The female face of poker continues to break barriers

Annie Duke is fully aware that poker is perceived as a man's game, but that doesn't mean she ever chose to accept that perception.

Often the only female at the table in the local Montana card rooms when she started playing in the early 1990s, she's received her share of snide comments and disrespect from the men at the table.

"There are some big issues with women, and they are viewed differently at the table," Duke said. "It's always been considered a male retreat, and you'll come across a lot of men that are all pissed off about you being there. They think you are invading their space."

Unfazed with the obstacles ? and with the coaching of brother Howard Lederer, one of the poker greats ? it wasn't long before she was able to turn things to her advantage.

Duke quickly discovered that men were more prone to attempt to bluff her out of pots. They would flirt and, more interested in securing a date than securing her money, bet small.

All deadly mistakes that Duke parlayed into hearty financial returns.

"I quickly learned that all I had to do was just sit there and be a girl," Duke said. "Poker is all about cold, calculated decision-making, and any time you can get the men emotionally involved you are at an advantage."

Wowed with her development, Lederer persuaded Duke to take a shot at the World Series of Poker in 1994. She went on to shine, finishing in the money in three tournaments and cashing out more than $70,000.

It was enough for her to decide to turn pro, and Duke has gained notoriety through the years in a variety of card games.

When the ESPN cameras started rolling in 2003 as part of its increased coverage of the World Series, it was Duke, the mother of four children, who was singled out as the public face of female poker. She was good TV.

In 2004, the television exposure heightened, and Duke won her first bracelet in the $2,000 buy-in Omaha Hi/Lo tournament.

Then came the big one.

Duke played the perfect tournament at the perfect time and parlayed that into the perfect year with her victory at ESPN's "Tournament of Champions" in September.

An invitation-only event for what ESPN and Harrah's Entertainment considered the top-10 players in the world, Duke beat the elite for $2 million and staked claim to poker royalty.

One by one, the likes of Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, Chip Reese and even big brother Lederer, among others, exited stage left as Duke moved up the ladder.

Waiting for Duke in heads-up action was none other than the "Bad Boy of Poker" himself, Phil Hellmuth. Duke went on to catch a rush of great cards and psychologically tore Hellmuth down for the winner-take-all prize.

"Once we got heads up, I just knew 100percent that I was going to win," Duke said. "Everything was going good for me, and I had tons of confidence."

Not bad, considering her only goal entering the tournament was to avoid getting knocked out first.

The broadcast is shown regularly on ESPN, and for those of you who have yet to see it, it is highly recommended viewing.

The platform has launched Duke into the mainstream audience like few in the poker world.

A sitcom titled 'All In' starring Janeane Garofalo, which would be based on Duke's unique life as a poker-playing mom, currently is in development with NBC.

Duke also teamed with Big Vision to develop an instructional DVD series set to release in September. It will be dedicated to all things poker, including a specialty disk devoted to helping female players take on the men, an industry first on video.

And like many other professionals, Duke has carved out a relationship with an online poker site as a consultant and player with ultimatebet.com.

"Poker has opened the door for me to go out and do something creative in a variety of different outlets and that keeps me going," Duke said. "I'm in a lucky position in that opportunities come my way. Great male players are a dime a dozen, and that is not true with me."

Only the "great player" part of it.

By Chuck Blount

News Added: 14 April, 2005

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