Bobby Hoff has long been considered one of the best cash poker players in the world. In the poker community, he was known by the nickname "The Magician". In 1979, he became a finalist of the World Series tournament, but sensationally lost to the unknown Hal Fowler. Like all players of Doyle Brunson's generation, Hoff preferred "live" games, but occasionally played online.
Bobby Hoff was born in Victoria, Texas in 1939. While at university, Bobby discovered that playing poker was much more fun than sitting in his pants in class. A passion for gambling literally overwhelmed him, and after completing his studies, Hoff starts working as a croupier in one of the underground casinos.
It was at this time that Ed Thorpe's book How to Beat the Casino caught his eye. In this edition, the author has published detailed instructions, following which one could win at Blackjack.
Hoff seems to have learned very well all the intricacies of playing against the casino, because as early as 1969 he was denied access to all casinos. Now there was only one thing left to do - to continue playing poker using the acquired knowledge and gaming experience.
Bobby Hoff was ahead of his time in style of play. He has managed to perfect his super-aggressive playstyle. Bobby has successfully transformed his approach to poker from Blackjack. At the gaming table, he always behaved as friendly and polite as possible. To many of his rivals, he was remembered as a very friendly person, ready to help in difficult times.
Bobby Hoff often donated money to his colleagues who were in financial trouble. He understood them perfectly, because he himself had been stranded more than once.
In 1979, Hoff reached the final of the Main Event of the World Series, where his opponent was the unknown Hal Fowler, who became the winner of this prestigious competition, one might say, quite by accident.
This ridiculous defeat in the finals literally crushed Bobby Hoff. He was very upset about his loss. According to him, he then had nightmares for several weeks, he even accused Fowler of taking drugs during the tournament and thereby achieving a gaming advantage. In all fairness, it is worth noting that Hoff himself was at one time a cocaine lover. This addiction knocked him out of the game for several years. However, he managed to overcome his addiction and return to the poker Olympus again.
In 1987, Hoff lost all the money and was even forced to move to Houston with his mother. After a while, with ten dollars in his pocket, he went to Los Angeles, where he lived until his death. In Los Angeles, he managed to become a major player in cash games. He continued to take part in World Series tournaments. In 1984 he was second again, and in 1996 he took third place. However, he always remembered that offensive loss in the 1979 final.
Bobby Hoff stopped playing poker only in 2010, when he suffered a severe ischemic stroke. Poker legend Bobby Hoff the Wizard passed away on August 25, 2013.
