Poker Hall of Fame

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"The Greatest Poker Players That Ever Lived"

The Poker Hall of Fame

Felton "Corky" McCorquodale, 1979
A noted no-limit player, Corky is credited for introducing Texas hold 'em to Las Vegas in 1963. Since then Hold'em has become one of the most popular poker variants in history. He was enshrined in 1979 as a charter member. Deceased.   

Johnny Moss, 1979
Johnny Moss was a three-time world no-limit Texas hold 'em champion (1970, 1971, and 1974). Moss was said to have beat "Nick the Greek" out of 4 Million. He was a Las vegas resident and in 1979 he was enshrined as a charter member. Deceased

Red Winn, 1979
Known as the quintessential all-around poker of his time, Red Winn was enshrined in 1979 as a charter member. Deceased.

Sid Wyman, 1979
From the early 1950's to the late 1970s, Sid was co-owner of several Las Vegas gaming properties, including the Sands, Riviera, and The Dunes. Wyman was Missouri born & was a noted high-stakes gambler who excelled at poker. He died in June 1978. All casino play was halted for two minutes at the Dunes during the hour of his funeral. He was enshrined in 1979 as a charter member. Deceased.

"Nick the Greek" Dandolos, 1979
Known for making astronomical wagers in Las Vegas casinos, "Nick the Greek" became a household name. It was said that he had made over fifty million playing poker but Later in his career, Nick 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 reported to have said "Hey, it's the action." He was enshrined in 1979 as a charter member. Deceased.

Edmond Hoyle, 1979
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, which is a classic, was used to settle differences during games played in London. Hoyle lived a long life, he died August 30, 1769, at age ninety-seven. The eighteenth-century author was enshrined in 1979 as a charter member.

"Wild Bill" Hickok, 1979
James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok, a nineteenth-century gambler and lawman, was shot & killed 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 held aces and eights, which became known as "The Dead Man's Hand." Hickok is perhaps the most recognizable name in the shrine especially to those outside of the poker circle. 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. During his shoot-out with the McCanles gang "Wild Bill" killed three members of the gang which made him a legend in his own time.  He was enshrined in 1979 as a charter member. Deceased.

T. "Blondie" Forbes, 1980
Forbes was a master road gambler who made his living playing poker from town to town. Blondie was enshrined in 1980. Deceased.

Bill Boyd, 1981
Noted as one of the best five-card stud players of all time, Bill Boyd 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 was a resident of Las Vegas until his death on Nov. 21, 1997. Deceased

Tom Abdo, 1982
This is how dedicated this man "Tom Abdo" was to the game of poker. After suffering a heart attack at the poker table, Tom Abdo 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. Deceased

Joe Bernstein, 1983                                                                                                                                                                                                   
A road gambler, Joe was known as a dapper dresser and a amazing poker player. He was enshrined in 1983. Deceased.         

Murph Harrold, 1984
noted as one of the best deuce-to-seven draw (Kansas City lowball) players of all time, Murph was enshrined to the Hall of Fame in 1984. Deceased.

Red Hodges, 1985
Noted as one of the best seven-card stud players of all time, Red was enshrined to the the Hall of Fame in 1985. Deceased.

Henry Green, 1986
A road gambler, Henry Green was an even tempered all-around poker player. He was enshrined to the Hall of Fame in 1986. Deceased.

Puggy Pearson, 1987
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 enshrined to the Hall of Fame in 1987 at age 58.Puggy was a Las vegas resident & died on April 12, 2006 at the age of 77. Deceased.

Doyle Brunson, 1988
A Texas-born poker player who won back to back world titles in 1976 and 1977, 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 to the Poker Hall of Fame in 1988 at age fifty-four, he's an active professional gambler who lives in Las Vegas.

Jack Straus, 1988 - An aggressive poker player noted for imaginative play, Jack won the 1982 world title.The Texas-born player 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 to the Poker Hall of Fame at the first Hall of Fame Classic that year. Deceased.

Fred "Sarge" Ferris, 1989
New England born Sarge became a professional poker player 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 in to the Poker Hall of Fame. Deceased.

Benny Binion, 1990
A colorful cowboy, 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 and later was enshrined in to the Poker Hall of Fame in 1990. Deceased.

David "Chip" Reese, 1991
David Edward "Chip" Reese a Dartmouth graduate moved 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. He was enshrined into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1991 at age 40, the youngest Hall-of-Famer ever. A Las vegas resident Chip died on December 04, 2007 at the age of 56. Deceased.

"Amarillo Slim" Preston, 1992
A fast talking, flamboyant Texas gambler and poker tournament promoter, Thomas Austin "Amarillo Slim" Preston won the world title in 1972. Unlike many poker players of his era, he sought out publicity by going on national talk shows after winning the World Series. Enshrined into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1992 at age 62. Preston has not competed in major Las Vegas tournaments in recent years. He resides in Texas.

Jack Keller, 1993
"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 into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1994 at age 51, he is an active professional gambler who lives in Mississippi.

Julius Oral "Little Man" Popwell, 1996
Popwell was a player 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 in the 1940s and '50s. Deceased.

Roger Moore, 1997
In 1974 Moore entered his first World Series of Poker and hasn't missed one since. He has preformed admirably against the poker greats, 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 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.

Stu Ungar, 2001
When anyone talks about the greatest poker players of all time, Stu Ungar's name will surface immediately. He is considered by many to have been the greatest No Limit Hold'em player of all time. Ungar was a three-time World Champion with five WSOP bracelets. He won ten major No Limit Hold'em championship events. Amazingly, Ungar only played in about 30 of these championship events in his lifetime. Enshrined into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2001. Deceased

Lyle Berman, 2002
Berman prefers high-stakes cash games to tournaments. Although 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 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 tournaments he has played, his record is worthy of the Hall of Fame.

Johnny Chan, 2002
Johnny Chan won back-to-back World Championships in 1987 and 1988, Johnny was also biggest all time World Series of Poker money winner in 2002. He's also the first poker-playing movie star. It was in Rounders  that Chan was shown trapping Erik Seidel. Chan was Matt Damon's idol in the movie.

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 is just the fact he is still so young, not yet 50 years old, Chan had unusual success very early. Always known as one of the greatest No-Limit Hold'em players who ever lived, Johnny Chan qualified for the Hall of Fame because he is willing to take on anybody. 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 the 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 & 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."

Bobby Baldwin, 2003
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 his world class playing skills, willingness to take huge risks, and the ability to come out on top time after time.

Berry Johnston, 2004
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.

Jack Binion, 2005
For over 50 years, the innovations and style of Jack Binion has led to unparalled success in the casino industry. Inherting the Horseshoe legacy from his father, Benny Binion, Jack developed the downtown Horseshoe Casino into a Las Vegas icon renowned through out the world for its high limits and generous odds - Jack hosted the first World Series of Poker in 1970.