At this summer’s World Series of Poker I had a conversation with WSOP Media Director Nolan Dalla about women’s participation. Every year Dalla compiles those terrific reports on all of the bracelet events, reports that often include a lot of interesting information about players’ nationalities, ages, and other tidbits about players’ performances that stat-geeks like me enjoy perusing.

This summer Dalla had begun routinely including in those reports statistics about how many women were playing in many of the events. I think perhaps some had expressed interest in learning those numbers, and so Dalla complied. I think also Dalla and the WSOP staff might’ve been hoping to find some encouraging figures regarding women’s participation in the open events, figures that might suggest more women were playing at the Series than in the past.

As it turned out, while female participation in some events was up and in other events down, overall the percentages were largely very similar to what had been the case for quite some time. I could tell Dalla was a bit disappointed when he explained to me how they were seeing about 3 percent participation by women in most events -- a percentage which was essentially the same as had been the case a decade ago.

Such was the circumstance addressed by Annie Duke in a speech delivered at the most recent Women in Poker Hall of Fame induction ceremony that took place earlier this month. She, too, noted that 3 percent figure and how it has remained unchanged since she first began playing at the WSOP in the mid-1990s.

In her speech, Duke also mentioned the new Epic Poker League for which she serves as Commissioner, a league in which qualifying criteria ensures only the best tournament players can participate. Of the 250-plus players who have met that criteria, Duke explained, only seven are women.

Again, not quite 3%.

Noting this trend -- or, rather, this lack of movement when it came to percentages of women showing up at the poker tables -- Duke used the occasion to suggest ways to remedy the situation.

Duke spent the first part of her speech telling about her recently-deceased mother, a person whom Duke characterized as an important mentor for her, someone who gave Duke “the courage that as a woman, no matter what barriers to entry there might be, or whatever you might want to try, that if you believe in the power of your own intellect you can accomplish anything.”

Such support helped Duke make her entry into poker, a move that in many ways required that she overcome other “barriers” suggested to her simply because she is a woman.

She noted how girls are often encouraged not to be aggressive or competitive (neither are “becoming”). Being good at math was another attribute that would discourage boys’ interest, she’d been told.

Obviously these qualities are among those of great benefit at the poker tables -- i.e., being aggressive, competitive, and good at math. And according to Duke, it was her mother’s example that helped her understand it was okay for her to develop those faculties and skills. And to learn “that it was okay for a girl to want to win.”

Speaking of her mother’s example led Duke to suggest one approach to increasing women’s participation in poker -- to helping women overcome the many “barriers” the culture tends to place between them and seats at the table.

“I truly believe,” said Duke -- addressing a crowd largely comprised of female poker players -- “that we have a responsibility as women who have successfully found their place in this game to mentor young women, to provide them with the same confidence and belief that your intellect is your greatest weapon that my mother gave to me.”

Duke then became more concrete with her suggestions. As well as with the goal she wished for her audience to consider going forward.

First she asked all of those in attendance to “consider becoming a mentor, to take another female player under your wing, teach her, encourage her and nurture her.”

Secondly, Duke proposed organizing women poker players to enter one “open” bracelet event at next year’s WSOP. While the 2012 schedule has yet to be determined, Duke recommended choosing a $1,000 buy-in no-limit hold’em event scheduled the same weekend of the Ladies Event. Duke believes that with enough organization and planning, women could comprise “close to 50%” of the field for the event, something she believed would amount to a significant statement that women poker players “have arrived and . . .  are here to stay.”

Finally, Duke suggested that women “set a goal of 10% [participation at the WSOP] within the next 3 years,” acknowledging that such a goal was “ambitious.”

My general response to Duke’s speech to those attending the Women in Poker Hall of Fame ceremony is positive.

As far as Duke’s specific suggestions go, her advice to those women already in poker to consider becoming a mentor is sound. Indeed, a site like Woman Poker Player in a way serves a similar function as a “mentoring” ground to women players, as well as a meeting place where novice players can benefit from the guidance and advice of others.

see also: She said: Women Should Accept Annie Duke's Challenge