Aces and Eights: Poker in the Old West
Our images of the big names and places of the Old West often come from the tales of gunfights and violence that were sensationalized by dime novels and yellow journalism in the 19th century, and the myths that came from those stories live on today. But in reality many of these fabled characters of the Wild West were gamblers first and gunfighters second—more invested in poker than in the momentary fury of the shootout. Aces and Eights tells story of the role of poker in the lives of these legends, and offers a portrait of the places where they lived and frequently died. This book offers both the “facts” of these lives and the true tales of the game and the gamblers—and the entertaining “tall tales” that have survived to this day.

1131185243
Aces and Eights: Poker in the Old West
Our images of the big names and places of the Old West often come from the tales of gunfights and violence that were sensationalized by dime novels and yellow journalism in the 19th century, and the myths that came from those stories live on today. But in reality many of these fabled characters of the Wild West were gamblers first and gunfighters second—more invested in poker than in the momentary fury of the shootout. Aces and Eights tells story of the role of poker in the lives of these legends, and offers a portrait of the places where they lived and frequently died. This book offers both the “facts” of these lives and the true tales of the game and the gamblers—and the entertaining “tall tales” that have survived to this day.

18.95 In Stock
Aces and Eights: Poker in the Old West

Aces and Eights: Poker in the Old West

by Ralph Estes
Aces and Eights: Poker in the Old West

Aces and Eights: Poker in the Old West

by Ralph Estes

Paperback(New Edition)

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Overview

Our images of the big names and places of the Old West often come from the tales of gunfights and violence that were sensationalized by dime novels and yellow journalism in the 19th century, and the myths that came from those stories live on today. But in reality many of these fabled characters of the Wild West were gamblers first and gunfighters second—more invested in poker than in the momentary fury of the shootout. Aces and Eights tells story of the role of poker in the lives of these legends, and offers a portrait of the places where they lived and frequently died. This book offers both the “facts” of these lives and the true tales of the game and the gamblers—and the entertaining “tall tales” that have survived to this day.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781493049622
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date: 03/01/2021
Edition description: New Edition
Pages: 224
Sales rank: 1,063,459
Product dimensions: 5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Ralph Estes is the author of numerous scholarly books and articles as well as the popular work of fiction, My Own Story: The Autobiography of Billy the Kid. Professor Emeritus at The American University, Washington, DC., he now lives in New Mexico where he is the New Mexico State Chautauqua Troubadour, performing “Me and Billy” a one-man show about the outlaw Billy the Kid across the state.

Table of Contents

Preface: Dead Man's Hand v

Introduction: "Poker Made the Old West." vii

Chapter 1 Opening the West 1

Chapter 2 Doc Holliday 17

Chapter 3 Poker Rides the Rails 23

Chapter 4 There's a Gold Mine in the Sky, Far Away 29

Chapter 5 Wild Bill Hickok 43

Chapter 6 Calamity Jane 55

Chapter 7 Abilene: The Cowboy Era Begins 63

Chapter 8 Wyatt Earp 75

Chapter 9 Bat Masterson 83

Chapter 10 Dodge City 91

Chapter 11 Luke Short and the Dodge City War 99

Chapter 12 Tombstone 107

Chapter 13 The Poker Roamers 115

Chapter 14 Poker in the New West 137

Chapter 15 Benny Binion 149

Afterword: Why They Mostly Win (Except for Those Who Mostly Lose) 165

Appendix A Games People Played 169

Appendix B Modern Poker Games 179

Appendix C How They Cheated 185

Bibliography 199

Index 203

About the Author 213

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