In poker what is known as the dead man's hand?

Poker is an extremely popular card game played worldwide. Along with such things as jazz music and cocktails, it is always associated with American culture. Actually, the game appeared in the country in the early 19th century and became widely played by English-speaking population of Lousiana Territory.

The makeup of poker's dead man's hand has varied through the years. Currently, the dead man's hand is described as a two-pair poker hand consisting of the black aces and black eights. Along with an unknown "hole" card, these were the cards reportedly held by "Old West" folk hero, lawman and gunfighter, Wild Bill Hickok when he was murdered.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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76 Comments

Martin Retzolk

I got it right only because I always heard it was Aces over eights. Never heard they were Black Aces over Black eights specifically...

DHL

As I recall, the hand Wild Bill Hickok held at his death, is in the Smithsonian.

Ben

I'm not a gambler so obvious I don't know any of it.

Wyla Reedy

One of those phrases that you tend to remember.

Phyllis Lubarsky

It’s aces and 8’s. Never heard it described as black aces and black 8’s. But what do I know about Wild Bill being an American!?!!

Pat Wells

No clue about poker, but glad some do; thanks majority vote.

silrem

Hickok deserves more space.

Michael Edwards

Lucky guess

Joanne Serin

tesla alset, Does this mean you are a real person????

Joanne Serin

Good guess! I should learn to play now.

Christopher J Voce

Hey Tes man it’s Wild Bill Hikcock.

Christopher J Voce

Buster Scruggs wouldn’t play the cards after he’d looked and saw the dead mans hand and thus picked a fight with Surly Joe.

Joy Desreaux

Got it

Cari G.

My 5x great uncle!

Andrea Nelson

Marcella Kosse, the hand is referred to as aceS and eightS, so that would mean 2 black aces & 2 black eights. He was holding all 4 of the cards you are asking about.