Top 7 Most Famous Poker Hands in History

Poker is a game full of excitement, skill, and memorable moments. Throughout the decades, there have been many hands that have gone down in poker history as some of the most famous and remarkable ever played. From high stakes tournament showdowns to insane bad beats, these hands have created legendary stories that poker players still talk about today.

In this article, we’ll go through 7 of the most iconic and talked-about poker hands to ever happen. We’ll start with the Dead Man’s Hand, the most mythical poker hand of all time. Then we’ll travel through decades of poker history, revisiting epic tournament showdowns, monumental bluffs, catastrophic coolers, and more. 

By the end, you’ll have a new appreciation for these 7 poker hands that left an incredible impact on the game. So get ready to relive some of the biggest poker moments and the excitement of most unforgettable moments! 

Dead Man’s Hand

The Dead Man’s Hand originates from the untimely death of one of the earliest poker legends – Wild Bill Hickok. In 1876, Hickok was playing five-card draw poker at a saloon in Deadwood, Dakota Territory, when he was shot dead from behind by Jack McCall. According to eyewitnesses, Hickok was holding a poker hand of the ace of spades, ace of clubs, eight of spades, and eight of clubs when killed.

While the identity of the fifth card is unknown, the black aces and black eights have claimed in bad luck as the Dead Man’s Hand. The story spread like wildfire as Hickok’s infamous “dead man’s hand” became cemented in poker lore. To this day, no poker player can hear the term without instantly thinking of Hickok’s death hand of black aces and black eights.

The Dead Man’s Hand is undoubtedly the most legendary poker hand in history. No other poker hand combination evokes such mystique and intrigue. More than a century after his death, poker players everywhere still remember Wild Bill Hickok through this iconic hand that now bears his namesake – the Dead Man’s Hand.

The Doyle Brunson

10 and 2 for poker players is an immediate fold-hand in any tournament. But for poker legend Doyle “Texas Dolly” Brunson, this worthless starting hand led him to back-to-back World Series of Poker Main Event championships in 1976 and 1977. Brunson demonstrated that even bad cards can make poker history when wielded by a master.

The Doyle Brunson is a poker hand consisting of a 10 and 2, just like the cards that Doyle used to win the 1976 and 1977 WSOP Main Events. Brunson’s back-to-back championships with starting cards cemented his reputation as a poker legend.

In the 1976 final hand, Brunson pushed all-in with 10-2 offsuit against his opponent Jesse Alto’s A-7. Look at Brunson’s chances to win before the flop!

An unlikely 10 landed on the river, giving Brunson a winning full house and his first WSOP bracelet. The next year, Brunson found himself heads-up against Jesse “The Body” Ventura, holding the 10-2 once again. Lightning struck twice as Brunson made another full house to crush Ventura’s A-9 and win consecutive WSOP titles.

The improbable Doyle Brunson 10-2 hand will be remembered by poker fans and pros for generations. Anytime a player tries winning with rags like a 10-2, it’s known as “pulling a Brunson.”

The Johnny Chan Trap

At the 1988 WSOP Main Event final table, poker legend Johnny Chan set a brilliant trap that would cement his reputation as a master strategist.

The action folded around to Chan in the small blind. He calmly limped in with J-9, exuding an air of harmless passivity. Young hotshot Erik Seidel sat in the big blind and looked down at his cards – Q-7 offsuit. Sensing weakness, Seidel raised it up, trying to steal the pot away from the two-time champion. But Chan was merely lying in wait. He called to see a flop of 10-5-2 rainbow, every inch the harmless fish.

Chan checked his hidden monster hand. Seidel bet out confidently. In an instant, Chan struck – check-raising all-in for nearly $1 million! Seidel was stunned. He went deep into the tank, pondering if Chan could really have a hand. After an eternity, Seidel reluctantly called, only to discover Chan flip over the crushing pocket nines. The board bricked out and Seidel was eliminated, falling victim to Chan’s masterful check-raise ambush.

In an instant, the “Johnny Chan trap” entered poker lexicon, describing Chan’s artful baiting of Seidel into betting big when he actually held an unbeatable monster. One of his famous quotes, which only proves that he is top-level poker player sounds:

It demonstrated Chan’s flair for theatrics and timing as he delivered a knockout punch right when it mattered most. This legendary hand propelled Chan to back-to-back WSOP Main Event titles in 1987 and 1988, cementing his status as a poker legend.

Moneymaker’s KO

The 2003 WSOP Main Event had come down to green pro Chris Moneymaker and seasoned veteran Sam “The Magician” Farha. 

The board read J-10-5-3 with two spades. Farha bet out 300k holding his pocket nines for a sneaky set. Moneymaker, with nothing but king high, shocked the poker world when he instantly moved all-in for his last 1.2 million chips. Farha fell deep into the tank. Minutes ticked by as he thought over the decision. How could Moneymaker show here with just one pair or a busted draw? Finally, Farha relinquished his set, folding with a disgusted look. The poker world erupted as Moneymaker’s outrageous bluff won it all!

This was the key hand that cemented Moneymaker’s legacy and caused poker’s massive boom. Farha and other pros were left astonished that a mere amateur could pull off such a move. Moneymaker’s bravery inspired new players everywhere by showing that anyone could compete with the pros. His shocking bluff lives on as a symbol of the “Moneymaker effect” that brought hordes of new players flocking to live and online poker.