The 78-year-old had been a regular fixture at poker events at Maryland Live! and MGM National Harbor
Jane Hitchcock, a respected poker player and bestselling mystery author, has died at the age of 78. Friends confirmed her passing in the poker community, though the cause of death has not been made public.
Hitchcock was best known to many as a successful novelist, with titles like Bluff earning her a spot on the New York Times bestseller list. But away from the writing desk, she found a second passion at the poker table. Over the last decade, she became a regular presence at poker events along the East Coast, frequently competing at venues like Maryland Live! and MGM National Harbor.
According to The Hendon Mob, Hitchcock collected $289,471 in live tournament winnings throughout her poker career. Her biggest single score came in 2022, when she finished runner-up in an $800 buy-in event at the Venetian DeepStack Championship Series, taking home $57,645.
Today we lost Jane Hitchcock, a truly wonderful, brilliant, talented, kind & generous friend. So full of life, wit and humor. Grateful to have such wonderful memories with her both on and off the poker tables. Hope there are some fantastic poker games up there for you, Jane!💔 pic.twitter.com/NofejD0Mnf
— Lara Eisenberg (@eisen009) June 23, 2025
News of her death was shared by 2021 WSOP Ladies Champion Lara Eisenberg, who posted a tribute on social media. Others in the poker world echoed the sentiment, remembering Hitchcock not just as a player but as someone who brought curiosity and intellect to the game.
In a 2017 feature by The Washington Post, Hitchcock spoke about how she found poker during a difficult period following her grandmother’s death. What began as an escape soon became a serious pursuit. She once said, “Poker is like life. Everybody makes mistakes. You play the next hand as it comes.”
Beyond poker and literature, Hitchcock led a remarkable life that included friendships with figures like Jackie Kennedy Onassis and an instrumental role in exposing the financial crimes of Ken Starr. Despite her high-society background, she relished the leveling nature of poker, where every hand starts from scratch.
