LINDA JOHNSON

LPA: Why did you choose to be part of the LPA?

LJ:  I agree with the goals of the LPA.  I would like to do whatever it takes to help get more women to play poker and to get the status of women in the poker world elevated.  We want women respected, and the LPA will help in this regard.

LPA:  If you could change one thing in the world of poker, what would it be?

LJ:  Consistency among ruling, better training for poker room personnel, and good tournament structures; that is, slower increases in blinds and the addition of intermediate limits like $150/$300 instead of jumping from $100/$200 to $200/$400.  Also, comfortable seats for all players, parking availability, qualified staff, reasonable tournament fees, and tracking systems to track hours played to reward the players who patronize the cardrooms.

LPA:  What personal goals do you have in the world of poker?

LJ:  To be an ambassador and to educate players.  I am a proponent for novice players who want to make their money last longer.  I also want to make sure women know how much fun it is to play poker!

LPA:  Tell us about yourself.

LJ:  I never played a hand of poker until I turned 21.  At that time, I started playing blackjack first, then switched to poker after being urged to do so by my father.  I read every poker book I could find, although the selection was very limited.  From the start, I loved playing poker and had a natural feel for the game.  While working at the Post Office, I honed my skills and decided to play in the 1980 WSOP ladies event.  After a fifth-place finish, I left my postal career to become a professional poker player.

Poker has been very good to me.  I enjoyed playing professionally for 13 years and still have a passion for the game.  The poker activities I enjoy most are teaching WPT Boot Camp, hosting tournaments, announcing WPT events, being part of the Las Vegas Wednesday Poker Discussion Group, cruising with Card Player Cruises, and meeting so many interesting people in cardrooms.  I still love playing poker and try to play at least five times a week.

Linda’s accomplishments and associations include:  Studio announcer for the World Poker Tour; Chairman of the Board of the Poker Players Alliance; gold bracelet winner at the World Series of Poker;  World Poker Tour Boot Camp instructor; former owner of Card Player magazine; co-founder of World Poker Players Conference, World Poker Industry Conference, the Tournament Directors Association; co-owner of Card Player Cruises; 2006 Orleans Open Ladies Poker Champion; 2005 California State Ladies Poker Champion; recipient of the 2006 Brian Saltus Award, given to poker players who demonstrate class, integrity, and professionalism at the poker table and who demonstrate the positive promotion of poker; charter member of the Professional Poker Tour; member, Elle magazine’s World Series of Poker team; traveled to the Philippines in the fall of 2006 to co-host the Inaugural Pan-Asian Poker Tour; and the hostess of numerous poker events.