Poker Strategies

“Texas Dolly” Doyle Brunson is regarded as the only true living legend in the Poker world. Playing a lot of competitive poker games, it is hard to imagine him not taking part at the World Series of Poker. To date, Doyle has won 10 WSOP, winning his first in 1976. Back then the World Series was much smaller. He won his last bracelet in 2005. His story as a poker player is of the type you make movies about. He has been through it all, playing against the best in four different decades and eventually becoming one of the best.

He wrote a book entitled Super System, known as the “poker bible”. It is said to have changed the poker world forever. Now, the average player can see how the pros were making money playing Texas Holdem. This book will teach you how to play the game like a pro. A lot of Online Poker amateurs are playing better because of the things Doyle wrote about in his book.

Doyle is best known as a Texas Holdem Poker player although a lot consider him to be the best all around poker player ever. He has won bracelets in No Limit Holdem, Deuce to Seven Draw, 7 card stud, Razz and HORSE, and even a Mixed Doubles event with Starla Brodie in 1979. Of his 10 bracelets, four were won playing No Limit Holdem.

The 10 – 2 is Doyle’s hand. He won back to back main poker events holding those two hole cards – one in 1976 and another in 1977. In ’76, he beat Jesse Alto Heads up coming from behind to make a full house. In’77, again holding 10 – 2, he came from behind making a full house against Gary Berland. Although considered one of the worst hands in poker, 10- 2 is will always be known as “Doyle Brunson”. Doyle will even play the hand once in a while on television just for show.

Doyle didn’t win any bracelets in the 80s. In 1991 he won his first bracelet since 1979, taking home the $2,500 No Limit Holdem event for more than $200,000. In 1998 he won a RAZZ tournament. Back in 2003 he proved he could still win big tournaments when he bagged the HORSE event. In 2005, “Texas Dolly” won his tenth World Series of Poker bracelet and took home the Shorthanded event.

He was always a family man and married his wife Louise in 1962. They had three children. His son Todd became a professional poker player also, making him and Doyle the first father / son combination to win World Series of Poker bracelets. And it seems the game runs in their blood. Pamela, his daughter, also plays and found some success in the 2007 Series.

Life hasn’t always been easy for Doyle despite his success in his career as a pro poker player. He was diagnosed with cancer in the early ‘60’s and it was said to incurable. After he had an operation, no cancer was found. The doctors were stomped and said it had to be a miracle. One of his daughters, Doyla, passed away at the young age of 18 and Doyle turned to religion to get him through the tough times.

To this day, he can often be seen at the biggest cash games in Vegas and even plays multiple tournaments a year. He plays in the World Series of Poker every year – in both Las Vegas and Europe. He has made an estimated $2,800,000 in his World Series career, and shows no sign of stopping any time soon. He continues the chase for his 11th bracelet and in 2008 had big runs in tournaments, finishing 21st in event eight and finished 16th at the World Championship of HORSE.

Without a doubt, Doyle had revolutionized the game of poker. A lot of people regard him as the very face of poker. He continues to inspire not just through his game but through the way he lives his life.