Howard Lederer lived in a family of five where he enjoyed playing various card games at a young age. He found himself getting really competitive in these particular card games as he was competing against his father. After finishing high school, Howard made a decision to put college on hold for a bit and headed to New York City to compete in some formidable chess. While competing in chess, he was brought in to a poker game going on in the rear of the room. Howard’s initial two years were rough as he played many hours and don’t win a majority of the time. He made some additional money by becoming an assistant for the poker players. He theorized he could better his game by adjusting his life outside of poker. He made an effort to get more rest and focus even more on poker.
The definite advancement in his skills happened when he began betting at the Mayfair Club in New York. The Mayfair was a bridge and backgammon association where the the most favorable players would regularly challenge one another. Howard had access into several of the foremost players in chess. With their help, he would hone his strategic thinking skills. He applied these strategy ideas to the game of No-Limit holdem.
Howard Lederer also assisted his sister Annie Duke learn the game of poker. Annie Duke was a great student of the game as she constantly asked questions about the right way to make the correct choice. Howard Lederer told Annie to head out to Vegas and play in the World Series of Poker tournaments. She is one of the strongest women players the poker arena today. Howard relocated to Vegas in 1993 and played money games for the successive 10 years. When the World Poker Tournament gained popularity, he made the decision to play more tournaments.