David Sklansky, a renowned poker theorist, passed away

Another poker legend passed away

David Sklansky died on March 23, 2026, in Las Vegas from heart failure. He was 78.

The news quickly spread through poker media and specialized forums, where players discussed his contributions and expressed condolences.

Numerous tributes to David appeared on social media.

Jennifer Tilly recalled that Sklansky had signed a copy of "The Theory of Poker" she received from her stepmother after her father's death.

Rip David Sklansky.
When my dad passed away, his wife gave me my dad’s old dog eared copy of Sklansky’s “Theory of Poker”
I was just starting out, attending the WPT Celebrity poker tournament, and for some reason I brought that book with me to study between hands.
Somebody… https://t.co/nN9guSGEkB

— Jennifer Tilly (@JenniferTilly) March 23, 2026

Roxie Roxborough, a Las Vegas bookmaker and betting line analyst, reacted to the passing of David Sklansky on X, saying that Sklansky’s work had a major influence on his understanding of betting theory and probability. He specifically pointed to Getting the Best of It, mentioning that it changed the way he approached line calculations and decision-making.

RIP David Sklansky, 78. His books on poker/gambling helped me see oddsmaking through a different prism, especially “Getting the Best of It.” We both loved to talk poker theory into the late hours in the 70s. Dave was the man behind most of the Bob Stupak casino promotions.

— Roxy Roxborough (@RoxyLasVegas) March 24, 2026

Scott Seiver expressed gratitude to Sklansky for his contribution to the poker community, noting that the Two Plus Two forum played a vital role in his development as a player.

RIP to David Sklansky. Thankful for his part in creating the internet forum that had me meet all of my nearest and dearest friends and really helped shape my life; disgusted by the absolute monster that he was and hope some people can finally find peace now.

— Scott Seiver (@scott_seiver) March 24, 2026

Biography

David Sklansky was born on December 22, 1947, in Teaneck, New Jersey. After high school, he enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania, but later dropped out and began working for an insurance company.

He discovered a way to speed up certain calculations, but he wasn’t allowed to share it, and the new approach had no impact on his income. But poker, which David had become interested in while still being a student, was different: his deeper understanding of the game translated directly into profit.

"In poker, if you're better than everyone else, you make money right away. If I know something about the game that someone else doesn't, and if they're unwilling to learn or can't understand it, then I take their money."

Sklansky's poker career began in the 1970s. In 1982, he won two World Series of Poker tournaments:

1. $800 Mixed Doubles Limit Seven Card Stud as a team  with Dani Kelly
2. $1,000 Limit 5-Card Draw High

In 1983, David won a PLO bracelet. His total live tournament winnings are $1.4 million.

However, David Sklansky became famous not so much for his results at the tables as for his books. His flagship book, The Theory of Poker, was among the first to present poker strategy through a structured, mathematical framework. In 1979, Doyle Brunson invited him to contribute a chapter on Stud Hi-Lo  for his book Super System.

At the peak of the poker boom, Sklansky’s books simultaneously ranked in the top 100 on Amazon, a milestone he compared to the success of J. K. Rowling.

He published through Two Plus Two Publishing, founded by Mason Malmuth. His books and articles also helped turn the Two Plus Two forum into a central hub for poker strategy discussions and analysis.

Sklansky continued writing until the end of his life. His final book, Small Stakes No-Limit Hold'em: Exploiting Regulars and Game Selection, was published in 2023.

Full list of David Sklansky’s books:

Interesting facts

• 📈 Sklansky applied mathematics even before playing poker, working as an actuarial analyst, a specialist in assessing financial risks.
• ♠️ The book Hold’em Poker became one of the first in the world on Texas Hold’em strategy.
• 🏆 In 2004, at the Poker By The Book tournament, David beat Doyle Brunson and Mike Caro at the final table.
• 💵 His last live tournament cash ($301) came in December 2024, in the $200 Venetian DeepStack Extravaganza.
• 💰 About a third of his tournament winnings ($419,040) came from finishing third in the WPT Championship Event in 2006.