Jennifer Harman Bio & Articles

Growing up in what was previously the gaming capital of the United States (that is Reno, Nevada for those of you who are unsure) it was only natural that Jennifer Harman began playing poker.

Learning from her father at 8 years old, she wasn't allowed to play at her father's home games until one day he let her sit in when he was down and watched in amazement as she clawed back his losses.

By age 16 Harman had managed to get her hands on a fake ID and was playing in local poker rooms but soon realised that it wasn't as easy as it seemed.

Learning The Hard Way

Between earning her degree in biology, working several waitressing jobs, a kidney transplant (with a second in 2004), moving to LA, starting a business and going broke, Jennifer manage to find time to work on her game.

Cash Games to Tournaments

In 1995 she moved from cash games to try her hand at tournaments. This shift proved to be successful and in 2000 she took home the gold World Series of Poker bracelet and $146,250 in the $5,000 No Limit Deuce-to-Seven Draw competition, a game she had never played and only learnt from Howard Lederer five minutes before the event.

I didn't really understand the history on the line ... I was just coming in and playing my game. I didn't get it until on the last day. Everyone started talking about how I'd done certain things that hadn't been done very much. I think that's fortunate because of the extra pressure it would have put on.

In 2002 Harman repeated her WSOP bracelet win, this time in the $5,000 Limit Hold'em tournament. Her largest money prizes however were won at the $3,000/$6,000 tables of the Bellagio where she once won a pot over $1million, the biggest cash pot won at the time in a Las Vegas casino.

Family & Philanthropy

Jennifer now resides in Las Vegas with her husband Marco Traniello who is an up and coming professional player and has cashed half a million dollars in 4 years of tournament play.

In her spare time she is dedicated to raising funds and awareness of organ donation through her foundation Creating Organ Donation Awareness due to her personal experience.

Jennifer Harman Videos

Jennifer Harman in the Best Poker Hand Ever