Driven by consumer interest in wine and spirits, craft brewers are unveiling new high-alcohol, or “extreme,” beers. At 25 percent alcohol by volume (ABV), the reigning champ is Samuel Adams limited-release noncarbonated Utopias. “But it’s not about alcohol,” says Sam Calagione, founder of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in Milton, Delaware. “It’s about expanding people’s palates and bringing beer closer to the world of wine.” Best bets are Dogfish Head Craft Brewery’s World Wide Stout (18 percent ABV) and Samuel Adams Millennium (20 percent ABV). — Paul Goldsmith

1 Play people, not hands. Movement and speech patterns betray what people are holding.

2 Be aggressive; steal small pots through frequent raises to build a financial cushion.

3 Remain unpredictable — constantly vary your tactics so as to confuse the competition.

4 Do the math: The odds against you should compare favorably against pot payouts.

5 Manage money: Earn and gamble set bankrolls. Playing harder won’t offset losses.