Dead Man's Hand
The origin of the Dead Man’s hand dates back to 1876 in a story straight out of the Wild West. In 1876 in a saloon in Deadwood, Dakota Territory, now South Dakota, James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok was shot in the back while playing a five-card draw poker game.
Hickok a notorious gambler always wanted to sit with his back against the wall to watch the doorway, but this day that seat was not available. Jack McCall snuck up behind him and shot him in the head, right after he had won another pot with the now infamous Dead Man’s Hand.
Hickok's hand included two-pair, the aces and eights of both black suits which gained the notoriety of being called the Dead Man’s Hand. To this day, no reliable source could determine Wild Bill’s 5th card.
Poker Origins