Erik Seidel Finishes Second in Las Vegas Backgammon Event

Erik Seidel shows elite game sense still travels well

Erik Seidel is best known as one of poker’s all-time greats: a ten-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner, Poker Hall of Famer, and one of the most respected tournament players ever. This year, though, he has been on a reduced poker schedule. That did not stop him from stepping into another game that has long been part of his competitive background.

Seidel entered a backgammon tournament for the first time in more than four decades and came away with second place in the $2,500 Super Jackpot at the 2026 Las Vegas Open. For most players, that would be an impressive side note. For Seidel, it is another reminder that strong decision-making, patience, and board-game instincts do not disappear just because the setting changes.

A first backgammon tournament in over 40 years

Seidel made the return public before the event, joking on X that he was playing his first backgammon tournament in over 40 years against some of the best players in the world. He also suggested the experience might send him back into retirement — at least until another 40-year wait passes.

The humor aside, the result is meaningful because it highlights how deep his relationship with the game runs. According to *Deal Me In*, Seidel spent eight years on the backgammon circuit before transitioning to poker full time. That means this was not some random crossover appearance; it was a return to one of the disciplines that helped shape his early competitive identity.

Backgammon helped build a poker legend

Seidel has often been associated with games that reward logic, patience, and a clear understanding of risk. In his early years, he was already making money from multiple games, including backgammon. That foundation likely played a major role in how quickly he adapted to poker’s strategic demands.

He has written about playing backgammon as a teenager in a club near 75th Street and Broadway on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. After reading Paul Maguire’s groundbreaking *Backgammon* and learning from real players, he believed he was the best player in his high school. That kind of experience matters because it teaches more than technique; it builds comfort with pressure, variance, and long-run thinking.

For players trying to improve their own strategic game, resources like our poker school can help develop the same kind of foundational habits that separate casual competitors from serious study-minded players.

Why this result matters to poker players

Seidel’s runner-up finish is bigger than a fun crossover story. It is a case study in transferable skill. In poker, especially in tournament play, top results often come from broader mental tools: probability awareness, emotional control, and the ability to stay sharp through swings.

That is why the poker world pays attention when a legend like Seidel succeeds outside the felt. It reinforces the idea that great players are not defined only by one format. Many pros split time between poker rooms, poker clubs, live series, and study away from the table. Others supplement their careers through poker agent opportunities or value-added offers such as promotions & bonuses when choosing where to play.

Expert analysis: the strategic lesson behind Seidel’s backgammon run

Backgammon and poker are different games, but they share a crucial trait: both reward players who can make consistently high-quality decisions under uncertainty. That is why Seidel’s result matters strategically, not just narratively.

There are three clear takeaways here:

• elite fundamentals age better than many people assume;
• broad game literacy can sharpen overall decision-making;
• players with deep competitive experience often adapt faster when they return to an old game.

For poker players, the lesson is simple: if you want long-term edge, work on the process, not just the outcomes. Study, repetition, and disciplined thinking remain the real sources of EV.

The tax backdrop that pushed Seidel toward semi-retirement

This backgammon success also comes against a serious poker backdrop. Earlier this year, Seidel said he would move into semi-retirement because of the gambling tax provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The provision allows gamblers to deduct only 90% of losses, which means a player can still owe taxes even in a losing year.

Seidel was blunt about the effect on professionals, saying the margins are extremely thin and that even elite players may not be able to overcome the change. That concern has resonated across the poker community, where many players already operate with narrow edges and significant variance.

Conclusion: a reminder of what makes Seidel special

Second place in a backgammon tournament may not carry the same headline weight as a bracelet run, but for Erik Seidel it fits the larger picture perfectly. He has always been more than a poker specialist; he is a high-level competitor whose core strengths translate across games.

For poker fans, that is part of his lasting appeal. Seidel remains a standard-bearer for strategic excellence, and even in a different arena, he still found a way to compete with the best.

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