Andy Bloch

Andrew Elliot Bloch was born on June 1, 1969, in New Haven, Connecticut. He demonstrated early aptitude for mathematics and engineering, eventually earning two electrical engineering degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He later attended Harvard Law School, where he obtained a Juris Doctor degree. His academic background heavily influenced his analytical approach to both blackjack and poker.

While at MIT, Bloch became a key member of the famous MIT blackjack team, a group of students and alumni who used card counting techniques to gain an edge at casinos. The team's exploits were chronicled in the book Bringing Down the House and later in Busting Vegas, which detailed their adventures in Monte Carlo. Bloch has stated that he once made up to $100,000 in a single blackjack session. He also starred in his own instructional DVD, Beating Blackjack, which explains card counting strategies to a wider audience.

Bloch began playing poker seriously in 1992, entering small $35 weekly tournaments. By the end of that year, he won a no-limit Texas hold'em event at the World Poker Finals in Mashantucket. In 1997, he skipped his final week of law school to play in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event. During that event, he agreed to be a "guinea pig" for the first trial of the hole-card camera, which resulted in a two-part article in CardPlayer magazine. After passing the bar exam in 1999, Bloch delayed his law career to focus on poker full-time. He made two WSOP final tables in 2001, won a seven-card stud event at Foxwoods in 2002, and reached two World Poker Tour (WPT) final tables during its inaugural season, finishing third both times.

Some of Bloch's most notable achievements include:

• 2006 WSOP $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship: Finished runner-up to David "Chip" Reese after a grueling 286-hand heads-up battle, the longest recorded WSOP final table at that time. This record still stands.
• 2006 Pro-Am Poker Equalizer: Defeated Phil Laak heads-up to win $500,000.
• 2008 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship: Finished runner-up to Chris Ferguson.
• 2008 WSOP $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em World Championship: Finished runner-up to Nenad Medić, earning $488,048.
• 2012 WSOP Poker Players Championship: Finished 3rd for $561,738.

In total, Bloch has recorded 168 live cashes as of mid-2025, with lifetime tournament earnings of $5,385,416. His latest cash came on June 22, 2025, for $3,120.

On June 2, 2012, Bloch won his first and only WSOP bracelet in Event #30: $1,500 Seven Card Stud. The tournament attracted 367 players, and Bloch defeated Barry Greenstein heads-up to claim the title and $126,363. This victory cemented his place among the game's elite.

Bloch is known for his mathematically rigorous and logical approach to poker. He emphasizes probability and expected value, often employing a tight-aggressive style with strategic adjustments based on opponent tendencies. He is considered an early adopter of game theory optimal (GTO) concepts and frequently contributes to poker strategy discussions, both online and in print. His background in electrical engineering and law provides a unique perspective on decision-making under uncertainty.

Bloch has a strong history of donating his poker winnings to charity. After qualifying for the 2006 WSOP Main Event through a Full Tilt Poker tournament, he pledged to give all his winnings from the event to various charitable organizations. He also donated 100% of his Full Tilt Poker winnings to charitable causes. In addition, he has participated in charity poker events, such as a tournament in Port Chester, New York, to raise funds for fighting multiple sclerosis.

Bloch is a former member of "Team Full Tilt" and was significantly affected by the 2011 Black Friday events that disrupted the online poker industry. He has co-authored a life strategy book with psychologists titled Life Lessons: Hold'em Poker Style, which applies poker concepts to everyday decision-making. He also offers poker and blackjack training sessions, sharing his knowledge with aspiring players.

Despite some near-misses early in his career, Bloch's consistent success across multiple poker variants and his academic background have cemented his reputation as one of the game's most intellectual and respected players. His record-setting heads-up duel with Chip Reese remains a defining moment in WSOP history. Bloch continues to play select live tournaments, maintaining his status as a notable figure in the poker community.