David Sklansky
The theorist who made poker a science.
David Sklansky is one of the most influential poker theorists who has ever lived and a cornerstone author of Two Plus Two Publishing, the most respected name in poker books. A professional player and teacher based in Las Vegas, he helped transform poker from a feel-based gamble into a discipline grounded in mathematics, probability and logic.
His writing introduced ideas that now feel like common sense — but weren't until he wrote them down. Generations of professional players learned to think about the game through his books, and his concepts still sit underneath modern, solver-driven strategy.
Notable for
- Originated the Fundamental Theorem of Poker
- Foundational author at Two Plus Two Publishing
- Mentored a generation of professional players
Books by David Sklansky
Here are the books by David Sklansky that we cover — click through for a full review of each.
The Theory of Poker
All levels
The philosophical foundation of modern poker — concepts that apply to every variant ever played.
Read our review →Hold'em Poker for Advanced Players
Advanced
The book that codified serious limit hold'em strategy for a generation.
Read our review →Tournament Poker for Advanced Players
Advanced
Sklansky's rigorous lens turned on tournament play.
Read our review →Small Stakes Hold'em
Intermediate
Expert strategy aimed squarely at beating the loose small-stakes games most players actually face.
Read our review →