It was a way to pass time during war, a source of income after and it even introduced him to his wife.
“Oh heavens yes [we played poker in Vietnam],” said Richman.
"In the foxholes, in the barracks, wherever we could find, we played.
“You know, when we were in a lull we’d just play seven-card stud.”
Richman was a forward air controller for the United States Air Force and was stationed out of Ban Me Thuot Airfield.
Due to Vietnam’s dense jungle terrain, forward air controllers --who helped aircraft distinguish between hostile and friendly targets-- participated in every major military action in Vietnam.
Richman’s first year in Vietnam was in 1968, the year of the Tet Offensive.
By the time Richman returned to the United States in 1970, he’d earned two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and an Air Force Combat Medal.
While Richman was able to return home, 338 forward air controllers did not.
The Queen of Hearts
After the war, Richman started dealing the game in Wendover, Nev. After that, he moved to Florida to keep playing and met his wife, Sandi Richman.
“He said he had to marry me because I'd taken all his money at the table,” said Sandi.
“He needed it back.”
“I took a chance with her,” said Richman.
“She was the dealer at the time and we were at the Seminole Casino before Hard Rock came in.
“She kept dealing, I kept losing.
“One day, she got up at a break and I got up and had a break too.
“I’d taken the week off and asked what she was going to do for the next week.
“She said, ‘I’m going to Disney.' So we went to Disney and haven't been separated since.”
The Richmans have been together since 1999 and now reside in Fort Collins, Colorado, where they run Sandi’s All-In Poker League.
A Personal Best
That’s where the Richmans get their year-round poker fix, but when summer comes around, Richman comes to Las Vegas to play the Seniors Event and a few Deepstack tournaments.
This is Richman’s second Seniors Event and while players are still on Day 1, he’s already beaten his previous record by at least five hours.
“Just so you know, I made it past the first 45 minutes this time,” said Richman.
Richman lasted less than a level in the 2013 Seniors Event --he missed the event in 2014 due to health reasons-- but made the dinner break this year near the lead with 40,000 chips.
Richman, a lifelong fan of the game, has seen poker evolve from an overlooked card game to the multi-billion dollar industry it is today.
“I didn't like how Moneymaker played but I'm glad that he opened the game up for everybody,” said Richman.
“If he could win it with a four-five, anybody could win it.
"That’s how poker's gotten as big as it did, and I'm glad to see it.
“As long as I’m able to play, I’ll be here.”
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