Jim Bechtel - Professional Poker Player

Updated 2008/2009
Though there is not much information available about the great Poker Player Jim Bechtel, he has earned a good name in the history of the game. He was born in 1952 and happens to be a cotton farmer based in Gilbert, Arizona. Bechtel was quite close to winning the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in 1979. In that game he came second to Perry Green and took home the prize money of $1500.

He did considerably well in subsequent years of 1986, 1988, 1989 and 2001 where he ended in cash. He finished 6th for $49,000 and made it to the final table for $10000 in the WSOP main event in 1988. One great quality of this player is that doesn't speak much during the game; instead he makes his cards speak for him. The other important quality he has that he hardly ever participates in the smaller tournaments, he only likes to enter the big and famous tournaments.

The 1993 final table of the WSOP saw Bichtel against Glen Cozen. He enjoyed a huge chip advantage. Deciding to take the next two playable cards, Cozen went all in, rather than let the blinds eat up his stack. The cards he chose were 7s 4d. Bechtel had Jc 6h. Even though it is not a very big hand, he decided to call since he knew that Cozen had not much amount left with him. Even if Cozen doubled up, it would not make much difference to him. Both players flipped their hole cards over and waited for the flop. It was 10d 8s 3c, no help to either one of them. The turn happened to be 2c, which too was of no use to both of them. To stay in the game Cozen needed a 7 or a 4 on the river, but the card was 5d. With his silent game and unassuming nature he won the WSOP with a high jack.

Bechtel was also one of those lucky players who could make it to the final table of the $50,000 HORSE event of the World Series of Poker held in 2006. He earned prize money of $549,120 as he finished 4th in the event. People would be surprised to know that his total earnings from the prize money for the life time exceeds $2,500,000.