Part of the fun of playing poker is the colorful slang that surrounds the game. Take the nicknames for the various starting hands in Texas hold’em: pocket rockets (two aces), Elvis Presley (two kings), Calamity Jane (two queens), and the notorious big slick (ace-king), just to name a few. 

Most of these poker hand nicknames are based on what the cards look like, such as fish hooks (two jacks) or the snowman (pocket eights). Others are based on word association, like Armani jeans for ace-jack. But the nickname with the most memorable story behind it has to be black ace-eight pairs (A♣ A♠ 8♣ 8♠). 

The dead man’s hand, as this combination is known, takes its name from one of the most legendary incidents in poker history. Take a look at the origin story of this nickname, and learn how to play the dead man’s hand in online poker.

Why is it Called a Dead Man’s Hand?

The legend of the dead man’s poker hand was born in America’s Wild West on August 1, 1876. As the dead man’s hand story goes, one fateful day, James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok walked into Nuttal & Mann’s Saloon No. 10 in Deadwood, Dakota Territory. Wild Bill was famous throughout the Wild West as a wagon master, soldier, scout, lawman, gunfighter, showman, and actor. But he also enjoyed playing cards.

Wild Bill joined Charles Rich, William Massey, and Carl Mann at a table in a saloon for a game of poker (specifically, five-card draw). Wild Bill asked Charles Rich if he could take his seat because he didn’t want to sit with his back to the entrance of the saloon. Rich refused twice, so — for the first time ever — Wild Bill grudgingly sat down without being able to see people coming in and out of the door.

This proved to be a fatal error. After playing a few hands, a man named Jack “Crooked Nose” McCall came into the saloon. After ordering a drink, he walked over to the poker table and drew his revolver. “Damn you! Take that!” he shouted and blasted once at the back of Wild Bill’s head. The slug went straight through his skull and hit Massey in the wrist. Wild Bill slumped lifeless to the floor. The hand he held was A♣ A♠ 8♣ 8♠ and an unknown kicker — the dead man’s hand.

Why did McCall kill Wild Bill Hickok? The previous day, after McCall lost all his money in a poker game, Wild Bill gave him money for breakfast. This hurt the young man’s pride, even though he took the money. McCall later said that the murder was revenge for Wild Bill killing his brother. In any event, McCall followed Wild Bill on March 1, 1877.

What is the Fifth Card in a Dead Man’s Hand?

The identity of the fifth card in Hickok’s hand may never be known. If you go to Deadwood today, you can see a display in the Lucky Nugget Gambling Hall (situated where Nuttal & Mann’s Saloon used to be) showing Wild Bill holding J♦ as the fifth card. Other historical displays in Deadwood show 9♦. The Stardust Casino in Las Vegas shows 5♦. Others claim that the fifth card was a Q♥, stained with a drop of the dead man’s blood. Still, other accounts deny that Wild Bill was holding a fifth card at all. According to this account, he’d discarded it and was in the process of drawing a new one when the shooting interrupted his draw. (Chances are he was going for a full house. Wouldn’t you?) The only thing that’s known for sure is that the dead man was holding two black aces and two black 8s.

Even with the final card of the five-card hand in dispute, any aces-and-eights poker hand remains one of the most famous poker hand nicknames. 

References of Aces and Eights in Popular Culture

The dead man’s hand, that infamous combo of aces and eights, isn’t just a footnote in history. It’s made its mark in movies, video games, and even pops up in some pretty unexpected places in modern popular culture.

One of the most famous poker players in poker history and his signature hand are referenced in old Western movies like “Stagecoach” and “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance”, both of which were directed by John Ford. In “Stagecoach”, John Wayne holds the famous hand. In “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance”, the hand is held by the titular character.

In 1939, Randolph Scott played Wyatt Earp, who dealt the dead man’s hand, in “Frontier Marshal”. Then, in 1941’s “Badlands of Dakota”, Wild Bill Hickok, played by Richard Dix, finds himself holding the fateful cards.

Jumping forward to the 2001 film “Along Came a Spider”, aces and eights are used as a winning hand in a pivotal poker scene.

Wild Bill Hickok’s tragic fate at the poker table has also been referenced in the television series “Deadwood”, an HBO series set in the Old West in the 1870s. It weaves the real-life tales of Wild Bill Hickok (played by Keith Carradine) and Calamity Jane into the show. The series didn’t skimp on the poker and gambling storylines, either. It paints a vivid picture of Hickok’s life as a poker player, culminating in his dramatic poker table murder by Jack McCall. In 2019, HBO even released a film to tie up a few loose ends from the series.

The dead man’s hand has also been referenced in other areas of pop culture.

Video Games

Games like “Fallout: New Vegas” feature quests involving the collection of cards that form the famous dead man’s hand. 

Literature

George R.R. Martin, renowned author of “Game of Thrones,” titled one of his fantasy books after the dead man’s hand. 

Music

The music artist and DJ Kshmr produced a song titled “Dead Man’s Hand” in 2015. 

The Alcohol Industry

Several companies have used this poker hand and its story as inspiration for their products. You can find Dead Man’s Hand whiskey and rum in bottle stores, and the name has also been associated with Belgian and American beers. 

Motorcycle Clubs

There is even a motorcycle club named “Dead Man’s Hand” in the U.S., demonstrating how the hand’s legacy extends to various aspects of society.

Is the Dead Man’s Hand a Good Hand?

Poker has evolved considerably since those far-off “Deadwood” days. Five-card draw has given way to far more strategic variants, most notably Texas Hold ’em. Given the nature of Texas hold’em, you can’t be dealt a combination of two aces and two eights as hole cards, meaning that one of each will do for your hand to technically qualify as a dead man’s hand. So what do you do if you’re dealt it? Do you chase the famous hand on the flop, considering the dilemma of three of a kind vs two pair in poker?

How to Play the Dead Man’s Hand

In the range of best and worst starting hands in Texas Hold’em, ace-eight is somewhere in the middle but should be folded most of the time. The reason is that any other player with an ace and a stronger kicker is likely to come along. The risk is that you’ll end up paying them off all the way to the river. It may be worth staying in the pot if you have flush or straight draw potential. If you don’t hit the draw, it’s best to fold.

That said, if you do hit the flop and find yourself with two aces and two eights, you have options. You already have two pairs, and you could potentially draw a full house.

Keep Your Hand in With Online Poker at BetMGM

Today, you don’t have to risk your life or your wallet – or even know the dead man’s hand poker meaning – to get a place at the poker table. Simply register to play poker with real money online at BetMGM Poker. Daily, weekly, and monthly tournaments are all part of the fun. Even better, use the BetMGM online poker welcome bonus to build your bankroll by taking advantage of this unique new player offer.