Texas Dolly

A biography of Doyle Brunson by Damian M. Moorman, Dayton2Vegas.com

Doyle Brunson is the original cowboy of poker. Known as the “Godfather of Poker”, he is referred to by many as the greatest to ever play the game. At age 74, he is a living legend in the poker world and will always be one of the biggest names in the game.

Doyle “Texas Dolly” Brunson revolutionized the game of poker in the late 1970s when he released the book Super System. His book included general poker strategies and other important tactics of the game never before written about. It also combined other card games, including Razz, Stud, and Draw, with the help of other writers. Super System has gone on to sell over 300,000 copies!

Doyle Brunson has won ten World Series of Poker bracelets. He won his first gold bracelet back in 1976 when he captured the first of two Main Event Championships. He then won the Main Event the next year, collecting $340,000. His most recent bracelet was won at the 2005 WSOP in the $2,500 buy-in short-handed event. The first place prize of $367, 800 was more than the amount he won for the Main Event back when he repeated in 1977.

Growing up, Doyle was a great athlete. His hobby was basketball, where he excelled as a young kid. Brunson was on the All-State Texas basketball team as a teenager and also ran a mile in 4:43. A knee injury ended Brunson’s dreams of pursuing sports as a career, so he turned to poker. He started playing draw poker in illegal games in Fort Worth, Texas, in the late 1960s. At these games, Brunson met other top players like Amarillo Slim, which they developed into a great relationship. Brunson ended up settling in Las Vegas where draw poker turned to Texas Hold’em in the 1970s. He has never looked back since.

Doyle was born on August 10, 1933, in Longworth, Texas. He's now one the oldest players competing at the highest level and he still remains a force at the table. Doyle plays regularly in “Bobby’s Room” at the Bellagio in the biggest cash game in the world. Todd Brunson, Doyle’s son, is also a successful poker player who has won a WSOP bracelet of his own.

Besides being a successful author, Doyle has found other ways to benefit from the “business side” of poker. Doyle endorses an online poker room, titled Doyle’s Room, which was founded in 2004.

In January of 2006, BLUFF Magazine voted Doyle as the number one most influential force in the world of poker. Brunson was the first person ever to earn one million dollars from tournament poker. As of 2007, his winnings in tournaments alone exceed over 4.9 million dollars. “Ten deuce” is a nickname given to him, and the poker hand, after Brunson won two Main Events with those same hole cards.

Doyle Brunson, a member of the Poker Hall of Fame, will be remembered forever for his aggressive play, signature cowboy hat, revolutionary book, and above all, lifting the game to new and incredible heights. It's safe to say that there may never be someone who will do as much for the game of poker in their lifetime as Doyle Brunson has done over the past 35 years.