This particular play poker hand has a very colorful history. If you have ever visited the historic town of Deadwood, South Dakota you will see Saloon #10 advertised as a tourist attraction. It was in Saloon #10 that Wild Bill Hickcock was shot in the back of the head. Wild Bill is buried in that town on Boot Hill next to “Calamity Jane” and “Deadwood Dick.”
On August 2, 1876, in Saloon #10, Wild Bill Hickcock was playing poker when he was shot by Jack McCall. The hand that Wild Bill was holding at the time of his death has become known as the “Dead Man’s Hand.” Four of the cards were known for sure to be a pair of Black Aces and a pair of Black Eights. There seems to be a discrepancy over the fifth card. Some say the fifth card was a Red Queen; others say the Nine of Diamonds. Whatever the fifth card was a two pair hand of Black Aces & Black Eights is the “Dead Man’s Hand.”
An interesting observation in Deadwood is that many store owners and casino operators claim to be Saloon #10. The actual site of the real Saloon #10 was destroyed by fire many years ago. One enterprising operator even displays a chair with a bullet hole through the back. This bullet hole implies Hickcock was shot in the back, when in fact he was shot in the head.
This particular play poker hand has a very colorful history. If you have ever visited the historic town of Deadwood, South Dakota you will see Saloon #10 advertised as a tourist attraction. It was in Saloon #10 that Wild Bill Hickcock was shot in the back of the head. Wild Bill is buried in that town on Boot Hill next to “Calamity Jane” and “Deadwood Dick.”
