Doyle Brunson – The Texas Poker Legend

Having spent some good hang time with the living monument, Joe Casino would just like to say straight up that Doyle Brunson is one of the most likeable guys on the entire planet. Everywhere he goes people want a piece of him, to touch him, to stand in his light. And even though his face is lined and weathered like West Texas rawhide, his smile still can light up a room as only true legends can.

Texas Dolly was born hard and raised rough. Hardship was a close companion as he roamed the dusty plains of rural Texas, but the future king of poker persevered and managed to complete his schooling as well as attend college by earning a sports scholarship.

After college and disappointment, somewhere along the way Doyle discovered poker, and his life was never the same again. He is a ten-time World Series of Poker Bracelet holder, including two back-to-back world championships in 1976 and 1977, bestselling author of poker books, and the game of poker’s most effective ambassador. Quite simply he was largely responsible for the transformation of a game once only played by those on the margins of society – the roughnecks, the criminals – into one that is now embraced by the world at large. He is royalty and yet truly a man of the people.

A few things you may or may not know about Doyle Brunson:

• He was signed to play basketball with the then-named Minneapolis Lakers, but shattered his leg in an accident before his career even began. The leg never fully healed and that’s why Doyle rides that contraption that some have referred to as the real Texas dolly.
• He was diagnosed with cancer in 1962 and given 3 months to live.
• He put the Texas in Texas Hold’em. Though Doyle didn’t exactly invent it – as there are reports of games held as early as 1900, and it was known to have been played by roughnecks working the oilfields, Doyle is certainly the person responsible for ushering the game out of obscurity as the leader of the Texas Rounders, a group of men who drained Texas dry playing high-stakes Hold’em in the 1950s and ’60s.
• Years back Doyle was involved with an online poker room – Highlands Poker – a site that went under owing lots of player’s money. Doyle was merely promoting the room, acting as a spokesman only, but still felt responsible, and when it was obvious that the owners wouldn’t be paying out the money owed to these players, he went into his own pocket and made sure every single player was paid.
• During the early days, gunmen with shotguns were routinely posted on the rooftops to guard games in progress in the houses below.
• Today, at the age of 75, he plays poker every day and still hosts high-stakes Texas Hold’em games that cost $100,000 just to sit down.

JoeCasino recommends Doyle’s Room, where you can take on Doyle Brunson and his guest poker pros and celebrities for free. The best thing about the bounty tournament is that everyone gets a chance to take on a poker legend without risking a penny. Claiming your rebate is instant, so it costs you nothing for a chance at $25,000.

All new Players can play The Bounty for the first time for free. No cost, nada. At the end of the tournament, claim your free refund and you’ll get a full refund of your buy-in + fees ($27.50).

Whoever wins the Bounty tournament will return the following week as a guest bounty to stand alongside Doyle and the gang and take on all challengers.