Explanation of Dead Man’s Hand
The dead man’s hand The legend of Dead Man's Hand is rooted in the story of James Butler Hickok, who was famously known as 'Wild Bill.' He was shot from behind while engaged in a game of five-card stud. Allegedly, the cards he held at that moment—pulled from the floor—were Aces and Eights, both of which were black, with a Queen as the kicker.
While many may accept the version stating the hand consists of Aces and Eights, historian Joseph Rosa, who has written extensively about Hickok, contends that there are no primary historical accounts that specifically document this hand. Any combination of two pair that includes Aces and Eights has come to be commonly labeled as the 'dead man’s hand,' regardless of the kicker involved.
Interestingly, there are references to the term 'dead man’s hand' that don't directly relate to Wild Bill. Some sources describe it as a full house comprising three jacks and two tens, while others refer to it as two pair consisting of Jacks and Sevens. In fact, it wasn't until the 1920s that this hand became associated with Hickok, who was shot back in 1876.
The reality is that no one can definitively state the exact cards that Wild Bill Hickok had at the time of his death. Yet, if you look at how the narrative has developed in popular culture, it is almost universally accepted that they were Aces and Eights, both in black suits.
Here’s an example using Dead Man's Hand in a sentence -> We made a preflop 3-bet and on the flop, we hit the dead man’s hand : Aces and Eights.
Incorporating Dead Man’s Hand into Your Poker Strategy
While the term might not seem critically important, not knowing the history of the dead man’s hand might make us appear inexperienced in the world of poker.
Even though Wild Bill played a variant known as 5-card stud, poker enthusiasts today use the term dead man’s hand to refer to any situation involving Aces and Eights, no matter the type of poker game.
Historically, poker stud games evolved from simpler versions like 3-card stud to 5-card stud and eventually to the now-popular 7-card stud. While 5-card stud was in vogue at Hickok's time, it has become less common in today's poker games.
See Also
Stud , Two Pair , Full House , Hand Rankings , Fish Hooks , Ducks , Belly Buster