Note: Not at the old Poker1 site. This 39-part series of quizzes, originally published (2004-2006) in Poker Player, is based on the Mike Caro University of Poker library of research and advice. In each entry, Mike Caro presents 10 questions covering a category of poker, targeted for beginner, intermediate, or advanced players. Answers with explanations appear below each quiz, with the questions repeated for easy reference.
The MCU Targeted Poker Quiz series
(See the index to this series)
Poker history (level: intermediate)
- A major poker tournament hosted by “Amarillo Slim” Preston during the 1980s was called…
(a) The Poker Grey Cup;
(b) The World Series of Poker II;
(c) The Grand Prix of Poker;
(d) The Super Bowl of Poker.
- Modern poker evolved from…
(a) a French game called poque;
(b) a game played by early American Indians, using beads instead of cards;
(c) gin rummy;
(d) all of the above.
- The 2005 World Series of Poker will be number…
(a) 47;
(b) 36;
(c) 21;
(d) 60
- Who was the first World Series of Poker main event champion to be widely regarded by both poker authorities and by himself as a non-professional player at the time?
(a) Doyle Brunson;
(b) Hal Fowler;
(c) Billy Burns Beaconridge;
(d) Jack Straus.
- “Amarillo Slim” Preston appeared as himself in the movie…
(a) The Gambler;
(b) Rounders;
(c) Citizen Cane;
(d) California Split.
- You’re playing poker in Gardena, California in 1982, where six clubs legally offer public poker. Which game isn’t offered?
(a) Hold ’em;
(b) Five-card stud;
(c) Seven-card stud;
(d) All of the above
- In 1970, hold ’em was mostly played with a four-card flop…
(a) true;
(b) false.
- The first major hold ’em tournaments used a deck that included the joker…
(a) true;
(b) false..
- In 1970, Johnny Moss won his first World Series of Poker championship by…
(a) winning a vote;
(b) defeating just six opponents;
(c) defeating 36 opponents;
(d) defeating 18 opponents.
- Who has history recorded as being killed while holding the “dead man’s” hand — aces and eights?
(a) J. Paul Getty;
(b) U. S. Grant;
(c) Jesse James;
(d) Wild Bill Hickok.
Answers and explanations (with questions repeated for convenience)
Poker history (level: intermediate)
- A major poker tournament hosted by “Amarillo Slim” Preston during the 1980s was called…
(a) The Poker Grey Cup;
(b) The World Series of Poker II;
(c) The Grand Prix of Poker;
(d) The Super Bowl of Poker.
Answer: (d). The major poker tournament hosted by “Amarillo Slim” Preston during the 1980s was called The Super Bowl of Poker.
- Modern poker evolved from…
(a) a French game called poque;
(b) a game played by early American Indians, using beads instead of cards;
(c) gin rummy;
(d) all of the above.
Answer: (a). Modern poker is generally believed to have evolved from a French game called poque, a card game with many similarities, including the element of bluffing.
- The 2005 World Series of Poker will be number…
(a) 47;
(b) 36;
(c) 21;
(d) 60.
Answer: (b). The 2005 World Series of Poker will be number 36.
- Who was the first World Series of Poker main event champion to be widely regarded by both poker authorities and by himself as a non-professional player at the time?
(a) Doyle Brunson;
(b) Hal Fowler;
(c) Billy Burns Beaconridge;
(d) Jack Straus.
Answer: (b). Although the likelihood of non-professionals winning major poker events has increased in recent years, mainly due to the large number of amateur participants relative to the number of pros, the first non-pro to win the World Series of Poker was Hal Fowler in 1979.
- “Amarillo Slim” Preston appeared as himself in the movie…
(a) The Gambler;
(b) Rounders;
(c) Citizen Cane;
(d) California Split.
Answer: (d). “Amarillo Slim” Preston appeared as himself in the movie California Split.
- You’re playing poker in Gardena, California in 1982, where six clubs legally offer public poker. Which game isn’t offered?
(a) Hold ’em;
(b) Five-card stud;
(c) Seven-card stud;
(d) All of the above.
Answer: (d). In Gardena, California in 1982, the only legal form of poker offered was five-card draw – high and low. Hold ’em, five-card stud, and seven-card stud were not available.
- In 1970, hold ’em was mostly played with a four-card flop…
(a) true;
(b) false.
Answer: (b). It’s false that hold ’em was played with a four-card flop in 1970. There were various off-shoots of hold ’em, but the basic game has a three-card flop, just like today.
- The first major hold ’em tournaments used a deck that included the joker…
(a) true;
(b) false.
Answer: (b). Although the joker was included in the decks used in Gardena, California, the most prominent site for legal poker in the world through the early 1980s, the first major hold ’em tournaments were held in Nevada. And a standard 52-card deck, without a joker, was used.
- In 1970, Johnny Moss won his first World Series of Poker championship by…
(a) winning a vote;
(b) defeating just six opponents;
(c) defeating 36 opponents;
(d) defeating 18 opponents.
Answer: (a). In 1970, Johnny Moss won his first World Series of Poker championship by winning a vote of his peers who were invited to attend.
- Who has history recorded as being killed while holding the “dead man’s” hand — aces and eights?
(a) J. Paul Getty;
(b) U. S. Grant;
(c) Jesse James;
(d) Wild Bill Hickok.
Answer: (d). Wild Bill Hickok was killed while holding what became known as the “dead man’s hand” – aces and eights.
