Johnny Moss
Born in 1907, Johnny Moss grew up in Odessa, Texas where he learned how to gamble since the age of twelve. He was a childhood friend of the Horseshoe Casino's Benny Binion and later became a rounder, traveling the country looking for gambling action. Moss won the 1970, 1971, and 1974 World Series of Poker main events, tying him with Stu Ungar for the most World Series of Poker main event titles.
For the 1970 event, Moss was actually elected the champion by his peers and only received a silver cup as his prize. He played at every WSOP main event from 1970 to 1995 and during his career he won 8 WSOP bracelets and over $680,000 in tournament play. In 1949 Moss played Nick the Greek in a five month long poker marathon set up by Benny Binion. He won anywhere from $2 million to $4 million. Down millions of dollars, Nick the Greek finally ended the marathon with the historic poker quote, "Mr. Moss, I have to let you go."
In 1979, the first year of the Poker Hall of Fame, Johnny Moss was enshrined.
Holdem is to stud and draw what chess is to checkers. --Johnny Moss
You have to learn what kind of hand this guy shows down...watch the veins in his neck, watch his eyes, the way he sweats.---Johnny Moss
  
|
