Noah Stephens-Davidowitz

Noah Stephens-Davidowitz, often known online as NoahSD, is a prominent figure in the poker world, recognized both as a player and as the editor-in-chief of the independent poker news outlet Subject: Poker. His combination of mathematical training and investigative tenacity has set him apart in the industry.

Stephens-Davidowitz attended Brown University as an undergraduate, where he majored in mathematics. He applied to computer science PhD programs, reflecting his deep interest in analytical and computational fields. Outside of poker, he describes himself as a nerd with a passion for rollercoasters, tasting menus, Kurt Vonnegut, Wikipedia, Quentin Tarantino, and karaoke.

Stephens-Davidowitz began playing poker in high school with friends, starting with $5 games in his buddy Max's basement. He became obsessed with studying the game, spending more time analyzing it than playing high volume. His mathematical background informed his approach, emphasizing game theory optimal (GTO) strategies and statistical reasoning.

his live tournament earnings total $25,039, with a best cash of $25,039—likely from the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event, where he was photographed on Day 2. This remains his only recorded live cash.

In 2010, Stephens-Davidowitz became deeply involved in investigating cheating allegations against Nick "stoxtrader" Grudzien. After weeks of research, he concluded that Grudzien had cheated on PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker, and he made the story public. This work established him as a go-to person for cheating disputes and security issues in online poker.

He later helped conduct the largest independent security audit of a poker site in history, hired by Cake Poker after their encryption debacle. In May 2011, he launched Subject: Poker, an independent news site that quickly gained notoriety for breaking major stories ahead of larger outlets. As editor-in-chief, Stephens-Davidowitz has been responsible for much of the site's content.

Stephens-Davidowitz's playing style is heavily influenced by his mathematical background. He advocates for a balanced, game theory optimal approach, focusing on range construction and frequency adjustments. He has written blog posts explaining statistical concepts like variance, normal distribution, and binomial distribution for poker players, aiming to demystify the math behind the game. His 2013 talk at NYU Game Center, titled "What Makes Poker So Awesome?", explored the game's depth from a designer's perspective.

Noah Stephens-Davidowitz is respected in the poker community for his integrity, analytical rigor, and commitment to exposing cheating. Through Subject: Poker, he has provided a valuable independent voice in poker journalism. His example demonstrates how academic training can enhance both playing skill and investigative work in the poker world.