Annie Duke Biography
Annie Duke was born in Concord, New Hampshire to parents that were conservative teachers. However, card playing was a huge deal with the family and one that helped the family to have quality time together after the days spent at work and school. However, every family member was out for blood and wanted to win, thus Duke saw her first glance at the competition that the poker world is full of. Duke went to a private prep school the first part of her life, then later attended Columbia University where she majored in English and Psychology with the intent to follow in her parents footsteps and become a teacher.
However, she then decided to get her masters degree in Cognitive Psychology. During the time in which she was working for the degree, she proposed marriage to her now husband, Ben Duke. The two then moved to Billing, Colorado. The move forced Duke to give up her academic life, and found that they were living in poverty in Billing. Thus, why Duke started going to local poker bars and clubs in order to earn money to pay her mortgage each month.
It was Duke's brother, Howard Lederer, who is a respected player in the poker world as well that persuaded Duke to enter into a tournament since he believed that she had what it took to win a game. And he was right! The first tournament that she entered was the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, in which she placed thirteenth place, knocking her own brother out of the running. After this success, Duke started to play regularly. The first month after the tournament Duke had won around $70,000 that month alone. Thus, her husband and her moved to Las Vegas so that Duke could focus entirely on her poker career.
Over the next few years, Duke participated in some of the most notable tournaments that are held for poker players. She won her first Word Series of Poker held in Omaha Hi/Low Split and won the coveted bracelet that each poker player wants to add to their resume. She was also invited to play in the No-Limit Texas Hold'Em winner take all tournament that was produced by ESPN and Hannah Entertainment. And this competition Duke ended up taking home almost $2 million dollars and beating out eight other players that were considered some of the best that the world has to offer.
Duke's playing days have died down some from when she first began. She now is consulting with websites and has been known to coach celebrities like Ben Affleck and Matt Damon on playing poker. Recently, she appeared on the Apprentice, started her own production company, released her autobiography novel, and has a DVD set coming out that helps normal everyday people learn to play poker as she did. One thing is for certain, Duke did well for herself. Most people acknowledge her background in psychology as the reason that she was able to beat so many people. However, others argue that it must be a family gift, given that her brother was successful as well.
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