Doyle Brunson: Facts about the Godfather of Poker

With over half a century of experience, Doyle Brunson (known also as the Texas Dolly and lately, the Godfather of Poker) has few equals, both in terms of wins in the major events, and influence in the world of gambling in general, as his works are among the most widely followed.

Brunson was born in Longworth, Texas in 1933, and showed great promise in the field of athletics and basketball. However, an injury sustained on his leg ended any hopes of him becoming a pro athlete. It was during this period that he began playing 5 Card Draw Poker, and his winnings helped pay for his medical expenses. After landing a job as a salesman, he began winning in 7 Card Stud, and decided to turn pro.

During the early 1960s, Doyle Brunson traveled throughout Texas and the surrounding area playing professional Poker. It was a difficult period as gambling then did not have the legal status it enjoys now, and most of the games he played in were run by crime syndicates, which resulted in less than fair play.

However, as the situation in gambling and casinos began to clear up in the early 70s, Brunson's career began to take off. He started playing regularly in Las Vegas, and quickly gained a reputation for being one of the best card players ever.

His achievements in Poker are staggering. He is the first player to be WSOP champion in consecutive years. He has garnered ten WSOP bracelets, including the 1976 and 1977 No Limit Holdem Championship, the 1978 7 Card Stud, 2003 H.O.R.S.E., and 2005's No Limit Shorthand finals.

In addition Brunson is one of the few players to have won both the WSOP and the World Poker Tour. The Texas Dolly is also the first pro player to earn more than a million dollars from playing the game.

He is also one of the most respected authors in the world today. His seminal work, Super System, was self published in 1978 and has become the standard by which all other Poker books are measured. His other equally well received works include Super System II (in 2004), My 50 Most Memorable Hands, Poker Wisdom of a Champion and According to Doyle. He has also written a book about playing the game online and is associated with Doyle's Room, an online casino.

An inductee to the Poker Hall of Fame, Brunson continues to play and win, competing against the best players in the world.