Dan Harrington

 He has earned a lot of respect lately now that he had made it to the final table of the WSOP main event for the 2 years in row - the 2 years with the biggest crowds. But this feat is overshadowed by the fact that he won the whole thing back in 1995. He began playing poker more than a decade ago mainly for fun and excitement.

Dan Harrington (aka “Action Dan”) is known for his 1st placement at the WSOP 1995, but he is also a backgammon player and champion. Moreover he works a regular job (bankruptcy lawyer) being at the same time a professional poker player.

Harrington began to play poker at Suffolk Universiy. He also was in MIT team that cheated at roulette. His first famous opponents were Bill Gates and Paul Allen. Later he widened this list playing against Howard Lederer and Erik Seidel.

Harrington is known for his tight game. Sometimes – too tight. That’s why his win in 1995 was a surprise for everyone. We used to think: “A man

who doesn’t want to taker risks can’t win”.

But this makes him readable. So every time he raises other players do fold. Though it didn’t hider him from winnin about $2,000,000 this year (2004) making 3rd and 4th places. This quotation from Harrington can be an explanation: "You don’t win 100% of the time.You do something adequate.You stay in the game, and you keep playing.You’re going to win eventually."

In his book “Harrington on Hold’em” he teaches you how to vary your style, analyze hands, respond to a re-raise, play to build the pot, react when a blanck hits, etc. His strategy is time-proved, conservative… but it seems to work.