Poker is a game that has been around for centuries and has been played in many different places. One of the most famous places where poker was played was the Wild West.
The Wild West was a time when cowboys, outlaws, and lawmen roamed the land, and poker was a popular pastime for many of them. But what was the longest continuous poker game ever played in the Wild West? Let’s take a look.
The longest continuous poker game ever played in the Wild West took place in 1881 in the Bird Cage Theatre in Tombstone, Arizona. The game lasted for eight years, five months, and three days. The Bird Cage Theatre was a popular spot for gamblers, and it had 14 tables where people could play various games.
The poker game that lasted for over eight years was played by a group of men who called themselves “The Big Four.” The Big Four consisted of George Hearst (father of William Randolph Hearst), Al Swearengen (who later became famous as a character on the HBO series Deadwood), Diamond Jim Brady (a wealthy businessman), and Adolphus Busch (co-founder of Anheuser-Busch).
The game started in 1881 with a buy-in of $1,000 (which would be worth around $25,000 today). The stakes were high, with players sometimes betting tens of thousands of dollars on a single hand. The game would go on for days at a time without anyone leaving to sleep or eat.
To keep themselves entertained during breaks from the game, the players would often have performances put on for them by local entertainers. These performances included singing, dancing, and even plays.
The Bird Cage Theatre was known for its luxurious accommodations for its customers. It had private boxes where men could watch performances with their female companions without being seen by others. These boxes were also used by some players to take naps during the game.
The game finally came to an end in 1889 when one of the players, Jack Keenan, died at the table. The remaining players decided to end the game in respect for their fallen comrade. It is said that over $10 million (in today’s currency) was won and lost during the eight-year poker game.
In conclusion, the longest continuous poker game ever played in the Wild West lasted for over eight years and was played by a group of men known as “The Big Four” in the Bird Cage Theatre in Tombstone, Arizona. The stakes were high, and players bet tens of thousands of dollars on a single hand. Although it ended tragically with the death of one of the players, it remains a legendary moment in Wild West history.
