Sometimes playing the game of poker is not about having the biggest cash finishes. Poker professionals get where they are by possessing certain traits, practicing their best strategies, and sticking to it all when the chips are down. Dr. Max Stern of Las Vegas has been sticking to his game for decades. This retired pediatrician finished sixth in the 1989 World Series of Poker event and he has been at major poker events ever since. Huge money finishes have been elusive for Stern. But his contribution to the world of poker has been notable. He is widely respected among fans and professional peers who have nicknamed him El Bandito. Facing several big disappointments at the table has not curbed Stern's great enthusiasm for playing poker.
Dr. Stern's love for the game is shared by his wife who became a professional poker player after years of following his tournament play. Stern and his wife Maria are among poker's power couples. Both have earned WSOP bracelets. He has earned three WSOP bracelets and has 60 cash finishes. Stern finished 4th, earning $6,915, in the Omaha Hi/Lo event at the Orleans Open 2006 in July. His poker earnings as of 2006 are $1,002,665. Stern's poker related profits do not end at the game table. Dr. Stern's decades old romance with poker has also paid off in the form of book profits. Stern co-authored the highly recommended Championship Stud with Linda Johnson and Tom McEvoy. Championship Stud is considered one of the best guides to winning at all three variations of 7-Card stud. Poker fans can gain a wealth of information by observing the habits of professionals. Stern's lengthy poker career teaches us that you must persevere and simply love the game. The profits will come in many different forms, just as they do for Stern.
