The Old West is associated with a plethora of iconic elements:
- Rugged individualism and expansion
- Cowboys herding cattle.
- Mining booms and busts
- Gunfights and bar fights
- Moonshine
- Courageous sheriffs sought to bring order and discipline to the unruly nature of this rugged landscape.
Poker Drinking and gambling were deeply ingrained in the way of life during the Wild West era. Gold miners, flush with freshly minted cash, and cowboys taking a break from their cattle drives sought out saloons for a drink and a chance to play cards.
Many well-known characters, armed with Colt .45 revolvers, traveled to the frontier ridden with aspirations of fortune through poker games.
Even after many years, the spirit of those tumultuous times continues to influence the game of poker.
According to The Gamblers by Time-Life Books, nearly everyone engaged in gambling during the Old West era: 'Prospectors, dance-hall entertainers, cattle magnates, cowhands, priests, and gunmen all took their places at gaming tables, risking their hard-earned riches—or sometimes their last belongings—on the roll of the dice or the turn of a card.'
Numerous outlaws, law enforcers, and gamblers became legendary figures, often depicted in films, television series, literature, and other forms of entertainment.
Let's explore five distinct individuals who made their way westward toward the poker tables. poker tables .
1 – James Butler Wild Bill Hickok
Deadwood serves as a quintessential illustration of the poker scene that thrived in the latter part of the 19th Century Wild West. Born in Illinois in 1837, Hickok was not only a lawman and a gambler but also a celebrated folk hero and performer throughout the Civil War and his subsequent adventures out west.
Hickok is perhaps the most renowned card player of the Old West and holds a position in the Poker Hall of Fame.
He spent a considerable portion of his life confronting criminals and bringing lawbreakers to justice, yet he augmented his income with his poker gains. Hickok lived an adventurous lifestyle reminiscent of a 19th Century James Bond, admired for his charm and looks.
He was primarily seen as the hero, apprehending wrongdoers or, when necessary, sending them to their final resting place.
In 1876, Hickok moved to Deadwood, where he became a frequent participant in the local card games, contributing to the town’s image as an embodiment of the Old West.
As author James McManus describes in Cowboys Full: The History of Poker, 'A great rush of prospectors, gamblers, and other hopefuls surged into those Black Hills, transforming the once-sleepy Deadwood into a thriving boomtown filled with lively entertainment and gambling opportunities, despite most inhabitants living in tents.'
Hickok's destiny was ultimately sealed at the poker table in Deadwood. On August 2, 1876, while playing cards at Nuttal and Mann’s Saloon, a gambler named Jack McCall stealthily approached and shot him in the back of the head.
At the young age of 39, Hickok's life came to an abrupt end.
Legend has it that he was dealt two black Aces and two black 8s, which has since been immortalized as his final hand. Dead Man’s Hand .
2 – John Henry Doc Holliday
Fans of the 1993 film Tombstone are familiar with the exploits of the legendary figure Doc Holliday in gambling and gunfighting.
Originally a trained dentist, Holliday spent significant time engaged in poker and dueling.
He graduated as a dentist and opened a practice in Georgia but later relocated to the Southwestern U.S. seeking a more favorable environment for his tuberculosis condition.
His journey included a stint in Dallas, where he eventually teamed up with famed lawman and gambler Wyatt Earp. In 1879, Holliday reunited with Earp in Las Vegas, Nevada, before heading to Tombstone in the Arizona territory, known for its own boomtown culture.
Poker quickly became an integral part of his lifestyle.
He would later take part in the infamous gunfight at the O.K. Corral in 1881.
One poker scene Val Kilmer's portrayal of Holliday in Tombstone is cherished among Western fans, showcasing many scenes of him at the poker table, providing a dramatized view of the lives of Earp, Holliday, and the conflicts in Old West Arizona.
A notable scene occurs when, after matching a large bet from a rival, Holliday reveals four Queens. The losing player reacts badly and demands Holliday leave the premises.
Holliday's trademark wit shines through as he quips, 'Does this mean we’re not friends anymore?'
The defeated player reaches for his gun, but Holliday reacts swiftly, revealing his .45. After he disarms himself, the furious man lunges at him, but Holliday counterattacks with a hidden knife.
3 – Wyatt Earp
Holliday passed away on November 8, 1887, in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, from complications related to tuberculosis.
This notable lawman was always prepared to pursue criminals and often displayed his poker prowess as well. His adventures took him through various towns in the American West, including Dodge City, Deadwood, Tombstone, and Wichita.
His journey also included encounters at card tables in Fort Worth, Texas. This city, roughly an hour west of Dallas, was known for its notorious red-light district, 'Hell’s Half-Acre,' a hub for cowboys, revelers, and gambling activities.
As Dr. Todd Kerstetter, a history professor at Texas Christian University, explains to Fort Worth magazine, 'In towns like Dodge City or Abilene, particularly where cattle drives connected with the railroad, cowboys would arrive after completing their work and often got paid then.'
'After enduring a few months on the trail, this encounter became an opportunity for relaxation, dining, and spending their pay. It's common for cowboys to blow a significant portion of their earnings in these places.' playing cards Gamblers like Earp were keen to relieve these cowboys of their hard-earned cash. Beyond poker,
Earp was also a gambling entrepreneur.
He was involved in managing or owning saloons and gambling establishments across California, Arizona (Tombstone), Alaska, Washington, and Idaho. In the early 1900s, Earp even took on the role of consultant for early Western films.
Wyatt Earp lived a thrilling life as a perennial gambler, passing away in Los Angeles on January 13, 1929, due to chronic cystitis at the age of 80, outliving many of his peers.
4 – Poker Alice
While gambling was predominantly a male pursuit in the 19th Century, Poker Alice is a notable exception. Born Alice Ivers in 1851 to Irish immigrant parents in Devonshire, England, she came to the United States with her family at just 12 years old.
She spent much of her formative years in Virginia but later settled in Leadville, Colorado, where she gained her nickname after being taught poker by her first husband, Frank Duffield, who passed away a few years later. Alice continued playing cards throughout Colorado and New Mexico to support herself. how to play poker Alice was undoubtedly a skillful player. Historians point out her innovative mindset and ability to calculate odds and scenarios effectively.
She was often seen at the poker tables with a cigar in hand.
In addition to playing, she also took on the role of a dealer in Deadwood. Alice reportedly amassed $250,000 from her poker endeavors during her lifetime.
However, her time was not solely consumed by poker winnings; she was also arrested multiple times for bootlegging and operating a brothel. poker career – quite a poker career in those days.
According to Deadwood.com, her signature saying was rumored to be:
“Praise the Lord and place your bets. I’ll take your money with no regrets.”
Notorious outlaw Henry McCarty, better known as William Bonny or Billy the Kid, earned a reputation as one of the fiercest gunfighters of the Old West and was also familiar with poker.
5 – Billy the Kid
Billy lived a brief, tumultuous life that supposedly included taking the lives of 21 men before being shot by Sheriff Pat Garrett in Fort Sumner, New Mexico.
Garrett apprehended Billy in December 1880 for the murder of Lincoln County Sheriff William J. Brady and one of his deputies. He was convicted in April 1881, but escaped before facing execution later that month, killing two deputies during his escape.
After evading authorities for over two months, Garrett tracked him down and shot him dead on July 14, 1881.
He was just 21 years old, but his legacy as a notorious outlaw would only continue to grow in the years to come.
Part of that legacy also includes participation at poker tables. When not engaged in violent crime, Billy occasionally joined poker games in various saloons.
In 2019, a photograph surfaced that allegedly depicted the Kid in a game alongside three other outlaws who were also wanted at the time.
As only two known photos of Billy exist, the poker scene sparked skepticism among many, leading to the 'Poker Billy' image failing to attract bids at auction in 2019.
One significant poker game involving Billy stands out, shedding light on his aggressive interactions and criminal behavior.
While at Camp Grant, Arizona, on August 17, 1877, Billy participated in a poker game. An altercation ensued with a blacksmith named Francis \"Windy\" Cahill,
According to the PBS program American Experience, “When Cahill allegedly pinned Henry down and struck him, the Kid retaliated by shooting Cahill. He then fled back to New Mexico Territory, where Cahill succumbed to his injuries the following day. “The Kid then joined forces with a group of thieves south of Silver City, New Mexico. This gang, known as 'the boys,' was part of an expansive outlaw network, functioning like an organized crime syndicate in the Southwest.” .
Sean Chaffin is a dedicated freelance journalist based in Ruidoso, New Mexico. He covers poker, gambling topics, the casino industry, and other areas of interest. Connect with him on Twitter at @PokerTraditions and reach out via email at [email protected].
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