Howard Lederer lived in a family of 5 in which he loved gambling on different card games when he was young. He discovered himself becoming very competitive in these card games as he was competing against his dad. After graduating from high school, Howard decided to place college on hold for a little bit and moved away to New York to play some big-time chess. While competing in chess, he was brought in to a poker game going on in the back of the room. Howard’s first two years were difficult as he would play extensive hours and lose a majority of the time. He made some additional cash by being an runner for the poker players. He theorized he could improve his game by balancing his life outside of poker. He brought about an attempt to get more sleep and concentrate even more on poker.
The actual improvement in his game began when he started playing at the Mayfair Club in New York. The Mayfair was a bridge and backgammon club where the greatest players would often challenge one another. Howard was able to access several of the greatest minds in chess. With their assistance, Howard Lederer would sharpen his cunning thinking skills. He used these strategy ideas in the game of No-Limit holdem.
Howard also assisted his sister Annie Duke learn poker. She was a great student of poker as she would consistently be asking questions about the right way to make the correct decision. Howard Lederer told Annie to head out to Sin City and play in the WSOP competition. Annie Duke is one of the strongest women players the poker world today. He relocated to Sin City in 1993 and competed in money games for the subsequent decade. When the World Poker Tournament gained popularity, he decided to compete in more tournaments.