...his name was James Butler...he was raised in a religious family, his Father a minister/deacon...but James was different...he had wanderlust and seeked adventure. (he played poker, because it was exciting and kept him away from being a person who like most people, "lead lives of quiet desperation")

James Butler, by the time he was in his mid 20's, was the most feared and deadliest gunfighter who ever lived. (most great poker players hit their prime in their 20's, and can stay there for many years...if they don't self destruct) He'd became a town marshall in one of the rowdiest cowtowns in the country in his 20's...he tamed the town. (he thought big and gave it a shot...he tried playing poker for a living...and made it...the timid need not apply...MANY think about it, dream about it...MOST turn 70 years old, look back and always wonder if THEY could have done it...but didn't, because they didn't try...he gave it a shot, and DID IT!)

Once, in a dusty little town, 5 wild cowboys came rushing thru the saloon door with one thought in mind...to kill James Butler... J.B. though, hardened from the Civil War and having lots of courage, was ready for them...he carried 2 ivory handled Colts, full of 6 deaths in each barrell. (5 maniac/loose players, all had made it to the final 6 of a big NL tourny, ready to take out this fast gaining reputation poker player... ) J.B. knew they were coming, so he already had his Colts drawn. (the 5 maniacs had all been hitting their chases, making outrageous bluffs, now it was the final 6 in the tourny, all 6 were
in the money...1st place was 1 cool million, 6th place was $75 grand...next hand... UTG had KK, next had AJ off, next had QQ, J.B. on the button had AK spades, SB had 10 10, and BB had 7 2...suited... they were all equally chipped and the blinds were BIG.

KK bet 3x the pot thinking someone would go all in on him and he'd guickly call, next wild player tripled that with his AJ thinking he had a great kicker (normally let AJ go in early position with a big bet in front of you), QQ called, thinking he CAN'T lay down QQ (ok, if you want to gamble, but one needs to learn to lay this hand down too), J.B. thought they were weak or stealing and was playing for 1st prize, not 5th or 6th, so he goes all in...SB calls, he CAN"T lay down a 10 10!! BB was drunk by now and calls with his 7 2 ... hey, it's SUITED and pot odds seem appealing to him (some people are dumber than a bucket of worms and there'll never be any hope for them at poker) UTG was elated to call with his K's (many would throw this away to move way up in the payoffs)... as was QQ, he couldn't throw QQ away! (he could have had a guaranteed half million to fold them)

All 5 men came rushing in, 3 were dead before any of them pulled a trigger, J.B. could shoot equally well with both hands, as 3 200 grain bullets tore thru each of their hearts...finally the 4th would be assassin got off a shot in the confusion...it hit the ceiling...and the last one, bewildered,
dropped his gun by the spittoon...J.B. finished those 2 off too.

(the dealer turned a once in a lifetime flop...Q, J, 10... of spades)

In 1876, a few months after Custer met his last stand, J.B. was sitting at a poker game on a hot August afternoon. He was 39 years old, going blind, getting eaten up with gonorhea, and in a downward spiral...normally he always sat with his back to the wall, where he could keep an eye on everyone, and no one could be behind him...this afternoon, wanting to play poker so badly, he sat with his back to the back door...looked down at his hand...it was a A 8 of spades...(always take a break from poker, when conditions aren't right for you...there'll be another day to play...)

Flop came A 8 of clubs and a Jack of diamonds...J.B. was elated! He went all in...

This was Wild Bill HIckok's last all in...a dirty little coward whose name is unworthy of mentioning here, put a 45 long Colt thru Wild Bill's head, having snuck up behind him... There was a new grave in DeadWood 2 days later...for Wild Bill. (enjoy your days NOW, play poker with gusto, don't take it so seriously, and enjoy the commeraderie, not just the money...you never know when you may play your last hand)
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