Bob Ciaffone

{{Short description|American poker player and author (1940–2022)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}

{{Infobox poker player

| name = Bob Ciaffone

| nickname = The Coach

| image =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1940|12|10|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Brooklyn, New York, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2022|5|13|1940|12|10|mf=y}}

| death_place = Saginaw, Michigan, U.S.

| wsop bracelet count = None

| wsop money finishes = 7

| wsop main event best finish rank = 3rd

| wsop main event best finish year = 1987

| wpt titles =

| wpt final tables =

| wpt money finishes =

}}

Bob Ciaffone (December 10, 1940 – May 13, 2022){{Cite web |date=May 17, 2022 |title=Noted Poker Author & Longtime Columnist Bob Ciaffone Passes Away at Age 81 |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2022/05/poker-columnist-bob-ciaffone-passes-away-at-age-81-41213.htm |access-date=March 26, 2024 |website=PokerNews.com |language=en}} was an American poker player, author of Robert's Rules of Poker.

Ciaffone finished third in the 1987 World Series of Poker (WSOP) $10,000 no limit Texas hold 'em main event, winning $125,000.{{Cite web |title=18th World Series of Poker - WSOP 1987, No Limit Hold'em World Championship |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=8035 |access-date=April 6, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob |language=en}} In that same year, he finished fourth in the WSOP $2,500 pot limit Omaha hold 'em event.{{Cite web |title=18th World Series of Poker - WSOP 1987, Pot Limit Omaha |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=8029 |access-date=April 6, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob |language=en}}

Ciaffone was the president of the Michigan Chess Association in 2003, is the author of four books on poker and two books on chess, and has been awarded the Life Master title by both the United States Chess Federation and the American Contract Bridge League.

He was a delegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention.{{cite web | last=Pajich | first=Bob | title=Poker Coach Bob Ciaffone Now a Democratic Delegate | website=Card Player | date=2008-04-25 | url=https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/4050-poker-coach-bob-ciaffone-now-a-democratic-delegate | access-date=2025-01-08}}[http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/churchwell-ciro.html "Ciaffone, Robert B."] at the Political Graveyard{{Cite web |last=Hiner |first=John |date=August 28, 2008 |title=Obama as president? Professional gamer likes the odds |url=https://www.mlive.com/politics/2008/08/obama_as_president_professiona.html |access-date=December 6, 2023 |website=mlive.com |language=en}}

Ciaffone's total live tournament winnings were $347,106.{{Cite web |title=Bob Ciaffone's profile on The Hendon Mob |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=5789 |access-date=December 6, 2023 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}