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Renowned Poker Author David Sklansky Dies at 78

4/12/2026

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Story summary
  • David Sklansky, renowned poker player and author, died on March 23 in Las Vegas at age 78, confirmed by his son Mathew Sklansky.
  • His 1978 book The Theory of Poker is foundational, shifting strategy from instinct to mathematical analysis.
  • Mason Malmuth noted that in the 1970s poker relied on instinct rather than game theory.
  • Sklansky dropped out of the University of Pennsylvania and was known in poker as 'the Mathematician'.