All different kinds of people from all different places and backgrounds play online poker. Though you probably won't realize it, you may end up playing with your family members, clergy, friends, doctors, and lawyers. You might also find yourself at a virtual table with some very experienced or even famous poker players. It's a good idea to become familiar with these people's screen names, as they're the ones who will take your money the quickest.

Following is a list of screen names used by some of the world's greatest poker champions. Just knowing the player behind the screen name will automatically give you a leg up on your opponents. However, keep in mind that, like any other online poker player, the poker pros may also have more than one name, so it is up to you to recognize and keep track of them when you play online. And because many of these players use their real names, and because being able to get the name you request may be more difficult than you think, due to supply and demand, many poker players will not change their screen names. However, they may use a different screen name from one online Internet site to another.

Here are just a few examples of the poker professionals who use screen names other than, or in conjunction with, their real names:

• David Benyamine: magicpitch

• Doyle Brunson: TexDolly

• T. J. Cloutier: J9ofClubs

• Hoyt Corkins: EasyH

• Phil Gordon: Tallphil

• Gus Hansen: broksi

• Phil Ivey: joe buttons

• Howard Lederer: the shrike

• Mike Matusow: MrPokeJoke and dill pickle

The following poker pros are commonly seen online using their real names. However, be assured that they also have well-concealed screen names that they use when playing in high-stakes online poker games:

• Todd Brunson: Todd Brunson

• Mike Caro: Mike Caro

• Annie Duke: Annie Duke

• Layne Flack: Layne Flack

• Phil Hellmuth: Phil Hellmuth

• Kathy Leibert: Kathy Leibert

• Tom McEvoy: Tom McEvoy

These are just the tip of the iceberg — many well-known poker players play in online poker games. It is up to you to be aware of them by maintaining a list that you can consult whenever you learn a new online pro's screen name or think one has just popped into your game.