Dan Harrington History, profile, and background

Among the active professional famous poker players, the "chess master" is Dan Harrington. He's not just one of the world's famous professional poker players. He's also an authentic master chess player and a world class backgammon player. And it's this obvious strategic mind of his that enables him to be a great poker player.

"Action Dan" has made a name for himself as a conservative. Yes, conservatives are as rare and undersung in the world of Texas Hold'em as they are in Hollywood. But, when others are playing loosie goosie, Action Dan Harrington is checking, calling, or folding. Dan Harrington has won his fame by proving his possession of a mystical ability to know precisely when to make a transformative move in a poker game.

If there were such a ranking as Grand Master in poker, Dan Harrington would most definitely hold that title.

"Action Dan" Harrington is among the most famous poker players because of his methodical, tight play. He just doesn't go in for aggression. He either has it or he doesn't. His methodology has earned him the reputation of being the best tournament Texas Hold'em player in the minds of many.

Again, his technical poker playing is reflected in his love of other games of strategy. Born in Cambridge , Massachusetts, when he was just 26 years old he became that state's chess champion. In 1980, he won the World Championship of Backgammon. Seven years later he won the World Series of Poker, a feat Dan Harrington repeated in 1995 when he was 50 years old and won the $2500 No Limit Holdem event and then, a few days later, the $10,000 Main Event.

Dan Harrington's WSOP record goes like this:

--2004: Championship No Limit Holdem ­ Finished #4 against 2576 opponents

--2003: Championship No Limit Holdem ­ Finished #3 against 839 opponents

--1997: No Limit Holdem ­ Finished #17

--1995: Championship No Limit Holdem ­ Finished #1

--1995: No Limit Holdem ­ Finished #1

--1987: No limit Holdem Championship ­ Finished #1

Harrington has a law degree from Boston Law School and, when at university, was part of a team of MIT students who mathematically figured out how to beat the roulette table (and actually did it). In addition to poker, he is into real estate and the stock market. He loves taking chances, taking calculated risks. He loves making money. Of his poker playing Harrington says, "I'm there for the money. You can keep the glory."

Dan Harrington's book 'Harrington on Hold'em: Expert Strategy For No-Limit Tournaments/Volume 1: Strategic Play', which he published in 2004, has been called one of the best poker books ever written.

Among professional poker players, among famous poker players, the name "Dan Harrington" is among the best of the best.

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