Poker is a fascinating game to play but it also boasts a riveting and colorful history away from the tables too. There are countless stories that have been passed down from generation to generation – some hilarious, some stunning and some downright scary – covering everything from the genesis of the game to how various hands earned their nickname. Why is A-K called “Big Slick” or Q-J “Maverick”?
One of our favorites refers to A-8 or what is commonly known as the “Dead Man’s Hand.”
The story begins with a famous gunfighter in America’s Old West back in the 1800s, “Wild Bill Hickock”, who loved to play cards but was always wary of who might be out to get him whenever he stayed in one place too long.
In 1876, Hickock was playing poker in Deadwood, Dakota. Usually careful to always sit with his back to the wall, when he turned up to play the only available seat had its back to the door and despite multiple requests to be moved, Hickock was forced to stay in the seat, denying him the luxury of seeing who might enter the saloon.
It proved a fateful twist, because not long after a buffalo hunter named Jack McCall – who it is believed had lost money to Hickock the day before – walked in, drew his pistol and fired a bullet into the back of Hickock’s head, killing him instantly. It is said that when the other players checked Hickock’s hand, he held two pair – Aces and Eights which have since gone down in folklore.
"Wild Bill" Hickock
So, the next time someone folds and declares they held the “Dead Man’s Hand” you will not only know exactly what cards they folded but know the story behind it as well!
