Born in Concord, New Hampshire, she is sister to Howard Lederer, the well-known and popular expert nicknamed “The Professor” because of his calm and stable approach at the poker tables. Howard taught Annie to play and she went on to become a legendary player in her own right.
As an example of her intellectual capabilities, she majored both in English and Psychology as a student at Columbia University and went on to the University of Pennsylvania where she pursued a doctoral degree in Psycholinguistics. On the verge of obtaining her PhD, she left the program and decided to concentrate on earning a living thru playing poker.
Two of Annie Duke's outstanding poker accomplishments:
• 2004 – First World Series of Poker bracelet in $2,000 - Omaha High/Low Event
• 2004 – ESPN WSOP Tournament of Champions – First Prize - $2,000,000
After tutoring actor Ben Affleck, he went on to win the $10,000 buy-in California State Poker Championship No Limit Hold'em Tournament which was held at the Commerce Casino. His prize was $356,000.
Annie started a poker website www.ultimatebet.com along with a team of other experts including Phil Helmuth, Antonio Esfandieri, Phil “Devilfish” Ulliott, Krazy Kanuck, Jack McClelland, John Vorhaus and Russ Hamilton. She offers her expert advice in a poker tutorial and has written a number of articles:
• Learn Omaha: Underestimating the Value of Connecting High Cards
• Learn Omaha: Overestimating the Value of Low Connecting Cards
• Learn Omaha: Overestimating the Value of A2
• Learn Omaha: Overestimating the Value of Baby Pairs
• Learn Omaha: Playing Stranded Big Pairs
• Learn Omaha From a Pro
• Learn Omaha: Overestimating the Value of AA
• Q & A
• Movin' On Up
• The 30 Bet Rule
Her website also has a section called Learn to Play where she offers the following information to players:
• Getting Started
• Rules of Poker Games
• Poker Strategy
Annie is considered one of the toughest poker players around and unlike her brother, is an emotional player. She is known to remove her shoes when at the table and sit with one leg folded under her.
Annie has four children which is unique in the world of poker. However, she has stated many times that as much as she loves the game, her children and their activities are first and foremost in her life.
She prefers not to play in games for women only and likes competing in the world of poker because she feels that “Poker is one of the only sports where a woman can compete on a totally equal footing with a man, so I don't understand why there's a ladies only tournament.”
