Dan Harrington biography
Dan Harrington, born December 6, 1945, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of poker's most respected strategic minds, a former bankruptcy lawyer whose analytical background carried over from an earlier career as the 1971 Massachusetts State Chess Champion and a former champion backgammon player. He won the WSOP Main Event in 1995, defeating runner-up Howard Goldfarb by inducing a fatal bluff on the final hand, and earned $1,000,000 for the title while living in Downey, California at the time.
That same year he captured a second bracelet in the $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em event for $249,000 and added a Seven-Card Stud title at the European Poker Open in London, giving him two WSOP bracelets and a World Poker Tour title across his career.
Harrington's reputation as one of the game's most consistent tournament performers was cemented by an extraordinary back-to-back run at the WSOP Main Event in the mid-2000s: he finished third in 2003 against a field of 839 players for $650,000, then fourth in 2004 against a then-record 2,576-player field for $1,500,000, a feat ESPN announcer Norman Chad called the greatest accomplishment in World Series history.
Beyond his own play, Harrington's lasting influence on the game comes through his instructional writing; he co-authored seven books with Bill Robertie covering tournament strategy, cash games, and online play, published by Two Plus Two Publishing between 2004 and 2014, collectively known as the "Harrington on Hold'em" series and regarded as essential reading for serious tournament players.
As of 2014, his live tournament winnings exceeded $6.6 million, with more than half of that total, $3,524,476, earned at the WSOP across 52 cashes spanning 34 years. He resides in Santa Monica, California.
Career summary
A former bankruptcy lawyer and chess champion who won the 1995 WSOP Main Event, then authored the influential "Harrington on Hold'em" book series that shaped a generation of tournament players.
Dan Harrington poker winnings
| Year | Event | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | WSOP Main Event | 1st | $1,000,000 |
| 1995 | WSOP $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em | 1st | $249,000 |
| 2004 | WSOP Main Event (2,576 Players) | 4th | $1,500,000 |
| 2003 | WSOP Main Event (839 Players) | 3rd | $650,000 |
Verified live tournament earnings: $6,600,000+ from 52 cashes, plus 2 WSOP bracelets.
Undated - European Poker Open, London, Seven-Card Stud Event - 1st Place - Amount Undisclosed
Dan Harrington playing style
A methodical, tight-aggressive strategist whose disciplined, analytically grounded approach to tournament play became the foundation for one of poker's most influential instructional book series.
Business & sponsorships
Worked as a bankruptcy lawyer before turning to poker professionally; co-authored seven instructional poker books with Bill Robertie, published by Two Plus Two Publishing between 2004 and 2014
Why Dan matters
A former champion backgammon player and 1971 Massachusetts State Chess Champion whose analytical background shaped an influential, tightly disciplined tournament strategy later codified in his bestselling instructional books
FAQ about Dan Harrington
What is Dan Harrington's most famous tournament achievement?
He won the 1995 WSOP Main Event for $1,000,000, and later achieved back-to-back Main Event final tables in 2003 and 2004, a feat ESPN called the greatest accomplishment in World Series history.
What is Dan Harrington's lasting contribution to poker strategy?
He co-authored the influential "Harrington on Hold'em" book series with Bill Robertie, seven books published between 2004 and 2014 that remain essential reading for tournament players.
How much has Dan Harrington won playing poker?
Dan Harrington has won $6,600,000+ in live tournament earnings. Total cashes: 52.
How many WSOP bracelets does Dan Harrington have?
Dan Harrington has won 2 WSOP bracelets.