David Sklansky, Author of ‘Theory of Poker’ and Many Other Books, Has Died

David Sklansky, writer whose books essentially modified the way in which poker is thought of and performed, has died. He was 78.

A mathematician who referred to as himself the Wizard, Sklansky wrote books about poker and on line casino playing. His “Concept of Poker” continues to be thought-about a basis and gateway into superior poker methods, and is commonly listed by poker champions as seminal to their success.

Initially from New Jersey, Sklansky labored as an actuary after briefly attending the College of Pennsylvania earlier than shifting to Las Vegas within the early 70s the place he quickly established a popularity as a troublesome and constant participant at each the poker and blackjack tables.

How did he do it? Whereas most gamers did use a rudimentary understanding of math and possibilities, Sklansky took it to a different stage and based mostly his whole recreation on theories that might be written down and defined by way of equations and formulation.

He publish his first e book, “Maintain’em Poker,” in 1976. The primary version of “The Concept of Poker” was revealed in 1978 as “Profitable Poker,” and it shortly turn out to be a kind of Bible for each new gamers and the old fashioned grinders who knew proper off the bat that the mathematician was on to one thing.

The model of the e book with the yellow cowl that almost all poker gamers know was revealed in 1987 and continues to be probably the greatest promoting poker books. It joins virtually two dozen different titles like “Small Stakes Maintain’em,” “Poker and Extra,” and “Seven Card Stud for Superior Gamers,” which he revealed after Doyle Brunson invited him to put in writing the chapter on the sport for “Tremendous/System 2.”

He’s a three-time World Collection of Poker bracelet winner, however none of these got here after 1983.

Sklansky interacted with poker gamers as an energetic moderator on the Two Plus Two boards. With practically 18,000 posts that began in 2002, he discovered himself defending a few of his questionable behaviors towards youthful girls.

In 2007, Sklansky took to the discussion board to defend himself in opposition to accusations that he was concerned with a 16-year-old run-away whereas he was in his 50s. He admitted that the 2 had lived collectively for eight months and had been “planning to remain collectively indefinitely,” claiming he and everybody who met her thought she was in her mid-20s.

He additionally confirmed what has been an open secret across the Las Vegas poker world about the kind of girls he most well-liked.

“The ladies I like should have an odd mixture of traits, good feisty, however the reverse of feminist and considerably malleable,” he wrote.

He misspelled “malleable.”

In line with sources like Matt Berkey, and Todd Wittles, he additionally performed a job within the tragic story of Brandi Hawbaker, a younger girl who briefly turned a media darling within the mid-aughts due to some deep runs in occasions, a glance that oozed sexuality, and a willingness to point out numerous pores and skin.

Sklansky is accused of threatening her with disfigurement and inspiring her to finish her life earlier than the previous stripper dedicated suicide in 2008 on the age of 26.

He was additionally arrested for however not charged with home battery in January of this yr. The final thread he began on Two Plus Two was considering if President Donald Trump and the GOP’s pivot on the Epstein Recordsdata “was that massive of a deal.”

He died of coronary heart failure March 23, 2026.