Online Poker - Hold'em
Poker - Poker Rooms Reviewed - Poker Online- 7Card Stud
Binions Poker Hall
Of Fame
Each year
the poker Hall of Fame at Binion's Horseshoe
adds another player's name to its list of
poker legends.
Since its inception in 1979, the Hall of Fame
has honored twenty-two gamblers, one for each
year, with the exception of 1993. All but
two, Hoyle and Hickok, were twentieth-century
card players, and many of them road gamblers
who followed the game where it would take
them. There are six living Hall-of-Famers,
enshrined alongside other members of poker's
elite at the display at the Horseshoe.
Selection criteria for the Hall of Fame are straightforward
and the standards are high.
1. A gambler must have played
poker against acknowledged top competition. 2. Played for high stakes. 3. Played consistently well,
gained the respect of peers. 4. And stood the test of time.
1979
Johnny
Moss
Ageless patriarch of the game, Johnny Moss
was a three-time world no-limit Texas hold 'em champion
(1970, 1971, and 1974). He lived in Las Vegas until
his death in 1997. In 1979 he was enshrined as a
charter member.
"Nick
the Greek" Dandalos
Known for making astronomical wagers in Las Vegas
casinos, Nick became a household name. Late in his
career, Dandolos was near broke and playing low-limit
poker in Southern California. Asked how he could
bet millions of dollars once and now play for $5
chips, Dandolos was purported to have said "Hey,
it's action." He was enshrined in 1979 as a
charter member. Deceased.
Felton
"Corky" McCorquodale
A noted no-limit gambler, Corky introduced Texas
hold 'em to Las Vegas in 1963. He was enshrined
in 1979 as a charter member. Deceased.
Red
Winn
Known as a quintessential all-around player, Red
Winn was enshrined in 1979 as a charter member.
Deceased.
Sid
Wyman
From the early 1950's to the late 1970s, Sid was
co-owner of several gaming properties, including
the Sands, Riviera, and the old Dunes. The Missouri-born
Wyman was a noted high-stakes gambler who excelled
at poker. He died in June 1978. Casino play was
halted for two minutes at the Dunes at the hour
of his funeral. He was enshrined in 1979 as a charter
member.
"Wild
Bill" Hickok
James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok, a nineteenth-century
gambler and lawman, was killed while playing poker.
He held aces and eights, which became known as "The
Dead Man's Hand." Hickok is perhaps the most
recognizable name in the shrine at least to those
outside of poker circles. He was a scout in the
Civil War, a marshal in Kansas, and later toured
with Buffalo Bill's Wild West show as a sharpshooter.
His shoot-out with the McCanles gang -- he killed
three of them -- made Hickok a legend in his own
time. While playing in a poker game in a saloon
at Deadwood in the Dakota Territory (now South Dakota),
he was shot in the back by "Crooked Nose"
McCall and died on August 2, 1876, at age thirty-nine.
He was enshrined in 1979 as a charter member.
Edmond
Hoyle
For more than two centuries, card players have played
"according to Hoyle", which has become
synonymous with conformity to rules. Born circa
1672 in England, Hoyle wrote his first book, A Short
Treatise on the Game of Whist in 1742. The book,
a classic, was used to settle differences during
games played by London society. Hoyle died August
30, 1769, at age ninety-seven. The eighteenth-century
author was enshrined in 1979 as a charter member.
1980
T. "Blondie"
Forbes
A master road gambler, Blondie was enshrined in
1980. Deceased.
1981
Bill Boyd
Regarded as one of the best five-card stud players
of all time, Bill was several times champion of
the event at the World Series of Poker. He was ceremonially
dealt the first poker hands at both the Golden Nugget
and Mirage cardrooms. Retired from professional
poker, Boyd was selected to be a Hall-of-Famer in
1981, and lived in Las Vegas until his death on
Nov. 21, 1997.
1982
Tom Abdo After suffering a heart attack at the poker
table, Tom turned to another player and asked him
to count his chips down and save his seat. He died
that night, intending to return to the game. He
was enshrined in 1982.
1983
Joe Bernstein
A sharp road gambler; Joe was known as a dapper
dresser at the poker table. He was enshrined in
1983. Deceased.
1984
Murph Harrold
Regarded as one of the best deuce-to-seven draw
(Kansas City lowball) players of all time, Murph
was enshrined in 1984. Deceased.
1985
Red Hodges
Considered one of the best seven-card stud players
of all time, Red was selected for the Hall of Fame
in 1985. Deceased.
1986
Henry Green
A road gambler from Alabama, Henry Green was an
even tempered player who was skilled at all forms
of poker. He was selected for the Hall of Fame in
1986. Deceased.
1987
Puggy Pearson
A husky, cigar-chomping Tennessee born gambler,
Walter Clyde "Puggy" Pearson won the world
title in 1973. Considered a great seven-card stud
player, he is noted for his aggressive style, an
erratic temper, and homespun philosophy. He was
made a Hall-of-Famer in 1987 at age 58. An active
professional gambler, he lives in Las Vegas.
1988
Doyle Brunson
A hulking-Texas-born gambler who won the 1976 and
1977 world titles, Doyle was the first player to
win $1 million in tournament play. His book Super/System
is an acclaimed study of his high stakes poker.
Brunson got his nickname "Texas Dolly"
when Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder misread
"Doyle" as "Dolly." Enshrined
in 1988 at age fifty-four, he's an active professional
gambler who lives in Las Vegas.
Jack Straus
An aggressive gambler noted for imaginative play,
Jack won the 1982 world title.The salt-and-pepper-bearded,
Texas-born gambler was noted for spinning poker
yarns. Nicknamed "Treetop," Straus stood
six-foot-six. He died in August 1988 at age 58 after
suffering a heart attack during a high-stakes poker
game at the Bicycle Club in Bell Gardens, California.
He was enshrined at the first Hall of Fame Classic
that year.
1989
Fred "Sarge" Ferris
A New England-born son of Lebanese immigrants, Sarge
became a professional gambler to escape the poverty
of his youth. He won the 1980 deuce-to-seven draw
world title. He gained notoriety when, on April
22, 1983, the Internal Revenue Service seized $46,000
worth of chips from him during a high-stakes game
at the Horseshoe. He died of a heart attack in March
1989, the year he was enshrined.
1990
Benny Binion
A colorful cowboy and gambler. Benny Binion founded
the Horseshoe casino in downtown Las Vegas. In 1970,
he inaugurated the World Series of Poker as a gambler's
convention at the resort. He died on Christmas Day
1989, at age 85. He was enshrined in 1990. A tempered
player who was skilled at all forms of poker, he
was selected for the Hall of Fame in 1986. Deceased.
1991
"Chip" Reese
David Edward "Chip" Reese came to Las
Vegas in 1974 with $400 in his pocket and started
at the $10 limit tables. He quickly rose to become
one of the game's best all-around high-stakes players.
The Ohio-born gambler who began playing poker for
baseball cards at age six, is a Dartmouth graduate.
He was enshrined in 1991 at age 40, the youngest
Hall-of-Famer ever. An active professional gambler
he lives in Las Vegas.
1992
"Amarillo Slim"
Preston
A fast-talking, flamboyant Texas gambler and poker
tournament promoter, Thomas Austin "Amarillo
Slim" Preston won the world title in 1972.
Unlike many gamblers of his era, he sought out publicity
by going on national talk shows after winning the
World Series. He was enshrined in 1992 at age 62.
Preston has not competed in major Las Vegas tournaments
in recent years. He resides in Texas.
1993
Jack Keller
"Gentleman Jack" has been one of the most
consistent players since arriving in Las Vegas from
Philadelphia in the early 1980s and is the 1984
World Champion. Enshrined in 1994 at age 51, he
is an active professional gambler who lives in Mississippi.
1996
Julius Oral "Little
Man" Popwell Popwell was a gambler of near-mythical stature.
He was posthumously inducted into the Poker Hall
of Fame in 1996. His road games were five-card stud.
He played against Johnny Moss, Henry Green and others
in the '40s and '50s. Deceased.
1997
Roger Moore
In 1974 Moore entered his first World Series of
Poker and hasn't missed one since. Born into adversity
as the son of a sharecropper, Moore has earned the
reputation as one of pokers most determined and
formidable practitioners. He has preformed admirably
against most of the giants of the game, including
fellow Hall of Famers Johnny Moss, Doyle Brunson,
Chip Reese, Amarillo Slim, Jack Straus, Puggy Pearson
and Jack Keller.
Moore is the 1994 World Series of Poker $5000 Seven
Card Stud World Champion and has placed in the money
15 times.
Along with his three runner-up finishes, he has
been in the money in the championship event three
times. WSOP lifetime money earnings: $400,378.
2001
Stu Ungar
Many regard Stu Ungar to be the greatest player
to have ever played the game. He won two World Championships
before reaching the age of 26 and ten major No-Limit
Hold'em Championships in which the buy-in was $5,000
or more. Ungar, along with Johnny Moss, are the
only two men to have won the World Championship
three times. He lived in Las Vegas until his death
in 1998.
2002
Lyle Berman Berman prefers high-stakes
cash games to tournaments, although he has played
in a few. He is a three-time winner at the World
Series of Poker: Limit Omaha in '89, no-limit hold’em
in '92, and deuce-to-seven draw in '94). He finished
second at the WSOP four times. In 1991, he won the
$5,000 buy-in no-limit hold'em championship at the
Hall of Fame Poker Classic. Berman doesn't play
many tournaments and yet considering the number
of events he has played, his record is worthy of
the Hall of Fame.
Johnny Chan Johnny Chan is used to
being first. The winner of back-to-back World Championships
in 1987 and 1988, Johnny was also first in money
won all-time at the World Series of Poker in 2002.
He's also the first poker-playing movie star. It
was Chan, shown trapping Erik Seidel, that Matt
Damon idolized in the movie, Rounders.
It may come as a surprise to some that Johnny Chan
wasn't in the Poker Hall of Fame sooner. It's not
an oversight. It's because Johnny is still so young.
Not yet 50 years old, Chan had unusual success very
early. Always known as one of the finest No-Limit
Hold'em players who ever lived, Johnny Chan qualified
for the Hall of Fame because he is willing to take
on all comers. Chan has played in the biggest games
going for the last quarter century. Nicknamed by
the pundits as "The Great Wall of China"
and "The Orient Express" Johnny Chan is
also one of the most approachable and well-liked
of former World Champions.
Lyle Berman, fellow Hall of Fame 2002 Inductee,
introduced Johnny before the start of the Championship
Event. He reminded the audience that Chan started
playing poker at the $2/$4 level. He cautioned all
players that if they couldn't beat that game, they
wouldn't be able to beat $10/$20 and above. So don’t
ask him for a stake.
Johnny thanked Lyle for the introduction and the
Hall of Fame for the "honor." Then he
told the dealers, "Shuffle up and deal."
2003
Bobby
Baldwin
Recognized as the man who helped bring class to
poker, Bobby Baldwin is one of Vegas's top Chief
Executive Officers and poker's biggest friend. The
1978 WSOP of Poker Champion, Bobby is also honored
for is his world class playing skills, willingness
to take enormous risks, and his ability to come
out on top time after time.
2004
Berry Johnston
The 1986 World Series of Poker Champion, Berry Johnston
is also recognized for being the man with the most
all time cashes in 2004. He's made at least one
cash every year since 1982.
Join our top poker
rooms fast growing poker communities and put
your poker skill to work in one of their many
poker tournaments. We hope you enjoy playing
in the top online Sportsbooks Poker Rooms.
NOTE:
Wager on football sportsbook review have gone
to great lengths to insure that the Paradise
Poker, Party Pokre, Internet Poker, Bodog.com
Poker, Bodog casino games, VIPPoker.com, Pokerroom.com,
Pacific Poker, MySportsbook.com Poker, and
online poker rooms are safe, legal, legitimate,
and very very FUN. Prior to being listed as
the Top Online Sportsbooks and Poker Rooms
on our site, MySportsbook.com & Bodog.com
rated higher than any other online wagering
establishment. We have seen them grow since
the late 90's folks. They are not in the business
of ripping people off. If they were they'd
be on our scam casino and scam sportsbook
list.
Ageless patriarch of the game, Johnny Moss
was a three-time world no-limit Texas hold 'em champion
(1970, 1971, and 1974). He lived in Las Vegas until
his death in 1997. In 1979 he was enshrined as a
charter member. 
Known for making astronomical wagers in Las Vegas
casinos, Nick became a household name. Late in his
career, Dandolos was near broke and playing low-limit
poker in Southern California. Asked how he could
bet millions of dollars once and now play for $5
chips, Dandolos was purported to have said "Hey,
it's action." He was enshrined in 1979 as a
charter member. Deceased.
Known as a quintessential all-around player, Red
Winn was enshrined in 1979 as a charter member.
Deceased.
James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok, a nineteenth-century
gambler and lawman, was killed while playing poker.
He held aces and eights, which became known as "The
Dead Man's Hand." Hickok is perhaps the most
recognizable name in the shrine at least to those
outside of poker circles. He was a scout in the
Civil War, a marshal in Kansas, and later toured
with Buffalo Bill's Wild West show as a sharpshooter.
His shoot-out with the McCanles gang -- he killed
three of them -- made Hickok a legend in his own
time. While playing in a poker game in a saloon
at Deadwood in the Dakota Territory (now South Dakota),
he was shot in the back by "Crooked Nose"
McCall and died on August 2, 1876, at age thirty-nine.
He was enshrined in 1979 as a charter member.
For more than two centuries, card players have played
"according to Hoyle", which has become
synonymous with conformity to rules. Born circa
1672 in England, Hoyle wrote his first book, A Short
Treatise on the Game of Whist in 1742. The book,
a classic, was used to settle differences during
games played by London society. Hoyle died August
30, 1769, at age ninety-seven. The eighteenth-century
author was enshrined in 1979 as a charter member.
A master road gambler, Blondie was enshrined in
1980. Deceased.
Regarded as one of the best five-card stud players
of all time, Bill was several times champion of
the event at the World Series of Poker. He was ceremonially
dealt the first poker hands at both the Golden Nugget
and Mirage cardrooms. Retired from professional
poker, Boyd was selected to be a Hall-of-Famer in
1981, and lived in Las Vegas until his death on
Nov. 21, 1997.
A sharp road gambler; Joe was known as a dapper
dresser at the poker table. He was enshrined in
1983. Deceased.
Regarded as one of the best deuce-to-seven draw
(Kansas City lowball) players of all time, Murph
was enshrined in 1984. Deceased.
Considered one of the best seven-card stud players
of all time, Red was selected for the Hall of Fame
in 1985. Deceased.
A husky, cigar-chomping Tennessee born gambler,
Walter Clyde "Puggy" Pearson won the world
title in 1973. Considered a great seven-card stud
player, he is noted for his aggressive style, an
erratic temper, and homespun philosophy. He was
made a Hall-of-Famer in 1987 at age 58. An active
professional gambler, he lives in Las Vegas.
A hulking-Texas-born gambler who won the 1976 and
1977 world titles, Doyle was the first player to
win $1 million in tournament play. His book Super/System
is an acclaimed study of his high stakes poker.
Brunson got his nickname "Texas Dolly"
when Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder misread
"Doyle" as "Dolly." Enshrined
in 1988 at age fifty-four, he's an active professional
gambler who lives in Las Vegas.
An aggressive gambler noted for imaginative play,
Jack won the 1982 world title.The salt-and-pepper-bearded,
Texas-born gambler was noted for spinning poker
yarns. Nicknamed "Treetop," Straus stood
six-foot-six. He died in August 1988 at age 58 after
suffering a heart attack during a high-stakes poker
game at the Bicycle Club in Bell Gardens, California.
He was enshrined at the first Hall of Fame Classic
that year.
A New England-born son of Lebanese immigrants, Sarge
became a professional gambler to escape the poverty
of his youth. He won the 1980 deuce-to-seven draw
world title. He gained notoriety when, on April
22, 1983, the Internal Revenue Service seized $46,000
worth of chips from him during a high-stakes game
at the Horseshoe. He died of a heart attack in March
1989, the year he was enshrined.
A colorful cowboy and gambler. Benny Binion founded
the Horseshoe casino in downtown Las Vegas. In 1970,
he inaugurated the World Series of Poker as a gambler's
convention at the resort. He died on Christmas Day
1989, at age 85. He was enshrined in 1990. A tempered
player who was skilled at all forms of poker, he
was selected for the Hall of Fame in 1986. Deceased.
A fast-talking, flamboyant Texas gambler and poker
tournament promoter, Thomas Austin "Amarillo
Slim" Preston won the world title in 1972.
Unlike many gamblers of his era, he sought out publicity
by going on national talk shows after winning the
World Series. He was enshrined in 1992 at age 62.
Preston has not competed in major Las Vegas tournaments
in recent years. He resides in Texas.
In 1974 Moore entered his first World Series of
Poker and hasn't missed one since. Born into adversity
as the son of a sharecropper, Moore has earned the
reputation as one of pokers most determined and
formidable practitioners. He has preformed admirably
against most of the giants of the game, including
fellow Hall of Famers Johnny Moss, Doyle Brunson,
Chip Reese, Amarillo Slim, Jack Straus, Puggy Pearson
and Jack Keller.
Many regard Stu Ungar to be the greatest player
to have ever played the game. He won two World Championships
before reaching the age of 26 and ten major No-Limit
Hold'em Championships in which the buy-in was $5,000
or more. Ungar, along with Johnny Moss, are the
only two men to have won the World Championship
three times. He lived in Las Vegas until his death
in 1998.
Recognized as the man who helped bring class to
poker, Bobby Baldwin is one of Vegas's top Chief
Executive Officers and poker's biggest friend. The
1978 WSOP of Poker Champion, Bobby is also honored
for is his world class playing skills, willingness
to take enormous risks, and his ability to come
out on top time after time. 
