Annie Duke was born in September, 1965 in Concord, New Hampshire. She grew up in a liberal house with a sister and a brother. The entire family played cards and they played to win, never cutting any slack because of family relation. Her brother is, in fact, famed poker player Howard Lederer. Both of Annie’s parents were teachers. Her father was a linguist who taught at the St. Paul’s prep school where Annie attended school. He taught his children to play cards and his competitive nature was mirrored in them. They were all scholarly and were expected to continue their education well into college.
Annie Duke's Education
Annie Duke never felt like she fit in at the conservative St. Paul’s school. At the age of 18, she enrolled at Columbia University in New York. She would go on to earn a double degree in both English and Psychology. For her graduate work, she moved and went to school at the University of Pennsylvania. She intended to find a career in higher education but a month before she was to give her dissertation, she left college for a young man, Ben Duke, whom she would later marry.
Annie Duke Poker
After they were married, Annie Duke and her husband moved to Montana. Life was not easy for the young couple. In financial terms, they were always broke. To help pay for the mortgage on their first home, Annie started to play poker in the card rooms of Billings, Colorado. Her brother Howard was a professional player by this time and he helped her out by coaching her to sharpen her skills and to loan her the money for her bankroll. She put in the time at the tables and soon things started to turn around for the couple.
In 1994, at the urging of her brother, Annie Duke entered the World Series of Poker. In her first tournament at the WSOP, Annie Duke did very well, taking 13th place and outlasting her brother. The next few months after her first tournament, Annie Duke poker wins were just over $70,000. It was enough to convince her and her husband to move to Las Vegas where she could pursue a career at poker.
All throughout her career, Annie Duke has been consistent with her success at the table. Annie Duke poker wins have been recorded in 40 cash games. In 1996 at the World Series of Poker, Annie Duke took second place in Limit Seven-Card Stud and earned $72,000. In May of 1999, she won second place at No Limit Hold’Em at the World Series of Poker and earned $110,000. She has also finished in third place at the Ultimate Poker Classic and has finished in second at the Five-Star Poker Classic.
The year 2004 was a good year for Annie Duke. Poker plays in April, put her in first in Limit Hold’Em at the Five-Star Poker Classic. The win earned her $157,140. Then in May at the WSOP, Annie Duke took first place in Limit Omaha Hi-Lo, beating out a field that included her brother Howard, to win $137,860 and her first WSOP bracelet. Then in August of that year, at the WSOP invitation-only Tournament of Champions, Annie beat out a table full of legendary players such as Doyle Brunson and her brother Howard Lederer. Annie Duke went on to defeat Phil Hellmuth in heads-up to win $2 million. At the time, it was the most money paid to a female player in a single event.
Annie Duke - Poker Coach for Ben Affleck
Also in 2004, Annie Duke took over as poker coach for the actor Ben Affleck. He went on to win the California State Poker Championship No Limit Hold’Em at the Commerce Casino. She would also coach Matt Damon and Ashton Kutcher.
Annie Duke: How I Raised, Folded, Bluffed, Flirted, Cursed, and Won Millions at the World Series of Poker
After her win of the Tournament of Champions in 2004, Annie became a household name. Whenever anyone mentioned the subject of women in poker, the image of Annie Duke would spring to mind. In 2005, her autobiography was published. It was titled Annie Duke: How I Raised, Folded, Bluffed, Flirted, Cursed, and Won Millions at the World Series of Poker. It was co-written with David Diamond and tells of her life and her determination to win a WSOP event. The book was a bestseller and continues to do well on the market. Her sister Katy also wrote a memoir called Pokerface. The book delved into Annie and her brother Howard’s competitive nature.
Annie moved to Portland, Oregon in 2002 to work with a company called ieLogic. She helped them develop software for online real-time casinos and poker rooms. Two years later, Annie and her husband divorced and she moved back to Los Angeles with her four children. She did, however, win a $500 bet with Steve Zolotow. He had bet her that their marriage would not last five years.
Annie Duke Other Interests
Besides tournaments, Annie has had other successes with her career. In 2006, she was the first poker personality to appear on The Colbert Report to discuss her book. Later that year, she was featured in a GSN television special Annie Duke Takes on the World. In the show, she played against amateur poker players. She has also appeared on the show Ultimate Blackjack and the NBC show Poker After Dark.
Since Annie is a mother of four, she must balance her poker career, which can take her away from home for days at a time, and spending time with her family. She only plays in about a third of the normal tournaments. Family is more important. She has stated before that is she had to choose between a big tournament and going to one of her children’s plays, she would choose the play without any hesitation.
Annie is also involved with charity. In 2006, Annie formed a partnership with the actor Don Cheadle and Norman Epstein to form Ante Up for Africa, a non-profit organization to provide assistance to the victims of Darfur. They held a tournament in conjunction with the World Series of Poker and raised over $400,000.
Annie is a spokesman for the online site UltimateBet and is a member of Team UltimateBet. She has written numerous articles for the site about tips and strategy. She also endorses ESPN’s Poker Club products that include chips, tables, and other gambling accessories. She has produced several DVD’s such as ‘Annie Duke’s Advanced Texas Hold’Em Secret: How to Beat the Big Boys” and “Annie Duke’s Girl’s Guide to Texas Hold’Em”. Always one to stand up for her beliefs, she has testified before Congress on behalf of the Poker Player’s Alliance concerning legislation regarding online gambling.
Annie Duke Pictures
You can find many pictures of Annie Duke by checking out Annie Duke's own online gallery at annieduke.com. You won't find any Annie Duke nude pictures online. While Annie Duke has been asked about the prospects of posing nude her usual response in interviews is that she's just happy that her fans find her attractive.
Annie Duke - Future
Annie Duke continues to be one of the forerunners for the image of women in poker. Annie Duke no longer plays in ladies-only events, preferring to test herself against the traditional testosterone-driven male players. Regardless of gender, Annie has proven to be a tough competitor at any event. As of 2008, her estimated tournament earnings are over $3.5 million.
