I began this post by googling ‘Doyle Brunson history’ and was first rewarded with the Wikipedia article. I then re-googled, hoping to find another source and was met with the realization that if you are going to look into the history and life of the arguable most influential poker player in the world, you will be hard pressed to separate the man from the game he is so well known for; Texas Hold’em.
Pre Poker
Baby Doyle was born in Longworth Texas as one of three siblings. He was a total baskeball stud, with the Minneapolis Lakers (Did you know the Lakers came from Minneapolis, friends? That’s right! ‘Lakers’. There are no lakes in Los Angeles! Ha!) showing interest before Doyle suffered a knee injury..
Poker!
Doyle and friends started by playing illegal poker in the streets of Fort Worth, Texas, not far from our friend Benny Binion over in Dallas! Poker was considered gambling back then, and gambling was illegal, so these games were run by gangsters and other nefarious types. Doyle has said that he had guns pulled on him and all the other ‘fun stuff’ that came with the territory in those days, in those places, playing those kinds of games.
WSOP and Beyond!
As I noted in my previous articles about the history of poker and Benny Binion, the founder of the World Series of Poker, Doyle Brunson played in the very first WSOP Tournament in 1970. He has won 10 WSOP bracelets, tying for 2nd as most bracelets won behind Phil Helmuth. He also wrote what many people call the definitive book on poker strategy, Super/System, complaining that doing so probably cost him thousands of dollars by doing so.
Just a little taste about this facinating man. I hope you check out more about him, even read his books! Also, let me know if there is another poker player/history situation you’d like to see an article about, I’m not tryna bore y’all to death!
xo!
b.