The Best Poker Hands that Rose to Fame

Poker has been around for centuries, with its popularity exponentially growing over the years. Both professional and amateur players have participated in tournaments with the best poker hands that have netted them impressive sums of money or allowed them to take home a tournament win.

Some of these unforgettable scenes are more renowned than others, but all can be considered monumental feats within poker.

For those familiar with the game, poker hands are known to be captivating, especially for tournaments, with their thrilling lights and tension-filled climaxes in front of cameras. While Texas Holdem rules still apply, these five famous hands have been engraved into history for all time!

Consider this blog post your introduction to some of poker's most iconic moments that involve immense amounts of money at stake.

The Doyle Brunson

The Godfather of Poker, the legendary Doyle Brunson, has left a powerful mark on poker over his 80 years.

He's won 10 coveted WSOP titles, was an infamous road gambler in his day, and emerged as a face for online poker - all with millions to show for it.

Though he is now retired from playing high-stakes cash games, he is still revered as one of the most influential figures in today's poker world.

The two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning WSOP Main Event winner, Brunson, remains the only player in history to have won both events with a ten and two, which rose beyond the level of only being good poker hands. As such, his winning combination has been dubbed "The Doyle Brunson." In 2004, at 71 years of age, he set a record as the oldest person ever to win an official World Poker Tour title; this accolade still stands as of 2021. What's more remarkable is that Brunson was already one of the first players when the inaugural event came along in 1970—quite incredible!

Moneymaker's Triumphant Play

As the 2003 WSOP Main Event ended, Chris Moneymaker and Phil Ivey fought at the final table. Having an Ace and Queen in his hand, Moneymaker raised – only for Ivey to call with two nines (which is considered one of the highest hands in poker).

Suddenly something extraordinary transpired: The flop brought not one but two queens plus a six-giving Moneymaker three-of-a-kind! Then, again in luck's favor, another jack-five-four showed up, putting him in an advantageous position compared to competing players.

Chris Moneymaker's extraordinary feat of victory over Phil Ivey with an ace on the river propelled a surge in people passionate about poker and the highest card in poker.

His illustrious name and accomplishments only exacerbated an already mesmerizing persona and earned him induction into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2019. To this day, Chris Moneymaker remains one of the most iconic names within the realm of poker

Phil Hellmuth's Legendary Pocket Nines

Phil Hellmuth may have garnered fifteen WSOP titles since 1989, but he was still a young poker gun during his match with Johnny Chan for the Main Event title. With two consecutive wins already under his belt, Chan seemed to be on track to make history by winning three in a row—but it wasn't meant to be!

At just 24 years old and with only one WSOP cash prior, Phil outdid him and made history himself as the youngest player ever to win the Main Event. Plus, you can now see his iconic winning hand immortalized as one of the top poker hands everywhere!

After clinching the victory with his iconic pocket nines, The Poker Brat has soared to a record-setting career level. His impressive feat was met with much admiration and celebration, deservedly so! Hellmuth's extensive poker accomplishments include WSOP bracelets, heaps of money in tournament wins, and other series honors - all culminating in his reputation as an infamous master at card games.

The Johnny Chan Trap

The poker combination of a Jack and nine, often referred to as the 'Phil Hellmuth' after the famous professional player, is equated with two-time WSOP Main

Event champion Johnny Chan in poker culture. The hand's memorable play was immortalized on screen in Rounders. This iconic film inspired many aspiring players like Mike McDermott to take their shot at competing for a World Series of Poker title themselves.

The Dead Man's Hand

The renowned (or notorious, depending on who you talk to) hand of Wild Bill Hickok dates back to the American Frontier. On August 2, 1876, during a game of Five Card Stud at Nuttal and Mann's Saloon in the U.S. Dakota Territory, Jack McCall strode into the saloon with ill intent towards Hickok. He went over without warning and discharged a gun straight into Hickock's head from close range before fleeing the scene shortly after.

At thirty-nine years of age, the iconic figure from the Old West suddenly passed away after being shot in a card game. Wild Bill had two black Aces and two black Eights at that moment, which is considered an exceptional hand when playing Five Card Stud. Since then, "Aces and Eights" have been deemed "Dead Man's Hand" as a lasting remembrance of him. 

Wrapping Up

Poker is a blend of luck, skill, intelligence, and strategy. These poker best cards hands have been renowned throughout the annals of poker history as they were played by seasoned veterans who knew how to play both the odds and their opponents. Yet even with all this expertise, there will always be some element of fortune involved in any game. So if you're ready to put your skills on the line for testing, join GGPoker now! Maybe one day you could become a poker legend too – it only takes that one lucky hand, after all!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nurlana Alasgarli           

Content Specialist

Nurlana Alasgarli is a professional copywriter with more than 6 years of creative writing experience. Having lived and experienced all over the world, there are many writing genres that Nurlana follows, including adventure, outdoor and winter sports. Nurlana brings life to content creation, captivating her readers.