The Professional, Author at Raise Your Game

Round 2: Options have Non-Negative Value

April 5, 2016 by The Professional

Of course this is true of financial options, but in addition it’s pretty generally true in all games. It’s really pretty straightforward. Suppose you are allowed to do something, but doing it is worse than not doing it on average. Then you can just choose to never do it, and...

Susquehanna Tournaments

Round 1: Play the Man, Not the Cards

March 15, 2016 by The Professional

This old chestnut has been repeated by poker players for as long as the game has been played. Indeed, it is part of poker’s romance: from the laser-sharp “soul read” to a cartoonish tell relating to Oreo cookies, poker players have long emphasized the “feel” aspect of the game. When...

Susquehanna Tournaments

Introducing “The Professional”

February 23, 2016 by The Professional

I’ve been playing poker for 16 years, with seven of them spent as a professional player. I enjoy card, video, and board games alike, and I’d describe my playing style as relentless. During my professional years, I played in several World Series of Poker tournaments, winning a gold bracelet in...