Phil Laak

Phil Laak was brought up with cards, playing Tripoli with his family since a young age. Now, as quite the daredevil (as he enjoys motorcycling, scuba diving, skydiving and more), he’s well known in the poker world.

Laak is known for using techniques of higher order thinking to create a psychic connection with his competitors. He has various techniques including “lucid dreaming,” where he plays many different hands in his dreams, which enables him to perceive other players’ subconscious and conscious tells.

In 1999, Laak first became familiar with high stakes poker at an underground club in New York City. Soon after, Laak began entering and winning tournaments. He liked that there were many different ways of thinking and strategizing during poker; he liked that he could apply his higher order thinking to gain an advantage.

His first major victory was the WPT Celebrity Invitational in February of 2004. He made two additional WPT final tables since. He finished second during the 2005 WSOP in the $2,500 pot limit Hold’em event. He also won the inaugural William Hill Poker Grand Prix, taking home a generous prize. Most recently, Laak won NBC’S Poker After Dark, earning him $120,000.

Laak is known as being a bit of a loose cannon. Nicknamed “the Unabomber,” he constantly wears dark sunglasses and a hooded sweatshirt. Conversely, he’s incredibly organized and strives to achieve a balance in his life between fun, freedom and fulfillment.

Find Phil Laak on Facebook.