Sara Ralston

Sara Ralston (also known as Sara Cholhagian-Ralston) is an American professional poker player and advocate for women in poker. She is active in both online poker and live tournaments, with multiple cashes in events such as the WSOP and WPT. She is ranked 15,885th globally in poker, with career earnings exceeding $210,000.

Ralston achieved a breakthrough performance in 2024, finishing 4th in the WPT Ladies Championship (Wynn Las Vegas) for $35,833. She also has several other notable results:

• 2023 WPT Prime Championship (Wynn Las Vegas): 120th place, $6,060.
• 2024 WSOP Online Events: 32nd in WSOP Online #8 Six-Handed ($3,329), and 11th in WSOP Online #6 Ultra Deepstack ($5,640).
• 2023 Wynn Millions (Wynn Las Vegas): 31st place, $21,886. According to official WPT data, her total WPT earnings are $41,893, with 125 points.

Ralston began her poker career online, gradually building her bankroll by playing low buy-in tournaments. During the 2024 WSOP Online series, she earned $8,969 across two events. Her play demonstrates solid bankroll management and the ability to accumulate profits through smaller events.

Ralston is not only a professional poker player but also served as the Executive Director of the Nevada Patient Protection Commission. In 2023, she assisted State Assemblyman Steve Yeager in drafting AB380, a bill aimed at increasing online poker transparency by requiring operators to publish lists of players suspended or banned for cheating. The bill sparked widespread discussion about online poker integrity. She stated, "The goal is to protect players. Many online players hide behind screen names, and we don't know who they are." She emphasized that the bill is not meant to burden operators but to provide more information to the online poker community.

Ralston is described as a tight-aggressive player who focuses on starting hand quality and leverages position. She makes decisive river decisions in deep-stacked situations, rarely gets involved in large pots, but is willing to bluff when the opportunity arises. She advocates for disciplined bankroll management, advising players to start with low buy-in events and maintain emotional stability. She regularly reviews high-stakes videos to learn and emphasizes continuous improvement.

• Nickname: Often associated with the word "solid" in the poker community.
• Dual Identity: She is both a poker player and a former state government official, showcasing cross-disciplinary abilities.
• Women's Advocate: She encourages more women to participate in poker, and her success in the WPT Ladies Championship serves as a role model for female players.