How many poker players have appeared on Beverly Hills 90210? It's not something we keep close track of, but we'd guess it's not many. For LoriAnn Persinger, however, her bit-part appearance in the hit TV show is just one small chapter in a fascinating tale.
From the US Navy to beauty pageants, through to a spot on the PokerOrg Player Advisory Board, Persinger has plenty of stories to tell. She's been clocking up results in earnest since moving to Las Vegas in 2018, with her best result so far coming in the 2022 WPT World Championships, where she won a free entry and turned it into a $119K score.
What’s one bit of essential prep you do before a big tournament or cashgame session?
I don’t play a lot of cash games, but before a big tournament I always make sure to get a good night’s sleep. I always plan on being there for at least 12 hours, which doesn’t always happen, but when it does I want to be sure I’m physically and mentally prepared.
What piece of strategy advice did you get when you first started playing that you wish you had ignored?
To only play and/or raise with premium hands.
I feel that it made me an open book and easy to play against, especially when players were already assuming (correctly) they knew what I was raising and/or calling with based on a preconceived table image.
What's the dumbest thing you've ever seen or done at the poker table?
Eating finger foods at the table, with or without napkins.
What's your most memorable hand?
It was at the 2022 WPT World Championship, while playing on my first live stream at the end of Day 3. I lost 45% of my chipstack with 
in the small blind versus the button’s 
, all-in on the river on a 
runout after check-calling the turn bet and then check-shoving the river.
The very next hand I then doubled-up with pocket aces versus pocket kings, all-in preflop. It was amazing, and perfect timing because it probably looked like I was on tilt from the previous hand.
What is your best piece of advice for players?
Poker can be rough - sometimes very rough - so if you feel the need to step away for a bit for financial and/or mental reasons, there’s nothing wrong with that. There's always another tournament or cash game.
If you owned a poker room, who's the first player you'd want to sign as an ambassador and why?
I’d probably never be able to afford him, but Nick Schulman: no explanation necessary.
Images courtesy of the WPT
