Poker 1 on 1

Jay Heimowitz: A Great-Spirited Veteran

One of poker circuit's expert and esteemed players is Jay Heimowitz. He opted to maintain his amateur standing in order to play at cash games when he's not at the tournaments. Even so, his professional prowess is very prominent which makes him an excellent contender at major tournaments. Heimowitz is a valuable player for he has exhibited exemplary skills in the previous poker tourneys of his time; a true veteran indeed. Since 1975, Heimowitz has attended the world series of Poker and earned six WSOP bracelets. And as of 2005, he has an accumulated tournament earning of more than $ 1.5 million.

Heimowitz has an excellent history in playing poker. In 1975, he earned his first World Series of Poker victory. He participated at the $ 1000 buy-in Non-professional No-limit Hold'em event. However this event is now phased out from the World Series of Poker due to concerns and issues in identifying professional from non-professional players.

Since 1977, Heimowitz also played at the $ 10,000 No-limit Hold'em Main Event and finished in the money seven times in his ten years of participation. He is definitely one player with the most participation in the Main Event with the most money finishes. There are also only a few players who have the most number of bracelet garnered from the World Series of Poker, and Heimowitz is one those few. Among others, there is Johnny Chan, Doyle Brunson, Phil Hellmuth and Johnny Moss.

Heimowitz was born in Bethel, New York on December 26, 1937. He has always dreamed of going into business when he was young. While in the Army, Heimowitz earned around ten grand playing poker games. He was able to put up a small beer and soda bottling company in New York with the money he saved. During that time, the company cost him $ 50,000. So he worked hard and for eighteen months he worked for eighty hours per week until he got a Budweiser distributorship. He was the youngest Budweiser distributor in the United States at age 23.

According to Card Player Magazine's Mike Sexton, Heimowitz, together with his fellow amateur player Lyle Berman, embody the best of the poker industry. Both in and out of the poker scene, Heimowitz have shown a magnitude of spirit for he believes and know how to take pride in his work.

Heimowitz has been married to his wife, Carole, for 40 years. They have four sons and two of them also play poker. Heimowitz is in his 60's and he keeps himself in shape through exercise and a healthy diet. He also loves fishing and skiing for relaxation and recreation.