of poker with hilarious anecdotes and tips for success.
Bochan, who considers herself a "poker geek," wrote her book with the hope of teaching women of all levels of poker experience how to hold their own in what has traditionally been a male-dominated game.
She cited social traditions as the root cause of poker's male-domination, adding that while fraternities played poker, sororities played bridge and hearts.
While Bochan said that this gender disparity is still obvious in casinos, she cited the recent rise in female poker players online as evidence that more women are getting involved virtually because "gender is irrelevant" online.
But gender is just what Bochan wants to show women how to approach in face-to-face games of poker.
With promises of "advice on how to use being a girl to your advantage" and of "ways to improve your love life through poker," Bochan's guide certainly does not try to eliminate the issue of gender at the poker table.
"I don't think that there's a problem with women using the fact that they're women to their advantage. You're not going to the poker table dressed as a man. Being equal is being yourself," she said.
An avid poker player, Rathe Miller from northeast Philadelphia agreed with the message that Bochan's guide sends about the presence of gender and sexuality in poker games.
"When you're at the poker table, you want to win. If you have the tits to win, use them," he said.
Bochan's Penn Bookstore poker party was her first in a series of parties that she will be hosting across the United States.
Bochan teaches poker classes in her home in New York City and runs a poker website for About.com.
She is currently planning the next book in her Badass Girl's Guide series -- this time, a guide to dating.
