Biography Special: Jennifer Harman
She participates in the Big Games in Las Vegas, and has left a mark in the world of cash games like no other woman in the world. In today's Biography Special, it's all about the woman many consider to be the best Fixed Limit player of the world: Jennifer Harman.
When taking a look at the High Stakes cash game tables, a female always catches one's eye in the usually male domain: Jennifer Harman. The small, sympathetic US American is a feared opponent in the world of poker despite her child-like charms.
Jennifer Harman was born in Reno on November 29th, 1964, and still lives there with her husband, the designer Marco Traniello. She is also a close friend to the popular poker player Daniel Negreanu.
There hasn't been much time in Jennifer's life which wasn't spent on poker. Barely eight years old, she already watched her father in regular home games. After losing a few dollars, he would let his daughter play, and by her own account she always managed to even out the losses. Thus, she was able to gather her first experiences early on.
Aged 21, Jennifer
Harman decided to become a professional poker player and quit her job. Her father was not really delighted, and broke off all contact to her.
Meanwhile, the blonde US American can still be found regularly at the biggest tables of the Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas. At the start of her career, her role as a woman in a male domain certainly had its advantages, but meanwhile, nobody dares to underestimate her anymore.
The 'Maneater'
Called the 'Maneater' by Barry Greenstein, she is a regular guest in the 'Big Game' (Mixed Games up to $4,000/$8,000 in the
Bellagio Casino, Las Vegas). That she is counted amongst the best poker players of the world is even pointed out by poker greats like Daniel Negreanu: "It would be presumptuous to assume that her child-like charms would have an effect on her game."
Author and Part of the Gang
Doyle Brunson as well has a lot of respect for Jennifer. In his book 'Super System 2', he asked her to write the chapter about Limit Hold'em. Furthermore, she belongs to the big winners of the pro group (made up of Brunson, the late Reese, Forrest and a few more), who have played a few weeks against the banker Andy Beal on the limits between $10,000/$20,000 and $100,000/$200,000 since 2001.
In the TV show 'High Stakes Poker', she also had good performances and took a handful of dollars off her colleagues and friends from the Big Game.
Two WSOP Bracelets
Despite her specialisation in cash games, Jennifer also has a few tournament successes to show. At the WSOP in 2000, she followed a whim and decided to play in a Deuce-to-Seven event. After a few tips from Howard Lederer, she was able to come out on top and won her first bracelet. In 2002, her second one followed in the $5,000 FL Hold'em event for which she received $212,440.
Poker After Dark
In March 2007, Jennifer Harman won a round in the popular TV show 'Poker After Dark' for a prize money of $120,000. In the same year, she finished as the runner-up in the WSOPE £2,500
H.O.R.S.E event, thus securing £81,935. In early 2008, the next bigger success took place when Harman had a third place for $330,000 at the WPT
$9,600 NL Hold'em Championship Event.
Overall, she has tournament winnings worth $1,800,000 in her bank account, and so it is no wonder that she is a member of the Full Tilt Poker Pro Team as well.
| Chosen Tournament Wins | |||
| Year | Series | Tournament | |
| 2002 | WSOP | $5,000 FL Hold'em Event | |
| 2000 | WSOP | Deuce-to-Seven Event | |
Jennifer is married to the stylist Marco Traniello (picture on the left). With him, her two children and the four dogs, she enjoys the family life in Reno off the poker tables.
However, there have also been down sides in Jennifer's life. Since her early years, she had chronic kidney problems and required a transplant. In 2004, she had to take a one-year break to receive another kidney. Subsequently, she founded the CODA
(Creating Organ Donation Awareness) and promotes the importance of organ donations.
