David Sklansky - more than just a theorist

David Sklansky is first and foremost known as a poker theorist and writer. His most famous book is “The Theory of Poker”, but Sklanksy has also received a lot of praise for “Hold’em Poker for Advanced Player”, which he wrote together with Mason Malmuth. Sklansky has unquestionably invented lots of poker strategies, but how do they hold up in real life, at the poker table? Actually pretty good, David Sklansky has proven himself to be a solid poker player when push comes to shove.

Sklansky’s perhaps greatest victory so far came in “WPT by the Book”, an invitational event on the World Poker Tour featuring an impressing and intimidating starting field. Besides Sklansky, five true poker legends took part in the tournament: Doyle Brunson, T.J. Cloutier, Phil Hellmuth, Mike Caro, and Mike Sexton. These superstars certainly had great respect for Sklansky’s poker knowledge. During the game they asked him about the odds in different situations, and the mathematician Sklansky proved to be just as accurate as any advanced odds calculator.

In the tournament, Sklansky played a tight, solid game and watched his opponents get eliminated one by one. First Sexton, then Cloutier, Caro, and Hellmuth before it was time for heads-up action against Doyle Brunson, one of the best poker players of all time. Brunson became world champion in 1976 and 1977, and in total he has won a record number of ten WSOP golden bracelets. Sklansky went into the heads-up match as a massive underdog, but doubled up three times in a row and turned things around. Once he had got the chip lead it didn’t take him long to knock Brunson out. Besides the immense glory Sklansky won a seat at the WPT finals, worth $25,000. He proved his poker skills in this tournament as well, finished in 16th place, and took home $75,485.

These are not Sklansky’s only accomplishments at the poker table. In the early 80’s he won three WSOP events, and he has finished in the money in WSOP tournaments five more times. His best finish in the main event is a 27th place from 1988. In total Sklansky has won over $350,000 in major poker tournaments.

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