When the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa held the inaugural poker tournament in the casino’s new poker room back on June 30th, 2006, Theodore “Ted” Goldbergh made his way from Manhattan to take a shot. After it was all said and done, Ted took the whole thing down, earning $38,062 for his 1st place finish.
Since then, Ted and his wife Debbie have made it a point to head out to Atlantic City as often as their professional duties allow. Ted practices law as a litigation attorney – both civil and criminal – in private practice, and in his spare time he’s a USTA ranked tennis player. After performing as an actress in Boston and New York, Debbie entered the literary world as Copy Director for Kensington and Penguin Putnam, creating flap and back cover copy for the likes of E.L. Doctorow, Stephen King, Toni Morrison, Joyce Carol Oates, and many others. She is also an accomplished author in her right, with a thriller novel already in the publication stage, and another in the works.

After competing in Event 1 of the 2014 Winter Poker Open, making a run to Day 2 before falling short courtesy of a brutal beat. Despite the painful exit from one of the biggest tournaments of his life, Ted was nice enough to agree to a brief email exchange – with his wordsmith wife acting as an intermediary – and this poker pair provided a glimpse into the lives of local players who play the game for all the right reasons.

PN: Tell me a little more about the experience of winning the first event held at the Borgata’s new poker room. That must have been quite the experience.

Debbie: “The ribbon-cutting line was on the walkway in the casino leading to the poker room, and the gauntlet of 525 entrants/players (waiting to take their seats) ran the gamut of the casino. The thrill of victory for Ted was “an out-of-body experience” and Ted remembers the feeling of seeing the table and players with incredible clarity and playing out the final hands with a Zen-like serenity and a feeling that the win was inevitable. When he won, he felt exhilarated and liberated – and physically as if he were floating, followed by a sense of deep satisfaction and accomplishment.”

PN: What does the game of poker mean to the both of you, two people with fulfilling professional lives and a romance that is obviously in full bloom?

Debbie: For Ted, poker is a path for personal achievement, which has always been what drives him. The game calls into play all of one’s best attributes and deep sense of self, and places you in command of your own destiny. A truly individualistic pursuit where the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is an additional enticement. No Limit Texas Hold-‘Em is above all other forms of poker in our opinion, because it requires the most creativity and skill. For me, while I don’t play professionally – although I do love card games – it’s an opportunity to observe human nature. As Ted and I have discussed, this game and these tournaments are deeply psychological and reveal so much about the players and their outer and inner personas.”

PN: What keeps you coming back to the Borgata?

Debbie: Since Ted’s first-place win, the Borgata has always been our favorite casino. Ted feels they present the best tournament structures and professionalism and are clearly dedicated to being the best no-limit poker casino on the East Coast. We also love the hotel, itself – the rooms, which have been nicely upgraded, the restaurants, everything, and the staff is very nice. Ted also loves the blog and the fact that Borgata is committed to sharing the poker experience and reaching out to the world.”

PN: How has the game of poker impacted your lives?

Debbie: We travel to the Borgata together and Ted always says that when he plays, he’s playing for both of us. Whatever your individual pursuits may be, sharing them with your life partner is the greatest reward of all. Poker has given Ted and me that opportunity. We’ve met many wonderful people along the poker path, from players to Borgata employees to friends back home who have helped make the journey even richer.

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