Poker is a game steeped in history and lore, and there are few hands more famous or infamous than the {{Dead Man’s Hand}}.
If you’ve been playing or learning the game for a while, you’ve likely heard about this notorious card combination. But what exactly is it, and why is it so legendary?
In this article, we’ll look at the Dead Man’s Hand and explore some of the reasons why it’s so infamous in the poker community. So whether you’re a fan of the game or just interested in its rich history, read on to learn more about this iconic hand.
1) It’s believed to be the hand held by a poker player who was shot and killed in the American Old West.
The most famous story about the Dead Man’s Hand is that it was the combination of cards held by James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok when he was assassinated while playing poker in Deadwood, South Dakota, on August 2, 1876.
Hickok was a famous gunfighter, lawman, and folk hero in the early days of the American frontier. He was also an avid poker player, and it’s said that he was holding a pair of black aces and eights when he was shot in the back of the head while playing cards. The murder suspect was Hickok’s poker rival, Jack McCall, who claimed to have done it to avenge his brother’s death.
While there are some discrepancies about the exact cards Hickok was holding (some say it was two black aces and two black eights, while others claim it was a black ace of spades, a black ace of clubs, and two red eights), the consensus is that the Dead Man’s Hand refers to a pair of black aces and eights.
2) It’s considered to be an unlucky hand.
Another reason the Dead Man’s Hand is so infamous is that it’s considered an unlucky hand.
This is likely because it was the hand found in Hickok’s possession after he was killed. As a result, many poker players believe it’s bad luck to hold this combination when playing cards.
The hand’s notoriety as an unlucky one was further solidified by pop culture. Filmmaker John Ford famously used it to foreshadow death in his films Stagecoach (1939) and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). The hand has also appeared in crime and suspense television series like Criminal Minds and The X-Files.
3) It’s a tricky hand to play.
The Dead Man’s Hand is primarily considered a losing hand simply because, if you rank all the poker hands in order, you will find significantly more powerful combinations (like a straight flush or a royal flush) that will always beat it.
This is especially true for Texas Hold’em games, where a hand’s strength (or lack thereof) depends on multiple community cards in addition to the player’s hole cards. Even the best poker players worldwide have been known to lose to this hand occasionally.
However, that doesn’t mean it can’t win sometimes. While it’s not the strongest hand, the Dead Man’s Hand can still be a formidable force if played correctly.
Debunking the misconceptions
Now that we’ve looked at some of the reasons why the Dead Man’s Hand is so infamous, it’s time to dispel some of the myths and misconceptions about it.
First, this notorious hand is not, in fact, unlucky. Although it is generally a weak hand, especially in a game of Hold’em, the truth is that it’s just as likely to win as any other hand in poker. As mentioned, the key is to play it correctly by spinning it on its head and using it to your advantage.
One way to do this is by playing it aggressively and trying to bluff your opponents into folding. Remember, the aim is to make them think you have a stronger hand than you do. If you can do that, you’re one step closer to taking down the pot.
Next, there are worse poker cards than two black aces and eights.
Many players misjudge the Dead Man’s Hand as the worst possible combination you can get because of the legend surrounding it. But in reality, you could be dealt significantly weaker hands like a 2-7 offsuit.
A 2-7 offsuit is considered the worst possible starting hand in Hold’em because those cards provide considerably few opportunities to make a strong hand. In contrast, the Dead Man’s Hand gives you a chance to make two pairs or a full house.
The Brunson (a 10-2 offsuit) is also considered a notably weak hand. It’s supposed to have no potential value, although it must be noted that poker legend Doyle Brunson won the WSOP Main Event in two consecutive years with that very hand. The card combination was named after him in honor of his victory.
So, if The Brunson can win a major poker tournament, who’s to say the Dead Man’s Hand can’t take down a pot or two?
Of course, it’s important to remember that every hand is different and that no single combination of cards is guaranteed to win (or lose). The key is to play your cards right and make the best decisions possible based on the information you have at the time.
If you do that, you’ll be well on your way to poker success, no matter what cards you’re dealing with.
Keep these points in mind the next time you sit down at a poker table, be it in a live tournament or an online game on GGPoker, the world’s largest poker room. Who knows? Maybe the Dead Man’s Hand will be in your favor.
