The majority of professional poker players in the US are men. The gap even becomes wider when considering the number of achievements of men versus women. However, Jennifer Harman is one of the few female players who have bridged this gap to an extent. She has repeatedly competed against the best male professional players in poker and is one of the greatest female players ever to play poker. We will be learning more about her in today’s casino news.
Jennifer Harman: Poker’s Golden Girl Poker Background
On November 29th, 1964, in Reno, Nevada, Jennifer’s mother welcomed the baby girl who would dominate the poker world years later. The baby grew up a child who discovered her potential in poker early in life. Jennifer’s interest in poker and curiosity about the poker chips her father always tossed on the table helped her learn a lot about poker.
Her mother, a poker lover, taught her much about the game and contributed to her poker math skills. She honed her mental skills with different games, including Scrabble and Monopoly, and played several video poker variants, though not new ones like Deuces Wild.
She became so good that she started competing in various competitions at 16. Jennifer had a fake ID she used for that anyway, as you’re not allowed to play in competitions before the official age of 18. Her adventure helped her discover different variations and strategies of poker, including games like the Double Joker Multi Hand, which allowed her to play multiple hands at once.
Sadly, she lost her mother when she was 17 to failed kidneys. This occurrence led to her finding consolation in poker as she engaged in the game.
Jennifer Harman attended the University of Nevada, where she obtained her BSc in Biology. But instead of furthering her studies, she went deeper into playing poker. This life choice caused her to disagree with her father, who wanted her to have a more decent career.
Jennifer moved to Las Vegas, where she played poker full-time. Her curiosity early in life helped her the most. In her teens, she would ask her parents, what are these chips for? What are kickers in poker? How can one apply this rule in poker? Who do I bluff? She developed a tendency for the game that no other woman had, so she kept getting better.
This zealousness eventually got her into the Corporation—a group of elite players that pooled resources to beat Andy Beal, the wealthy businessman who envisioned conquering poker’s elites.
A Leading Lady: Jennifer Harmann, Her Wins and Achievements
Now playing in the big boys’ casino games in Las Vegas, Jennifer Harman built her bankroll stepwisely. Her first recorded tournament was in 1994, when she competed in the $500 + 30 Limit Hold’em event at the Queens Poker Classic IV, finishing 8th to win a $3,052 prize.
On May 4th, 2000, Jennifer competed at the 31st World Series of Poker in Las Vegas to win her first WSOP gold bracelet after finishing first in the final event, $5,000 + 100 No Limit Deuce to Seven Draw. She also went back home with $146,250. This achievement helped garner more respect, attention, and popularity among other top players in poker – the likes of Daniel Negreanu, Phil Ivey, and the rest.
Again, in 2002, Jennifer Harman won her second WSOP gold bracelet when she competed at the 33rd World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. She finished first at the final table in the $5,000 Limit Hold’em event and earned $212,440. On December 14th, 2004, she cashed out $299,492 in the $15,000 + 300 No Limit Hold’em Championship event at the WPT Five-Diamond World Poker Classic in Las Vegas.
Her most significant cash prize came on March 20th, 2005, at the $10,000 + 200 No Limit Hold’em WSOP Circuit Championship Event in Las Vegas. She finished second to win $383,840. She also won a $330,000 prize for finishing third in the $9,600 + 400 No Limit Hold’em Championship Event at World Poker Tour – WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star in San Jose on March 10, 2008.
Jennifer was the only female poker player to hold two WSOP bracelets until 2012 when Vanessa Selbst joined her in the feat. She has played and cashed out big in other major tournaments, including the World Poker Tour (WPT), the European Poker Tour(EPT), and other significant events. The Poker Hall of Fame inducted Jennifer Harman in 2015, alongside other legendary players.
Winning Against All Odds
Jennifer Harman is a big name that will continue to be on the lips of poker fans worldwide. She has etched her name among the world’s best poker players through her determination and hard work. Jennifer Harman is currently at $2,803,224 in total live tournament earnings, worth 15 million dollars.
If you want to follow in Jennifer’s footsteps in your online casino games, you can start small by playing free poker online at Vegas Aces Casino.
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