Nationality
Fred Bernard "Sarge" Ferris was an American poker player, holding United States citizenship throughout his life.
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Born (date and place of birth)
Fred Bernard Ferris was born on December 1, 1928. Specific birthplace details are generally recorded as within the United States but no verified exact city or state is publicly documented.
Residence (current location)
Fred Ferris was primarily based out of Las Vegas, Nevada, especially during his high-stakes poker career later in life. He was known to live within that region during his professional poker career.
Education (institution, specialization)
There are no verified public records detailing Fred Ferris’s formal educational background or institutions he attended. It was common for poker players of his era to have varied educational backgrounds but formal poker education was not typical.
Children (number, ages)
No verified public information exists about whether Fred Ferris had children or details about any offspring.
Year started playing poker
Fred Ferris’s professional poker career was prominent in the 1970s, with recognition among top players by at least 1978; exact start year of professional play is not specifically documented but likely early 1970s.
Age when started playing
Based on his prominence in the 1970s and birth year 1928, Ferris likely began serious poker involvement in his 30s to early 40s, which was common for players of his era.
Year turned professional
By the mid-1970s, Fred Ferris had emerged as a professional poker player of note, with his career consolidation occurring before his 1978 recognition among top players.
First major win (amount, tournament, year)
Fred Ferris’s first significant tournament victory was the 1980 World Series of Poker bracelet in the No Limit Deuce-to-Seven Draw event, where he won $150,000.
Who introduced to poker / first mentor
There is no specific documented mentor for Ferris, though he later became a mentor and sponsor figure himself, notably supporting Stu Ungar’s entry into WSOP 1980.
First important tournament
Ferris’s early tournament participations are generally linked to the 1970s WSOP circuit and related events, with major participations evident by 1978; exact first tournament details are not documented.
Main motivation for turning pro
Like many players of his generation, motivations for professional poker included passion for the game, the pursuit of high-stakes competition, and financial opportunity through skill-based gambling.
Initial bankroll
Early financial backing details are not public for Ferris; typically players in that era used personal funds or winnings from cash games to build tournament bankrolls.
Poker education (courses, coaches)
Formal poker education such as courses or coaching was uncommon during Ferris’s time; knowledge was typically developed via experience and community learning in live games.
First sponsor/backing
Ferris himself was a sponsor and backer for others (notably Stu Ungar) but there is no record of Ferris having a commercial sponsorship deal during his career.
Total live tournament winnings
Fred Ferris’s documented WSOP tournament winnings total approximately $150,000. His total tournament winnings exceed $240,000 when including other events.
Number of tournament wins
Ferris won at least two major recorded tournament titles including the 1980 WSOP bracelet and a Super Bowl of Poker victory organized by Amarillo Slim.
Number of final tables
Specific total final table counts are not fully documented publicly but he was known for multiple final table appearances at major events in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Largest tournament win (amount, tournament, year)
The largest known single tournament win was the 1980 WSOP No Limit Deuce-to-Seven Draw bracelet event prize of $150,000.
WSOP bracelets (number)
Ferris won one WSOP bracelet, at the 1980 World Series of Poker in the No Limit Deuce-to-Seven Draw event.
WSOP cashes (number)
Available records show Ferris cashed multiple times at the WSOP, with a total number likely in the low double digits, though exact count is not fully documented.
WSOP final tables
Specific WSOP final table total is not publicly verified but included at least one final table from his bracelet win in 1980.
Best WSOP Main Event result
No detailed record of a high finish in the WSOP Main Event is publicly known for Ferris; his noted success was in the 2-7 Draw event rather than the Main Event.
Super high roller results ($100K+)
No recorded participation or results in super high roller events ($100k+ buy-ins), as the format emerged after his era.
High roller wins ($25K-$100K)
No specific high roller tournament wins in $25k-$100k buy-in range recorded; he focused mainly on 1970s-80s events before such categories became prominent.
Online tournament winnings
No online poker winnings or participation, as he died before online poker era.
Major online titles
No online poker titles exist for Ferris due to era.
Poker team
There is no public record of Ferris being affiliated with any poker team, sponsorship stable, or modern poker organization.
Main cash game limits
Ferris was renowned as a high-stakes cash game specialist in the 1970s and 1980s, playing significant stakes at Binion’s and Horseshoe Casino high-stakes cash games.
Highest stakes played
He was a fixture in the highest stakes cash games of his time, playing extremely large pots that attracted attention, including games with tens of thousands of dollars per hand.
Notable high stakes sessions
Notable sessions include his high-stakes game in 1983 at Binion’s Horseshoe Casino when IRS agents seized $46,000 in chips, symbolizing his high-roller status.
"Big Game" participation
Ferris is recognized as a key figure in the high-stakes "big game" poker environment of Las Vegas in the late 20th century, although specific named "Big Game" TV shows postdate him.
Estimated cash game profits (if known)
Exact cash game profits were private; however, his reputation as a dominant cash player implies substantial lifetime earnings beyond tournaments.
Country ranking
During his time, Ferris was regarded as one of the top American poker players, frequently listed among the elite U.S. professionals of the 1970s and 1980s.
All Time Money List position
All-Time Money list data is incomplete for earliest eras; his tournament earnings of about $240,000 place him far below modern top rankings.
Tournament ROI (if known)
Specific ROI calculations are unavailable due to incomplete buy-in and cash data for Ferris’s era.
Average tournament win
Average tournament cash or win values are not publicly detailed; his known significant win was $150,000 at a major event.
ITM percentage
In-the-money percentages are not reliably tracked for Ferris’s era; generally, professional players of his standing had moderate ITM percentages given tournament fields then.
Final table percentage from cashes
Final table percentage from cashes is not documented but likely moderate given his stature and multiple notable final table appearances.
Statistics by year (best/worst year)
Year-by-year performance records for Ferris are not publicly maintained, but peak years include late 1970s and early 1980s with major victories in 1980.
Main discipline (Hold'em, Omaha, Mixed games)
Ferris specialized in No Limit Deuce-to-Seven Draw and high-stakes cash games, a specialization typical of elite players from his era.
Format specialization (tournaments/cash/online/live)
Primarily live poker tournaments and cash games, focusing on mixed games featuring draw variants and No Limit Hold’em.
Preferred table size (6-max, full ring, heads-up)
Traditional full ring games and tournaments dominated his career era; no frequent 6-max or heads-up specialization documented.
Known formats (NLHE, PLO, HORSE, others)
Ferris was known for No Limit Deuce-to-Seven Draw, No Limit Hold'em, and mixed cash game formats prevalent in his time.
Specialization limits
Typically played the highest cash game stakes available in Las Vegas in the 1970s-1980s; exact limits not standardized then but extremely high for the era.
Online rooms where plays
No online room participation as Ferris passed before the online poker boom.
Favorite casinos/locations
Favorite venues included Binion’s Horseshoe Casino and other prominent Las Vegas high-stakes rooms.
Style characterization (TAG, LAG, nitty, aggressive)
Fred “Sarge” Ferris was known for fearless, aggressive play combined with composure and strategic precision at the final betting rounds.
Known for bluffs/traps
Revered for fearless play and strategic insight, he had a strong reputation for executing well-timed bluffs and traps.
Mathematical or intuitive approach
Ferris’s style balanced mathematical strategy with intuitive reads, demonstrating mastery of both analytic and psychological aspects of poker.
Style adaptability
Known for adapting to opponents and game conditions effectively, maintaining composure under pressure in high-stakes environments.
Playing strengths
Key strengths included final betting round dominance, deep knowledge of mixed games, and mental toughness in high-stakes cash games.
GTO strategy usage
As Ferris played decades before Game Theory Optimal poker programming, he relied on experience and intuition rather than formal GTO strategies.
Poker software usage
Software usage was non-existent during Ferris’s era; all strategy development was live and experiential.
Television appearances (list of shows with specific episodes/dates)
No record of televised poker appearances, as televised poker was not prevalent in Ferris’s prime years.
High Stakes Poker participation (seasons/episodes)
High Stakes Poker TV show did not exist during Ferris’s lifetime, so no participation.
Poker After Dark appearances (episodes/dates)
No Poker After Dark appearances due to era.
Documentary films featuring (titles and links)
No major documented poker documentaries specifically on Fred Ferris, though he is referenced in histories of poker’s early high-stakes era.
Major publication interviews (publication names, article titles, links)
No major poker publication interviews from his lifetime are publicly known; much of his legacy is through peer recognition and historical accounts.
Podcast appearances (podcast names, episode titles, dates, links)
No podcasts existed during Ferris’s career for guest appearances.
Own podcast/channel (name, platform, subscriber count, link)
Not applicable due to era.
Facebook (account link)
No Facebook profile or page.
YouTube channel (name, subscriber count, link)
No YouTube channel or content.
Twitch channel (name, follower count, link)
No Twitch channel or streaming activity.
TikTok presence (account link, follower count)
No TikTok presence.
LinkedIn profile (link)
No LinkedIn profile available.
Posting frequency in social media
Not applicable for Ferris.
Type of content in social media
Not applicable for Ferris.
Current sponsors (company names, deal details if public)
No known formal sponsorship deals for Ferris; sponsorship was uncommon in his era.
Sponsorship contract history (previous sponsors, dates)
No historical sponsorship contracts documented.
Poker site ambassadorship (site names, contract details)
No poker site ambassador roles, predating modern poker sites.
Own business (business names, descriptions, websites)
No public records of personal business ventures related to poker.
Poker project investments (project names, involvement details)
No publicly known poker industry investments or projects associated with Ferris.
Coaching services (availability, platforms used)
No known coaching services or public coaching activity documented.
Coaching rates (if public)
Not applicable.
Educational materials (book titles with ISBN, course names with platforms, video series titles with links)
No poker educational materials such as books or courses authored by Ferris.
Affiliate programs (program names, partnerships)
Not applicable.
Merchandise (product types, where sold, links)
No personal merchandise lines.
Written poker books (titles, publication years, ISBN, publisher)
No books authored by Ferris; knowledge of him appears in poker history and biographical compilations.
Training series participation (series names, platforms, links)
No participation in modern training series.
Masterclasses and seminars (event names, dates, locations)
No records of masterclasses or seminars.
Coaching work (platforms used, student testimonials)
No documented coaching work.
Notable students (names if public, their achievements)
No publicly known students or protegees aside from his role in supporting Stu Ungar early in Ungar’s career.
YouTube educational content (video titles, view counts, links)
Not applicable.
Poker publication articles (publication names, article titles, publication dates, links)
Articles about Ferris exist within poker magazines and online poker history blogs, including profiles on legacy sites.
Magazine columns (magazine names, column titles, frequency)
No regular columns in poker publications known.
Conference speaking (conference names, dates, topics, video links)
No speaking engagements or conference appearances documented.
Poker scandal involvement (scandal names, details, outcomes)
The most notable incident was in 1983 when the IRS seized $46,000 in poker chips from Ferris due to unpaid back taxes, causing controversy.
Accusations of unfair play (specific incidents, resolutions)
No cheating accusations associated with Ferris are documented.
Casino/room conflicts (venue names, incident details)
The 1983 IRS chip seizure at Binion’s Horseshoe Casino was a significant event, with some tension but no prolonged conflict.
Legal proceedings (case details, outcomes, court documents)
Beyond the IRS seizure incident for unpaid taxes in 1983, no other legal proceedings are recorded.
Public disputes with colleagues (names involved, details)
No notable public disputes or controversies with fellow players.
Tournament rule violations (tournament names, violations, penalties)
No records of tournament rule violations or penalties imposed on Ferris.
Tax issues (if public, details, resolutions)
Ferris experienced public tax issues in 1983 with IRS chip seizure for unpaid taxes valued at $46,000 during a high-stakes session.
Poker community criticism (specific criticisms, responses)
No significant poker community criticism recorded; generally respected.
Response to criticism (statements, actions taken)
Ferris responded to controversy with wit and composure, diffusing tension gracefully during the IRS incident.
Poker industry awards (award names, years, organizations)
Inducted posthumously into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1989 as recognition of his career and contributions.
Hall of Fame inclusion (hall names, induction years)
Entered the Poker Hall of Fame in December 1989, the same year as his death, honoring his impact on the game.
Peer recognition (specific recognitions, award details)
Widely respected by contemporaries such as Doyle Brunson and Billy Baxter, who regarded Ferris as one of the great players of all time.
Poker publication awards (publication names, award types, years)
No specific poker publication awards documented beyond Hall of Fame induction recognition.
Special achievements (achievement descriptions, recognition details)
Notable achievements include winning the 1980 WSOP bracelet, Super Bowl of Poker victory, and sponsoring Stu Ungar’s rise.
Records associated with name (record descriptions, verification)
No specific individual tournament records, but recognized for dominance in the cash game scene of his era.
Contribution to poker development (specific contributions, recognition)
Contributed significantly to poker culture through mentorship, especially supporting Stu Ungar’s early career and exemplifying high-stakes cash game mastery.
Charity tournaments (tournament names, amounts raised, beneficiaries)
No documented charity tournament participations.
Legacy in poker world (specific legacy aspects, community impact)
Remembered as a pioneering high-stakes cash game player, WSOP bracelet winner, Poker Hall of Famer, and mentor to future legends like Stu Ungar.
Industry influence (specific influences, changes attributed)
Influenced poker through high-stakes game mastery and mentorship, enhancing the culture of elite poker competition in Las Vegas from the 1970s onward.
WSOP (World Series of Poker) - all events all years
1980 | USA | WSOP | Binion’s Horseshoe | No Limit Deuce-to-Seven Draw | | 1st | $150,000 | | |
No known tournament commentary roles.