Funny Lehr article
Kevin Duddlesten
he was busted (don't know too many people with the Shrveport Times in their
bookmarks). I found it to be rather funny. Especially the part about how he
"raises a lot, not necessarily with the best hand." I guess he meant to say
"not necessarily with the best DEALT hand."
Know when to Hold'em
Shreveport native one of the best poker players in the world
Roy Lang / The Times
Posted on September 9, 2003
Susie Crow Lehr poses with her husband, Keith Lehr Jr. Keith won an event
during the 2003 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas recently. Keith, who is
holding photos of their children, Brooke, Keith III and William, is
considered one of the best players in the world.
Susie Lehr's husband is a liar. And he's never had a job. Oh by the way,
he's a gambler too.
But after more than five years of marriage and three children, they are
still together - she wouldn't want it any other way.
Keith Lehr, 39, plays poker - high stakes poker, where cowards lose their
shirts and putting your money where your mouth is, is a requirement.
Keith, a 1982 graduate of Jesuit High School, is so successful his family
has never touched a dollar from Susie's salary as a pharmaceutical rep.
"I'm fine with it," Susie says. "He's proven to me, and it's taken some
time, that he's going to come out ahead in the long run. It's afforded me
the ability to invest all my money. Life couldn't be better in that aspect.
We sock away a lot of money."
How much money does Keith make? In May, with his wife watching a two-day Las
Vegas tournament on the Internet, the former Centenary golfer had a picture
of his two boys at the table for good luck and walked away with more than
$225,000 and his first gold championship bracelet.
The victory not only showed Keith was one of the best. It also helped his
wife answer the question "what does your husband do?"
"The win validated what I do," Keith said. "Before, I came home and said 'I
won $20,000 or $15,000' and she would say 'but you could have lost it too.'"
Thanks to his consistent success and big win, things are different now.
"Now, he thinks when I work, it costs us money because he's not able to play
as much as he needs to and play tournaments," Susie said.
The popularity of poker has skyrocketed in recent years thanks to the big
screen and television. Rounders, a 1998 movie starring Matt Damon profiled
the challenges of a Texas Hold'em player - the same type of game Lehr plays.
The Travel Channel sees its highest ratings when The World Poker Tour is on
and ESPN has made a weekly series out of The World Series of Poker Finals,
the grand daddy of all poker tournaments, where the winner walks away with
more than $2 million.
That is reality television.
While Lehr does have a major win under his belt, tournament play is not his
forte. Lehr is a "live player," meaning he plays for big money and big games
all over the South called "ring games."
The Hollywood Casino plays host to what Lehr calls "the biggest game in the
South" every Tuesday and Wednesday. Lehr and a handful of players get
together and play Pot Limit Texas Hold'em with a $2,000 buy in (what it
costs to enter the game).
Anyone that thinks poker is a quiet game with stern looks and smoky rooms
hasn't been to watch at the Hollywood. Trash talking - like in many sports
today - is prevalent at the table and Lehr is the ring leader.
"There wouldn't be a game here if it weren't for me," Lehr says. "I'm what's
considered an action player. I create action, I stir up action. I raise a
lot, not necessarily with the best hand."
Lehr says that unpredictability, his ability to read people and his
resulting strategy make him a well respected player.
"A good pot limit player isn't worried about what they have, they are
worried about what the other person has and whether or not they can out play
them," Lehr said. "My reputation lets me dictate how the hand is played. I
get to do most of the betting. I get to create how big I want the pots, or
how little."
A trip to the big game last month revealed that to be just the case.
"Probably the best player I've ever played with in my life," said Tommy
Vinas a "known player" himself. "You never know where's he's at. He's not an
A-B-C player."
The table included high rollers from all over the South - a former college
football player, a hustler and many others willing to take their
lighthearted shots at Lehr. "He's a phenomenon," a laughing "Al K." from
Houston said. "He catches a few hands occasionally - like every hand."
"He's the most dangerous pot limit player in America," Kelly Roberts, also
from Houston, said.
Many of his competitors that day were still teasing Lehr about his big win
in Vegas. More than 200 people entered the event but it came down to Lehr
and Chris "Jesus" Ferguson. Ferguson, known for his long beard, is not a
flashy player. He is considered an analytical player who doesn't take many
chances and only plays in tournaments. Vinas, a 50-year old Texan, said the
win was just a sign of things to come.
"If Keith played Jesus 10 times, Keith would beat him 10 times," Vinas said.
"It would be like me stepping in the ring with Sugar Ray Leonard. Sure Chris
is a nice guy, he's analytical, got his Ph.Ds and everything, but he's not
in the same category as Keith. I never saw a player read like Keith and I've
played with the best.
"He can win the World Series of Poker. You can't say that about everyone."
Lehr is a self-taught player who took up the game as a kid during the
"Thursday night game with the guys" at East Ridge Country Club. He became so
good, he never had to think about finding real work.
"I make more money doing this than any job I could have," Lehr said.
Lehr spends most of his time in town, but occasionally makes the "rounds" to
Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Jackson, Miss. His lack of a regular schedule
does allow him to spend time with his family - including Brooke, his
5-month-old daughter - whenever he wants.
"He's a great father. A great husband," Susie said. "But it's like being
married to a vampire sometime - up all night and a zombie all day."
Lehr, who has a variety of nicknames including "The Dream," "Lehr Jet" and
"The Beauty," doesn't play much golf anymore, but when he does, it's for
"big money." He wants to play more poker tournaments in the future to
possibly catch up with legends like Johnny Chan. "There are three guys that
have won nine tournaments," Lehr said. "My goal would be to win 10, or 11 or
as many as them over the next 20 years."
So Keith will continue to go on baffling his opponents. They will constantly
wonder to themselves if he's bluffing or telling the truth. They will never
know if their bet is safe against the rising star living in Bossier City.
Thousands of dollars will continue to be nothing when Keith thinks the time
is right, a fact Susie says she'll "never get used to."
"When I tell people what Keith does they look at me like I'm crazy," Susie
said. "His recent public success has been easier for me as far as being in a
professional industry. If you look at the figures, a lot of those poker
players are making more than some of those pro golfers. Most people think he
wouldn't come out ahead - but he does."
And that's no lie.
lysdexic
"Kevin Duddlesten" <kdudd...@charter.net> wrote in message
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SJOG
Shreveport. They caught him holding back cards. He is banned.
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Craig Permenter
"SJOG" <anon...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
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Kevin Duddlesten
"Craig Permenter" <craigs...@tca.net> wrote in message
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Craig Permenter
I just said that he was already back out in public playing.
I guess his shame factor isn't very high.
"Kevin Duddlesten" <kdudd...@charter.net> wrote in message
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