Howard Lederer is a professional poker player. He was born in Concord, New Hampshire, on October 30^th 1964. He was exposed to poker as a teenager, and is the brother of professional poker player Annie Duke. Hi is a vegan, although he reportedly once won $10,000 after David Grey, a fellow poker player, bet that he would not eat a cheeseburger. He is married, and has one son.

While Lederer was at high school, he was an avid chess player. When he left school, he moved to New York City to attend Columbia University. It was here that he discovered poker, which was a popular alternative game at New York chess clubs. His early years were unsuccessful – he would play all night, run out of money, and spend his time during the day running errands for other players so that he could earn his stake for the next night. 

He eventually realised that his game would improve if he got more sleep, and took a step back from the game. He started playing at the Mayfair Club, where he met several other poker players on the road to professional level play – including Erik Seidel. The atmosphere at the Mayfair club was very friendly, and the players helped each other to improve their game.

Lederer decided to take up high stakes poker in 1994, and moved to Las Vegas. He gained his first World Series of Poker Bracelet in 2000, for the $5,000 Omaha Hi-Lo tournament, and his second in 2001 for the $5,000 Deuce to Seven Draw tournament. He has achieved 34 money finishes at the World Series of Poker, but is yet to win a main event.

Lederers main successes have been with the World Poker Tour, where he has taken two titles. Most Recently, Lederer reached the final table at the poker Millions tournament. To date, he has won more than $3,500,000 from tournaments.

Lederer is known as a scholarly player. He is often refered to by his nickname, 'The Professor' – because of his serious table personality, and his very analytical style of play. He is usually very calm and focused while playing, although he has been known to deviate from this on occasion – once refusing to shake hands with fellow player Tony G after he was eliminated by him, because of Tony's aggressive table talk.

Lederer co hosts the Fox television show 'Poker: Learn from the Pros', and has developed an instructional video called Secrets of No Limit Hold'em'. He also runs a poker school called 'Howard Lederer Poker Fantasy Camp'.