Successful Woman in a Man's World
Jennifer Harman is not merely one of the best female poker players in the world, she is also considered one of the best of both genders. She won a bracelet in the 2000 world Series in a game she had never played before, Deuce-to-Seven No-Limit Lowball. She took a few minutes before playing in the tournament to learn the game from Howard Lederer before playing in the event and beating out lowball expert Lyle Berman.
Question: How did you learn to play?
Answer: I taught myself. I just started going into poker rooms and began playing poker. I started playing there and with my family. That's pretty much how I learned how to play.
Question: What does it mean to you to be a woman in the poker world?
Answer: It really doesn't faze me. Maybe it did early on, but early on I was giving away all my money, so the men were really nice to me. Now I think I'm just treated like one of the guys, kind of. I mean, sometimes there are guys who will say something to you that they wouldn't say to a man because they know that the man would take him outside. They know the woman can't take him out to the parking lot.
It's really not that bad. I think that some things are an advantage when you're a woman poker player because early on people don't believe that women can bluff. If you know when to pick up bluffs when men are trying to run over you, you can do really well.
Question: How long did it take for men to start respecting you at the table?
Answer: A while... a while. Basically when I started playing 75/150, 80/160, I think I got a lot of respect from a lot of people. Not from everyone, but nobody gets total respect.
Question: How did you become the player that you are today?
Answer: It took a lot of practice. I study the game all the time. I still study the game, so after a session, when I quit, I'll go home and think about all the hands that I should have played or that I played wrong or that I should have bet. I think about all the mistakes I made. Even when I win a hand, I think about the mistakes I made, so I learn every day. Plus, when I listen to everybody at the table, somebody's always got something to say about poker, and I'm like a sponge.
Question: What would you consider your greatest poker moment?
Answer: There are so many; just moving up in limits are great moments, and being able to win at the higher limits in cash games, those are great moments. My first bracelet was unbelievable. I had never played the game before, and I realized as I was playing that as long as you know the basics, it's basically a feel game. It challenged how I read players, and then I won the tournament, which was great. My second one, too, my second bracelet, because my husband was watching me, and he had never seen me win a bracelet. So, I guess there are three moments for me.
Question: What would you be doing if you weren't playing poker?
Answer: Yikes, I don't know. Would I be a street person? Just kidding! I was always interested in medicine. I went to school to become a doctor. I don't know if that is what I would be doing, becoming a doctor. Directing films and producing films would be very cool for me. I don't think I would make a very good actor. I can read people, and I think I would be good at directing.
Jennifer hones her skills at tournaments around the world as well as playing with the big dogs in "The Big Game." With two bracelets to her name, and with that being more than any other female player can claim, Harman proves why she is considered one of the best.