Howard Lederer grew up in a family of five in which he enjoyed gambling on numerous card games at a young age. He discovered himself getting really competitive in the above-mentioned card games as he was playing his father. After graduating from high school, Howard decided to put higher education on hold for a bit and moved away to New York to play some serious chess. While playing chess, he was introduced to a poker game going on in the back of the room. Howard’s 1st two years were difficult as he played extensive hours and don’t win most times. He made some extra money by becoming an runner for the poker players. He believed he could better his game by analyzing his life outside of poker. He made an effort to get more rest and focus even more on the game.
The real advancement in his skills began when he started wagering at the Mayfair Club in New York City. The Mayfair was a bridge and backgammon association where the the most favorable gamblers would frequently play against each other. He was able to access a few of the greatest minds in chess. With their assistance, he would hone his logical thinking abilities. Howard applied these strategic ideas to the game of No-Limit Texas Holdem.
Howard also helped his sibling Annie Duke master poker. She was a superb student of the game as she constantly asked questions about how to make the correct choice. Howard told Annie Duke to head out to Sin City and compete in the WSOP competition. She is one of the best women players the poker arena has ever seen. Howard Lederer relocated to Las Vegas in 1993 and competed in money games for the subsequent 10 years. When the WPT grew in popularity, Howard made the decision to participate in more tournaments.