Female poker players are not a new phenomenon; Women have been playing traditional and online poker for as long as men. Is it surprising that some women are as good in poker as the most celebrated male poker pros? Well, the answer is obviously 'no.' Nevertheless, some believe that female poker players have a special quality about them, something that men lack. So, what makes women players different from their male counterparts? How come female poker champions enjoy less popularity than men? And, are those who claim that poker is for guys actually right? Although we do not have all the answers, the following review of the best women poker players is truly eye-opening.

Kathy Liebert- Liebert was the first female poker player ever to win a poker tournament with a $5,000 buy-in and the first woman to collect $1 million in tournament poker at the inaugural PartyPoker.com Million event four years ago. After graduating with a degree in business and finance, she worked as a business analyst for Dun & Bradstreet. A close friend encouraged her to enter her first poker tournament. Surprisingly, Liebert finished second in this tournament, Omaha Hi-lo. She participated in many highly prestigious poker events, such as the WPT and the WSOP. She's the proud owner of one WSOP bracelet.

Annie Duke- Duke completed a major in English and Psychology at the prestigious Columbia University. In 1994, Duke and her husband moved to Las Vegas to play poker full time after taking the 13th place in her first World Series of Poker event. In 2004, Duke won the $2,000 Omaha Hi/Lo Split event and received her first WSOP bracelet. Later that year, at the winner-take-all invitation only WSOP Tournament of Champions, Duke nabbed the first place prize of as much as $2 million. Duke, now a member of the UltimateBet team of players, has written an autobiography, “Annie Duke: How I Raised, Folded, Bluffed, Flirted, Cursed and Won Millions at the World Series of Poker.”

Jennifer Harman- Harman grew up in Reno, Nevada. After turning 21, she started playing poker full time. Eliminating her opponents one by one, she began playing at the heaviest game available; the $4,000/$8,000 mixed game at the Bellagio, confronting pros like Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey and Johnny Chan. Harman won her first World Series of Poker event in 2000. The second WSOP bracelet came her way in 2002. She is now a member of the Full Tilt Poker team. Some prominent male poker pros believe that she's one of the best all-around players in the world.

Barbara Enright- Born in Los Angeles, California, Enright started playing poker when she was only 4 years old. She is the only woman player to date that has ever made the final table at the 1995's WSOP no limit hold 'em event. In addition, she is the first woman to ever win a championship in a WSOP major open event. Enright collected the All Around Best Player Award at the Legends of Poker tournament in 2005. She holds three WSOP bracelets. Enright is now working as the Editor-in-Chief of Woman Poker Player magazine. She is married to prominent poker player and author Max Shapiro.

Lucy Rokach- Rokach was born in Egypt's capital but moved to England following the Suez-Sinai Crisis in 1956. Surprisingly enough, this brilliant female poker player discovered her interest in the game when she was 38. She received the 2003 European Poker Top award for Lifetime Achievement after winning Dublin's Winter Festival in both 2001 and 2003. Rokach gave a good fight in the WSOP $10,000 no limit hold 'em main event in 1996 and 2004. As of 2005, her total live poker tournament winnings exceed $1,050,000.