Dead man's hand
Meaning
A poker hand consisting of two pairs—black aces and black eights—famously associated with the cards held by Wild Bill Hickok when he was murdered.
Origin
The legend of the "dead man's hand" is forever etched into American folklore, a chilling memento of the Wild West. Its origins trace back to August 2, 1876, in Deadwood, South Dakota, where the famous lawman and gunfighter Wild Bill Hickok was playing poker. He was holding a hand of two black aces and two black eights when a disgruntled gambler, Jack McCall, shot him in the back of the head. The identity of the fifth card Hickok was dealt remains a subject of historical debate and speculation, often adding to the mystique of the hand. This fateful incident immortalized the combination of aces and eights as the "dead man's hand," a somber omen for any player who finds it in their grasp.
Examples
- He felt a chill run down his spine, realizing his new hand was the dreaded dead man's hand, two aces and two eights.
- The dealer quickly pushed the chips forward, unknowingly dealing the dead man's hand to the seasoned poker player at the table.