Eli Elezra

Eli Elezra was born in 1960 in Jerusalem, Israel, and later moved to the United States. He began playing poker in the 1990s in low-stakes games in Las Vegas before transitioning from business to full-time professional poker. His early focus was on cash games, where he quickly moved up to high-stakes mixed games, building a reputation as a formidable opponent in the Las Vegas poker scene.

Elezra has cashed multiple times at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) across various disciplines, including Omaha Hi-Lo and Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo. Despite his deep runs, according to official records he has not won a WSOP bracelet. He also achieved success on the World Poker Tour (WPT) and other major tournaments. His total live tournament earnings exceed $5.7 million, with notable scores in both limit and no-limit events. His consistent results in mixed-game events have cemented his status as one of the top specialists in the field.

Elezra is known for an aggressive and creative approach. He frequently applies pressure pre-flop and post-flop, using marginal hands to force opponents into tough decisions. He excels in mixed games, adjusting his strategy based on the game variant. His strong hand-reading skills and psychological tactics, such as table talk, help him gain an edge. His entertaining personality and philosophical comments made him a fan favorite. He gained widespread recognition through poker TV shows like High Stakes Poker and Poker After Dark, where he competed against top players such as Phil Ivey and Tom Dwan, showcasing bold bluffs and precise value betting.

Outside poker, Elezra is a successful businessman with multiple ventures in Las Vegas, including real estate and hospitality. He has experienced financial setbacks but always bounced back, demonstrating resilience. He authored a book on poker strategy, sharing insights into mixed games and high-stakes cash play. He is also known for his humorous and straightforward demeanor, once engaging in a verbal exchange with Phil Hellmuth on air. His personal life includes his Israeli heritage and his status as a naturalized U.S. citizen.

Eli Elezra is respected as a mixed-game specialist and a veteran of the high-stakes poker scene. His ability to adapt, use psychology, and manage bankroll under pressure offers valuable lessons for aspiring players. He remains a fixture in the Los Angeles and Las Vegas poker communities, and his appearances on televised poker continue to entertain and educate audiences worldwide. His contributions to the game, both as a player and an author, ensure his lasting legacy in poker history.

Eli Elezra shares his first name with a contemporary pop musician known mononymously as Eli (full name Eli Miller), who released the debut album Stage Girl in 2025. The musician Eli has a significant social media following and performs under the same first name, occasionally leading to mistaken identity in online searches. Despite the shared name, there is no personal or professional connection between the poker player and the singer.

The musician Eli has amassed over 390,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and has toured North America, including sold-out shows at venues like the Bob Baker Marionette Theater. This unrelated cultural figure has brought additional attention to the name “Eli” in popular media, but Eli Elezra’s reputation in the poker world remains distinct and unaffected.