10 Greatest Moments in Poker - Part II

5. CBS Televising the World Series of Poker

In 1973, Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder provided commentary for Binion’s Horseshoe’s recording of the World Series Main Event. In 1978, legendary sportscaster Brent Musberger joined Jimmy “The Greek,” when popular U.S. television station CBS, broadcast the first episodes of the tournament in a series of TV specials. The coverage continued on and off for the next few years until ESPN finally picked up full coverage in 1988 where it has stayed ever since.
Since its inception, coverage of the World Series has gone though various stages of production. For many years, the only event covered for TV was the Main Event, until recently in 2004, when more and more events began being televised.
In 2006, ESPN offered Pay Per View broadcasting of the final table where, even though hole cards weren’t visible, thousands of viewers tuned in to see Jamie Gold take down the $12,000,000 first prize and coveted bracelet.
This year, in November of 2008, ESPN and Harrah’s entertainment are taking another step in another new direction by broadcasting the final table live roughly four months after the final nine were decided. Whether the move will be a good one for World Series ratings and poker in general remains to be seen, but if the delay is a fraction as successful as televising the tournaments in the first place, poker will be at least a little better off.

4. William E. Baxter Jr. vs. The United States

In the land mark case of William E. Baxter Jr. vs. The United States, legendary sports bettor and poker player Billy Baxter fought the federal government on the way gambling income is taxed. Before the case was settled in 1986, income tax for professional gamblers suffered deductions up to 70% due to being classified as “non-earned” income. Between 1978 and 1981, Billy claimed gambling earnings of $1.2 million dollars, and the difference between “earned” income and “non-earned” income for his $1.2 million totaled $178,000. After paying the taxes, he sued the government for a tax return and the case was tied up in the courts for years. In the end, the government conceded and the Nevada judge presiding over the case said “I find the government's argument to be ludicrous. I just wish you had some money and could sit down with Mr. Baxter and play some poker,” claiming once Billy’s bets (personal investment capital) had been placed, no income would have been produced without his skills.
Despite his seven World Series of Poker bracelets, Billy Baxter’s greatest poker accomplishment was saving professional gamblers untold millions in saved taxes, placing the case number four on the list of greatest poker moments.

3. Super System published in 1979

After winning the World Series of Poker Main Event in 1976 and 1977 poker legend Doyle Brunson put together a group of some of the greatest poker minds the game has ever seen to write the most comprehensive poker strategy book ever published. When Cardoza Publishing put out Super System (originally titled “How I Won Over $1,000,000 Playing Poker) the cost of each book was $100.00, possibly the most expensive book around at that time. With the following chapters and authors, it was no wonder people paid the price:

Draw Poker – Mike Caro
Seven Card Stud – Chip Reese
Lowball – Joey Hawthorne and Doyle Brunson
Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo (with no qualifier) – David Sklansky
Limit Hold ‘em – Bobby Baldwin
No Limit Hold ‘em – Doyle Brunson

When poker players got a chance to share in the secrets of the best in the world, every game around the world got a little tougher. Doyle Brunson himself has expressed regret for having written the book at all, saying he’s needed to change up his game multiple times, just to avoid having Super System readers inside his brain during every hand. Since its inception, Super System has become known as the poker player’s bible and is a must have for any serious player. So, despite your concerns Mr. Brunson, we thank you.

2. Invention of the hole card camera

When a U.K. television network called British Channel 4 implemented their revolutionary hole card camera into the poker show “Late Night Poker” the game went from interesting for poker enthusiasts, boring for everyone else, to exciting for poker enthusiasts, and much more interesting for everyone else. Originally patented by Seven Card Stud bracelet winner Henry Ornstein, the camera was also used on the “Poker Million” before it was popularized during broadcasts of the 2002 World Series of Poker and then 2003 World Poker Tour events. Without the hole card camera, we would all still be sitting around watching 7 old men smoke cigars with their cards face down and hidden from the world, interrupted occasionally by Phil Hellmuth throwing a poker table across the room after getting 16 outed.

1. Moneymaker winning 2003 main event

The decision to put Moneymaker's win at #1 on the list, was an easy one. No other single event threw into motion as series of events like this one.
In 2003 a phenomenon occurred which some poker enthusiasts have labeled “poker’s version of the perfect storm.” Poker was just starting to get bigger in mainstream America, and the airtime ESPN devoted to the World Series of Poker only helped to feed the beast. Hailing from Tennessee, an unknown accountant with the perfect last name invested $40 into a feeder satellite for the $10,000 buy in W.S.O.P. Main Event. When Chris Moneymaker took down the $2,500,000 first prize and coveted gold bracelet, the butterfly effect hit the gambling world full blast. The game has never and will never be the same.