Nationality
Johnny Moss was an American, born and held citizenship in the United States.
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Born (date and place of birth)
Johnny Moss was born on May 14, 1907, in Marshall, Texas, United States.
Residence (current location)
Johnny Moss resided in the United States during his life, with documented strong ties to Texas, especially during his youth in Dallas and later living in Las Vegas before he passed away.
Education (institution, specialization)
Specific verified information about Johnny Moss’s formal education is not documented; historically, professional poker players from his era often had limited formal education and learned poker skills through experience in gambling environments.
Children (number, ages)
Publicly available records do not provide detailed information about Johnny Moss’s children or family beyond his spouse.
Year started playing poker
Johnny Moss began playing poker professionally in the mid-1920s, with his career as a traveling gambler starting circa 1925.
Age when started playing
Johnny Moss began serious involvement in poker around age 18, after dropping out of school at 16 to focus on gambling.
Year turned professional
Johnny Moss transitioned fully to professional poker around 1925 when he left his job at a card room and started traveling for gambling action.
First major win (amount, tournament, year)
Johnny Moss’s first significant tournament victory was winning the inaugural World Series of Poker Main Event in 1970, awarded by peer vote (a cash game format, prize was a silver cup), then first traditional WSOP Main Event win in 1971 with $30,000 prize.
Who introduced to poker / first mentor
While no specific individual "mentor" is distinctly recorded, Moss learned poker as a youth from observing and working alongside gamblers in Dallas saloons, developing his skills informally through exposure.
First important tournament
The first important tournament experience available for Johnny Moss was the 1970 World Series of Poker, the inaugural WSOP Main Event, where he was declared champion by his peers.
Main motivation for turning pro
Johnny Moss’s primary motivation was the pursuit of a livelihood through gambling and poker, driven by early exposure to gambling culture and his skill in reading opponents and games.
Initial bankroll
Specific details on Johnny Moss’s initial bankroll are not documented; early professional players typically funded play through winnings from local games and road gambling ventures.
Poker education (courses, coaches)
Johnny Moss did not receive formal poker education or coaching; instead, his poker skills were developed through years of practical experience, study of opponents, and self-taught strategy.
First sponsor/backing
Johnny Moss played in a time before the modern era of poker sponsorships, so no verified sponsorship deals are recorded in his career.
Total live tournament winnings
Johnny Moss amassed total live tournament winnings estimated at around $1,254,859 over his career.
Number of tournament wins
Johnny Moss won a total of 9 World Series of Poker bracelets, including three WSOP Main Event titles.
Number of final tables
Johnny Moss appeared at numerous final tables over his career with a strong presence documented in multiple WSOP events, though exact total final table appearances are not precisely recorded.
Largest tournament win (amount, tournament, year)
His largest single tournament victory was the 1974 WSOP Main Event, where he won $160,000.
WSOP bracelets (number)
Johnny Moss won 9 WSOP bracelets in various events, including Limit Ace to 5 Draw, No Limit Hold’em, Seven Card Stud, and Ace to Five Draw from 1970 to 1988.
WSOP cashes (number)
Johnny Moss had multiple cash finishes in the WSOP from 1970 through the 1990s, though exact total number of cashes is not fully documented.
WSOP final tables
Multiple final table appearances at WSOP events, with a notable presence in the Main Event final tables in the early 1970s and other event final tables throughout his career.
Best WSOP Main Event result
Johnny Moss’s best WSOP Main Event results were first-place finishes in 1970 (peer-voted champion), 1971, and 1974.
Super high roller results ($100K+)
No participation recorded in super high roller events ($100K+ buy-in) as these events emerged posthumously.
High roller wins ($25K-$100K)
No known high roller tournament wins in $25K-$100K buy-in range; such stakes events were not prominent in Moss’s career period.
Online tournament winnings
No online winnings; online poker was developed after Johnny Moss’s time.
Major online titles
No online titles or major virtual victories attributed to Johnny Moss.
Poker team
Johnny Moss was not affiliated with any poker team or stable, as these sponsorship structures developed after his era.
Main cash game limits
Specific details on cash game limits Johnny Moss favored are not documented, but he was known as a high-stakes road gambler in various stakes during his career.
Highest stakes played
Johnny Moss played high stakes in the road gambling circuits and famously in marathon cash game sessions, including the legendary heads-up match against Nick "the Greek" Dandolos.
Notable high stakes sessions
Notably, in 1949, Johnny Moss played a famous marathon heads-up high-stakes cash game against Nick "the Greek" Dandolos, lasting five months.
"Big Game" participation
Johnny Moss participated in some of the most famous and high-stakes cash games of his time, effectively acting as a pioneer of the "Big Game" style of poker.
Estimated cash game profits (if known)
Exact public data on estimated cash game profits is not available; largely anecdotal accounts report substantial career earnings from road gambling and high-stakes cash games.
Country ranking
Historically regarded as one of the top American poker players of his era; formal country rankings were not maintained then.
All Time Money List position
Johnny Moss’s All-Time Money list position would place him in an early high-ranking spot for pre-poker boom players, with lifetime tournament earnings over $1.25 million.
Tournament ROI (if known)
Specific tournament ROI calculations are not publicly documented due to incomplete entry and buy-in data from his early tournament participations.
Average tournament win
Average tournament cash amounts are not distinctly recorded; early tournaments had smaller fields and prize pools, with Moss winning amounts from $10,000 to $160,000 in major events.
ITM percentage
Detailed in-the-money percentage across his tournament career is not fully documented, as detailed historical records are limited.
Final table percentage from cashes
Final table percentage from available WSOP cashes suggests a high final table appearance rate due to frequent top finishes, but exact numbers are unavailable.
Statistics by year (best/worst year)
Year-by-year statistics are incomplete due to limited archival data from the 1970s and earlier; most notable years include 1970, 1971, and 1974 for championship wins.
Main discipline (Hold'em, Omaha, Mixed games)
Johnny Moss specialized primarily in No Limit Hold’em along with proficiency in Seven Card Stud and Ace to Five Draw poker variants.
Format specialization (tournaments/cash/online/live)
Moss specialized mainly in live tournament play and high-stakes cash games; there was no online or mixed virtual formats during his career.
Preferred table size (6-max, full ring, heads-up)
He played full-ring poker games, the standard for cash games and tournaments of his time.
Known formats (NLHE, PLO, HORSE, others)
Known formats played include No Limit Hold’em, Limit Ace to Five Draw, Seven Card Stud, and related classic poker variants.
Specialization limits
Played mixed stakes common to road gamblers; no detailed records of specific preferred stakes exist.
Online rooms where plays
No online poker rooms as Johnny Moss played pre-internet era.
Favorite casinos/locations
Moss frequently played in saloons and gambling rooms in Texas early in his career, later prominently at Binion’s Horseshoe Casino in Las Vegas.
Style characterization (TAG, LAG, nitty, aggressive)
Johnny Moss was known for a steady, patient, and tactical playing style with deep reading of opponents, blending tight and aggressive tendencies suited to his era.
Known for bluffs/traps
Moss had a reputation for strategic bluffing and psychological play, maintaining a balanced approach without over-reliance on risky bluffs.
Mathematical or intuitive approach
Moss combined intuition from decades of experience with evolving mathematical and strategic understanding, pioneering many poker tactics before modern game theory.
Style adaptability
Demonstrated high adaptability to changing poker environments and opponents’ styles, sustaining dominance over decades.
Playing strengths
Exceptional hand reading, psychological insight, versatility in multiple poker variants, stamina, and comprehensive knowledge of gambling psychology.
GTO strategy usage
Preceded formal Game Theory Optimal concept; however, his play incorporated elements consistent with optimal strategic principles despite the era’s lack of formal theory.
Poker software usage
Did not use any poker software for analysis or training, as such tools were unavailable during his lifetime.
Television appearances (list of shows with specific episodes/dates)
Johnny Moss did not have television appearances in the modern poker broadcast sense, as televised poker became popular after his active career.
High Stakes Poker participation (seasons/episodes)
No participation in the High Stakes Poker television show; it launched after his era.
Poker After Dark appearances (episodes/dates)
No appearances on Poker After Dark, which was created after his career ended.
Documentary films featuring (titles and links)
Featured posthumously in poker documentaries highlighting his legacy, though no documentaries were produced during his lifetime.
Major publication interviews (publication names, article titles, links)
Several historical interviews exist in poker publications posthumously recounting his career and strategies.
Special achievements (achievement descriptions, recognition details)
Three-time WSOP Main Event winner, nine-time WSOP bracelet winner, record oldest WSOP bracelet winner, foundational figure in poker history.
Records associated with name (record descriptions, verification)
First winner of the WSOP Main Event (1970), three-time Main Event champion, oldest WSOP bracelet winner (81 years old), amassed nine WSOP bracelets.
Contribution to poker development (specific contributions, recognition)
Pioneered professional poker playing, helped establish the WSOP as a premier poker event, and contributed to the popularization and legitimization of poker.
Charity tournaments (tournament names, amounts raised, beneficiaries)
No confirmed participation in charity poker events documented.
Legacy in poker world (specific legacy aspects, community impact)
Considered a founding father of professional poker, instrumental in poker’s transition from underground gambling to organized tournament play and global recognition.
Industry influence (specific influences, changes attributed)
Moss influenced poker’s growth into a professional sport by helping inaugurate the WSOP and setting standards for competitive poker play globally.
WSOP (World Series of Poker) - all events all years
1974 | United States | World Series of Poker | Binion's Horseshoe | $10,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship | $10,000 | 1st | $160,000 | 16 | |||| 1971 | United States | World Series of Poker | Binion's Horseshoe | $5,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship | $5,000 | 1st | $30,000 | 6 | |||| 1971 | United States | World Series of Poker | Binion's Horseshoe | $1,000 Limit Ace to 5 Draw | $1,000 | 1st | $10,000 | |||| 1970 | United States | World Series of Poker | Binion's Horseshoe | $5,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship | | 1st (voted champion) | 7 | |||| 1979 | United States | World Series of Poker | Binion's Horseshoe | $5,000 Seven Card Stud | $5,000 | 1st | $48,000 | |||| 1976 | United States | World Series of Poker | Binion's Horseshoe | $500 Seven Card Stud | $500 | 1st | $13,000 | |||| 1975 | United States | World Series of Poker | Binion's Horseshoe | $1,000 Seven Card Stud | $1,000 | 1st | $44,000 | |||| 1988 | United States | World Series of Poker | Binion's Horseshoe | $1,500 Ace to Five Draw | $1,500 | 1st | $116,400 | |||| 1981 | United States | World Series of Poker | Binion's Horseshoe | $1,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo | $1,000 | 1st | $33,500 |