DAVE Lerner began playing poker in 1981 with friends in the local pubs and clubs, until he was introduced to the Rubicon Club and found that playing tournaments on a weekly basis was a far more civilised way of spending his time and of course, his money.

He did not know at this stage where poker may take him or that 25 years later he would be playing high stake games with the World’s best.

Dave is an old school player with a wealth of knowledge of poker and players alike.  This aside, he’s moved on from the smoky ‘speak easy’ venues and has adapted to meet the new demands of the game such as the ever popular ‘on line’ games.  He feels the internet has had a positive effect, creating opportunities to qualify for major competitions and introduce new players to enter the live games.

This was proven in 2006 when Dave free-rolled in to the Ladbroke’s Poker Million and a well deserved seat.  He was playing against seasoned pro’s, and replied to their challenges with a mercenary barrage of raises. This lead him to scoop 4th place and a cool $100,000. This was his biggest pay off to date, but is confident it wont be the last.

Closer to home Dave dominates local competitions and his habitual topfinishing form is hard to beat - as seen above celebrating winning the Napoleons Bradford Summer Festival, along with other league table victories, of a Vegas trip and a TV bigger than his house.

Dave maintains a grounded approach to poker, not falling in to the trap of celebrity status with a list of demands every time he plays. He only requires players to show the same etiquette whilst playing as he does.

As the ever increasing number of novices play live games, Dave shares his experience and a few tips to help them along, of course he keeps the best for himself, its up to the new players to spend a lifetime in poker rooms to become this good.