Jennifer Harman

She's one of the only female figures in High Stakes Poker, a legendary player who has made a place for herself on the game's Olympus through her playing career, strength of character and community involvement.

Born on November 29, 1964 in Nevada, Jennifer Harman discovered poker thanks to her father, who taught her the game and organized weekly games. From the age of 17, she used a fake ID to play in local casinos, without ever getting caught. She went on to study Biology at the University of Nevada and worked as a part-time waitress, but Jennifer didn't like the pace of life. After graduation, she embarks on a career as a professional gambler.

A beginner's luck

As a Limit Hold'em specialist, Jennifer built up a bankroll by multiplying small buy-in tournaments. Little by little, she established herself on the biggest limits, in MTT as well as cash games, until she revealed herself to the general public at the WSOP 2000. It was there that she won her first bracelet, in a $5,000 Deuce to Seven tournament. After her victory, she confessed she had never played the variant, only taking a short five-minute lesson with Howard Lederer just before the tournament. For her first try, she walked away with a WSOP bracelet and $146,250, which was then the biggest win of her career.

Two years later, Jennifer Harman did it again in her favorite variant, Limit Hold'em. She won the $5,000 event for $212,440 in earnings and became the only woman to win two WSOP bracelets. She would later be joined by Vanessa Selbst (2012), Loni Harwood (2015) and Kirsten Bicknell (2020).

Playing star

These successes propel her into the media spotlight. Jennifer became sponsored by Full Tilt Poker, appeared in all the gambling magazines and on the most famous TV shows, including High Stakes Poker and on the NBC series Poker After Dark. Accustomed to the high tables of cash games, Jennifer Harman was the only woman to frequent the legendary Bobby's Room at the Bellagio. She will also be part of "The Corporation" a group of professional players, including Phil Ivey, who team up to beat billionaire Andy Beal on insane limits ranging from $25,000 - $50,000 to $100,000 - $200,000.

Operation, philanthropy and poker

In 2003, she underwent a kidney transplant that kept her away from the circuit for a year. She subsequently founded an association to raise awareness of organ donation. She also regularly organizes charity tournaments, inviting celebrities from the game to raise funds for various foundations. In particular, she is heavily involved in animal protection, as an ambassador for the Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Back at the tables, Jennifer made her mark with a 4th place finish at the 2004 WPT Five-Diamond in Las Vegas, for nearly $300,000. A few months later, she finished runner-up in a $10,000 WSOP-C for $383,840.

She's back at the tables again.

She'll string together a number of choice performances until 2012 before making a more discreet appearance. Jennifer Harman is always present at the tables, particularly in cash games, but divides her life between her family, her associative activities and her playing career.