Howard Lederer grew up in a family of 5 in which he liked betting on numerous card games at a young age. He discovered himself becoming very competitive in the above-mentioned card games as he was playing his father. After finishing Sr. High school, Howard decided to place higher education on hold for a bit and headed to New York to compete in some big-time chess. While participating in chess, he was brought in to a poker game going on in the back of the room. Howard’s 1st two years were tough as he played countless hours and don’t win a majority of the time. He earned some extra cash by becoming an runner for the poker enthusiasts. He believed he possibly could better his game by adjusting his life outside of poker. He brought about an effort to acquire more sleep and focus more on the game.

The definite improvement in his abilities began when he began gambling at the Mayfair Club in New York. The Mayfair was a bridge and backgammon club where the best players would regularly play against each other. Howard had access into several of the best players in chess. With their assistance, he would tweak his strategic thinking techniques. He used these strategic concepts in the game of NL holdem.

Howard Lederer also helped his sister Annie Duke learn the game of poker. Annie Duke was a great student of poker as she constantly asked questions about the right way to make the proper choice. Howard Lederer told Annie Duke to move out to Sin City and compete in the World Series of Poker tournaments. She is one of the best female players the poker world has ever seen. He moved to Vegas in Nineteen Ninety Three and participated in money games for the next decade. When the World Poker Tournament gained popularity, Howard made the decision to compete in more tournaments.