With its long history, poker has captivated the attention of players all around the world with its combination of exceptional players and unlikely hands. Some poker hands have carved themselves into poker history and become legendary in and of themselves, whether they were played in the dimly lit saloons of the Old West or the brilliant lights of contemporary platforms. Let’s examine some of the most recognizable hands that have shaped the history of the game forever.
- Dead Man’s Hand: The Fateful Hand of Wild Bill Hickok
The “Dead Man’s Hand” is a chilling tale that dates back to the lawless frontier of the Old West. On August 2, 1876, the legendary lawman and gunslinger Wild Bill Hickok was engaged in a Five Card Stud game at Nuttal and Mann’s Saloon in the Dakota Territory. As he played, a disgruntled player named Jack McCall entered the saloon and approached Hickok from behind, firing a fatal shot to the back of his head. When the cards scattered across the bloody table, Hickok’s hand revealed the ominous combination of two black Aces and two black Eights – a potent hand that would forever be known as the “Dead Man’s Hand.” - Aces Take Down Aces: The Ultimate Cooler
With a startling $1 million buy-in, the 2014 WSOP Big One for One Drop saw one of the most amazing and tragic coolers in poker history. Businessman Cary Katz raised with the premium A♠A♥, but Connor Drinan, who also held pocket Aces (A♦A♣), countered with a reraise. Following many raises and an all-in from Drinan, the unimaginable happened. In one of the highest-stakes tournaments ever, the board turned out 2♦K♥5♥4♥2♥, giving Katz an Ace-high flush and destroying Drinan’s aspirations and ambitions.
- The Doyle Brunson: A Legend’s Winning Hands
Doyle Brunson, referred to as the “godfather of poker,” made a significant impact on the history of the game with his storied winning hands at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event. Brunson’s back-to-back victories in the WSOP Main Event in 1976 and 1977 were an incredible accomplishment. In both years, he won with modest hands of 10♠2♠ and 10♠2♥. Often referred to as “The Doyle Brunson,” these humble holdings have come to symbolise the perseverance and distinguished status of the Texas legend among the poker community.
- Moneymaker’s KO: The Hand That Changed Poker History
The hand that propelled Chris Moneymaker to fame and ignited the poker boom is a tale of improbable odds and a game-changing moment. In the 2003 WSOP Main Event, Moneymaker found himself up against the formidable Phil Ivey, holding A♥Q♦ against Ivey’s 9♠9♥. The flop of Q♥6♠Q♠ favoured Moneymaker, but Ivey managed to make a full house on the turn with the 9♣. Undeterred, Moneymaker’s daring game on the river was met with an all-in raise from Ivey. Moneymaker called, and the fateful A♠ on the river delivered him the improbable victory, eliminating the seasoned Ivey in 10th place. Moneymaker’s unlikely triumph not only sparked the global poker boom but also cemented his place in history as the embodiment of the everyman’s dream at the tables. - Phil Hellmuth’s Pocket Nines: The Brat’s Breakthrough
Known as the “Poker Brat,” Phil Hellmuth achieved his first major victory in the 1989 WSOP Main Event with the well-known Pocket Nines hand. Hellmuth faced the legendary Johnny Chan in a heads-up battle for the sought title at the tender age of 24. With Pocket Nines in his final hand, Hellmuth became the youngest Main Event winner at the time. With this triumph, Hellmuth began an amazing career that would see him become one of the most well-known players in the business and shatter records by winning 15 WSOP bracelets.
- Cooler City Quads: Vanessa Selbst’s Brutal Bad Beat
One of the most severe poor defeats in tournament history occurred in a hand that will always stick in the memory from the 2017 WSOP Main Event. Raising the action with pocket Aces (A♠A♦), Vanessa Selbst—a trailblazer in the game of poker—found herself in a tight spot against Gail Baumann’s pocket Sevens (7♥7♦). Selbst held a full house on the flop of A♣7♣5♣, while Baumann had quads. A bitter reminder of how unpredictable the game can be, Selbst was finally eliminated by Baumann’s unlikely quads after a flurry of raises and stakes failed to locate the fold.
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These historic hands are a benchmark to the continuing appeal of poker as well as the amazing stories that are told at the tables. They are engraved into poker history. These events, which range from the crucial hand of Wild Bill Hickok to the contemporary bravery of players like Chris Moneymaker, have enthralled generations of poker fans and still motivate young players to seek out their own legendary tales.
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