Nationality
American citizen
- Direct message
- Leave a review
- Bookmark
- Share
- Report
- prev
- next
Born (date and place of birth)
May 27, 1837 in Troy Grove, LaSalle County, Illinois, United States
Residence (current location)
Primarily lived in the American West, notably in towns like Deadwood, Dakota Territory at the end of his life
Highest stakes played
Reportedly played high-stakes private games in Deadwood and other frontier towns
Notable high stakes sessions
Known for playing his final poker session in Deadwood, where he was famously shot while holding the "Dead Man's Hand"
Main discipline (Hold'em, Omaha, Mixed games)
Five-card stud and draw poker, common games in Old West saloons
Format specialization (tournaments/cash/online/live)
Primarily played live cash games in saloons and private clubs
Preferred table size (6-max, full ring, heads-up)
Often played in small groups typical of saloon poker games
Known formats (NLHE, PLO, HORSE, others)
Five-card stud, draw poker
Favorite casinos/locations
Deadwood saloons; Nuttal & Mann's Saloon was site of last session
Style characterization (TAG, LAG, nitty, aggressive)
Reputation for careful, cautious gambling and methodical play
Known for bluffs/traps
Known for a fearless reputation but favored steady play over wild bluffing
Mathematical or intuitive approach
Relied on psychological reading of opponents and intuition over rigid mathematics
Style adaptability
Adapted quickly to new games and diverse opponents on the western frontier
Playing strengths
Strength in reading people, gunfighter’s nerve, and psychological strategy
Documentary films featuring (titles and links)
Featured in multiple documentaries about the Old West and American poker history
Hall of Fame inclusion (hall names, induction years)
Inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1979
Peer recognition (specific recognitions, award details)
Widely recognized by poker historians as America's first poker celebrity and enduring icon
Special achievements (achievement descriptions, recognition details)
His nickname "Wild Bill" became legendary, with his final hand memorialized in global poker culture
Records associated with name (record descriptions, verification)
"Dead Man's Hand" (aces and eights) made famous as a poker symbol linked to Hickok's death
Contribution to poker development (specific contributions, recognition)
Considered to have contributed to poker's mythos and popularity in the United States
Legacy in poker world (specific legacy aspects, community impact)
Regarded as one of the most storied figures in American poker and gambling history, with lasting influence on modern poker culture
Industry influence (specific influences, changes attributed)
His persona helped shape poker’s image as a game of nerve and character, setting enduring archetypes for “gunslinger gamblers”