Poker For Dummies

by Richard D. Harroch

On the quiet evening of April 29th, 1998, Doyle “Texas Dolly” Brunson returned home after winning a major poker tournament. Doyle is a two time winner of the World Championship of Poker. He had $85,000 in uncashed casino chips in his pocket. Brunson was startled by two robbers who were waiting for him at his doorstep. The masked men forced Brunson and his wife, both in their late 60s, into their Las Vegas home and demanded all the cash and jewels in the house. The Brunsons were tied up together and forced to lie on the living room floor while the two robbers made repeated threats to kill both of them if they refused to cooperate and hand over the money and jewels. But Brunson had other ideas. Drawing upon his vast poker experience, Brunson outfoxed the bandits. He feigned a heart attack, clutching his chest. As the two robbers watched in horror, Brunson gasped for air. Fearful of a possible murder rap, the robbers panicked. They ran out the door and were never seen again. Doyle Brunson may have bluffed many poker players in high-stakes poker games. But he most certainly would agree—this was his greatest bluff of all.