Nov 11, 2019 Dead Man’s Hand Summary. Dead Man’s Hand is one of the most iconic hand in poker. It harks back to the game’s roots in the American West and a real legendary lawman. Hickok probably spent more of his time at the poker table than in the sheriff’s office. We know that Dead Man’s hand is Two Aces and Eights – two pair.
- The term “dead man’s hand” has been used in Western lore since 1886, but that early citation wasn’t in reference to Bill’s hand. The story of Hickok’s final hand doesn’t actually appear in print until 1926. For those of you keeping score, that’s fifty years after the actual shooting occurred. This mystery will likely never be.
- When the struggle between man and bear was over, Bill was severely wounded, but the bear lay dead on the ground from Hickok’s six-inch knife. Stagecoach Robbery After recovering from the almost lethal attack, Wild Bill headed back to Monticello, Kansas where he accepted a position as a peace officer on March 22, 1858.
- The makeup of poker's dead man's hand has varied through the years. Currently, it is described as a two-pair poker hand consisting of the black aces and black eights. The pair of aces and eights, along with an unknown hole card, were reportedly held by Old West folk hero, lawman, and gunfighter Wild Bill Hickok when he was murdered while playing a game.
- Directed by Hy Averback. With Charles Frank, Susan Blanchard, John Dehner, Howard Duff. Ben Maverick (Charles Frank) inherits the poker hand of a friend who died during a high stakes game.
- Aces and eights.
Folklore
Wild Bill Hickock was a legendary gambler, gunfighter and lawman in the 19th century. As the story goes, he was murdered on August 2, 1876 by Jack McCall in a poker game while holding two pair, Aces and eights, which became known as the 'Dead Man's Hand.' The event is depicted in an episode of the HBO show Deadwood as well as the Bob Dylan song, 'Rambling, Gambling Willie.'
Exact Hand
While there is no definitive account or proof of exactly what Hickok was holding, it is generally accepted that he held both black Aces and both black eights. The kicker is unknown, but is supposedly either the Jack or Queen of Diamonds. Oddly, no well known display or recreation of the hand uses either of those two cards as the kicker. Even the Saloon no. 10, which is where Hickok was shot, uses the nine of Diamonds.
Importance of Position
In Poker Dead Man's Hand
Dead Man's Hand Poker Hand
Dead Man's Hand Aces And Eights
When Hickok played poker, he would normally position himself in the corner of a room so that nobody could attack him from behind. On the day he was killed, he was unable to find such a seat, so he sat with his back to a door. McCall entered through that door and shot Hickok in the back of the head.