Our Verdict:
"Poker is, more than any other game, an arena where experience counts. Reading and studying, while valuable, can only carry you so far. To go the rest of the distance, you have to play, play, and then play some more, until your instincts are as finely honed as your logic," says Harrington.
'Action' Dan Harrington is always easily recognisable at poker tournaments in his iconic green Boston cap. And like a number of other successful poker players Harrington was originally a tournament backgammon player and was one of a group of now famous players from New York’s legendary backgammon and bridge club – the Mayfair.
Dan was among a circle of players including Howard Lederer and Erik Seidel who were the first to experiment with no limit holdem in New York when it was introduced in the mid-eighties.
Harrington’s biggest win came with the 1995 World Series of Poker main event. That year he also won a World Series of Poker bracelet in the $2,500 No Limit Hold’em event. However, perhaps his biggest achievement is finishing on the final table in the main event in consecutive years - 2003 (839 players) and 2004 (2,576 players), where he finished 3rd and 4th respectively - an extraordinary feat considering the numbers involved.
Harrington is known as a crafty tight-aggressive player (the 'Action' tag is ironic), employing starting hand standards that are stricter than most professionals. He has a keen understanding of his expectation in any situation and is superb at reading opponents. Players familiar with his play know he plays fewer hands and will frequently fold despite having made a huge bet.
Arguably, Dan’s most famous hand ever came in the World Series of Poker 2004 against David Williams on the final table of the main event. Dan called from the small blind and David Williams checked in the big blind. With a 5-3-2-9 board, Dan moved all in with 8-6 which gave him a 'double belly-buster' straight draw. David quickly called with two small pair. The river paired the board, giving David a full house and knocked Dan out of the tournament. The hand was unfortunate considering the rock solid play that had got him so far – and just goes to show how even the most conservative players can be tempted into making rash moves.