At 75 years old Doyle Frank Brunson is the founding father of poker as we know it. He practically invented the worldwide phenomenon that is Texas Hold’em, now the most popular poker variety. Brunson paved the way for a game once viewed to be played by roughnecks and criminals in dirty backrooms, to become the third most watched sport on television played by today’s world leaders and top executives.

“Doyle has plowed the road for the rest of us. He is the man with all of the records, recognition, books, and respect. He is the man I’m chasing in my quest to make poker history, and he’s still winning World Series events at age 70! Rock on, Doyle!” – Phil Helmuth

Doyle Brunson – The early years

 Doyle Brunson is a shining example of the american dream. Born on the 10th of August 1933 and raised in rural Texas and dirt poor Brunson was a small town boy country farm boy looking for a way out proved to be a natural athlete that won him college scholorships for both basketball and track. His NBA career with the then-Minneapolis Lakers ended before it began when he shattered his leg in an accident at the gypsum factory where he was working pre-season. The leg never did heal properly, and to this day, his place at a poker table is easily spotted by the crutch standing nearby.

 ”It wasn’t easy to accept the fact that my career in sports was over, just like that.”

Doyle went on to earn a master’s degree in administrative education; after all, if he couldn’t play sports, he wouldteach sports. By that time, he had already begun traveling to different colleges to play in small poker games, winning often. When he realized how little teachers were paid, he decided against that profession.

After receiveing a small first paycheck Brunson realised poker was a better money maker. 

 “I went to work selling bookkeeping equipment in my assigned territory for the Burroughs Corporation. When I saw my first paycheck, I realized I could rake in more money in one pot than what I made after a whole week of hard work! I knew right away where my ‘territory’ was. It was right there in those small poker games in Texas.”

The Texas Rounders

Doyle Brunson ended up as the star of the infamous band of traveling poker sharks, the Texas Rounders, a group of men who, in the words of The History Channel, “cleaned Texas dry” playing high-stakes poker in the 1950s and ’60s. Playing in illegal games on Exchange Street, Fort Worth, Texas with friend Dwayne Hamilton, Brunson eventually began traveling around Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, playing in bigger po9ker games where he met fellow professionals Amarillo Slim and Sailor Roberts.

Brunson was the leader of the Texas Rounders, . Outrunning both the law and the hijackers who preyed on winners of illegal big-money card games, he eventually landed in Las Vegas where he became one of

They pooled their money together for gambling and after six years, they made their first serious trip to Las Vegas and lost all of it, a six-figure amount. After Hamillton moved back to Fort worth they decided to stop playing as partners yet remain friends.

The Wild Days

Brunson has admitted to having a gun pulled on him several times and that he was robbed and beatenat this time poker games were illegal and run by criminals who were often members of organized crime, so rules were not always enforced. Poker was not a socially accepted career path during this time and, given the reputation of those running the games he was playing in, he had little legal recourse.

Doyle Brunson soon became one of  Las Vegas’  earliest tourist attractions where audiences would gather in awe to watch him play.

 All hail the king of poker – Doyle Brunson the original “Texas Dolly”

The begining of the legend

Brunson has the honor of having two Texas hold’em hands named after him. One hand, a ten and a two of any suit, bears his name as he won the No Limit Hold ‘Em event at the World Series of Poker two years in a row with them (1976 and 1977), in both cases completing a full house.

Despite being well past retirement age and battling cancer Doyle Brunson continues to play at the elite level. Where most poker players’ skills usually deteriorate with age and time, Brunson remains as sharpe as ever still eliminating the competition day in and day out. In 2005, he won both his record 10th WSOP bracelet, and hundreds of thousands more in tournament play.

Published Author and DoyesRoom Spokesman

In 1978, Brunson become an intricle part of changing the game of poker forever into the massively popular game it is today.  His book Super System is a complete guide to the cadilac of poker, Texas Hold’em and other games of poker.  Doyle’s book remains the bible of poker, proven essential reading for all poker players from weekend dabblers to high-stakes gamblers. Brunson continues to break records in all he does as Super System became the top-selling poker book of all time, still selling 14,000 copies a month. Following the books success, Brunson recently published a sequel, Super System 2, which includes new games, new strategies and insight from not only Brunson himself but also some of the other biggest names in poker today.

Brunson is the head spokesperson for online poker site DoylesRoom.com, an avid blogger, and writes a syndicated poker column in the London Telegraph. Recently named the most influential force in poker, plays poker every day and often hosts high-stakes Texas Hold’em games that cost $100,000 just to sit down.

 ”to be a successful gambler you have to have a complete disregard for money.” That and a keen eye for what’s happening in the eyes of the other guy. – Brunson on the History Channel

PLAY WITH DOYLES BRUNSON

If you wish to learn more about the king of poker Brunson has recently released his  autobiography, specifically on online poker, and the tales of the greatest hands he’s ever seen.