While many people may be familiar with the term “aces and eights” or “dead man’s hand,” how many actually know the history behind this? And what about other famous poker hands that have cropped up over time? There are two particularly famous poker hands you’ll regularly come across, both the infamous “Dead Man’s Hand” and what became known a few decades ago as the “Texas Dolly.”

Dead Man’s Hand

In true Wild West fashion, this hand owes its name to cowboys, gunslingers, the gold rush and, of course, poker. Back in 1874 when gold was discovered out in the Black Hills, many prospectors and travelers quickly made their way there and established a town known as Deadwood, a place known for its wealth as well as its lawlessness, as bandits and thieves came and went to prey upon the countless gold miners in the area. Two years later, Mr. James Butler Hickok, commonly known as the gunslinger Wild Bill Hickok, traveled to the town himself. While little is known about the true reason why Wild Bill went to the town, one thing is for certain; it would be his final destination.

While at a local poker game in a saloon, Wild Bill settled down for a few hands of poker, one of his few vices in the world. There, while in the midst of drawing a hand, a long gunman walked into the room and shot Wild Bill in the back of the head, killing him instantly. As he fell forward, his hand was revealed, showing a pair of Aces, a pair of eights and a fifth unknown card. Because of the infamy of the event of the death of one of the most famous gunmen in the West, the hand quickly became superstitious to poker players around the world, and to this day remains in skepticism when drawn in a game.

The Texas Dolly

Back in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in 1976 and 1977, over three decades ago, this hand became famous in its own right when it won Doyle “Texas Dolly” Brunson the championship title two years in a row. Up against well-established opponents in both rounds, Brunson entered into the final round of the championship in 1976 against an experienced player carrying only a 10-2; while his opponent (Jesse Alto at the time, a well-known player in his own right,) started off with a much more appealing Ace-Jack. As the game progressed and an A-J-10 was laid on the table, Brunson looked like he was in trouble, holding only a pair of 10s while Alto had a pair of Aces and Jacks. When the turn yielded a 2 to give both players a full house, Brunson went all in, putting the pressure on Alto. Alto naturally accepted, and when the river revealed another 10 Brunson successfully made a full house and took the championship.

The following year, Brunson found himself in exactly the same position again, holding a 10-2 against his opponent (Bones Berland this time,) who held an 8-5. The flop yielded a 10-8-5 to give Berland two pair, with the turn giving another 2, placing each player in a position with two pair. Berland went all-in this time, and when the river gave Brunson another 10, for a second full house in a row, the championship was sealed once more and the “Texas Dolly” hand went down in history.

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