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Howard Lederer’s success can be summed up by two things : Hard work and
Dedication. These two traits have always characterized Howard’s approach to
the game, dating back to the family card games he played as a child growing up
in New Hampshire.
And the results he has achieved through these means speak for themselves; He
has gone from being Dead Money at local Chess club games in New York, to being
one of the most respected and feared No Limit players in the world, with
numerous tournament victories, and sizable cash earnings along the way.
Amazingly, Poker wasn’t even Howard’s first passion- it was actually Chess
that persuaded him to take a year off school at age 18. He moved to New York
to study the game, and found himself drawn to the backroom Poker games, and
before he knew it, young Howard was hooked on the card game. Despite his
interest, he wasn’t very good; he frequently ended up losing in his 80 hour
poker weeks. Although his early results would have been enough to discourage
many people, he persevered and continued to work on his game. He started
playing at New York’s Mayfair club, a move that would ultimately shape his
career, as he played regular hands the likes of “Action Dan” Harrington and
Eric Siedel. His game improved dramatically, and in 1993 Howard Lederer
decided to get serious about Poker, so he relocated to Las Vegas and committed
to a career at the tables.
Watching Howard play Poker is like watching a Professor set up a complex
equation- he’s always methodical and focused. His style of poker relies
heavily on intelligent strategy, and he’s less aggressive and intuitive than
some of his contemporaries- he prefers a chess-like formulaic approach. When
this is combined with his spontaneous moments of aggression, opponents have no
choice but to take him seriously, and this makes him a formidable opponent.
His analytical style is also evident in the play of his sister Annie Duke, as
the two spent much time working together on their play. The two of them have
also made poker history, when they became the first brother and sister to sit
at the same WSOP final table in 1994. While their alliance has certainly made
both of them stronger players, Annie has also cost Howard a few chips over the
years, knocking him out of more than one tournament!
When he’s not playing high stakes poker, Howard is in Las Vegas spending time
with his wife Suzie and son Mattias. He also enjoys golf, working out, and
also has a hand in the star-studded Full Tilt Poker website. Although his
favourite type of Poker is big buy-in, no-limit Texas Hold’em, Howard is also
accomplished at many other card games and loves a big cash table. Howard is
today, and will remain for sometime, one of the most respected, feared, and
skilled players in the game.
Howard Lederer's Official Site
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