Moss was "The Man" for several decades and won a WSOP bracelet when in in his eightiesJohnny Moss is a poker icon. Known as the 'Grand Old Man' of Poker, Johnny was largely responsible for the development of high stakes poker in Las Vegas.
He won the World Series of Poker World Championship three times (1970, 1971, 1974) tying with Stu Ungar for the most WSOP main event titles – an astounding accomplishment considering the tournament didn’t exist until late in his life.
The Grand Old Man played with virtually everyone of note in the world of poker, from celebrated world champions to anonymous chancers. Even when players knew they had little hope of beating him many gambled with him anyway, just to say they had lost to the best.
Of all the wonderful stories about Johnny Moss, the most renowned is of him breaking Nick 'the Greek' Dandalos in a famous five month game of poker, winning nearly $4 million (an enormous sum in 1949). At the end of the marathon, Nick the Greek uttered what became one of the most famous poker quotes ever: "Mr Moss, I have to let you go."
Technology has changed the world of poker and Moss never had the luxury of scholarly books on poker theory or internet card rooms where you can now practice your theories. Today’s poker professionals are better educated than their predecessors and are just as likely to have a background in finance and investments as in gambling but nevertheless, they all owe a debt of gratitude to Moss, who first trod the lucrative path on which today’s professional poker players walk.
Johnny Moss, quite simply, was 'the man' in professional poker and even among all the flamboyant egos it would be hard to get up an argument against him being the most important individual in the history of high stakes cards.
The starting hand Ace-10 is named the Johnny Moss in his honour.
Loading ...
