When it comes to star power, the poker world hasn’t attracted many players more famous than actor and comedian Jason Alexander, who is most recognized as George from one of TV’s greatest comedies – Seinfeld.
Alexander has been known to venture into the poker world when he’s not busy with his career. He’s competed in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event several times and is a spokesman for the free-to-play WSOP App.
“I have been playing poker since I was 15, but I didn’t start really learning the game until the late 90s or early 2000s,” Alexander recently told PokerNews. “I didn’t start playing in actual tournaments until 2010, but I’ve loved the game and the community ever since. I think most actors learn the game one way or another – there’s so much downtime when you’re in a rehearsal for a show or on a TV set. But I had never played hold’em until the Celebrity Poker Showdown started on TV on Bravo.”
In 2005, Alexander won the Celebrity Poker Showdown Season 5 Game 2 at a table that included Nicholas Gonzalez, Mary McCormack, Allison Janney, and SNL alum Chris Kattan. That got him a seat into the Season 5 Championship Game where he finished in fifth place. His fellow comedic TV star Brad Garrett ended up winning it for $100,000.
“Play the player, not the cards,” Alexander said when asked about the best poker advice he’s ever received. “That advice transformed how I approached the game. Poker isn’t just about having a good hand; it’s about understanding your opponents—how they think, their mannerisms, and how to exploit those patterns. It made me realize the game is really played between the ears and the eyes, not just on the felt.
He added: “I have plenty of poker tips and tricks that have helped me over the years. My biggest tip for a beginner is to know when to throw in the towel – recognize that folding is a strategic move, not a sign of weakness. Don’t let pride or attachment to a hand cloud your judgment. If the odds are against you, and the potential risks outweigh the rewards, be willing to fold.”
Alexander actually shared six tips he has for beginning poker players:
“I wish I would have started playing the WSOP free-to-play app sooner in my career as it’s a great way to learn and practice against real poker pros, without all the stakes,” Alexander explained. “Each opponent is unique, bringing their own set of skills, quirks, and strategies to the table, and playing against a variety of real people provides a continuous learning experience, helping you improve your overall poker skills over time.”
Alexander, who said his least favorite hand is Ace-Queen as “it looks strong but often gets you into trouble,” also shared with PokerNews one of the more memorable hands he’s ever played.
During one of my runs at the WSOP Main Event I got involved in a hand I probably should not have been in. In middle position, I wake up with 5x5x. Preflop there are several folds. I call but there is a raise in late position, called by the small blind, which happens to be a significant poker pro. I make the call and the flop comes Jx7x2x rainbow. Pro makes a bet of about half pot. Stupidly, I call and the third player folds so I’m heads up. The turn is a 10x. Pro makes a big bet. If I call it is about half my remaining chips. Sometimes, you just get a feeling.
My feeling was two-fold. First, I believed they didn’t have their hand and were working toward a straight. Second, I felt in every fiber of my being that another 5x was coming. Knowing I was a dead man, I made the call. And sure enough – the river is my third 5x. I hit the trips and I can’t see a way he has his straight. He makes a bet for more than half of what I have left which would leave me crippled if I’m wrong. I call, rather than raise.
We reveal. He only has a pair of jacks. I have the hand and a furious pro who cannot fathom why I made the calls. I readily admitted it was just hope-and-pray playing that my intuition was worth it. I actually apologized for playing like a schmo. I got lucky. Sometimes, it works.
As for his future poker plans, don’t be surprised to see Alexander this summer at the 2025 WSOP, which will run from May 27 to July 16.
“I actually got to see a bit of the World Series of Poker during the WSOP App’s VIP event in Las Vegas this past summer, which was a really fun moment for me,” he said. “I hope to be involved in more fun events, both at the table and on the app, in 2025.”
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