Michael Binger, a theoretical particle physicist at SLAC, likes to play poker. A lot. In August, the 29-year-old finished third in the World Series of Poker’s (WSOP) main event, taking home $4,123,310. Binger, PhD ’06, has seen a lot at the tournaments he’s competed in, so Stanford found him in Aruba (playing poker, natch) and asked him what unusual things we might look out for if we ever make it to the big time.
- Exhaustion is a factor: Contestants regularly play 12 to 15 hours per day at the WSOP. Binger believes he lost a hand to eventual winner Jamie Gold due to fatigue at 3 a.m. at the final table.
- Drama queens beware: Enough people throw tantrums when they lose that poor behavior didn’t even make an impression on Binger.
- Acrobats, take note: If you do a handstand on your chair, you will make an impression.
- Don’t forget to share: An opponent playing for charity folded after Binger let him read the fortune from a cookie he’d saved from lunch.
- Watch for revolts: Binger got into a heated discussion with a director of the tournament when days were longer than was stated on the schedule and directors were unclear about their plans. Hundreds of players joined in and booed the director. “We got things worked out,” Binger says.
