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T.J. CloutierAmerican poker player
Date of Birth: 13.10.1939
Country: ![]() |
Content:
Biography of T.J. Cloutier
T.J. Cloutier is a legendary American professional poker player, known for his six World Series of Poker bracelets. He was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2006.

Early Life and Sports Career
Thomas James "T.J." Cloutier was born in 1939 in Albany, California. He attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he was an active athlete, playing American football and baseball. He even participated in the Rose Bowl in 1959. However, he had to leave college due to financial difficulties, and eventually joined the army. It is said that he first discovered poker during his time in the military.

After his military service, Cloutier played football in the Canadian Football League for the Toronto and Montreal teams. However, his sports career was cut short due to an injury. He then turned to business, but his company was not successful. In 1976, he moved to Texas and started working on an oil rig. During this time, his first marriage ended, and it was during this period that Cloutier began playing poker as a side hustle.

Poker Career
It quickly became evident that Cloutier could earn much more money playing poker than from his regular job, so he started dedicating more and more time to the game. Rumor has it that his second wife became his lucky charm, as his poker fortunes improved after their marriage. In 1985, after his second marriage, he achieved his first notable success in a poker tournament, finishing as the runner-up in the Main Event of the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

Cloutier won his first WSOP bracelet in 1987 in Pot Limit Omaha. His main specialization was Texas Hold'em, and he won bracelets in this variant in 1994 and 2005. He also won three Omaha tournaments - the aforementioned 1987 event, as well as two others in 1994 and 1998. In addition, he won a tournament in the rare poker variant of 7-Card Razz in 2004. Overall, Cloutier's live tournament winnings amounted to $9,700,000 by 2009.
Later Life and Impact
Cloutier is highly regarded in the poker community for his personality. He is known for his ease of communication, sincerity, and kindness. However, in 2010, he faced criticism when he auctioned off his WSOP bracelet on eBay. Many considered this to be a terrible act, as it involved selling the symbol of poker, the gold bracelet of a tournament winner. Interestingly, the bracelet eventually returned to its owner.
In the 2000s, Cloutier faced significant health issues. In 2004, he fainted during a tournament and was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He underwent a successful operation but later in the same year, he suffered a heart attack. Despite his health problems, he continued to play poker.
Cloutier is also an author of several poker books, including "Championship Omaha" and "Championship Hold'em." In 2006, he released his book "How To Win The Championship: Hold'em Strategies For The Final Table," which outlines his own strategy for playing Hold'em at the final table.
As of today, T.J. Cloutier resides in Richardson, Texas, with his family.
"If I had the opportunity to change the world, I would make everyone get along. If I could change the world of poker, I would eliminate all the actors at the table," he once said.