King Yao
Encyclopedia
King Yao is the author of analytical gambling
books. He keeps a Weighing the Odds blog (inactive since February 2009) and is a regular poster on Internet forums for sports bettors. He also writes a monthly sports betting
article for the Two Plus Two Internet Magazine
. Yao's books are published by Pi Yee Press, run by Stanford Wong
. His two books are titled Weighing the Odds in Sports Betting and Weighing the Odds in Hold'em Poker. Since Yao left his trading position at Susquehanna International Group
in 2000, he has been playing poker
and betting on sports. Yao uses his experience in financial derivative markets and translates it into gambling for both his personal betting and his writings. He travels to Las Vegas
frequently, especially during the American football
season.
King Yao was born in Taiwan
and moved to the United States
at the age of 6. He graduated from Stuyvesant High School
in New York
, NY in 1989. In 1992, he graduated from Carnegie Mellon University
in Pittsburgh, PA with a B.S. in Economics
in three years. From 1992 to 2000, he worked for Susquehanna International Group
as a financial derivatives trader. His experiences includes trading equity options on the American Stock Exchange
, currency
options at the Bank of New York
(in partnership with Susquehanna at the time in currency derivatives), crude oil and gasoline
options at the New York Mercantile Exchange
and CMO (collateralized mortgage obligation
) derivatives for Susquehanna's proprietary account.
In 2000, Yao left his job to pursue gambling full time. In 2005, Yao wrote his first book, Weighing the Odds in Hold'em Poker, which covers Texas hold 'em
with an analytical approach. In 2007, Yao wrote his second book, Weighing the Odds in Sports Betting, which covers sports betting from an analytical view and relates it to the financial markets.
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
books. He keeps a Weighing the Odds blog (inactive since February 2009) and is a regular poster on Internet forums for sports bettors. He also writes a monthly sports betting
Sports betting
Sports betting is the activity of predicting sports results and placing a wager on the outcome.-United States of America:Aside from simple wagers such as betting a friend that one's favorite baseball team will win its division or buying a football "square" for the Super Bowl, sports betting is...
article for the Two Plus Two Internet Magazine
Two Plus Two Publishing
Two Plus Two Publishing is a private company established and owned by statistician and poker player Mason Malmuth. The company publishes books on poker and gambling written by professionals in the field such as David Sklansky, Dan Harrington, Bill Robertie, Collin Moshman, Ed Miller, Ray Zee, Sunny...
. Yao's books are published by Pi Yee Press, run by Stanford Wong
Stanford Wong
Stanford Wong is the pen name of John Ferguson, a gambling author who is best known for his book Professional Blackjack, which was first published in 1975 and is still in print. Wong's computer program "Blackjack Analyzer", initially created for personal use, was one of the first pieces of...
. His two books are titled Weighing the Odds in Sports Betting and Weighing the Odds in Hold'em Poker. Since Yao left his trading position at Susquehanna International Group
Susquehanna International Group
The Susquehanna International Group of Companies is a privately held global investment, trading and technology firm servicing securities markets worldwide...
in 2000, he has been playing poker
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
and betting on sports. Yao uses his experience in financial derivative markets and translates it into gambling for both his personal betting and his writings. He travels to Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
frequently, especially during the American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
season.
King Yao was born in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at the age of 6. He graduated from Stuyvesant High School
Stuyvesant High School
Stuyvesant High School , commonly referred to as Stuy , is a New York City public high school that specializes in mathematics and science. The school opened in 1904 on Manhattan's East Side and moved to a new building in Battery Park City in 1992. Stuyvesant is noted for its strong academic...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, NY in 1989. In 1992, he graduated from Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
in Pittsburgh, PA with a B.S. in Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
in three years. From 1992 to 2000, he worked for Susquehanna International Group
Susquehanna International Group
The Susquehanna International Group of Companies is a privately held global investment, trading and technology firm servicing securities markets worldwide...
as a financial derivatives trader. His experiences includes trading equity options on the American Stock Exchange
American Stock Exchange
NYSE Amex Equities, formerly known as the American Stock Exchange is an American stock exchange situated in New York. AMEX was a mutual organization, owned by its members. Until 1953, it was known as the New York Curb Exchange. On January 17, 2008, NYSE Euronext announced it would acquire the...
, currency
Currency
In economics, currency refers to a generally accepted medium of exchange. These are usually the coins and banknotes of a particular government, which comprise the physical aspects of a nation's money supply...
options at the Bank of New York
Bank of New York
The Bank of New York was a global financial services company established in 1784 by the American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton. It existed until its merger with the Mellon Financial Corporation on July 2, 2007...
(in partnership with Susquehanna at the time in currency derivatives), crude oil and gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
options at the New York Mercantile Exchange
New York Mercantile Exchange
The New York Mercantile Exchange is the world's largest physical commodity futures exchange. It is located at One North End Avenue in the World Financial Center in the Battery Park City section of Manhattan, New York City...
and CMO (collateralized mortgage obligation
Collateralized mortgage obligation
A collateralized mortgage obligation is a type of financial debt vehicle that was first created in 1983 by the investment banks Salomon Brothers and First Boston for U.S. mortgage lender Freddie Mac. A collateralized mortgage obligation (CMO) is a type of financial debt vehicle that was first...
) derivatives for Susquehanna's proprietary account.
In 2000, Yao left his job to pursue gambling full time. In 2005, Yao wrote his first book, Weighing the Odds in Hold'em Poker, which covers Texas hold 'em
Texas hold 'em
Texas Hold 'em is a variation of the standard card game of poker. The game consists of two cards being dealt face down to each player and then five community cards being placed face-up by the dealer—a series of three then two additional single cards , with...
with an analytical approach. In 2007, Yao wrote his second book, Weighing the Odds in Sports Betting, which covers sports betting from an analytical view and relates it to the financial markets.
Books
- Weighing the Odds in Hold'em Poker (2005). Pi Yee Press. ISBN 0-935926-25-9
- Weighing the Odds in Sports Betting (2007). Pi Yee Press. ISBN 0-935926-30-5