David Sklansky

David Sklansky was born in 1947 in Teaneck, New Jersey and is widely considered a top authority on poker and gambling.

David attended the University of Pennsylvania which is where he began playing and analyzing the game of poker. It wasn't long before Sklansky gave up the academic life altogether. He put his math knowledge to use as an actuary, which didn't last any longer than his university career.

Sklansky has discovered a faster way to do some of the calculations at his job and took that knowledge to his boss. The boss told him to go ahead and do it that way, but wouldn't pass on the information to the other workers.

"In other words, I knew something no one else knew, but I got no recognition for it," Sklansky is quoted as saying in A. Alvarez's The Biggest Game in Town.

Sklansky goes on to say, "In poker, if you're better than anyone else, you make immediate money. If there's something I know about the game that the other person doesn't, and if he's not willing to learn or can't understand, then I take his money."

Sklansky has won three World Series of Poker bracelets, two in 1982 in $800 Mixed Doubles and $1000 Draw Hi, and one in 1983 in $1000 Limit Omaha Hi. David also won the Poker By The Book invitational event on the 2004 World Poker Tour, outlasting Phil Hellmuth Jr, Mike Caro, T. J. Cloutier, and Mike Sexton, and Doyle Brunson.

Sklansky has authored or co-authored 13 books on gambling theory and poker:

1. "Gambling for a Living" by David Sklansky and Mason Malmuth
2. "Getting the Best of It" by David Sklansky
3. "Hold'em Poker" by David Sklansky
4. "Hold'em Poker for Advanced Players, 21st Century Edition" by David Sklansky and Mason Malmuth
5. "Poker, Gaming, & Life" by David Sklansky
6. "Seven Card Stud for Advanced Players" by David Sklansky, Mason Malmuth, and Ray Zee
7. "Sklansky on Poker" by David Sklansky
8. "Sklansky on Razz" by David Sklansky
9. "Sklansky Talks Blackjack" by David Sklansky
10. "Small Stakes Hold 'em: Winning Big with Expert Play" by Ed Miller, David Sklansky, and Mason Malmuth
11. "Theory of Poker" by David Sklansky
12. "Tournament Poker for Advanced Players" by David Sklansky
13. "No Limit Hold 'em: Theory and Practice" by David Sklansky and Ed Miller

The 2004 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Greg Raymer, has said in an interview the biggest influence on his game was Sklansky's "The Theory of Poker". "It was one of the first books I bought, and it taught me all of the most important basic concepts applicable to any form of poker," Raymer said. "I still consider it the most important single poker book anybody can read if they want to improve their game."


Fun Facts:

• Finished third at the 2006 Borgata Poker Open WPT Championship.
• Three-time WSOP bracelet winner.
• Professional gambler and casino consultant.