Comments on: World Series Poker Theorist http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/08/10/world-series-poker-theorist/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:53:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Vasilis http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/08/10/world-series-poker-theorist/#comment-137117 Vasilis Fri, 10 Nov 2006 19:20:36 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=942#comment-137117 Well, for scientists in World Series of Poker, I see your particle physicist and I raise you a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Ferguson" rel="nofollow">computer science PhD</a> who won the World Series. The prize at WSOP has gone up a heck of a lot since 2000 though. Good going Binger! Well, for scientists in World Series of Poker, I see your particle physicist and I raise you a computer science PhD who won the World Series.

The prize at WSOP has gone up a heck of a lot since 2000 though. Good going Binger!

]]> By: Adam http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/08/10/world-series-poker-theorist/#comment-113495 Adam Wed, 16 Aug 2006 01:51:21 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=942#comment-113495 I think Binger started off with blackjack. I took a statmech class with him in spring '02 and he was telling me then that he was going to take some time off gradschool to play blackjack (He can count cards!). I think Binger started off with blackjack. I took a statmech class with him in spring ‘02 and he was telling me then that he was going to take some time off gradschool to play blackjack (He can count cards!).

]]> By: Plato http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/08/10/world-series-poker-theorist/#comment-113014 Plato Sat, 12 Aug 2006 07:11:49 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=942#comment-113014 Wall St. next, one might wager? :) Wall St. next, one might wager? :)

]]> By: Ben L http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/08/10/world-series-poker-theorist/#comment-112374 Ben L Fri, 11 Aug 2006 19:52:46 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=942#comment-112374 Here's an <a href="http://cardplayer.com/multimedia/id/19663" rel="nofollow">interview</a> with Binger after he went out in 3rd. Way to go Binger!! And, as Helen said, that was definitely his game face, he's a great guy in person. In the video they talk about how he had the best poker face at the table. Here’s an interview with Binger after he went out in 3rd.

Way to go Binger!!

And, as Helen said, that was definitely his game face, he’s a great guy in person. In the video they talk about how he had the best poker face at the table.

]]> By: Helen http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/08/10/world-series-poker-theorist/#comment-112367 Helen Fri, 11 Aug 2006 18:48:17 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=942#comment-112367 It is his poker face. Michael has a very gentle soul, and treats everybody with the same respect, regardless of your IQ. Congratulations Michael, and enjoy!!! It is his poker face. Michael has a very gentle soul, and treats everybody with the same respect, regardless of your IQ. Congratulations Michael, and enjoy!!!

]]> By: Elliot http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/08/10/world-series-poker-theorist/#comment-112338 Elliot Fri, 11 Aug 2006 15:37:34 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=942#comment-112338 Seems like earlier in the night the "luck" was flowing his way however. Third place is pretty impressive. Seems like earlier in the night the “luck” was flowing his way however. Third place is pretty impressive.

]]> By: Sean http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/08/10/world-series-poker-theorist/#comment-112323 Sean Fri, 11 Aug 2006 14:42:41 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=942#comment-112323 You need both luck and skill to win these things. On hand number 229 (!) of the final table, with three players left, Binger raised to $1.5 million (!) with A-10 suited and was called by both of the other players. The flop came 10-6-5. Binger, with top pair and top kicker, bet $3.5 million, but eventual winner Jamie Gold moved all-in. Binger called -- which he had to do in that situation, with so many chips committed and such a good hand -- and Gold turned over 4-3 for a straight draw. Gold was an underdog at that point (about a 1 in 3 chance of winning), but he could afford to make the play because he had so many more chips (otherwise he wouldn't have been in the hand with 4-3 offsuit in the first place). But the turn was a 7, giving Gold the straight. It happens. Congratulations! You need both luck and skill to win these things. On hand number 229 (!) of the final table, with three players left, Binger raised to $1.5 million (!) with A-10 suited and was called by both of the other players. The flop came 10-6-5. Binger, with top pair and top kicker, bet $3.5 million, but eventual winner Jamie Gold moved all-in. Binger called — which he had to do in that situation, with so many chips committed and such a good hand — and Gold turned over 4-3 for a straight draw. Gold was an underdog at that point (about a 1 in 3 chance of winning), but he could afford to make the play because he had so many more chips (otherwise he wouldn’t have been in the hand with 4-3 offsuit in the first place). But the turn was a 7, giving Gold the straight. It happens.

Congratulations!

]]> By: graviton383 http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/08/10/world-series-poker-theorist/#comment-112311 graviton383 Fri, 11 Aug 2006 14:09:36 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=942#comment-112311 Binger ends up in 3rd place winning $4.123M! Cool!!! Binger ends up in 3rd place winning $4.123M! Cool!!!

]]> By: Beauty Factory http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/08/10/world-series-poker-theorist/#comment-112309 Beauty Factory Fri, 11 Aug 2006 13:38:14 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=942#comment-112309 <strong>물리학과 포커, 지적능력의 세계</strong> World Series Pocker Theorist 얼마 전, Cosmic Variance에 World Series of Pocker에 출전한 Michael Binger에 대한 글이 올라왔다. Binger는 SLAC(스탠포드 선형가속기 연구소)에서 막 박사학위 논문을 디펜스한 입자물... 물리학과 포커, 지적능력의 세계

World Series Pocker Theorist 얼마 ì „, Cosmic Variance에 World Series of Pocker에 출전한 Michael Binger에 대한 글이 올라왔다. Binger는 SLAC(스탠포드 선형가속기 연구소)에서 막 박사학위 논문을 디펜스한 입자물…

]]> By: Elliot http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/08/10/world-series-poker-theorist/#comment-112236 Elliot Fri, 11 Aug 2006 08:42:44 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=942#comment-112236 As of 1:40 PDT, Binger is in 3rd place and can finish no worse than 4th. As of 1:40 PDT, Binger is in 3rd place and can finish no worse than 4th.

]]> By: Carl Brannen http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/08/10/world-series-poker-theorist/#comment-112230 Carl Brannen Fri, 11 Aug 2006 07:47:25 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=942#comment-112230 Historically, physics was advanced by people who had the spare time on their hands, but becoming independently wealthy is not going to be an easy way to make a career in particle physics nowadays. The physics community generally looks down on amateurs and this is not something that is changing for the better. If you think that you have a tough time getting people to take you seriously as, for example, a female physicist, you should try it as an amateur. For example, arXiv did not even allow contributions except from .edu websites until recently, and they replaced that simple system with a more complicated one with the additional objective of getting rid of contributions by graduate students. Carl Historically, physics was advanced by people who had the spare time on their hands, but becoming independently wealthy is not going to be an easy way to make a career in particle physics nowadays. The physics community generally looks down on amateurs and this is not something that is changing for the better.

If you think that you have a tough time getting people to take you seriously as, for example, a female physicist, you should try it as an amateur. For example, arXiv did not even allow contributions except from .edu websites until recently, and they replaced that simple system with a more complicated one with the additional objective of getting rid of contributions by graduate students.

Carl

]]> By: JoAnne http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/08/10/world-series-poker-theorist/#comment-112193 JoAnne Fri, 11 Aug 2006 03:03:29 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=942#comment-112193 This is nuts - I've been checking this poker website (that I didn't even know existed yesterday) every 5 minutes all afternoon/evening! As of 8 PM PDT, 3 of the final players have folded, 6 are remaining, and Binger is in 5th place with $4.3 M. This is nuts - I’ve been checking this poker website (that I didn’t even know existed yesterday) every 5 minutes all afternoon/evening! As of 8 PM PDT, 3 of the final players have folded, 6 are remaining, and Binger is in 5th place with $4.3 M.

]]> By: Elliot http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/08/10/world-series-poker-theorist/#comment-112188 Elliot Fri, 11 Aug 2006 02:32:17 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=942#comment-112188 as of latest update, final table down to 6 with Binger in 6th place. as of latest update, final table down to 6 with Binger in 6th place.

]]> By: Murky.org » World Series of Poker - finals http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/08/10/world-series-poker-theorist/#comment-112154 Murky.org » World Series of Poker - finals Thu, 10 Aug 2006 21:46:14 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=942#comment-112154 [...] The finals of the World Series of Poker takes place today, (the hold’em finals, that is) and one of the finalists is a particle physicist from SLAC (the Stanford Linear ACcelerator). Particle Physics was my area of interest when I did my degree. [...] [...] The finals of the World Series of Poker takes place today, (the hold’em finals, that is) and one of the finalists is a particle physicist from SLAC (the Stanford Linear ACcelerator). Particle Physics was my area of interest when I did my degree. [...]

]]> By: Hunter http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/08/10/world-series-poker-theorist/#comment-112138 Hunter Thu, 10 Aug 2006 20:32:18 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=942#comment-112138 It is all here today in Las Vegas. It is all here today in Las Vegas.

]]> By: JoAnne http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/08/10/world-series-poker-theorist/#comment-112125 JoAnne Thu, 10 Aug 2006 18:11:16 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=942#comment-112125 <em>How long would that take to earn in a physics department????</em> Syder, that's much too depressing a calculation to perform! How long would that take to earn in a physics department????

Syder, that’s much too depressing a calculation to perform!

]]> By: JoAnne http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/08/10/world-series-poker-theorist/#comment-112123 JoAnne Thu, 10 Aug 2006 18:07:52 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=942#comment-112123 John Baez, I thought he was just looking very, very serious. I would look serious too, if I had that much in chips sitting in front of me! Lee Sawyer, hmmmm - maybe this is turning into a viable career option for particle physicists! But I can't help but point out that Michael, as a theorist, is the only particle physicist in the final game with multi-millions of dollars worth of chips! John Baez, I thought he was just looking very, very serious. I would look serious too, if I had that much in chips sitting in front of me!

Lee Sawyer, hmmmm - maybe this is turning into a viable career option for particle physicists! But I can’t help but point out that Michael, as a theorist, is the only particle physicist in the final game with multi-millions of dollars worth of chips!

]]> By: spyder http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/08/10/world-series-poker-theorist/#comment-112122 spyder Thu, 10 Aug 2006 18:06:30 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=942#comment-112122 <i>In addition to making the final table of the Main Event, Binger made the final table of a $1,500 buy-in event earlier in the tournament and won $100,000.</i> Unfortunately he is playing against Allen Cunningham, who is regarded as one of the very finest tournament players in the world. And Allen has five times the number of chips that Michael has; though Allen is $8 million short of the table's big pile leader. The good news is that even if Binger plays all in (and current at current level 32 the blinds and antes add up to more than half a million per hand) and loses, dropping out in ninth place, he would still take home $1.5 million on a $10,000 dollar investment buy-in. Top purse is a bit over $12 million, with the prize distribution split down to the 9th place's $1.5m. A couple of early good hands and Michael could walk out with three to five million. How long would that take to earn in a physics department???? In addition to making the final table of the Main Event, Binger made the final table of a $1,500 buy-in event earlier in the tournament and won $100,000.

Unfortunately he is playing against Allen Cunningham, who is regarded as one of the very finest tournament players in the world. And Allen has five times the number of chips that Michael has; though Allen is $8 million short of the table’s big pile leader. The good news is that even if Binger plays all in (and current at current level 32 the blinds and antes add up to more than half a million per hand) and loses, dropping out in ninth place, he would still take home $1.5 million on a $10,000 dollar investment buy-in. Top purse is a bit over $12 million, with the prize distribution split down to the 9th place’s $1.5m. A couple of early good hands and Michael could walk out with three to five million. How long would that take to earn in a physics department????

]]> By: Uncertain Principles http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/08/10/world-series-poker-theorist/#comment-112093 Uncertain Principles Thu, 10 Aug 2006 15:35:52 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=942#comment-112093 <strong>Career Options for Theorists</strong> Physicist Michael Binger is one of the final nine players at the World Series of Poker. Career Options for Theorists

Physicist Michael Binger is one of the final nine players at the World Series of Poker.

]]> By: Ben L http://cosmicvariance.com/2006/08/10/world-series-poker-theorist/#comment-112092 Ben L Thu, 10 Aug 2006 15:34:24 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/?p=942#comment-112092 Go Binger! He was my office mate in grad. school, and taught me a bit about poker. Needless to say, I'm now wishing I remembered more of what he said. Go Binger!

He was my office mate in grad. school, and taught me a bit about poker. Needless to say, I’m now wishing I remembered more of what he said.

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