Howard Lederer AKA "The Professor"

Howard "The Professor" Lederer was born October 30, 1964 in Concord, New Hampshire and is a professional poker player, brother of pro poker player Annie Duke and author/poet Katy Lederer. Howard's father is Richard Lederer, a writer and linguist who taught at St. Paul's School in New Hampshire.

Howard Lederer was a young chess talent and after high school he moved to New York City, where he attended Columbia University. New York City is known for its chess clubs and it was at one of these clubs that he discovered poker. He eventually began playing at the Mayfair Club with other now well-known poker players such as Erik Seidel and Dan Harrington.

In 1994 he moved to Las Vegas, Nevada where he sought out high stakes poker games.

Lederer is known as "The Professor" because of his demeanor, analytical style and long history of wins. He has made an instructional poker video called Secrets of No Limit Hold'em and he runs the Howard Lederer Poker Fantasy Camp. He also co-hosts Poker Superstars and Poker: Learn from the Pros for the Fox Broadcasting Company. His sister, Katy Lederer, wrote a book about the Lederer family, Poker Face: A Girlhood Among Gamblers.

Even though Lederer is known for his focused, calm demeanor at the poker table, in 2002, Lederer publicly criticized Daniel Negreanu for making inappropriate comments about his sister Annie Duke. Negreanu later apologized and the two are said to be good friends. Also, at the World Poker Tour Grand Prix de Paris 2003, Lederer refused to shake hands with heckler Tony Guoga when eliminated from the tournament.

Lederer is part of the design team for Full Tilt Poker, an online poker website that opened in July 2004.

Howard has won two World Series of Poker bracelets and two World Poker Tour titles. On January 12, 2008 Lederer took 1st in 2008 Crown Aussie Millions Championship, Event #9 - Poker Pages Ranking No Limit Hold'em, winning the $949,175 prize.

Howard Lederer is living with his wife Suzie, his son Matti, and their three dogs in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Fun Facts:

• Runs the Howard Lederer Poker Fantasy Camp.
• Won $9.3 million from businessman Andy Beal in 2004.
• Has attended over 125 Grateful Dead concerts.
• Longtime vegetarian (although he once won $10,000 for eating a cheeseburger)
• Had gastric bypass surgery to lose weight.