Women in Poker

Anna Benson

Anna Benson

A lot of people do a lot of unwise things because of the words “I dare you”. The range of consequences that can happen because of a dare can run the gamut from eating strange, exotic, slimy, and gross things all the way to marital relations with a hornets’ nest. Some people claim that Kurt Cobain lost both of the above bets, and that is how he wound up married to Courtney Love, but I digress. Not many people enter the World Series of Poker on a dare, and those who do usually wind up as competitive debris before the first break.

Marsha Waggoner

Marsha Waggoner

Marsha Waggoner was a professional poker player long before it was cool for women to be poker players. Back when she started playing the game women were still breaking out of the June Cleaver cocoon and just starting to spread their cultural wings. Marsha’s career began on the safe side of the table; she was dealing poker for private games in Sydney Australia. After leaning the ins and outs of the game by watching people play at her table, she eventually decided that anything they could do, she could do better.

Lacey Jones

Lacey Jones

Usually when someone is hired as a poker hostess it is an exercise in form over function. Let’s face it; most hostesses should have the words “purpose built” tattooed somewhere under their evening gown. Not that these women aren’t intelligent, but I have talked to more than one who knew about as much about poker as they did the Space Shuttles cooling system. With that said, we come to the topic of Lacey Jones; a beautiful and educated young lady who was hired by ESPN to be a model during a tournament, but her skillful play kept her alive in the event.

Helen Chamberlain

Helen Chamberlain

There are a lot of women for whom the words “can stop traffic” have been applied. In the case of television presenter, poker player, football enthusiast, and occasional fire eater, Helen Chamberlain, the axiom is actually true. Before we get on to the topic of how her dangerous curves caused a rare accident that involved a pair of double decker buses, let us introduce you to this fascinating woman.

Aidily "Lily" Elviro: Well Stacked

Aidily "Lily" Elviro: Well Stacked

  Certainly one cannot deny that it is difficult to look at Lily Elviro without quickly taking notice of her distinctly bountiful assets. Not referring to her stack of chips - she is often, obviously, described as being "stacked". It is no miracle of science then that she caught the eye of poker player Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi.

Lucy Rokach: Golden Ovaries?

Lucy Rokach: Golden Ovaries?

That's right - with a nickname like that she must be good. As of 2006, Cairo born Lucienne (Lucy) Rokach has earned in excess of $1,150,000 in live tournaments. She is heralded by Barry Greenstein as the best female poker player today. Rokach is considered one of the top players of Europe.

Susie Isaacs: From Nashville to "Cashville"

Susie Isaacs: From Nashville to "Cashville"

  She may have been born in Nashville, Tennessee, but Las Vegas is now home to one Susie Isaacs - a well-respected woman of poker. As a little girl her older male cousins had her keep watch for parents who might learn of their hidden poker games. This early exposure to the game prompted her interest and she started playing herself once she learned how to count.

Brandi Hawbaker: Drama Queen

Brandi Hawbaker: Drama Queen

  Enter Brandi Hawbaker - yet another fine looking female causing drool and therefore the need for some waterproof felt at the poker table. Yes, the ever-welcoming world of poker has extended its collective arms to embrace one more pretty, young, spotlight grabbing female. Spotted acting just less than pretty at the WSOP - she recently made quite an "appearance" at the WSOP complete with her shouting obscenities at opponents - Hawbaker probably will not be accused of being shy or uninhibited anytime soon.

Erica Schoenberg: MIT Trained and Math Inclined

Erica Schoenberg: MIT Trained and Math Inclined

  You may have spotted her at the World Poker Tour's Ladies' Night and noticed her disarming beauty. Another poker hottie - Erica Schoenberg was born March 25, 1978 in Akron, Ohio. MIT trained and heavily math inclined - Schoenberg has demonstrated a natural knack for card playing and poker.

Katja "Miss Slick" Thater

Katja "Miss Slick" Thater

  Katja "Miss Slick" Thater entered the world on July 14, 1966 in Hamburg, Germany. Now a woman of many pursuits - Thater is steadily earning an impressive reputation as a poker professional capable of matching wits with some of the sport's greatest.