Poker Folklore

Stories and statistics from the world of poker.

The Dead Man's Hand

Wild Bill Hickok was holding two pair, black aces and black eights, when he was shot in 1876. The fifth card remains a mystery to this day.

Royal Flush Odds

The odds of being dealt a Royal Flush in Texas Hold'em are 1 in 649,740. You could play 20 hands a day for 89 years and never see one!

More Combinations than Atoms?

There are 52! (factorial) ways to shuffle a deck of cards. This number (8x10^67) is roughly equal to the number of atoms in our galaxy. Every time you shuffle a deck, it's likely that specific order has never existed before.

The Longest Game

The Bird Cage Theatre in Arizona hosted a poker game that lasted 8 years, 5 months, and 3 days (1881-1889). It ran 24/7 with players shifting in and out.

Sandwich Origin

The sandwich was popularized by the Earl of Sandwich so he could eat with one hand while playing cards with the other without getting grease on the cards.

Nixon's Bankroll

Former US President Richard Nixon funded his first congressional campaign with winnings from poker games he played while in the Navy during WWII.