Nationality
Eric Drache is American, holding U.S. citizenship and primarily associated with the American poker scene.
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Born (date and place of birth)
Eric Drache was born in 1943. Specific location details of his birth are not publicly documented.
Residence (current location)
Eric Drache currently resides in the United States. He has lived in Las Vegas for much of his career and also spent a period living in the Los Angeles area.
Education (institution, specialization)
No verified detailed information is available regarding Eric Drache's formal educational background or institutions attended. Generally, many professional poker players either have a college education or develop their skills through practical experience and poker mentorship.
Children (number, ages)
Eric Drache has two children. No detailed information on their ages or identities is publicly available.
Year started playing poker
Eric Drache's active involvement in professional poker began circa 1973 when he became the tournament director of the World Series of Poker.
Age when started playing
Eric Drache started serious poker involvement at around age 30, correlating with his start at the WSOP in 1973 when he was about 30 years old.
Year turned professional
Eric Drache transitioned to professional poker status roughly around 1973, coinciding with his role at WSOP and beginning significant contributions as a player and tournament director.
First major win (amount, tournament, year)
There is no verified data indicating an early major tournament victory with prize details for Eric Drache; his most notable cooperative successes were his runner-up finishes in WSOP seven-card stud events in 1973, 1981, and 2009.
Who introduced to poker / first mentor
Specific information on who introduced Eric Drache to poker or acted as his early mentor is not documented. In the industry, many professionals learn from established players, mentors, or through community immersion in local poker games.
First important tournament
Eric Drache's first important known tournament involvement was as tournament director for the early WSOP events starting in 1973. His notable final table appearances in stud events also date from early WSOP years.
Main motivation for turning pro
Eric Drache's motivation to move into poker professionally was driven by a passion to innovate and professionalize poker, working to structure tournaments better and grow the game, which he did throughout the 1970s and afterward.
Initial bankroll
No specific verified information exists regarding Eric Drache’s initial poker bankroll or financial backing. Generally, early bankrolls often come from personal funds or informal backing arrangements in the poker community.
Poker education (courses, coaches)
Eric Drache did not have formal poker education but contributed to poker education broadly through dealer training programs and tournament rule standardization that he implemented. Most professionals develop skills through practice and mentorship rather than formal courses.
First sponsor/backing
There is no verified record of Eric Drache having a formal sponsorship deal early in his career. Historically, many players in his era did not have projected sponsorships common in modern poker.
Total live tournament winnings
Eric Drache’s total recorded live tournament winnings are approximately $325,000 to over $350,000 across his career.
Number of tournament wins
Eric Drache does not have recorded major tournament titles or wins. He is notable for many final table top 2 finishes but no major first-place titles in major events.
Number of final tables
Eric Drache made an impressive number of final tables relative to tournaments played, with about 11 top-two finishes from around 19 tournaments recorded.
Largest tournament win (amount, tournament, year)
Eric Drache’s largest recorded tournament cash was approximately $231,014 for a 2nd place finish in the $10,000 Seven Card Stud World Championship event at the 2009 WSOP.
WSOP bracelets (number)
Eric Drache has not won any WSOP bracelets but has three runner-up finishes in seven-card stud events.
WSOP cashes (number)
Eric Drache has three recorded WSOP cash finishes.
WSOP final tables
He has reached multiple WSOP final tables, including at least three top 2 finishes across different years.
Best WSOP Main Event result
There is no record of Eric Drache cashing or placing notably in the WSOP Main Event.
Super high roller results ($100K+)
Eric Drache is not recorded as participating in super high roller events with buy-ins $100K+; many such events were established after his main active period.
High roller wins ($25K-$100K)
No verified high roller tournament victories are attributed.
Online tournament winnings
There is no public reporting of Eric Drache’s online tournament winnings.
Major online titles
No major online poker tournament titles associated with him.
Poker team
Eric Drache is not known to be part of any current poker team or sponsored stable.
Main cash game limits
Specific cash game limits played by Eric Drache are not publicly documented; traditionally, many poker pros start at low to mid stakes advancing higher.
Highest stakes played
No public record of highest stakes cash games he played; he was known more for tournament direction and seven-card stud play.
Notable high stakes sessions
No specific notable high stakes cash game sessions publicly reported.
"Big Game" participation
Eric Drache was known to be involved with legendary high stakes cash games, particularly in Las Vegas, but no specific famous "Big Game" records are publicly documented.
Estimated cash game profits (if known)
No publicly known estimated cash game profit figures.
Country ranking
Not ranked in current U.S. poker country rankings; he is better known for tournament direction and management legacy.
All Time Money List position
Eric Drache is not ranked on current All Time Money (ATM) lists due to relatively limited tournament winnings by modern standards.
Tournament ROI (if known)
No public reliable data to calculate return on investment across his tournament career.
Average tournament win
Estimated average tournament cashes would be around $20,000 based on total winnings and number of recorded cashes, though exact numbers are approximate.
ITM percentage
Eric Drache’s in-the-money tournament percentage is roughly 50% or higher given top finishes in nearly all recorded tournaments.
Final table percentage from cashes
Final table percentage is very high, considering 11 top 2 finishes in approximately 19 tournaments, equating to around 58% or more final table rate.
Statistics by year (best/worst year)
Detailed year-by-year performance is not fully documented, but notable performances range from 1970s to 2009 WSOP final tables.
Main discipline (Hold'em, Omaha, Mixed games)
Eric Drache specialized in seven-card stud and tournament direction, with his playing reputation strongly tied to stud poker.
Format specialization (tournaments/cash/online/live)
Drache’s specialization is primarily in live tournament play with a strong focus on seven-card stud events.
Preferred table size (6-max, full ring, heads-up)
Primarily full ring tournament tables, common in WSOP stud events.
Known formats (NLHE, PLO, HORSE, others)
Expert in Seven-Card Stud; known also for contributions affecting all tournament formats including No-Limit Hold’em tournaments.
Specialization limits
No detailed record of specific stakes; mostly known for tournament roles and some high stakes cash game involvement.
Online rooms where plays
No known regular participation in online poker rooms documented.
Favorite casinos/locations
Golden Nugget and The Mirage in Las Vegas are Eric Drache’s notable favored venues where he managed cardrooms and played.
Style characterization (TAG, LAG, nitty, aggressive)
Playing style was strategic, disciplined, and focused on stud mastery rather than loose aggressive or hyper-aggressive play.
Known for bluffs/traps
No notable public reputation as a heavy bluffer; more known for solid technical and strategic play.
Mathematical or intuitive approach
Combines mathematical strategy with intuitive understanding, especially in stud variants and tournament structure.
Style adaptability
Known for high adaptability through decades, both as player and innovator managing multiple evolving poker formats.
Playing strengths
Tournament structure innovation, seven-card stud expertise, cardroom management, and dealer training.
GTO strategy usage
Preceded modern GTO era; innovative with structural game theory concepts broadly but not documented using formal GTO software.
Poker software usage
No public record of poker software use for analysis or training.
Television appearances (list of shows with specific episodes/dates)
Consulting roles on NBC’s "National Heads-Up Poker Championship" and GSN’s "High Stakes Poker" but no regular player appearances on TV.
High Stakes Poker participation (seasons/episodes)
Served as consultant and manager on "High Stakes Poker" (GSN), not as a regular player on show.
Poker After Dark appearances (episodes/dates)
No publicly documented Poker After Dark playing appearances.
Documentary films featuring (titles and links)
No major poker documentary features known specifically focused on him as a player.
Major publication interviews (publication names, article titles, links)
Interviews in poker media including PokerNews and Pokerology discussing his management career and innovations.
Podcast appearances (podcast names, episode titles, dates, links)
No publicly listed podcast guest appearances documented.
Own podcast/channel (name, platform, subscriber count, link)
No known personal poker podcast or video series attributed to Eric Drache.
Facebook (account link)
No popular public Facebook page documented.
YouTube channel (name, subscriber count, link)
No personal YouTube channel known; presence mostly in poker historical interviews and documentaries.
Twitch channel (name, follower count, link)
No record of Twitch streaming or channel.
TikTok presence (account link, follower count)
No public TikTok presence known.
LinkedIn profile (link)
No verified LinkedIn profile publicly available.
Posting frequency in social media
No public social media presence meaning posting frequency and engagement cannot be evaluated.
Type of content in social media
N/A due to absence of social media content.
Current sponsors (company names, deal details if public)
No public record of current sponsorships.
Sponsorship contract history (previous sponsors, dates)
No verified historical sponsorship deals recorded.
Poker site ambassadorship (site names, contract details)
No known poker site ambassador roles publicized.
Own business (business names, descriptions, websites)
Eric Drache was involved in cardroom management and consulting roles such as for NBC but no personal non-poker business ventures are publicly known.
Poker project investments (project names, involvement details)
No public information on poker industry investments.
Coaching services (availability, platforms used)
No public coaching or training services are documented.
Coaching rates (if public)
Not applicable without public coaching services.
Educational materials (book titles with ISBN, course names with platforms, video series titles with links)
Eric Drache is recognized more for contributions to industry rules and dealer training but no authored formal educational materials or books.
Affiliate programs (program names, partnerships)
No public affiliate program partnerships known.
Merchandise (product types, where sold, links)
No public personal merchandise available.
Written poker books (titles, publication years, ISBN, publisher)
Eric Drache has not authored poker books known publicly.
Training series participation (series names, platforms, links)
No public training series participation known.
Masterclasses and seminars (event names, dates, locations)
No public masterclass or seminar presentations by Eric Drache documented.
Coaching work (platforms used, student testimonials)
No formal coaching work publicly recorded.
Notable students (names if public, their achievements)
No documented notable coaching students publicly associated with him.
YouTube educational content (video titles, view counts, links)
No specific educational YouTube content attributed to Eric Drache.
Poker publication articles (publication names, article titles, publication dates, links)
Featured in poker publications discussing his role as tournament director and innovator, including PokerNews and Pokerology articles.
Magazine columns (magazine names, column titles, frequency)
No regular magazine columns attributed to him.
Conference speaking (conference names, dates, topics, video links)
No public records of conference speaking engagements beyond private industry speaking roles.
Poker scandal involvement (scandal names, details, outcomes)
In the mid-1990s, Eric Drache was prosecuted for federal tax fraud which caused him to lose his Nevada gaming license temporarily.
Accusations of unfair play (specific incidents, resolutions)
No accusations of cheating or related incidents documented.
Casino/room conflicts (venue names, incident details)
Legal conflicts related to tax fraud affected his eligibility to hold a gaming license and work inside casinos.
Legal proceedings (case details, outcomes, court documents)
Had federal tax fraud prosecution in the 1990s, leading to loss of Nevada gaming license.
Public disputes with colleagues (names involved, details)
No notable public disputes with other poker players documented.
Tournament rule violations (tournament names, violations, penalties)
No tournament rule violations publicly recorded.
Tax issues (if public, details, resolutions)
Prosecution for federal tax fraud in the mid-1990s ended his casino work for a period.
Poker community criticism (specific criticisms, responses)
No prominent public criticism recorded besides legal tax issues.
Response to criticism (statements, actions taken)
Eric Drache continued contributing to poker through consulting and production after legal issues, indicating resilience and career rehabilitation.
Poker industry awards (award names, years, organizations)
Eric Drache was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2012 in recognition of his career and innovations.
Hall of Fame inclusion (hall names, induction years)
Inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2012 for his contributions as both player and innovator.
Peer recognition (specific recognitions, award details)
Recognized by poker peers for innovation and dedication, including co-creating the Poker Hall of Fame with Jack Binion.
Poker publication awards (publication names, award types, years)
Apart from Hall of Fame induction, no other awards by poker publications publicly documented.
Special achievements (achievement descriptions, recognition details)
Invented the poker tournament satellite format, introduced ante structures, dealer training, and the "must-move" table concept—key innovations for modern poker.
Records associated with name (record descriptions, verification)
Credited with innovating the satellite tournament format which revolutionized poker entry methods and player access.
Contribution to poker development (specific contributions, recognition)
Major contributions include creating satellite tournaments, standardized tournament structures, dealer training, and managing top poker rooms in Las Vegas.
Charity tournaments (tournament names, amounts raised, beneficiaries)
No public record of charity tournament participation specifically attributed.
Legacy in poker world (specific legacy aspects, community impact)
Eric Drache left a lasting legacy as a poker innovator who helped transform poker into a widely accessible and professionally managed game.
Industry influence (specific influences, changes attributed)
His tournament structure innovations and dealer training programs are now industry standards globally, profoundly impacting poker's professional growth.
WSOP (World Series of Poker) - all events all years
2009 | USA | WSOP | Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino | $10,000 Seven Card Stud World Championship | 10000 | 2 | 231014 | 94 | 150 |
Worked as a televised poker consultant and producer, including the WSOP final table production and "High Stakes Poker" consultancy.