Thinking back...

Thinking back to the WSOP of the mid 70s, I recall... they did not have enough women to put up even $200 to spread a Seven Card Stud women’s event. Hell, I remember when most card games in social halls or in a “Friday night with the boys”, rec room or basement really WAS for men only. Most venues did not allow female players let alone “sweaters”. How things have changed! The other day they had over 1200 entries into the women’s $1,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold-em event. This event (as have all WSOP events) has come a long way since Jackie McDaniels won $5580 in the 1977 Women’s Seven Card Stud tournament.

Even the side games in the early 70s did not have many female players. Ah… the side games! They were the bread and butter for the WSOP card room during the 70s and 80s. More money was made from the rake and time collection of these games than from the percentage taken from the buy-ins for each tournament events, but the big bucks for the casino during tourney week was of course the win in the “Pit” and slots generated from the WSOP tournament and side game participants.

Non-regulated and loosely controlled would best describe the side game action of the WSOP in the early 70s… Off duty employees (including this reporter) were used as shills and even dealers in those days at a moments notice.

In 1971 the champion event (a $5,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold-em with only six players, won by of course, Johnny Moss,) was the only tournament event. Remember in the 70s and most of the 80s the only poker spread at Binions was during the WSOP. Aside from the main event during World Series week the only other poker was strictly the side games and they did not go 24 hours. On grave and day shift only a skeleton crew was kept. On swing they used enough dealers to spread three or four games.

In 1972 a Five Card Stud event was added. In 1973 there were a total of six events including the main event, two each of Hold-em, Stud and Draw. One of the stud games was Razz (Anti-poker!!!) Razz was the game that sent more players to the funny farm and left many scares on a dealer’s forehead and chest from flung cards. (It seemed the picture cards had the sharpest edges)

In 73, 74, 75 and 76 a tourney was started every other day or so. With this, the side games got bigger and better. The tournament players needed action after busting out of an event or between events. They also started bringing their wives and girlfriends (not at the same time however). After a few quick lessons, the women were ready for the side game action which of course attracted male players and wanna-be hustlers which snowballed to more side games then you could count through all of the 70s and 80s before the Internet created a plethora of tournament action that over shadowed the side games.

Next time in “Thinking back”… Belly laughs from the loose and not so regulated side action of the 70s.

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