Old school poker players remember “the golden age,” when five-card draw and blackjack ruled the tables, and single-deck games ruled the card rooms.  Five-card draw now rules the video poker machines, and players ante-up extra for single-deck blackjack games.  Texas Hold “em is the order of the day now, and action-hungry players can find good games 24/7—in card rooms and casinos all around the world, and always on-line.  Texas Hold ‘Em probably depends as much on personality as it depends on skill, because an expert bluff can win a hand as often as good cards. All the experts agree, however, concentration is key.

Among the pros, the most flamboyant and the most successful players have legions of fans.  Among the most popular and best known, Denmark’s Theo Jorgensen certainly ranks near the top of the list.  Although not as colorful or histrionic as some of his Danish counterparts, Jorgensen joins legend Gus Hansen among the Danish dynamos’ elder statesmen.  He made his big-time poker debut in the early 1990’s, and he has remained a top contender in premier events ever since.

Throughout 2008, Jorgensen largely dominated European play in the World Series of Poker, joining countryman Jesper Hougaard, “the Kipster,” in what the experts have termed “The Danish Invasion.”  In September, 2008, Jorgensen won the prestigious, high-stakes World Series of Poker, Europe (WSOPE), becoming only the third Dane in history to earn a gold bracelet.  After that win, authoritative PokerVerdict.com characterized his win as, “a stunning performance,” and predicted the win would “further enhance his reputation as one of the best all-round players in Europe.”

Jorgensen is a veteran of the game, its variants, and its tournament settings; unlike many newcomers to the tournament scene, Jorgensen is an all-around player, holding his own and winning big purses in Omaha and seven-card stud as well as Texas Hold ‘Em.  Similarly, Jorgensen plays not only in big tournaments but also in some of the toughest on-line competitions.  In 2008, Jorgensen took his game on-line, using the unpretentious nickname “THEDONKEYN01” and remaining low-keyed, almost anonymous until he started wracking-up impressive wins. In April, 2008, Jorgensen went head-to-head with Tom Dwan and David Benyamine, rulers of the on-line game, and he won some handsome pots.  In that month alone, he earned nearly a quarter-million dollars, soaring to number one in the rankings.  Although Jorgensen did not sustain the success through the summer of 2008, he certainly establish himself as a forced with which to reckon in on-line competitions.

Experience has taught Jorgensen the value of “focus” and the importance of humility: “One of the biggest problems the young kids face coming into the game is their ego,” Jorgensen observes.  “Sometimes they think they’re invincible and in poker, you soon find out you’re not! You just have to concentrate on every single hand, make the best decisions you can and things will work out,” he told interviewers right after his win in the September, 2008, WSOP event.  Wise to the game, Jorgensen does not discount the importance of luck, but he claims it balances with skill.  “I don’t believe that destiny shapes the game. You just have to focus and concentrate and do what you can. Luck’s going to take care of the rest!” he summarized.

A native of Copenhagen, Jorgensen began playing poker in the early 1990’sand since has become a fixture on the poker circuits, playing not only Texas Hold ‘Em but also seven card stud, and collecting more than $1 million in lifetime earnings.  He has earned two much-coveted World Series of Poker bracelets, and he has represented Denmark in the Poker Nations Cup.  Betting company “Bet24” sponsors his play.