A casino “dead man’s hand” refers to a two pair of black eights and black aces. Because they were allegedly held by Wild Bill Hickock when he died, they’re considered an unlucky hand.
Wild Bill Hickok was an American lawman who became famous for his gun
There are plenty of stories about Wild Bill Hickok, but most of them focus on his life as an outlaw, which is why they’re so interesting.
Wild Bill loved gambling, and he especially enjoyed playing poker. Unfortunately for him though, the game proved to be his undoing.
Hickok died at age 39 after being shot in the back of the neck by his friend Jack McCall. Hickok had been dodging bullets for years, but this time he couldn’t dodge the bullet.
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After he was shot, Hickock was holding a two pair (of black aces and black eight) when he reportedly pulled out his gun and started shooting. The final card is not known.
It wasn’t until the 1920’s that the association between the hands and Wild Bill Hickok became widely known.
Today, the slang term of dead men’s hands is used in casinos across the globe and is forever associated with “Wild Bill.”
A dead man’s hand is worth nothing.
Poker has gained some popularity because people think it’s mysterious and exciting. However, the truth is that it isn’t particularly interesting.
It’s not uncommon for players to lose even if they hold a strong hand, especially when an opponent has a better second pair or kicker.
You should always play this hand carefully – not because it’s thought to be bad luck, but simply because it can cause you serious financial harm if played poorly.
Another Western hero once said: “You’ve got to know when to hold ’em.”
Aces and Eights in Popular Culture
Dead Man’s Hand has become part of the common vernacular among poker players. It’s been used widely in western culture.
It has been used in a lot of movies, including the famous John Wayne film Stagecoach, and critically acclaimed movie One Flew Over new online casino the cuckoos Nest, where McMurphy is said have a dead man’s hand tattoo.
It’s also been used for television shows, including one called “Batman Beyond” which was first aired in 1999.
Some musicians have included the famous “hand” into their song titles and lyrics, but most people don’t know what they’re talking about when they use the term.
Lemmy Kilmister blasts out the phrase “Ace of spades” in Motorhead’s classic song, while it has also been used by artists as diverse as Bob Dylan and Uncle Krakier.
Video games have joined the party too. Some of the most popular games using the dead man’s hand technique include Need for Speed: Carbon and Hearthstone.
The hand has also made its way into another area: Video Poker. In this variation, certain hands are given special payouts.
It’s clear to see that today’s popular legend of the dead man’s hand has become part of our cultural heritage, but despite the songs and movies, it will always remain most famous for the fateful evening in 1876, when its owner died…