Exposé
In this book I describe my career as a professional player and my life as a professional player. At the same time, I use numerous practical examples to explain how anyone can become a better player. In doing so, I present the numerous methods and possibilities how the reader can also become a good and successful player himself.
My own career as a professional player spans a total of 25 years. During this time, I have earned a total of about 2.5 – 3 million Euros. Essentially, I have played the games of chess, backgammon, blackjack and poker myself. However, my main business is sports betting with a focus on football betting.
The numerous anecdotes and experiences serve quite a few clichés. Nevertheless, they are excellently suited to provide an insight into the world of gambling. At the same time, these stories can also be used to learn the mathematical basics that are necessary for successful gambling in a playful way.
Nevertheless, the whole path of life cannot be taken entirely without a corresponding world view. Of course, this has only developed more and more over the years. Nevertheless, I felt obliged to at least attempt to convey this world view that has grown over the years. In this respect, there are also several chapters that serve this purpose. In doing so, however, I have always endeavoured to be entertaining.
The numerous diagrams serve as illustrations. One is sure to recognise some curiosities and peculiarities.
The book remains for everyone. No special prerequisites are needed.
That there is a general and also public interest in the subject, one not only notices in daily life. People are always challenged to ask questions when I announce my profession as a “professional player”. Among other things, this has led to a number of appearances by me in the media.
First, in the spring of 1992, there was a two-page report about me in the Sport-Bild. Among other things, I was supposed to predict the German football champion of the season. Then there was a duel with Max Merkel in the Bild-Zeitung in which we were both asked to predict four football matches. If I had won, the BILD had given me another promise for the future. However, the duel ended in a 2:2 draw.
Later, in January 2002, on the occasion of the Hoyzer scandal, there was a radio interview, which was followed by an invitation to the Sunday evening sports programme on N3, presented by Uwe Bahn. Later there was a report in the Sonntags-Bild, full-page, and later the article “Wettgeflüster”, written by Frank Bachner, in the Tagesspiegel on page 3. After that I was invited to Gerd Delling’s programme Dellings Woche. The last appearance was a portrait, also recorded on a Saturday afternoon at prime time for betting, on the rbb channel’s programme “WAS! The topic was “A day in the life of …”, with Dirk Paulsen as the main character.
The book should urgently avoid any form of “dry mathematics”. All chapters, including those with mathematical content, are always told in a light and free manner. The focus is on clarity. There is even a concern to combat the many firmly entrenched prejudices about mathematics in an entertaining way. I certainly plan to make the most hated school subject palatable to the reader, to reveal the actual ease and beauty of mathematics by means of “aha experiences”. In doing so, I make no secret of the fact that I myself have the greatest reservations about the taught form of mathematics and even about mathematicians.
The book is certainly not intended to be a guide to falling into a gambling addiction. On the contrary, it is primarily intended to dispel the prejudices that exist about it. I am also happy to point out that those who supposedly strive for security and do not supposedly make “risky” bets also bet themselves, namely on insurance policies, but usually accept much less favourable conditions. And that both luck and any form of security are illusionary and fleeting.