A Chip off the old block

A biography of David "Chip" Reese by Damian M. Moorman, Dayton2Vegas.com

“He’s certainly the best poker player that ever lived,” remarked Doyle Brunson on David “Chip” Reese. Chip has played in and beat the biggest cash games in Las Vegas for many years. He died December 4, 2007, with complications from pneumonia, but lived a fulfilling life. Chip left behind a proud family and a legacy that will not be forgotten in the poker world.

Chip Reese grew up in Dayton, OH, and went to college at Dartmouth. He beat the cash games so badly at college that there is now a poker room named after him at his old fraternity. Chip stopped in Las Vegas on his way to law school and never left. He turned $400 into millions and quickly became a living legend.

In 1991, Chip became the youngest player ever to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. He started playing tournaments again in the last few years after the poker boom, when his family wanted to see him on television. Chip has won three World Series of Poker bracelets, but his success is not counted by just the gold bracelets he has obtained. Chip wrote the Stud section of Doyle Brunson’s Super System. He was greatly honored when Brunson came to him for his help on Stud, one of Chip’s best games. Chip earned the respect and admiration from his peers and that is something that will stand the test of time.

Chip won the inaugural $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. tournament at the WSOP in 2006, banking $1,784,640 along with the title. Since his death, Harrah’s will now present the winner of this tournament with the David “Chip” Reese Award along with the purse for first place.

Chip separated himself from other players because of his vast knowledge of the game and his incredible amount of raw talent. The more important thing that everyone remembers about Chip is how he separated himself from other top pros. The difference between Chip and the rest of the players was that his “D” game was not that different from his “A” game. He will be remembered as the man who never went on tilt. Chip displayed amazing emotional control that his peers could not when times were rough. He always focused on the next hand and tried to make the best decision possible. This was one of the biggest reasons for his consistency and long term success.

Above poker, Chip was a family guy and really close to his sons. He died at the young age of 56 but lived a great life on and off the table. He will be missed greatly in the poker world and his legacy will live on.