Straight, full house, royal flush – those are some of the most popular and talked-about hands in poker. But there are dozens of card combinations that might be less profitable, but they still have exciting stories attached to them.
Maybe double K's and 8's are not as game-altering as flush poker combos, but they still deserve our attention. Which hand combinations have got interesting names? And how did those names come about? Let's take a look at some of the funniest and most intriguing online poker combos.
Poker Nicknames You Need to Know
- Exxon Valdez – The combinations of A-K got named after a major oil spill that occurred in Prince Willam Sound, Alaska (AK for short). On March 24, 1989, the oil tanker Exxon Valdez was making its way to California when it hit the Bligh Reef in Prince Willian Sound. In a span of a few days, the tanker spilled 10.8 million US gallons of oil, which makes it the second-largest oil spill in US history. In terms of damage to the environment, it is considered the worst oil spill in the world. Since the area is rather remote, made it harder for officials to respond. Wildlife was severely affected by the incident, and even 25 years later, some long-lasting effects could be witnessed.
- Dead Man's Hand – James Butler Hickok, also known as Wild Bill, was a lawman and exceptional marksman back in the 19th century. Legend has it that Wild Bill was shot in the back while playing a game of poker in South Dakota, in 1876. It is commonly believed that the hand he was playing right before his death was a combination of two pairs – Aces and eights. Even though there is no actual evidence to corroborate the story, people still call this specific hand after the deceased sheriff.
- Computer Hand – There are two theories as to why the Q-7 combo got this particular nickname. According to one of the stories, this hand got named after the largest computer ever built – IBM's Q7 SAGE computer. But if you are looking for a more interesting explanation, you might want to hear the second theory. Years ago, a computer simulator went through all the possible Texas Hold'em combinations and found out something interesting: The Q-7 combination has a 50-50 chance of winning or losing the game. Does it make it a good or bad starting hand?
- Calamity Jane – In poker, a pair of queens got named after the renowned frontierswoman, who happened to be acquainted with Wild Bill Hickok. Martha Jane Canary was born on May 1, 1852. According to stories, she acquired her nickname, Calamity Jane, while being involved in campaigns concerning the military conflicts with Native Americans. However, while Jane herself claimed she was involved in fights with Natives, other military personnel disputed that fact.
- 007 – Who doesn't love a good James Bond movie, especially when it has some intense casino scenes? In the 2006 movie, Daniel Craig was playing a high-stakes game of poker, as the pot reaches 150 million at some point. While statistically, Bond had the least chances of winning with a 5-7 starting hand, he still managed to take the pot with a straight flush.
In Conclusion
Most poker hands have straight-forward nicknames, but not all of them! Some poker hand combinations got named after historical events and important poker players, and they are worth mentioning. Which of the mentioned nicknames did you find the most interesting?