What The Hottest Poker Pros Want In Women

L to R: Daniel Negreanu, Jason Mercier and Joe Cada. Photo credit PokerStars.net.

Poker's biggest pros reveal love and attraction surprises.

If you are one of the 58 million American women who are single and looking, LimeLife works hard to keep you hooked up on what guys think and where to find them. Here's a fun lead: approximately 40 million American men play poker these days -- jackpot! Last week at the North American Poker Tour sponsored by PokerStars.net, we sat down with three of the highest-earning, best known guys in poker...and they're all single! Daniel Negreanu, Joe Cada and Jason Mercier have played plenty of hands at love and relationships; and in a rare, candid interview (remember these guys rarely display what's behind the poker face), these poker princes opened up about the traits men seek in women. (It's probably not what you're betting.)

If you're looking for these three young millionaires to tell you that they want a woman with a bangin' body, a high-status job or even poker skills, they've already called your bluff. According to Negreanu (pronounced na-GRAH-no), Cada and Mercier, even the richest men in one of today's biggest industries are looking for a woman who's easy to read.

Daniel Negreanu is thought to be the highest-earning poker player in the world, with a reported $12 million in career earnings. Negreanu is also regarded as the most congenial, camera-friendly fella on the felt, and at 35, he's got some love lessons under his belt. Negreanu was married until two years ago and says this about what he was looking for in the relationships that followed: "[Women] have to have a life of their own and have a little bit of independence." He added, "If she's not intelligent, I can't deal with her." Negreanu revealed that the test of a woman's intelligence for him is to see if she's comfortable to "float and shine" among a crowd of people whom she doesn't know -- and if she's not the most gorgeous woman in the room, that's totally fine: Negreanu makes it very clear that he's not looking for the model type. "I like a woman who's got something cute about her," he says, "and I think sometimes people's imperfections are what makes them cute." Negreanu has found happiness again since his marriage ended...so what's the rule he says guys should go by when they're seeking a partner for life? Look for someone fun-loving and witty, and who loves to do what you love to do. Negreanu says, "You really have to love spending time with that person." Just like the game of poker, his concept is actually pretty simple...and yet so few of us get it.

In November 2009 at age 21, Joe Cada became the youngest-ever winner of the World Series of Poker. One hundred fifty family members and friends rocked the stands as Cada sat at the final table, and in the six months since his big win ($8 million!) Cada has been careful to keep his loyal hometown ties. When Joe Cada first got into poker, his best female friend questioned whether it was a healthy habit...but for the last year and a half they've been in love and her support is unwavering. Like Negreanu, Cada respects a woman who demonstrates a sense of ownership over her life, as his girlfriend works and goes to school. This, of course, leads to a bit of strain in the relationship because Joe's job is so travel-oriented. "She gets worried when I have to be in some destinations, like Vegas, but it goes both ways," Cada laughs. "I have to worry too. She's a girl, and guys hit on girls more often." (So that's what guys think when we go out, huh?) Fortunately, the trust they built as friends is what resolves any jealousy; plus, neither of them are attention-seekers. Cada considers himself to be a shy person, and he says that he's drawn to women who share this trait because he thinks shyness is "cute" (love it!) and he values humility. Cada says he's "not a fan of people who are full of themselves" -- which is why his girlfriend may not have to worry about those Vegas types! (Eh, Rachel Uchitel?)

Jason Mercier, 23, won PokerStars' North American Poker Tournament after we interviewed him there -- congratulations, Jason! Now $475,000 richer (not bad for a week's work!), Mercier has been in an on-and-off relationship for the past few years and recently made the decision to get back with his flame when he realized how genuine she was. "She's just one of the sweetest girls I've ever met," Mercier says. "She has a really nice heart." He echoes Negreanu's fun factor, saying that his girlfriend's sense of humor is one of the top three things he loves about her. The third? She's outgoing and meets the criteria of working a crowd well. Mercier says that at a lot of poker events, he has pros and the public approaching him and he doesn't always know who's who. "In the Bahamas she did a great job of going up to people and introducing herself, which was cool." Hey, we were there and we didn't get to meet her! Next time we'll keep our eyes open, because Jason Mercier admits that his girlfriend stands out. "She's a very physically attractive woman," he said. Nothing wrong with that!

You can see more of Daniel, Joe and Jason at the North American Poker Tour each week on ESPN2 Starting Monday, April 19th at 9 p.m.

If you love LimeLife's relationship coverage, visit our Love & Sex section. The biggest story this week: would you stop sex to check Facebook?! Also check out our interview with poker pro Vanessa Rousso on how to tell if your man is lying. Or if it's more celeb slickness you crave, check out our HUGE celeb photo section:
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