Origin of phrase "aces & 8's

Posted by Dhm on May 23, 2004

In Reply to: Origin of phrase "aces & 8's posted by leonard on May 23, 2004

: looking for origin of phrase aces & 8's where did it come from??
: thank you
: len

"Aces and eights" is known as the dead man's hand in stud poker. The phrase dates back to the murder of James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok by Jack McCall in Deadwood, Dakota Territory on Auust 2, 1876. After he was shot in the back of the head, "the famous gunman's stiffening fingers revealed his two pair -- aces and eights."

source - "Triggernometry" by Eugene Cunningham