What is Dead Man's Hand in Poker? Full Story and Detailed Explanation

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Since playing cards have been a part of our society for hundreds of years, we may anticipate some fascinating stories to surround them. The legend of the Dead Man's Hand is one of the most well-known legends of all time.

In today's article, we will take a closer look at this mythical story and this famous hand. Now, let's explore the most famous poker legend that is still told daily at poker tables around the world.

What Is Dead Man's Hand In Poker? 

Gamblers are a superstitious bunch, and we've all heard of fortunate dice and lucky cards. Many card hands have their own names, probably none more renowned than the Dead Man's Hand: a pair of black aces and a pair of black eights.

The dead man's hand is a poker slang phrase for a pair of black aces and black eights, however, its connotation has evolved through time. According to legend, lawman, and gambler Wild Bill Hickok was shot while holding the dead man's hand, which is why two pairs are regarded as unlucky in poker today.

In modern poker terminology, the Dead Man's Hand describes two pairs of black aces and black eights. Although there are mixed opinions on the origin of this name, they all agree that owning this hand is considered unlucky in modern poker.

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A Legendary Of The Dead Man's Hand

According to legend, its moniker was inspired by the death of lawman and gambler James Butler's "Wild Bill" Hickok in 1876. In Deadwood, South Dakota, he was murdered by a local drinker named Jack "Crooked Nose" McCall. He apparently lost every single penny after joining a poker table with Hickok.

Hickock handed him some money for lunch and told him not to play again until he could repay his losses. However, instead of feeling elated by Hickok's generosity, McCall felt his self-esteem was hurt. He thinks Hickok has offended him.

McCall was outraged the next day when he entered the tavern and saw Hickok playing poker again. Hickok generally sat with his back to the wall because he was afraid of being murdered, but he didn't on this fatal day when another player refused to swap places with him.

McCall allegedly approached Hickok and said, "Damn you! Take that!" and fired his Colt.45 handgun into the back of his head. He said he was seeking vengeance for his brother's death.

Hickok died quickly, and McCall was killed seven months later by the state. Most versions state that Hickok's hand at the time was made up of black aces and eights, with no mention of the Dead Man's Hand 5th card.

Wild Bill Hickok

Hickok, Wild Bill (1837-1876). His true name was James Butler Hickok, but when you're a famous gunfighter in the old west, "James" doesn't seem quite as spectacular, so "Wild Bill" was the cooler name he went by. In his childhood, his big nose and huge lips earned him the nickname "Duck Bill," but the addition of a thick mustache and a somewhat wild reputation saw this title morph into Wild Bill.

Wild Bill's notoriety was well-deserved since he was a distinguished Civil War warrior as well as a recognized lawman and gunfighter in the American West. His involvement in many shootouts, the iron fist with which he dominated the lawlessness of his day, and his talent as a professional gambler garnered him respect. The press trailed him, reporting on his numerous gunfights and conquests.

His adventures were frequently sensationalized, blending fiction and truth. So we'll never know how many guys Wild Bill truly killed. Some journalists at the time reported it was over a hundred, but a reputable biographer believes it is closer to a half-dozen. His contemporaries frequently overstated his statistics, adventures, and stories, and Wild Bill appears to have aided his developing mythology by providing some outrageous accounts about his own accomplishments.

How Did The Dead Man’s Hand Appear? 

Was Wild Bill truly holding two Aces and two Eights? Some historians challenge the account's veracity. It has been hypothesized that the connection between Wild Bill and this specific hand was made only fifty years later when a book about Hickok was published. That's when the term became ingrained in poker jargon, thanks in large part to a book titled Wild Bill Hickok: The Prince of Pistoleers.

By then, the event had already become a legend, and the publishing of this account undoubtedly contributed to the legend's propagation. 

However, it appears that little was spoken about it prior to the 1920s. In other words, the legend of the Dead Man's hand is said to have existed long before the story of the famous gambler Wild Bill Hickok being murdered. According to historians, at one point in the nineteenth century, the narrative of a Dead Man's Hand was linked to an entirely different man and a completely different poker hand. The first mention of it is believed to be in 1886 when it was described as a full house of three jacks and a pair of tens. 

In addition, the Encyclopedia of Superstitions, Folklore, and the Occult Sciences of the World, published in 1903, refers to it as a highly unfortunate hand of jacks and sevens. Later, in 1907, Edmond Hoyle, a 17th-century British author who developed rule manuals for games to settle disputes, referred to it as jacks and eights.

Regardless of the historicity of Wild Bill's real hand at the time of his death, his narrative has become the stuff of folklore. For the last century, a hand featuring a pair of black aces and a pair of black eights has been known as the Dead Man's Hand and has been linked to Wild Bill Hickok's death.

This specific hand has been deeply embedded in popular culture, with numerous references to it appearing in innumerable literature, films, and even computer games. Since that time, Wild Bill Hickok's story has roughly represented the Dead Man's hand known today.

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Should Players Play Dead Man’s Hand In Poker?

While the Dead Man's Hand has a lot of psychological and historical importance, it isn't a particularly valuable hand. While a two-pair isn't a bad poker hand, it's not as valuable as a royal flush, straight, or full house. While being dealt a Dead Man's Hand is always exciting, it has not much bearing on your odds of winning or losing.

To wrap up, landing an Ace and an Eight on the board, giving a player the Dead Man's Hand, can frequently result in a big pot.