7 Must-Know Poker Hands (And Where They’re From)

Poker has a deep history, to put it mildly. From tense Wild West showdowns to World Series twists worthy of the cinematic treatment, there’s a lot to explore. What’s more, some of the best poker hands in the game come from these unique stories.

To help you get a better sense of where some of poker’s deep lore comes from, we’re taking a closer look at 7 of the most famous poker hands in history, their nicknames, and their backstories. You’ll know exactly what hands you could land in future rounds and how they might play out for you.

1. The Dead Man’s Hand

The Dead Man’s hand is one of the most famous poker hands in history. With links to the Old West, this is one of the most iconic hands in the game, consisting of a pair of black aces and black 8s. According to folklore, the Dead Man’s Hand is what the legendary gunslinger Wild Bill Hickok was holding when he was killed by Jack McCall, an unlucky gambler.

In August 1876, Hickok was playing poker at a local saloon, ironically located in a town called Deadwood. With an open spot in the game, a drunken McCall pulled up a seat and began playing, only to lose terribly. Hickok encouraged him to step back from the game and offered him a bit of money to cover his losses. Despite accepting the money, McCall took Hickok’s gesture as a slight.

The next day, McCall returned to the saloon where Hickok was once again playing poker. He marched right up to him and shot him in the back of the head, killing him instantly.

2. The Doyle Brunson

Named after one of the poker greats, the Doyle Brunson is a reference to a specific hand played by the legend himself: a 10-2 offsuit. 

At the 1976 World Series of Poker (WSOP), Doyle Brunson was facing off against Jesse Alto in the Main Event. When the game kicked off, the odds immediately tilted in Alto’s favour: his hole cards were A-J, while Brunson’s were 10-2. The flop consisted of A-J-10, leaving Alto with two pair and Brunson with one pair. But Brunson showed no hesitation, going all in with the weaker hand. Alto called.

As the game continued, it looked like Brunson would be outgunned by his less experienced counterpart. But in a last-minute twist of fate, the turn and river revealed runner 2s, leaving Brunson with a full house and a victory. To this day, it remains one of the best poker hands in history.

3. The Four Horsemen

Consisting of four kings, this hand is named in reference to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. In the bible, the Four Horsemen — Conquest, Famine, War, and Death — are widely regarded as a dark omen. 

In the world of poker, it’s still a dark omen, and signals the beginning of the end for your opponents. Four-of-a-kind kings are, without a doubt, one of the very best poker hands you could ever land. There are only three other hands that could trump it: four aces, a straight flush, or a royal flush.

4. The T.J. Cloutier

Name in honour of poker pro T.J. Cloutier, this is deceptively simple poker hand that comprises a jack and a 9 of clubs.

While it’s certainly not the strongest hand, its namesake is living proof that a J-9 can dramatically turn the tables around and lead you to victory. Case in point, the hand came to help Cloutier not one, not twice, but three times in a single year; he managed to flop three straight flushes with this hand, and even won a major tournament with it.

In fact, Cloutier’s success with the hand led him to change his online username to “J9ofclubs”.

5. The Big Slick

The Big Slick — also known as the Anna Karenina or the Walking Back to Houston — is a premium starting hand in five-card poker, consisting of an ace and a king.

The nickname “Big Slick” refers to the strong yet risky nature of the hand. Specifically, the values are quite high (which is where the “big” comes in), but the cards are relatively tricky to play (making them “slick”). This is because the cards don’t form a winning hand on their own (such as a pair); their strength is entirely dependent on the community cards that appear on the table.

6. The Rounders

One of the most iconic poker hands comes from a beloved poker movie, Rounders. As such, it’s only natural that the poker hand — which features an ace and a 9 — takes on the same name.

If you’ve seen the film, you already know what scene this hand shows up in. If you haven’t seen it, here’s the context: in one of the first scenes, young gun and gifted poker player, Mike McDermott (Mike Damon), is in an intense game of Texas Hold’em with Russian mobster, Teddy KGB. He receives A-9 as his hole cards and ends up making a full house, prompting him to go all in. But in the final reveal, Teddy KGB reveals pocket aces, leaving him with the winning hand of four-of-a-kind aces. 

Now affectionately nicknamed the Rounders, this poker hand sets the stage for a thrilling cinematic rollercoaster.

7. The Broadway Straight

The Broadway Straight (or just The Broadway) is a five-card poker hand featuring a 10, jack, queen, king, and ace.

Because it consists of the highest and most significant cards in the game, the nickname Broadway Straight is only natural for this hand. With the power to trump almost any other hand, Broadway cards are the star of any poker show. They’re commanding, dominant, and often lead to dramatic showdowns — all of which could also be said about a performance on the legendary New York City strip.

Try Your Hand at Ignition Poker

Each of these famous poker hands has left a unique mark on the game. And every time you ante up, you have the chance to score one of them and become part of its story. 

Ready to see what your next hand holds? Play at Ignition Poker, where iconic poker hands, unforgettable moments, and endless fun await.