I have to give David credit for my entire career in poker. While I learned more about the game from many sources, he was the OG source for my success.
In 1995 I was a new lawyer in Chicago. Prior to that, I had attended law school at the U. of Minnesota. Rather than a typical student job to make extra money, I was a card counter at the relatively new tribal casinos in the area. When I moved to Chicago, I figured on continuing to count cards at the local riverboat casinos. However, their rules were such that my edge wasn't worth pursuing. While looking for another BJ game, I found a poker game. It was 3-6 limit, which was the common game all over the country at the time. I knew the basic rules of poker from childhood, and playing for nickels and dimes in college. But people in this game (who were, in hindsight, all very weak players) used new terms like "pot odds" that I had never heard before. I decided to get into poker.
The next day I went to a used book store, and bought all 3 of their poker books. One was "The Education of a Poker Player". It was a fun read, and taught basic weak-tight advice on several types of poker. There was also "Poker by Maverick", a short book written as if by Maverick of TV fame. It was pretty much the same weak-tight advice as the other book. And finally there was "The Theory of Poker". Now this book had some meat to it, and spoke to me and my love of math. THIS was the book that truly started me down the path to becoming a really good player. I think it is fair to say that if this used book store had not happened to have a copy of this book, my entire trajectory into poker would be completely different, and it is unlikely I would have won the Main Event in 2004, or ever.
Thanks David. You helped me a lot....
Mat SklanskyI guess I need to say something. First, thanks to all the people who reached out to me personally. I truly appreciate it.
As far as David, he was a mixed bag. I guess whatever you thought of him, I agree. He wasn't as bad as some of you think. He certainly wasn't as wonderful as he believed. So I say mourn his loss or celebrate it.
I shall do both....
Mason MalmuthWe worked together for 40 years.
RIP....
