David Sklansky

• Nickname — The Mathematician • Birthplace — Teaneck, New Jersey, U.S. • Place of death — Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. • Wsop Bracelet Count — 3 • Wsop Money Finishes — 23 • Wsop Main Event Best Finish Rank — 27th • Wsop Main Event Best Finish Year — 1988 • Wpt Titles — 0 • Wpt Final Tables — 1 • Wpt Money Finishes — 3

• Name — Poker Particle • Num Types — 169 • Antiparticle — Tax Particle • Theorized — David Sklansky • Discovered — Phil Galfond (late 00ties) • Mean Lifetime — 50+ years • Decay Particle — Go Fish Particle • Interaction — Weak or Strong David Bruce Sklansky (December 22, 1947 – March 23, 2026) was an American professional poker player and author. An early writer on poker strategy, he was known for his mathematical approach to the game. His key work The Theory of Poker presents fundamental principles on which much later analysis is based.

Sklansky was born on December 22, 1947, in Teaneck, New Jersey, where he was also raised. He graduated from Teaneck High School in 1966. Sklansky attended the University of Pennsylvania, but dropped out before graduation. He returned to Teaneck and passed multiple Society of Actuaries exams by the age of 20, and worked for an actuarial firm.

Sklansky wrote and contributed to fourteen books on poker, blackjack and gambling in general. He has won three World Series of Poker bracelets, two in 1982 ($800 Mixed Doubles with Dani Kelly, and $1,000 Draw Hi) and one in 1983 ($1,000 Limit Omaha Hi). He also won the Poker By The Book invitational event on the 2004 World Poker Tour, outlasting a table which included Phil Hellmuth, Mike Caro, T. J. Cloutier, and Mike Sexton, and then finally overcoming Doyle Brunson. As of 2015, his live tournament winnings exceeded $1,350,000.

• Year — Tournament — Prize (US$) • 1982 — $1,000 Draw High — $15,500 • 1982 — $800 Mixed Doubles (with Dani Kelly) — $8,800 • 1983 — $1,000 Limit Omaha — $25,500

Sklansky died in Las Vegas from heart failure on March 23, 2026, at the age of 78.